RE: Sweepstakes Tips & Advice

amyshulk

amyshulk

Well-known member
Staff member
RE: Sweepstakes Tips & Advice

Just starting out, or want more info?

Check this out:

http://contests.about.com/od/sweepstakes101/u/winmore.htm

By Sandra Grauschopf, About.com Guide to Contests & Sweepstakes:


And my advice :laughing::



Sweeping is a hobby that is all about timing. Especially for those elusive instants! IF you enter at the exact right moment, you will win. If not? Sad to say you won't. But I assure you - it's nothing personal, and those who win a lot don't have any "secrets" - they are just consistent, persistent, and patient.

The sweepers credo? Enter and forget it. Always be happy for those that win - even when they win "your" prize :laughing: - and be positive you will win.

Reminding myself of the sweepers credo is how I keep my positive attitude, and my sanity.

I really believe that if you go into it thinking you can't win, well, you'll MAKE yourself right so often you'll start believing it!!! I truly do believe you have to have a positive attitude - don't get hung up on what others are doing - just focus on entering, then move on to something else - like posting so we can get to know you!!!

Hang in there - and enter, enter, enter - you'll be posting a win before you know it!!! And remember - every day brings new opportunities to win!!! :headbang:

Some see sweeping as a zero sum game, where if I win, you lose, but I view it a bit differently - opportunities abound for those willing to commit the time & energy, and while it doesn't give a return equal to our input, if we are consistent, persistent, and patient, the possibilities are endless!!!
 
Re: RE: Sweepstakes Tips & Advice

LIDARKSIDE said:
More times than not, the sponsor will automatically readjust the value down. All of our trips ended up costing less than half of the ARV. On two occasions, we had to request the sponsor readjust the 1099 down which they did. It sometimes is an oversight when they fail to give Accounting the proper paperwork on the trip.

However, there is always a chance a sponsor will refuse to readjust the value.

So, you need to document everything that the sponsor is paying for on your trip. As soon as you get your itinerary look up the prices for the exact flight and seating costs and also the hotel costs. Find the lowest price on the internet you can and print it up. During your trip don't be afraid to ask what the extras cost that the sponsor is covering. We had to call up the limo service that took us to and from New York to get their fees for that. Get as much as you can on paper and write down anything else. When everything is done and over, add it up and put it away for tax time. When you get your 1099, see if it matches up. It may actually be lower, because sponsors can sometimes get lower special rates on such things as hotels.

If the figure on the 1099 is the ARV or way off from your totals, request that they change it. If they refuse, just submit the figure you have.

The IRS says not to send in the documentation with your tax return but to keep it filed away with a copy of your tax return in case of an audit, but some people do choose to send along the documentation.

The IRS requires that you pay taxes on the fair market value (FMV, true value) of the prize, not the ARV; and this is stated on their site.
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Re: RE: Sweepstakes Tips & Advice

I am new and need help. Apparently, I have been doing this wrong. Do I need to register in each Daily sweepstakes that I entered every day? Where do I go to get Robofill? I know there has got to be an easier way than what I am doing. It takes me hours. Please help.
 
schatz1959 said:
I am new and need help. Apparently, I have been doing this wrong. Do I need to register in each Daily sweepstakes that I entered every day? Where do I go to get Robofill? I know there has got to be an easier way than what I am doing. It takes me hours. Please help.
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:wave: schatz1959 welcome to SA! :headbang:


You'll find that most of your questions are already addressed in various threads - I go to the forum home page:
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/

And enter a specific search term in the SEARCH box.


To get you started, here are some threads that will help you:

Post Your Questions Here!!
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/newbies/106-post-your-questions-here.html

How to use the *TOOLS* to get the most out of SA Features
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/newbies/4890-how-use-*tools*-get-most-out-sa-features.html

Green's Help and Hint's thread for new sweepers!!
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/newbies/24-greens-help-hints-thread-new-sweepers.html

As to robo:

Roboform links & Q&A
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/tech-computer-help/61-roboform-links-q.html

Roboform thread
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/tech-computer-help/3952-roboform-thread.html



For:

Do I need to register in each Daily sweepstakes that I entered every day?

Yes - some will have a log-in, but most have you fill out the whole form. For IW's, it's the reverse. And a tip - use a password you will remember because some sites will remember you from previous promotions.

hth, gl, amy
 
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Re: RE: Sweepstakes Tips & Advice

:crazytongue: Things I try to remember:

1] Sweeping is not a normal hobby - most hobbies you get out what you put in. :whistle:

2] While there is no "rule" that entering guarantees a win, therefore entering more guarantees you will win more, it's more like the Lottery, where ya gotta play it to win it!

3] Getting wound up over someone else winning that prize you had your heart set on? So not worth it, unless you own stock in TUMS or something! :crazytongue:

4] Same as 3 but it's because a newbie hit a biggie while you have been toiling way for YEARS. It WILL happen. This is where you decide - fun hobby where you can be happy for others, or ulcer inducing? I pick A :laughing:
 
Re: RE: Sweepstakes Tips & Advice

bethtoons said:
I've always been honest and never had any issues with identity theft from sweeping nor have I heard of anything worse than some extra spam emails. If you're cautious, use common sense and don't enter anything that feels or seems off or scammy, you're likely going to be fine.

Lying about it probably won't catch up with you for smaller prizes where less verification is done, but anything that's big enough to require an affidavit, or any of the companies that do boilerplate affy's for everything will likely disqualify you if the data on your entry form doesn't match up with the information you give them for the legal paperwork.

Honesty is the best policy, it's not like a phone number or an email address where you can set one up specifically for sweeping purposes. You only get one date of birth.
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Before starting to sweep, set up an email address for sweeping purposes since a lot of big sponsors will ask you to use that addy/password for each new promo they run.

I use my ISP's addy, and have a Hotmail as an alternate to share for referral purposes.

Another option? Use one of the free accounts, from gmail, hotmail, mail.com, and yahoo.
 
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bumping.................

amyshulk said:
Before starting to sweep, set up an email address for sweeping purposes since a lot of big sponsors will ask you to use that addy/password for each new promo they run.

I use my ISP's addy, and have a Hotmail as an alternate to share for referral purposes.

Another option? Use one of the free accounts, from gmail, hotmail, mail.com, and yahoo.
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caherrin said:
I realize this is a really old post. Just wanted to let you know that none of the links are working now.
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Ah yes - I forgot SA/SP switched to a new forum platform! I did include the titles, so a search for them should bring those threads right up! I've got 6 irons in the fire right now & not enough time to get them done as it is, ty!
 
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