*Living off competition wins!!!!*

chriswatts

On the other hand there was a urban myth going around that if you entered a competition via a forum or competition site on some you'd get disqualified. Not sure if there was any truth in it but I've heard of quite a lot of people who won't click through on competition website for fear of this.

From a business point of view I can possibly see that if you run a competition to get people to visit your site, you might be rather annoyed if a competition site sends people directly to your competition page. Saying that I can only think of one website that had in the rules that you would be disqualified if it was found you'd come from a forum or competition website. As for big prizes only being on data collection sites that's not right, although of what I'd describe as a big prize of the one's I've won I've always had what could be described as a business relationship. I know competitions are supposed to be open to all but perhaps there is some truth in the myth?

Then again as you say comping has changed over the years, I was doing a film survey recently that was looking at advertising for various films. Now in my opinion there was two methods of advertising that really worked the one that was the best was probably one of the newer type of competition were seeing more of. It's the type of competition where you have to either watch the trailer and answer questions on it or one that requires you to actually have seen their product to correctly answer the question.

Now tiebreakers as mentioned by rrickyuk does tend to scare a lot of people off and leave the dedicated compers. Now unless a company wants a new slogan for an advert these people probably aren't the target audience the company is looking for, hence these new style competitions appearing.

eyeballpaul

Interesting question.

Several years ago I nearly gave up work to concentrate on TV quizzes and competitions.
At the end of November 2006 my company asked me to work full time from home instead of an office.
I was convinced I could win via the totally free entry on CH5 Brainteaser.
In Dec I won three times that month - £500, then £1,000 then £10,000!.

I thought I had cracked it.

But in the first few months on 2007 I only won several thousand.
But the beginning of 2007 I concentrated also on ITV Play and had 14 wins that year totalling about £8,500.
Also at the beginning of 2007 also won £1,000 and £1200 from two newspapers.

Therefore at beginning of 2007 was seriously giving up work!

Then Brainteaser was taken off air due to irregularities. Myself and others were gutted.
Also ITV Play was beginning to get harder and the prizes lower.
Then ITV Play went off air at end of 2007.
I then had to switch to CH 5 Quiz Call, but their "free" entry route costs an irritating 6/7p a go.
Quiz Call is becoming harder and harder.
Quiz Call winnings were almost £6,000 but free phone calls cost over £1,000!

I would still like to give up work and do comps full time but I don't think my gf would approve.

The trouble is you can't live off prizes.

My girl friend is currently working her way through £2,000 worth of clothes vouchers. The prize let us choose four shops so chose £1400 worth of Debenhams.
Fortunately we can use their vouchers for anything, and have bought new cutlery, crockery, bed linen, and suitcase.
The suitcase will be used for our trips to Dublin, Canada and Manchester (won) in 2009.

I believe it is possible but risky.

I have yet to win anything for 2009

I may do well this year, or may win nothing. That's what makes it so addictive

Good Luck

Eyeball Paul

handmaiden_2

rrickyuk wrote: »

These sites do make the comps a lot easier to find, though, so I'd say that that is a moot point.

Do remember that a decade ago you often had to go out and purchase products, magazines, newspapers, etc in order to be able to enter in the first place.

I would say that the credit crunch has made more people look to entering comps, but the dedicated ones who go for everything possible are quite a small group in comparison. This lot stand the best chances of grabbing the big wins.

One more thing: do not discount postal entry comps - my biggest win was from a second class stamp and a free postcard!

http://www.postalcomps.co.uk/newpost.htm

And, of course, the postal thread on the MSE board!!

in the link it says a few times to "always write your name and address at an angle" can someone explain why this is, I am having a blond day and just dont get it. thanks xx

blackmidnight

handmaiden wrote: »

in the link it says a few times to "always write your name and address at an angle" can someone explain why this is, I am having a blond day and just dont get it. thanks xx

I think it's so that the postal machine reader things don't get confused and send the postcard back to you rather than to the intended recipient if that makes sense

handmaiden_2

blackmidnight wrote: »

I think it's so that the postal machine reader things don't get confused and send the postcard back to you rather than to the intended recipient if that makes sense

yup that makes perfect sense, thanks for your quick reply , xx

Barnabysue

baffledsalmon wrote: »

Well that's what I thought... but if you really think about it, you'd only need to win say... two cars a year... If they're two average cars, you're looking at £20-30k profit once you take off obvious depreciation. Then you could win a couple of cash prizes... if you add it all up, you could be coming away with up to £40k! Not to mention the holidays, hampers, MP3 players etc! If you're entering competitions all day every day, you're bound to win quite a lot!!

There speaks a new comper :rotfl:

Salsa16

Barnabysue wrote: »

There speaks a new comper :rotfl:

Haha, so true, I wish it was that easy! I've been comping for years and have never won a car no matter how hard I try. No way would I give up work to make a living out of it, I wouldnt even go part-time. I have noticed, like others, that comp wins have really dried up recently due to the number of people entering so its probably even harder now. Also, some of the big prizes can cost to enter now by text or phone so it can be expensive. Some of us also spend a small fortune on stamps and I couldnt tell you the last time I won on a postal comp.

I agree with Jason and BBTHREE in that its fun, I live in hope of the postman bringing something nice every day, no matter how small. I've had some lovely wins, but usually small ones (most recent -face wipes, mascara!) that I couldnt live off. So I would say you have to treat it as fun/a hobby and have no expectations.

Muffy0

baffledsalmon wrote: »

Well that's what I thought... but if you really think about it, you'd only need to win say... two cars a year... If they're two average cars, you're looking at £20-30k profit once you take off obvious depreciation. Then you could win a couple of cash prizes... if you add it all up, you could be coming away with up to £40k! Not to mention the holidays, hampers, MP3 players etc! If you're entering competitions all day every day, you're bound to win quite a lot!!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Seriously, you are never going to win two cars in a year.

I won over 6k in 6 months but most of it little bits and bobs although Big Snap II was very good to me :T :T :T
I love the other bits that you could never buy but can win from comps - I won a mamma mia poster signed by bjorn the other day and that is my favourite prize by far! :rotfl: :rotfl:

ALIBOBSY

Paul I too used to love ITV play and brainteaser etc. Do you remember quiz tv brill .

During 2006 when I was comping ALOT, through the above cash comps and others I had wins totalling around 21k tax free nice.

But it does take alot of time, it is volume that helps you win, my postie used to come to the door and ask "what did you win this time".

2006 was my best year, but in the early noughties was making around 5-10k a year. With the new baby and the other 2 didn't do much in 2007.

With 3 kids not had that much time in 2008, but still managed over 3k.

The big problem is it can get a bit repetitive and is not in any way guaranteed, but then again I suppose neither is self employed work especially at the moment.

I reckon it could replace a second income so if one partner worked in a stable job the second could make doing comps, but doing alot every day. There is also an element of luck.

ali x

victoriaplum1

I subscribe to a comp magazine called 'Competitors Companion' its about £50 a year but I find it keeps me motivated when it drops through the door every month and it tells you about loads of comps you wouldnt otherwise know about. Theres always a comper of the month in it who has won dozens of good prizes but it does take time and effort ....I think its a nice hobby though and you gotta be in it to win it. Obviously postcard and internet type comps are potluck (though I have won one or 2), but ones where you gotta buy something to get a qualifier and/or write a slogan are gonna take more effort and so attract less entries in general. I have won a few good prizes a weekend break to Blackpool travel and food etc all paid for (slogan comp), the whole range of FCUK products (postcard comp) and £50 vouchers for a gardening shop from local newspapers (again postcard) also a runners up prize in an OK mag slogan comp where I got range of Herbal Essence shampoo/conditioner (1st prize was a hol to Hawaii though so was a bit gutted about that one!)....not exactly gonna retire on that but its a bit of fun and you never know when you may get lucky and win it big...someone has too! When I talk to people about my hobby they always say 'I never win' and I say 'do you ever enter'? Usually get the answer 'No'!!!!