It seems more and more common on some of these that I would prefer the second or third place prizes in these sweeps.  The concept of winning some of the first place prizes look great, but the time and travel required for some or just having to put up with potential red tape from fine print of any contest kind of deters me.  (Winning any prize, especially first place is tough enough). 

Has anyone else felt this way when doing some recently?  If you did ever win the first place prize miraculously, would you try to talk them into giving you the second place prize or would you feel like you sounded ridiculous when requesting it?  Or has everyone in that position only hoped for being able to get the monetary value of it?  So many sweepstakes listed show first place prizes that look great, but the concept of trying to get the time off from work, extra costs for transportation or maybe shipping have limited my potential daily entries into sweepstakes from 100-200 down to 50 or less each day.

Long story short, how many people while entering all these sweepstakes feel this way wanting the lesser valued prizes just to avoid potential problems that may come with first or grand prizes of these sweepstakes and if presented with a first place prize (miraculously) from them, do you request the lesser prize, monetary value or it, or even possibly decline the whole prize?  Anyone with more than my 6 months' experience could probably have several more choices out there that would solve this conundrum I currently have.  Thanks.

I do feel the same way, I will never get on an airplane again "Bad Experience" so i don't enter trip giveaways, unless there are other prizes. I thought if i should win a trip i am going to ask for one of the other prizes, the worst they would say is no. 

  jdlarch

IF a sweeps with a trip as the GP has multiple lower tier prizes I'd like to win, I check the rules.

Prizes are cyclical - I just wait it out and enter what I'm really into when too many have trips as the GP - HOWEVER, IF they do give $$$ in lieu, I'll go for it

BUT - if they state no $$$ in lieu, or that prizes will remain unawarded if winner turns it down, I skip it.