I have subscribed to a number of store newsletters over the past couple of years to find out great deals in record time. After all, it is my job to bring you the latest sales, freebies or coupons! It is not uncommon for me to open my Inbox and find 50 or 60+ emails every morning. Most of them are junk mail, some are so-so deals, some are fantastic discounts and a large chunk of them are contests. Yes, it seems if a store doesn’t necessarily want to give you a good deal, they will run a contest instead. And why not? It makes them appear generous since a lot of these prizes are fantastic (trips, cars etc.) and they end up saving a ton of money! It’s a lot cheaper to shell out $5000 in points to one customer than offer a $1 discount to potentially a million people.
I tend to skip over the contest emails unless the odds are really good. And when the odds are good it is usually a locally run contest where the prize is minimal at best. But, hey…a small prize is better than no prize!
What about you? Do you enter contests? If so, how often? Have you won any great prizes from entering contests? Let us know!
I enter if I am genuinely interested in the prize and I don’t have to jump through hoops to enter. Ive won a couple times, things like a year supply of stevia, dinner for 8 at a local restaurant, and show tickets. I prefer the contests that don’t involve spamming everyone I know.
I enter contests, maybe 15 a day or so – depends on what’s out there. Some on FB, some regular entry. My biggest win this year was a year’s supply of Hershey Chipits and baking chocolate; last year I won a year of Nestea. Biggest win ever was years ago from London Drugs when the very first Harry Potter movie came out, and I won a beautiful carved wooden chest.
I probably enter a contest once every two weeks, just when I see one on the forums here that I’m interested in. Last year, I got REALLY lucky and won 4,000$, and 5000$ in spa gift cards from a Schick contest that I don’t even remember entering really. Ever since then I’ve been kinda hooked. Never been lucky again though, probably a once in a lifetime thing.
I rarely enter contests because I don’t want to be on someone’s phone / email list forever more. Contests are a good way to generate such lists… and they might even be sold.
Yes I enter contests, it’s fun and I have won! The best prize I ever won was a $2500 cheque from a Natural Instincts sweepstakes a few years ago. That got me addicted to winning! I also won a $250 jewelry gift card from Elle Canada, an amazing Melissa and Doug treehouse playset from Chirp magazine, tickets to the Barbie Princess charm school event at Casa Loma, and a few other smaller prizes. I never pass up on the chance to enter a contest if the prizes interest me – my motto is “you can’t win if you don’t enter!” Mind you, I have won a LOT more entering blog giveaways where the odds are naturally better, but it’s always worth a try for a contest too.
I enter a lot of contests! I used to win a lot of contests before the internet. I get about 3-5 prizes a year for mailing in about 100 sweepstakes.
The biggest prize I won was a romantic getaway in Lake Como, I won at Rome Airport while I was LEAVING the country. It was a shame because I was too busy to use the trip. It was worth like $2000, but had to buy our own airfare to Italy.
Last time I won a contest was from a Renter mag 3 years ago, I got $100 gift card to an expensive French restaurant. Ended up topping up another $60 for the meal… Anyway, I think mailed-in contests have higher chance for winning because fewer people bother to enter.
Totally enter! FB, radio, and tv stations are the best ones so far, and while I haven’t won a huge prize, I have probably won about $500 worth of stuff this year, including a coat, a pen prize pack, gift cards, sports tickets, chocolate, cheese, and a roast. I especially like contests where not too many people enter and my odds are better!
I won $50 from Wannawin a few weeks ago…
I enter contests on an occasional basis, I use to enter more often when I was at home with the kids, but now that I am working full time, I don’t have as much time. I use to win about a prize a month, mostly kids stuff. One year I won a $1,000, then about 2 years ago I was trying for Argo football tickets for my husband and son and ending up winning the grand prize a 2010 Nissan Titan truck, etimated at $45,000. I would suggest if you get the chance to enter, enter, you never know what you might win.
Usually not because I am a skeptic. I often believe companies are just trying to get your info.
After reading these comments, I think I will try entering.
I do enter contests, but only a select ones. Only those that are relatively easy to enter and the odds are pretty good. Definitely inspired by the comments above. Some great prizes won. I won $100 at Home Depot from Wannawin. I was surprised. Other than that mostly movie passes and tickets to sporting events. I figure why not. Of course I get on mailing lists, but emails go to my junkmail and I give my cell number and not my home.
yes I try to enter at least 25+ contests every day. my biggest win was $1000 in Fruits & Passion Cacuin products last year. This year prizes have been mostly movie tickets. Small win yes, however, it gives an inexpensive date night .meaning
I had been wondering about winning…if there were some people who won these contests. So thanks for your input.