New to this, Does anyone really win?

B

bev1244

New member
First, I'm sorry but I posted this somewhere else first. I then found the little button that said "New Topic"
Here are my questions: I just copied & pasted what I originally wrote.

Hi, I'm unsure where to start a new topic so I apologize if I'm writing this in the wrong place. I've never entered any sweepstakes until the other night. I'm very new to this and I have some questions.
1. Does anyone really win? Or win anything big, like a car for instance?
2. Do you really have to give your phone number? I'm a little hesitant to do that because I don't want my home phone flooded with calls or with people trying to sell me things I just can't afford.
3. How come so many of the sweepstakes make you fill out lengthy surveys? (for example, the $100 Walmart card) Then at the end of the survey's I'm required click on an offer and make a purchase. Honestly If I could afford to buy something like a new computer then I wouldn't be entering contests trying to win. (lol)

Just a little curious about how this all works. I entered about 12 sweepstakes so far. I did give my real name, home address and email address but I'm just worried about giving my phone number. I don't have a cell phone either but even if I did I'm not sure if I'd want people calling and soliciting.
Any advice would be helpful. I've found some GREAT sweepstakes to enter here. Not a fan of the survey's though but I'm willing to do some as long as I don't have to purchase something I don't want or need.
Thanks in advance :wave:
 
People do win! I have never won anything huge myself but I know others who use this site do. If you are going to try this Sweepstakes Advantage is the best site to go to for a great list of legitimate sweeps. Go to the forum section and you will find some great info on how to get started. I personally stay away from the surveys, but in legit sweeps you will not get sales calls. I have been doing this for about 3 years and have only gotten 3 telemarketer type calls. SA is great site so just look around,get info and have fun sweeping! Good luck!
 
My number 1 rule: ONLY enter sweeps and instant win games sponsored by reputable companies. Why? Because there are companies, that sponsor sweeps, who's only source of income is selling your personal information!!

Yes you can win things but remember this is basically a fun hobby. If you expect a brand new car or a lavish all expense paid vacation you'll likely be disappointed.

REMEMBER: Technically you owe taxes on anything and everything you win! You'll receive a tax form 1099 for higher price prizes and it must be reported when you file your taxes!! So don't waste your time entering a sweep for a new car if you can't afford the taxes!!!

Just my 2 cents.
 
people do win, but there are some sweeps that you are not likely to win, just be careful what you enter and read the rules. I have won some nice things, a few thousand a year. Have fun and enter all you have time for. You will learn as you go and read the comments on SA to further your learning experience.
 
People here win lots of stuff! I, myself have won tons of stuff...this is a SUPER-LEGIT sweep site.I mostly play the instant wins..which you kinda gotta go thru the list and pick the ones you want and add them to your list...you'll get the hang of it. And don't forget to post your first win..we will all be excited for you! P.S. I've been a member here for over 2 years and I'm never disappointed!
 
:wave: bev1244

Here's the post JIC you need it - I deleted from the other thread:

bev1244; said:
Hi, I'm unsure where to start a new topic so I apologize if I'm writing this in the wrong place. I've never entered any sweepstakes until the other night. I'm very new to this and I have some questions.
1. Does anyone really win? Or win anything big, like a car for instance?
2. Do you really have to give your phone number? I'm a little hesitant to do that because I don't want my home phone flooded with calls or with people trying to sell me things I just can't afford.
3. How come so many of the sweepstakes make you fill out lengthy surveys? (for example, the $100 Walmart card) Then at the end of the survey's I'm required click on an offer and make a purchase. Honestly If I could afford to buy something like a new computer then I wouldn't be entering contests trying to win. (lol)

Just a little curious about how this all works. I entered about 12 sweepstakes so far. I did give my real name, home address and email address but I'm just worried about giving my phone number. I don't have a cell phone either but even if I did I'm not sure if I'd want people calling and soliciting.
Any advice would be helpful. I've found some GREAT sweepstakes to enter here. Not a fan of the survey's though but I'm willing to do some as long as I don't have to purchase something I don't want or need.
Thanks in advance :wave:
Click to expand...
 
Wow thank you for the advice. I really appreciate everyone being so helpful and pleasant. I will take your advice. Hopefully I can come back soon and let you know if I won anything. I'd be excited to win a bag of coffee if I could. :laughing:
Getting a little bit addicted to this already. Totally lost track of time and it's late. Oh boy. Thanks again.
 
goodguy46947 said:
My number 1 rule: ONLY enter sweeps and instant win games sponsored by reputable companies. Why? Because there are companies, that sponsor sweeps, who's only source of income is selling your personal information!!

Yes you can win things but remember this is basically a fun hobby. If you expect a brand new car or a lavish all expense paid vacation you'll likely be disappointed.

REMEMBER: Technically you owe taxes on anything and everything you win! You'll receive a tax form 1099 for higher price prizes and it must be reported when you file your taxes!! So don't waste your time entering a sweep for a new car if you can't afford the taxes!!!

Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

:wave: goodguy46947

Except for #1, I agree with you.

I understand your point, but I take exception to you defaming a company by stating they sell your info!

We are all free to decide what our comfort level is on every sweeps we enter, so it's on us to check out their privacy policy and decide when they go above that level.

Some sponsors choose to ask if you'd like to subscribe to their newsletter, while others require that you subscribe. Some will ask if they may share your info, while others will require that you allow them to share your info to enter.

So if, while entering a sweeps, you fail to catch a checked box that says you will recieve email from 3d parties, or agree to a privacy policy that states you will receive email from 3d parties, that doesn't mean that sponsor is unethical.
 
:wave: bev1244

OK, now that that's done, let's see...

1. Does anyone really win? Or win anything big, like a car for instance?

Personally, it took me 6 years to win big {$10,000 GP} but some SA members post they win a biggie at least 1x a year!!! :laughing:

2. Do you really have to give your phone number? I'm a little hesitant to do that because I don't want my home phone flooded with calls or with people trying to sell me things I just can't afford.

I always check each entry form for the word REQUIRED. It will usually have an asterisk { * } next to it and next to the fields you have to input. Some will ask for your phone number, and a little checking will usually tell you why they need it - most often they will tell you it's to notify the GP winner only. As I mentioned above, check their privacy policy if they ask for your phone numberbut don't explain why they need it on the form or in the rules.

3. How come so many of the sweepstakes make you fill out lengthy surveys? (for example, the $100 Walmart card) Then at the end of the survey's I'm required click on an offer and make a purchase. Honestly If I could afford to buy something like a new computer then I wouldn't be entering contests trying to win.

There is a link to enter without purchase, you probably missed it - but if there isn't? Please use the Report Problem link, which is located under every listing, and report the sweeps.

THE LAW SAYS: it is against the law for merchants to offer you a better chance of winning if you buy their products. It also is unlawful for merchants to suggest that buying their products might increase your chances of winning.

For those sweeps that require a code/upc/etc.? They will offer a mail in or online alternative entry.

So while they don't REQUIRE you to purchase to enter, they do put a condition on entering - the usual conditions that we are used to are age, sex, smoker, own a business, etc.
 
:sunny: Welcome to SA Bev. Looks like everyone answered your questions. It can be a bit overwhelming when you first start out so please don't hesitate to ask questions. I have won thousands of prizes since joining SA many years ago.
 
People do win. I have only been sweeping for about 2 months and one month in, I won a trip to Athens. I have won a bunch of other smaller items. I enter about 100+ a day. Many that require surveys are not real.
 
TIP: One of the GREAT things about FaceBook & Twitter is you can check them when sweeps go down/you can't login or when a sweeps requires a code - just do a search for the sponsor and read their WALL/post to it

TIP: Use an addy you plan to always have - some sponsors only ask you to register 1x & pick a user name and password, which will work for all their FUTURE sweeps. If you change your addy mid-sweeps, it will look like you are trying to enter with multiple addys to them.

TIP: when I have trouble with a promo, I search for their home page and use their CONTACT US form if logging into their home site won't work, then once I get that resolved, I go back to the promo

TIP: Can't find a sweeps form or it won't allow entry? Try going through the rules, either through the link they post or by deleting the end of the address.
 
:wave: i won a 2007 bmw after only sweeping for 8 mos--also 2 large tvs and lots of really good little stuff. it's easy to get hooked on this--it's fun and full of surprises. this is the BEST site to use--lots of helpful and nice people!
GOOD LUCK
 
FYI - trip ARV's are predicated on the furthest/costliest travel - you do NOT have to pay taxes on the ARV they list IF you do a little homework - read more here: http://www.sweepstakesplus.com/smf/arv-and-your-taxes-ty-to-lidarkside-t50686.0.html



I've found that when people go through a dry spell they tend to focus on things that may be preventing them from winning - it's a natural reaction, especially when you used to win so easily!!!

But, all the reasons people think of that may be preventing them from winning (more sweepers/cheaters/etc.) have minimal impact - it's really all about timing - either you have it or you don't.


I find after IE/Firefox/and or ROBO updates I have problems with sweeps rendering properly, so I make sure JAVA/ADOBE are updated too, and then they *usually* will work - FYI - it sometimes takes numerous days/reboots until things are normal again:

IW/FLASH/resource intensive Sweeps not working? Try this:

http://www.sweepstakesplus.com/smf/...ive-sweeps-not-working-try-this-t17404.0.html

or try compatbility view

Or ALLOW: If it STILL won't work? Put the pesky site in your allowed:
At the top, click on>TOOLS>INTERNET OPTIONS>SECURITY>TRUSTED SITES>Click on sites button, then type or C&P the site address in add this Web site to the zone then click ok/apply.
 
sammieblove said:
What are some of your suggestions for instant wins? :) Thanks!!
Click to expand...

The age old how to win instants question.Well I have been entering sweepstakes since around 1973 and mostly do well with IWS. August was by far my worst month in years I only won 5 Instant Wins. Most months I win between 10 and 15 IWs.In 2011 I averaged 19 IWS a month in 2012 12 wins a month and in 2013 14 wins a month. Yes I keep records of my wins because you can fool yourself on wins. If you asked me how I did on IWs in September off the top of my head I would had said terrible but looking at my records show I won 11 IWs. I quess since 9 of the wins have not come yet it seemed like a slow month. I know many members on SA win more than I do but I will tell you my TOP SECRET to winning IWS.

The Top key to winning Instant wins is to

Enter,enter,enter.Hey I didn't say it was a rocket science key. Use SA to set you up a nice group of IWs and enter them as many times as your allowed every day. Shoot for five days a week. I say 5 days instead of 7 days works for me to keep from getting burnout. If real life butts its noise into your sweepstakes at least enter each instant win on your list at least 3 times a week.

People sometimes will say you need to enter late at night or early in the morning. Over the long haul I don't believe it matters. I have won in the early mornings , at mid day ,early evening and late nights. Yes a lot of my wins come between 10 PM and midnight but that is just because that time frame is the most available times for me to enter.

As for the IWS like MyCokerewards that let you enter more than once a day do I enter than all at once or spread them out. Again the key is to enter them the full amount your allowed. If you can spread them out fine if not enter them back to back.

When I hit a dry spell and go 5 days of entering in a row without a win I flipped my list and enter them in that order.

Okay I am finished rambling on. Good luck and remember to keep entering.

Bruce
 
Get a Google Voice phone number.

amyshulk said:
2. Do you really have to give your phone number? I'm a little hesitant to do that because I don't want my home phone flooded with calls or with people trying to sell me things I just can't afford.
Click to expand...

I have a Google Voice number that I use in place of my actual phone number. I have my Google Voice account set to show that number on my caller ID so that I know the call is coming through using my Google phone number. I ONLY use my Google Voice phone number for sweeps. This way I know that it's someone calling either about a win or trying to sell me something because they are associated with the company that hosted the sweeps. Either way, it's fine. I don't have a problem with telling someone that I'm not interested in what they are selling.

www.google.com/voice
 
On some of the sweepstake sites i see the same people winning the big stuff month after month and a lot win big stuff daily. How can they win so much.i though i was doing the same thing they was.i know you cant be that lucky every day. what do they know that i dont??
 
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