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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |
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Why do companies have sweepstakes or contests?
Through offering a sweepstakes with major prizes such as new cars, vacations, jet skis, money, PCs, entertainment systems, and cash prizes, companies hope to attract your attention and hope you buy their products. How can they afford it? Holding a sweepstakes is included in the marketing and advertising budget. Even if the grand prize for a sweepstakes is $100,000, that's only a fraction of what some companies pay for a 30-second TV commercial during prime time hours Also, unlike playing a lottery, the prizes in a legitimate sweepstakes are GUARANTEED to be awarded. Sponsors rarely hold the sweepstakes themselves. They pay sweepstakes judging agencies to manage the promotion for them and to make sure that all prizes are awarded, and that they are awarded fairly--everyone has the same chance to win.
How do I find sweepstakes to enter?
There are many places to find legitimate sweepstakes: grocery store and department store displays, local newspapers, Sunday newspaper inserts, the Internet, local radio stations, and so forth. There are also sweepstakes newsletters available that gather all of the legitimate sweepstakes for you and provide you with all of the information you need to enter them.
How do I enter a sweepstakes?
Each sweepstakes has its own set of official rules. The important information you need is the entry information (what the sponsors require), which is usually just your name and address hand printed on a 3x5 piece of paper or index card, the address to mail it, and the deadline date for the entry. There may be certain restrictions, such as age, residency (US and Canada mostly), or they may allow only one entry per person. All of this information can be found in the official rules.
Do I need any special supplies to enter?
No special supplies are necessary. Typical supplies include plain white #10 envelopes, 3x5 index cards or plain paper, and postage. As you enter more sweepstakes, you might want to use colored envelopes or decorate them yourself, but this is not necessary. Most winners state that they won using plain envelopes and papers. In fact, there are some sweepstakes that require you to use only plain white envelopes-as another way to ensure that everyone has an equal chance!
What are the different kinds of sweepstakes?
Sweepstakes are random drawings. Your entry is put into a pool of entries. Winners are pulled from that pool at random -- hence, random drawing. This usually involves sending in a 3x5 card or postcard entry, entering online, calling a toll-free number, visiting a store and putting your entry in a drop-in box, and so forth. There are different variations of sweepstakes, such as regular sweepstakes, multiple drawing sweepstakes, and second chance sweepstakes.
Regular sweepstakes are those in which there is a prize or set of prizes and there is one entry deadline and one drawing. Each sweepstakes has different rules, and some may ask you to write a qualifying phrase or a few words on your entry. Others may ask you to answer a few simple questions. Be sure to read the rules carefully and know exactly what is required before entering a sweepstakes.
Multiple drawing sweepstakes are those in which prizes are given away at certain intervals, for example monthly or quarterly. There are different entry deadlines for each drawing. There also may be one regular grand prize drawing but monthly smaller prize drawings.
Second chance drawings are those in which the sponsor held an instant-win promotion or a match-and-win promotion (in which you collect games pieces) on specially marked packages of their products. If not all of the prizes are awarded during these promotions, the sponsor will hold a second chance drawing to award those prizes not claimed. Typically, over half of the prizes in these types of games are not awarded, often including the grand prize. Many people don't enjoy sweepstakes or don't even look at the game pieces, so many prizes go unclaimed. We think that second chance drawings offer perhaps a better chance of winning, because people either don't enter them or send fewer entries, thinking there may be no prizes left to claim.
Contests require skill of some sort. These usually involve writing an essay, submitting a recipe or photo, or creating a jingle or clever saying of some sort. A judging panel reviews all of the entries and chooses the winner based on a set of predetermined criteria. You have a better chance of winning contests, because there are fewer people who enter them. It takes a lot more effort to enter contests than it does to enter sweepstakes.
Raffles are usually random drawings (no skill involved), but the main difference is that you have to PAY to enter. Winning Ways does not currently endorse any raffles, so you will not see any of this type at our site or in the Winning Ways newsletter.
How should I fill out my 3x5 papers or cards?
Print all information neatly and legibly. Include all the information requested by each sweepstakes in the order requested, exactly as shown, including capitalization, punctuation, and abbreviations. Information requested is usually your name, address, and zip code (NAZ), phone, age, and some sort of qualifier. Make sure you provide all information in the specified order.
If a 3x5 paper is specified, use paper, and if a 3x5 card is specified, use an index card or card stock. If a plain card is specified, then use plain, white, unlined index cards. We recommend that you use plain, white, unlined index cards or papers for all of your entries. There is no need to get fancy or decorate your 3x5, because typically, the envelopes aren't opened until the entries are picked as potential winners.
Unless otherwise noted, print (not write) all information. If the sweepstakes specifies that you print block letters, print small capital letters, like this: BLOCK LETTERS.
What kind of envelopes should I use?
Unless specified, you may use any size envelope in any color or with any design. Many sweepstakes require #10 envelopes (4.125 x 9.5 inches). When specified, use plain white #10 envelopes, otherwise, you may use any color #10 envelope.
You may hand address, type, or use some sort of label on the outside of the envelope unless specified otherwise. A few sweepstakes require hand-addressed envelopes only.
What is a SASE?
A self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) is an envelope that you address to yourself and include the postage on it. You then fold it and put it in another envelope to send to whomever. Include this when you are sending for official rules or game pieces. You should always use a #10 envelope. Many sponsors specify to use a #10 SASE, but we suggest that you always use #10 envelopes for your SASEs. There are a few states in which return postage is not required, such as WA and VT.
What should I pay attention to when addressing my entries?
Mail your entry using the address exactly as shown in the rules. For example, if the state on the address is spelled out, use the spelled-out version for your entry. The same applies for capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
We suggest that you pay more attention to HOW the address is supposed to be written (that is, hand-written or not, capital letters, etc.), and less attention to whether the letters P.O. Box have a period or not. The envelope is the vehicle that gets your entries to the judges, and while we believe that a spelled-out state or abbreviated state won't make much of a difference, there are certain things that the sponsors keep a watch for, such as capital letters when specified and hand-addressed envelopes.
What about postcard entries?
Unless otherwise specified, all postcards submitted should be a minimum size of 3.5x5 inches. The post office will not deliver anything smaller. If no specific size postcard is required, we suggest using the standard postcards that you can buy from the US Post Office, which measure 3.5x5.5 inches. Postcards measuring more than 4.25x6 inches require extra postage (a regular stamp).
Do not mail a postcard in an envelope. A return address is optional, and you may use return address labels or stamps.
When providing your NAZ and other information on the postcard, write them in the opposite direction as the front of the card. This helps prevent the Post Office from sending the postcard back to you.
Remember to follow the rules!
Entries -- If the rules say "Official Entry Form Only," don't send in a hand-written 3x5. Also, pay attention to the number of entries allowed. If it says "One entry per household," don't send in more! Most of the larger judging agencies use computers to track entries. A duplicate entry from you WILL show up and WILL disqualify you. Pay attention to the paper that must be used and what should be on the entry. If it says to use a 3.5x5.5 plain piece of paper, don't send your entry on a 3x5 index card. It may seem obvious, but people do it everyday, and your entry will be disqualified. Write your name and address EXACTLY as states in the rules. If the rules say "Full NAZ" then write out your full name and address. Don't try to be fancy and draw little pictures or write cute things on your entry. Give them exactly what they want and no more. Also, write legibly, so they can read it. Scribbling something illegible will get your winning entry thrown away.
Qualifiers -- Sometimes you will be asked to include either some part of the packaging from the sweepstakes sponsor's products, or, instead, a handwritten phrase. Write any phrases that are necessary EXACTLY as stated in the rules. If it's unclear from the rules exactly what they need, there is usually an address, e-mail address, or phone number given if you have any questions. Don't be afraid to use it.
Envelopes -- Don't send a postcard unless it's asked for. Hand-address your envelope when specified and use the exact size if listed. Do not use metered mail.
Write my name and address on an index card, and mail it to the correct address. Other than cross my fingers, what else can I do?
Everyone has the same ODDS of winning, however, there are things that you can do to give yourself better CHANCE to win. Check out our Hints and Tips section for some fun ideas on how to give your entries a better chance to win.
As you enter more and more sweepstakes, you will become more familiar with the rules, helpful hints, and what's expected for each entry. There are no set answers, though. The more you enter, the more chances you have to win. We try to help you learn which sweepstakes are better than others to enter, and why.
The two main things to remember are PERSISTENCE and PATIENCE. If you enter regularly, you have a much better chance of winning than entering in spurts. Also, remember that sweepstaking is a hobby. It's easy to become obsessed and to go completely overboard. Don't feel bad -- we all do it now and then. :-) Pace yourself and stick to a budget.
What happens when I win?
When you win a larger prize, the sponsor and/or judging agency usually requires that you sign and notarize an affidavit and return it within a certain amount of time. Follow all instructions carefully. Some prizes will be delivered to you without advance notice and sometimes without any correspondence, for example, a T-shirt, so you may not even know which contest you won. Other times, you may have to sign an affidavit for a $18 Nestle Quik stuffed bunny. We also have had the experience that grand prizes weren’t delivered for up to 8 months after the drawing date, so don’t give up! Be patient and enter consistently. Once returned your affidavit, the sponsor will send you your prize.
For additional sweepstakes information, check out our SweepsNews section!
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