Sweepstakes rants

[amyshulk]

Personally, I don't worry about what other people are doing. Eprize has specifically said it is OK for a person to enter their husband, etc. with their permission. If someone has a problem with me entering my husband and son, then they need to take it up with the sponsor's. If the rules say 1 per household, then I enter just one person, but if the rules say per person, then yes, I will most definitely enter my husband if it's something I really want. It makes me sad that people are bitter about something that is perfectly legal, or wish something bad on them as if they are a criminal.

You misunderstood my post. My husband and children have entries into sweepstakes also. I am talking about people who enter for anyone and everyone including people not living in the household.

miki - are you seeing posts here at SA where people are winning multiple times from a 1 win per HH? Or people posting they enter for anyone besides immediate family/those in their house? :scratch:

I know I saw posts like those elsewhere, but it seems to me that SA sweepers are of a far different caliber!!! :sunny:

I know your post was a vent, and I took it as such - that White cloud worst bathroom contest must be especially vexing!!! :nono:

And I do get your point on the International delight, but those that posted win(s) on it recently might have felt you were unhappy with them, rather than the sweeps/your lack of timing on it.

When we post, what we write is open to interpretation - people can't see our expressions/hear our tone of voice, so posting our true feelings on a subject is bound to get responses we don't anticipate. :sunny:

 

[amyshulk]

Miki, my response was not a putdown to you, but I get tired of hearing the morality police try to tell me what the proper etiquette is in entering sweeps. Maybe if some people put half as much energy in entering their own sweeps, instead of worrying about what other's are doing, they would win more. This is not directed at you, but in general. Just my 2 cents. Now, I'm off to enter for me, my husband, and my son. Wins to everyone today.

bunnytoes - I so agree with you. We do our utmost to inform, what sweepers do with that info is ultimately up to them :headbang:

I know I've (in the past) been upset when people in the same HH won multiple times from an IW - but in that case, it was stated as a 1 win per HH in the rules, and in the notes.

As long as the rules say it's OK to win multiple times (like the Rachael Ray - I couldn't hit that one - a Kraft, of course :laughing: ) per person, or even 1x per person, and someone posts multiple people won in their HH, I'm happy for them!!!

I get that sweeping is in a sense competitive, but in my mind, it isn't - not really - so what others do doesn't affect/bother me - as long as they play by the rules :headbang:

 

[tharedhead]

Remember when CBS sportsline started up and you could get a point a page click to trade in on stuff? Well, I automated it so it would click and click all day. I got coffee, and a nice flashlight...when MSN came along, I knew how to cheat at that, but did not. And as a result did not win a thing. The CBS thing was so long ago (this was before iwon existed, that long ago) that I had no idea what I was doing was wrong, it just seemed like a nifty way to get cool stuff. :error:
You may kill me at your leisure :laughing:

 

[gosweepwin]

This is a general statement and not directed at anyone in particular.

How anyone chooses to follow, interpret, or ignore the Rules is their business. SA posts the Rules so that everyone can read them and understand the sponsors' intentions.

However, if you come in here and tell everyone what you're doing, and it's in violation of the Rules, expect bad feedback from your fellow sweepers. Sit at your terminal and do what you want, but don't tell us about questionable behaviour. We can't stop anyone from breaking the Rules, but we can erase your posts if you come to SA and brag about it.

 

[sweepyhead]

I used to enter sweeps for my mother when she was alive, and a trip to the Atlantis/Paradise Island was won under her name. The trip was FABULOUS, and one of my happiest memories of time spent with her. She was computerly challenged, and happy that I entered for her. I don't see any lack of ethics entering for a senior citizen who couldn't coordinate a mouse properly, and won't apologize for it. If I had a husband, I would enter for him as well.

My personal ethic is not to enter for things I don't want. If I see a valuable prize, like a baby carriage and crib set, I'll not enter and leave it for a mother or grandmother who could use it.

Whatever somebody else admits to doing, it's best not to act out by dissing those people, because every one of us has done some entering that another sweeper would not approve of.

 

[ping1970]

I used to enter sweeps for my mother when she was alive, and a trip to the Atlantis/Paradise Island was won under her name. The trip was FABULOUS, and one of my happiest memories of time spent with her.

I am SO jealous! I would love to go there ~ it looks like one of the most beautiful places in the world!! I am so glad that you got to go with your Mom ~ I wish my Momma and I had gotten to go on a trip like that before she passed away. By the time we found out she was sick we only had a few weeks with her though!! What precious memories that you now have ~ I personally am thrilled for you!!

 

[sweepyhead]

I used to enter sweeps for my mother when she was alive, and a trip to the Atlantis/Paradise Island was won under her name. The trip was FABULOUS, and one of my happiest memories of time spent with her.

I am SO jealous! I would love to go there ~ it looks like one of the most beautiful places in the world!! I am so glad that you got to go with your Mom ~ I wish my Momma and I had gotten to go on a trip like that before she passed away. By the time we found out she was sick we only had a few weeks with her though!! What precious memories that you now have ~ I personally am thrilled for you!!

Please, she was the queen of the free trips. I took her on four trips that I won. She didn't want to pay for trips ever again, and didn't have to. :sunny:

 

[ping1970]

I used to enter sweeps for my mother when she was alive, and a trip to the Atlantis/Paradise Island was won under her name. The trip was FABULOUS, and one of my happiest memories of time spent with her.

I am SO jealous! I would love to go there ~ it looks like one of the most beautiful places in the world!! I am so glad that you got to go with your Mom ~ I wish my Momma and I had gotten to go on a trip like that before she passed away. By the time we found out she was sick we only had a few weeks with her though!! What precious memories that you now have ~ I personally am thrilled for you!!

Please, she was the queen of the free trips. I took her on four trips that I won. She didn't want to pay for trips ever again, and didn't have to. :sunny:

That is SO funny :laughing: It is amazing what we will do for our Mommas!! I went and got all my hair cut off when Momma got sick ~ it was almost down to my butt and hadn't been short for years. I just decide on a whim to get in cut ~ when I came in that night she was in bed with the lights out and I told her that I needed to turn on the lights for a minute and I thought she was going to cry! She was so happy ~ she hated my hair long for some reason(maybe because I wasn't able to really curl it anymore due to the fibro) and I haven't let it get long since :crazytongue:

 

[miki]

I used to enter sweeps for my mother when she was alive, and a trip to the Atlantis/Paradise Island was won under her name. The trip was FABULOUS, and one of my happiest memories of time spent with her. She was computerly challenged, and happy that I entered for her. I don't see any lack of ethics entering for a senior citizen who couldn't coordinate a mouse properly, and won't apologize for it. If I had a husband, I would enter for him as well.

My personal ethic is not to enter for things I don't want. If I see a valuable prize, like a baby carriage and crib set, I'll not enter and leave it for a mother or grandmother who could use it.

Whatever somebody else admits to doing, it's best not to act out by dissing those people, because every one of us has done some entering that another sweeper would not approve of.

Now, this I can totally understand. I am very sorry for your loss ((Hugs)) and I am glad that you got to spend some wonderful quality time with her to build some great memories.

I guess what I am trying to say is I have seen people say they have entered and even won for say 10 people they entered for. My entire household (Husband, kids and myself) enters sweeps so I see nothing wrong with that, they are in your household.

You are all right, it is none of my business and was just a rant. I wasn't trying to start any debates, only expressing my feelings. Maybe, it's because, I am having having a bad sweeping month or maybe because, I am hopeful and frustrated with some of the sweepstakes. I wasn't trying to be a "you know what" about it. Heck, if you look at all the forums I am a member of, this is the one I have been spending most of my time on lately and this is the only one this rant is posted at. I know that probably doesn't have anything to do with this thread and I am sure I am just rambling now, lol.

Good luck everyone and I really do mean it!

 

[amyshulk]

Remember when CBS sportsline started up and you could get a point a page click to trade in on stuff? Well, I automated it so it would click and click all day. I got coffee, and a nice flashlight...when MSN came along, I knew how to cheat at that, but did not. And as a result did not win a thing. The CBS thing was so long ago (this was before iwon existed, that long ago) that I had no idea what I was doing was wrong, it just seemed like a nifty way to get cool stuff. :error:
You may kill me at your leisure :laughing:

LMAO!!! You promise not to run, right??? My back kicks me when I try!!! :crazytongue:

You know, when I 1st started sweeping, I got so many conflicting opinions on the ins and outs of sweeping. :scratch:

My sweeping ethics evolved over time and changed as I learned more. So I'm sure there are post(s) out there that I made before that I'd be ashamed of today :nono:

Since I couldn't get the same answer twice, I decided to go by the rules and search for keywords like Limit/Entry/etc. to help me determine what was correct. Now I sweep, and encourage others to sweep within the limits not only to prevent a possible DQ, but also to (hopefully!!!) encourage sponsors to continue offering sweeps!!! :headbang:

 

[gorgor]

Miki, my response was not a putdown to you, but I get tired of hearing the morality police try to tell me what the proper etiquette is in entering sweeps. Maybe if some people put half as much energy in entering their own sweeps, instead of worrying about what other's are doing, they would win more. This is not directed at you, but in general. Just my 2 cents. Now, I'm off to enter for me, my husband, and my son. Wins to everyone today.

I understand Miki's frustration. It's often HOW they act, not entering. So after a few years, you just got a "all encompassing" attitude because of some folks actions.

My husband enters for me, our kids and his family.

He enters for five of his siblings who are all under 16 for things that they really would want. His 15 year old brother just won a skateboard from.. err... heck if I know? lol. But he was thrilled.

He has 11 brothers and sisters.

His sister in college has been doing sweeping and has done very well with instants. It's funny to see here call up all excited because she won a $10 gc or something. It's actually brought the two of them closer (even tho she is already his favorite)

But he's won a few things that his mother has put away for next Christmas or upcoming birthdays. One was a Wii, something that his one brother wants. Try shopping for 12 kids, a DIL, a SIL, and already 3 grandkids. It does help.

I'm sure if someone read that "my husband enters for his brothers and sisters" might bring a few growls at first.

I think what bugs most of us is NOT entering for others, but when you see someone who enters for 20 family members and then either sell it or make rude or bragging comments . I remember one woman on the other contest site who entered the Oprah bag for her MIL, FIL, SILs, her own family, her self and her husband.. and her child (who is 12). Then she was selling half of the stuff.

A very good example... there is a woman on another site who enters for Allure and other freebies for her GROWN son in another site. She actually talked about how he THROWS half of it away and complained at her about getting 'all this crap in the mail.' It annoyed me to no end because it was greed.

I don't' enter for makeup. I may be gay but I don't use it. But my better half enters for his Mom and a few of his sisters for Allure and anything that is for shampoo or other basics. Is that wrong? Well, with 8 still at home, my MIL can use all the help she can get financially. When David first started sweeping, he entered them for EVERYTHING...

About two weeks ago, he got a bit more selective. Why? Because Mom got a bottle of KY.. oh yeah, THAT was fun for him to explain to her and Dad

 

[tharedhead]

[LMAO!!! You promise not to run, right??? My back kicks me when I try!!! :crazytongue:

I won't run :nono:. I still feel guilty whenever I look at the really nice Seattle Coffee box (which we're using for storage) maybe a good swift kick would make me feel better :laughing:

 

[amyshulk]

The sponsors make up the Rules for the sweeps. We post them. SA encourages people to follow the Rules. It's really easy to digress into a discussion of morals, but I'm not going to do it. We all have our own standards. The sponsors spell out their views in the rules.

That's exactly our position here at SA

Our community is here to encourage and guide our fellow sweepers, so we do not condone or encourage anyone to do anything in violation of the rules, however, we also don't condone or encourage anyone to single out member(s) who interpret the rules differently.

That's the sponsors role, not ours.

 

[3boyzmom]

What bugs me most is when people get a sweeps with lots of prizes, like the philly cream cheese for instance, and they enter for tons of people at different addresses. One person bragged how they had won 7 different philly cream cheese baskets for 7 different households! Wow, it's actually scary that people have time to enter for 7 or more different people, but also unfair.

The other thing I hate that has happened to me several times, I see congratulations on the instant win screen, then never hear another thing!! I won the softsheen instant win on February 11th and haven't heard a thing yet! I hate that!!!

 

[sweepyhead]

What bugs me most is when people get a sweeps with lots of prizes, like the philly cream cheese for instance, and they enter for tons of people at different addresses. One person bragged how they had won 7 different philly cream cheese baskets for 7 different households

Even worse is when you're entering for seven *^%@! households and you still can't win even one damn basket. OK, I'll shaddup now.

 

[tinymomo]

Remember the one a few years ago by the people who make goldfish crackers????

Those damn fishy wallets!

 

[champagne]

Dang it... So mad with these instants.. I keep trying different times of the day to enter and NOTHING... NADDA... ZILTCH.....

WHY CAN'T I WIN :cussing:.... 6,000 winners in the philly instant and I didn't get a hit... WTH is up with that.. I need a win and a good one soon or I'm gonna blow.... :cussing: :cussing: LOL

 

[lidarkside]

I'm not going to worry about what other people do. That's the sponsor's job, and they're also the ones that deem what is cheating--not me. I'm thankful for what I win, and I don't worry about or get upset over what I don't win.

 

[sweepyhead]

I can't win much lately either. March was a slow month after a great early start, but I keep going because I know that inevitably I HAVE to win. I'm at this long enough to understand that this is a numbers game in the end, and don't throw a pity party over it.

When things get slow I occasionally look at my old winning emails for a boost. Yep, I keep them, do you? It helps if you need to contact the sponsor about the prize, and you can replay your greatest hits at any time.

 

[completelyme]

I'm really freaking tired of "leave a comment" sweeps :cussing:
I've ran out of interesting and unique comments. But I can't quit them! It's maddening! Do I really want that fancy lipgloss? Yep. Do I really need another hand bag? Yep. Will I miss out on a chance to win if I don't enter them? Yep. I hate 'em.

And I know they say they choose a winner at random but do they really? I'm going to start posting comments like, "I hate farts and feet" just to see if anyone notices. If I win I'll let ya know :laughing: