In 2008, when we attended the Annual National Sweepstakes Convention in San Antonio, TX, I was invited to be a guest on the morning show on 99.5 Kiss Rocks. During the interview, the DJs use the term prize pigs. I dislike the term because, although I enter many contests in a given month, I do not consider myself greedy. I enter what I can (time permitting) for prizes I want to win, follow the rules, and win what I win. (See I Win Every Contest I Enter.) Their complaint came from the fact that it was the same people calling in repeatedly to win the on-air prizes.
Fast forward five years, I remember calling my local radio station, KiSS 92.5, to talk to the morning DJs about how reality TV is unscripted television being directed and arranged by the production company. The topic of prize pigs arose after they learned I was the Contest Queen. They wanted to know how it was the same people getting through over and over again. I wanted to know, too, as I rarely get through, and if I do, I never seem to be the correct caller. For me, call-in radio prizes are few and far between.
Well, one Monday, shortly after, I got through. Due to the time change, I languished in bed far later than usual. To stop myself from falling back asleep, I turned on the radio. Moments later, I heard the cue to call in to win tickets to Rihanna. I thought, “I should try.” I rolled out of bed, picked up the phone, and dialed. Busy, busy, busy, ringing. My heart began to pound. Roz and Mocha (the DJs) answered and began talking to me. I knew then I was caller 9 as I didn’t get the usual “You’re caller 6.” click. I was embarrassed to say anything to the DJs as I told them I never win on the phone. Later I went back over my wins spreadsheets, and I couldn’t find a call-in win from a radio station for several years.
In the meantime, my daughter said to her dad, “I think mom won something. She’s shouting.” and then came to see what all the excitement was about at that early hour. I got to take Lane to her first concert.
Experiences like this are why I love this hobby. Right now, going to a concert is not in my budget, yet winning is allowing me to have some mother-daughter time, which is something money can’t buy.
So, do you call in to win?
Years ago, I was successful calling into radio stations a few times. However, that hasn’t happened for a long time. However, I HAVE been successful entering sweeps that local radio stations run on their websites! They often give away tickets to events online!
To be honest there are many “Prize Pigs” and it doesn’t just have to do with Radio either. I myself enter much like you for prizes I can use or prizes my wife can use or prizes my children can use. I don’t enter just for the hell of it or as a way to feed an addiction. The prizes I don’t want, I donate them (i.e. Powerbar $5000 in products which I donated to 2 different sports teams: Royal City Hyacks in New Westminster and Cascades Swim Club in Calgary AB.).
It does seem as though some contesters who have popped up in the last 2 years have become a statistical “Prize Pig” entering anything and everything they can. Secondly and I say this with a bit of contempt for those who run blogs for their own selfish gain and call themselves contesters are not what I would call a contester. They are simply utilizing blogs for their own personal gain whether it is under the guise of trying out new products from sponsors who intend to do a giveaway to manipulating their entries through their followers to enter under their links. To me a contester is someone who devotes more than their share of free time to enter contests. Not manipulate statistical odds in any way shape or form through the gain of freebies or through the use of promoting their own links.
Trucker.
Wow! I didn’t know that people would try to win their own giveaway!
I won lots of giveaways on the radio. Including a motorbike, jetski and a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando. I guess I was persistant and lucky but after awhile I found they tried to discourage me from calling. I think they would know it was me and pretend I was the wrong caller. Not 100 percent sure about that but sure seemed that way. I still try sometimes but not like I use to. But I had a good go at it.
Enjoy
Very rarely enter by calling in, shy I guess. I tend to enter online for just about everything, enter locally in shops, and by email for some of the CBC Radio contests. I find that I don’t win often from the same source, although CBC, Random House and Harper Collins, and the Metro Daily have all been very good to me. It’s not like I am winning every contest they run and they tend to offer multiple prizes for each contest. So definitely not a “Prize Pig” just a very lucky one born in the Year of the Boar/Pig.
I don’t usually do the call in contests as most of the time I’m in the car & don’t want to pull over in traffic to call. I have 2 little boys so at home, I don’t use the phone too often because they are still at the interupting age.
I do enter online radio & tv contests where the prize is something I, my husband or kids would like & use.
Good Luck to all!
I love radio wins!
My biggest was from Kiss 92.5 about ten years ago. They were giving away a trip to mexico every day and they qualified 4 people per day (1 in 4 odds). I got through one morning but wasn’t the winner. I ended up getting through again two days later and my name was drawn as the winner that time!
Since then I have won tickets to different events and lots of lotto gift cards. I listen to a smaller country station in my area so not as many people call in. Much better odds 🙂
A lot of companies have that perception of sweepers. I only enter what me and my family can use or want. Every prize makes me happy and gives me the same tingle as the first one.
I don’t really enter radio contests because I never really have the time anymore. I enter giveaways in the stores when I can and I won a portable summer cooler on wheels that folds up! That was last year! Pretty exciting when they called me and this was at a liquor store. We needed a new one and this was great! The term Contest Pig is not a nice term. But unfortunately there are greedy people out there who only want to win it all in a negative way. I do it for fun, when I have time and to help my family. Cheers!