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OpinionSoup Sweepstakes - Lettuce Win!
 

List of Common Sweepstakes Abbreviations


  • ARV - Approximate Retail Value
  • DOB - Date of Birth
  • EAB - Enter Also By
  • GP - Grand Prize
  • IWG - Instant Win Game
  • MBM - Must Be Mailed MBR - Must Be Received
  • MSRP - Manufacturer's
  • Suggested Retail Price
  • NAZ - Name Address Zip
  • OEF - Official Entry Form
  • OGP - Official Game Piece
  • RT - Round Trip
  • SASE - Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope
  • USPS - United States Postal Service (regular mail) 

Ongoing Sweepstakes


Generally, these sites have sweepstakes going on all the time, with details/particulars/specifics changing monthly:


    OTHER SWEEPS SOURCES


    aaswelgo SweepstakeSupplies.com - Sweepstakes Supplies. Offering colorful postcards and envelopes for the sweepstakes hobbyist. Also loads of valuable sweep-related information, sweepstakes, and an online giveaway.


    UPC DATABASE


    Need a UPC but don't want to go to the store and buy the product? Try the UPC DataBase: http://www.upcdatabase.com/


    JUDGING AGENCIES


    Curious about the Judging Agencies? Cindy's got it all right here: http://www.sweepstakesupplies.com/ja.htm


    A Few Generic, General Guidelines For Entering Sweepstakes


    Unless otherwise noted, all mail-in entries are limited to one per envelope, including sweepstakes designated "Unlimited Entries."

    Mechanically reproduced or photocopied entries are generally not acceptable.

    • If the rules say "No P.O. Boxes," use your home address.
    • If the rules say "Home Address," use your home address.
    • If the rules say "Name, Address, Zip" or "Name, Mailing Address, Zip," you may use a P.O. Box Address.

    Generally, I advise against using P.O. Box Addresses, as many prizes are delivered by UPS, FedEx and DHL.

    Always include your Area Code with your phone number.

    Always include your Zip Code with your address.

    When entering online from this site, please hold the mouse button down and OPEN IN NEW WINDOW, or Copy/Paste the URL. Do not enter directly from this IP or both your entry and mine may be disqualified (this page gets hundreds of hits per day).

    These Sweepstakes Guidelines are condensed from Official Rules. One important condensation: when it is stated that employees (incl family and/or those living in same household) of Sponsors may not enter, it is implied that employees of Sponsors' respective Parent Companies, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, Retailers, Suppliers, Distributors, Advertising/Promotion Agencies, etc., also are ineligible. You are encouraged to read all Official Rules before entering any sweepstakes. Why waste postage through ignorance of the rules?

    More and more sweepstakes administrators are insisting that entries come from the individual entrant only, in the entrant's own handwriting, and/or from the individual entrant's own computer only. Every computer has an individual characteristic called an IP, and any webmaster or admin can see where an entry has come from. If you simply click on the URL provided here, my IP may show as the originating computer. Therefore, you need to think about it before you simply click on a sweeps URL and enter. Some of these sweeps admins will disqualify all your entries if you enter for other people, specifically, ePrize...so you need to stop doing that.

    If you win a trip (please, please, a trip!), don't assume that everything under the sun is included. Only those items specifically listed in the "prize paragraph" are included in the prize. Some give more than others.

    When you win a prize, remember to write the Sponsor or the Judging Agency a short Thank-You letter. This is important. Don't say to yourself, "Oh, let the others do it." We want them to keep on having sweepstakes, don't we? Tell them how great their sweepstakes was and how much you like your prize and their product. Do it your own way, but do it.

    Frequently Asked Questions


    QUESTION: "Why are all these sweepstakes void in Puerto Rico? What have these companies got against Puerto Rico?"

    
ANSWER: The sponsors have nothing against Puerto Rico. Most of them (the ones offering prizes not difficult to ship) would love to have their sweepstakes open to Puerto Rico. It is Puerto Rico's own laws that make these sweepstakes void. Perhaps this is because of lobbying by the gaming industry; I don't know. The same is true of sweepstakes void in certain States - local laws (or prohibitive requirements) are responsible.

    QUESTION: "Is it necessary to address the entry envelopes exactly as given; that is, including symbols like ® and ™, etc.? And what about the order of info on the actual entry, and quotation marks?"

    
ANSWER: Although I will post the entry address as it is given in the Official Rules, including those symbols and various idiosyncratic methods of capitalizing and even italicizing, I don't believe it is necessary to address your entry envelope that way. That's my personal opinion. In fact, it could actually slow down the progress of your entry through the postal system, as these symbols will certainly confuse automated sorters, which will then kick out your envelope for hand sorting.

    In my opinion, sweepstakes sponsors and administrators are not looking for ways to disqualify entries; therefore, in my opinion, as long as your entry arrives, it will be accepted. Unfortunately, sweepstakes administrators and their employees are perhaps not familiar with the USPS preferred method of addressing envelopes, which is ALL CAPS, WITH NO SYMBOLS WHATSOEVER EXCEPT THE DASH (-) IN THE ZIPCODE-PLUSFOUR. This guideline has been public knowledge since 1990, when it was first published! Nevertheless, I have NEVER SEEN a correct entry address requested by sweepstakes administrators. In many cases admins ARE aware of what the Post Office wants, but as long as the USPS doesn't MAKE them do it a certain way, they continue to practice their "branding" theory, publishing convoluted addresses that may even contain the sponsor's slogan.

    It is more important, in my opinion, to be sure that your actual entry INSIDE THE ENVELOPE has the correct requested information. Even then, admins sometimes post nonsensical rules, such as asking for your name, then your age, then your address. I believe that as long as you provide the requested information, the order in which it is given doesn't matter. I also believe that "quotation marks" are equally as unnecessary as attempting to write in italics. However, many sweepstakers are rabidly superstitious about details and disagree with me (they don't want to "take a chance," in their opinion, on wasting entries or stamps). Use your own judgment. Remember that some admins are STILL calling for 3" x 5" Postcards (minimum size for postcards is 3.5" x 5"), so they never seem to learn and never seem to care about what the United States Postal Service either wants or requires.

    GOOD LUCK!

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