Sometimes it seems as if nothing has changed. Many companies still do not want ‘professional’ sweepstakers entering. I want to know, if we don’t enter, who will?!
I also chose to remove the sponsor’s name as, during the giveaway, they changed their rules to be all-inclusive, and as this was initially written almost seven years ago, why shame them now?
One of the reasons I like having a large circle of contest buddies on social media is interesting sweepstakes topics come across my feed. Nicole posted the following rules she found while entering:
Friends and family of [SPONSOR], employees, and professional sweepstakes persons are not eligible to win this contest. Persons who enter more than two separate contests via social media per month are considered professional sweepstakes persons and will be immediately disqualified.
The comment thread quickly grew as her friends joked about our new-found status as professionals and how appalled they were at the rules. Being very passionate about this hobby, my reaction to such marketing foolishness on the part of companies is stronger than most, and I bet, disproportionate because:
- I do not earn my living winning. I earn my living as a professional marketer and writer. Contesting is my hobby.
- I get frustrated when companies do not understand the intricacies of social media and how connecting with a wide variety of people across various platforms widens their marketing message and enhances their company profile.
It seems the original reasoning for the specificity of their rules was that some winners were selling their prizes on eBay. I understand the sponsor’s exasperation when they feel their marketing efforts are not reaching customers or prospects, and sadly, there are a greedy few in it for all they can get at all costs. (This isn’t the first time I have heard this either … and as a business owner, I understand why they decided to exclude sweepstakers.)
However, after a few entrants posted on their page, they changed their full rules to read:
RULES & CONDITIONS:
Winner gets to choose spring color of their choosing for their Dad.
Winner will be announced June 6, 2014.
Contest is restricted to those in the continental United States; prior winners are not eligible.
Friends, family, and employees of our company are not eligible to win this contest.
I enter for only prizes I want to win for myself or prizes that would make fantastic gifts (for a good example, see The Baby Shower–What Really Happened); I support the sponsors as much as possible. Again, I hate being called a professional, as entering and winning is my hobby, and I want all companies to understand the value of a prospect (see Sweepers Are Good).
Do you feel you are a ‘professional’ sweepstaker? How do you feel about being excluded from entering a giveaway? Do you enter every promotion you can, or are you selective about the prizes you want to win?
When I tried to enter the Strongboard Balance Father’s Day Contest up above by clicking the purple Enter Here words, I was taken to a place that said Error (and nothing else happened!). – Besides this, I don’t consider myself a professional sweepstaker at all! There was a time in my life when I entered many contests, but still not enough to make me consider myself professional, and now I enter contests once in awhile (a lot happened in my life). Even if I started entering lots of contests again, I definitely don’t do it for a living, but as a hobby. I’m sure most people will feel the same way!
Not sure why the link I pasted wasn’t right in the post. Here is the direct page if the ENTER HERE doesn’t work in the post: http://strongboardbalance.com/2014/05/strongboard-balances-fathers-day-contest/
I have sold a few items. I really wanted the bike, but not the baby trailer. I once sold an iPod that I’d won to help make rent. I do not consider myself a “pro”.
My contesting focus has narrowed a bit. I no longer enter everything that comes across my screen. Part of the reason is that I simply don’t have the time because of work. The other is that I do ask myself “can I use this or gift it to a friend or relative?”
I do it as a hobby and I don’t enter for prizes that I do not want to win. I think that it is despicable to win prizes just to sell them. There may be someone who really wanted to win that item and who may have also been a loyal custome or good potential customer for the company.
I have discovered many companies and have made purchase due to entering a contest.
There is a guy that takes it to the extreme and gets upset if he doesn’t win something every few days. It makes the other sweepers look greedy like him.
hum…ive seen one like that ..i’m thinking of a guy like that I know..hum
I think if sponsors are really upset about the “professional sweepstaker,” they should just limit entries to one per person, that way the playing field would be even. Yes, you can enter one sweepstakes once in your life and win, but that is not being very realistic. And, if you did win, you would most likely want to win more…and so the “professional sweepstaker” is born. I think the majority of us just enter for prizes we really want to win, but there are often times other prizes, prizes we may not really be interested in, and those are the ones we end up winning instead. Lastly, I’m not sure the sponsors realize what little exposure their sweepstakes/product would receive without the network of sweepers who truly love this hobby and often become loyal customers once they receive a special win.
I only enter for a prize I want or if I can gift to my kids.
I enter sweeps as a hobby. I look at the prize to see if one of the kids would like it, if so I enter. I like to enter while watching TV. I still enjoy entering sweeps by mail 😍. My grandson (age 10) loves getting prizes I win in the mail.
I’ve seen some of these posts. It is annoying. Don’t want my business? Okay I’ll move on.
I have always entered sweeps as a hobby. If I win something I can’t use, I will gift it to another family member, outside of my immediate household. For me, a lot of things have changed over the years, (moving into a long-term care centre and my husband into a small condo), which has me now has me now entering for specific items. All told, this hobby brings me hours of enjoyment, that’s why I do it.
Honestly, in a way I do. Is it my hobby? Yes. Do I treat it like a job? Sometimes I do.
Definitely not a professional, but I do enter every day. Do I win every day? No, but it’s a fun hobby
It’s funny to think of myself as a professional sweeper. It actually made my family laugh when I suggested the idea that if you enter over 100 you are a pro. I love the hobby. As some before me have said, if I really want the grand prize but win something else and sell it, why is that bad? I just might not need it and someone else might. What’s the harm?
What do the companies consider a professional sweeper. I enter some sweeps but do not consider myself a professional sweeper