Searching for comps before adding

Legacy_user · 17 July 2013 at 11:35PM

I have added a few competitions before. One a few days ago...well I searched everywhere for it and searched the URL. However, I some how missed it as someone else had posted it a few days before. HOW DID I NOT SEE IT? :wall:

I then feel like a t*t because I posted something that someone else already had. Is there anyway of avoiding this???

I like to do my bit by adding them but I don't want to duplicate things!!

mjm3346 · 18 July 2013 at 12:37AM

Sadly the search does not always pick things up (not just when they are new) so you can never be 100% sure.

I search the URL, then shortened URL and then the prize, and if it's something I cannot believe no one has posted I will check by closing date (don't do that very often).

This post in the comping guide covers searching

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=12237989&postcount=7

kzmicallef · 18 July 2013 at 12:40AM

haha! I love your smiley! that was me earlier tonight. try not to worry about it too much! at least you are trying to contribute to the boards which is already a great thing. I usually search by the prize rather than the url as some newbies can't post it or might post a shortened version, if that brings nothing I put the board in order of end date and check the pages that correspond to see if its posted. other than that I don't know. Personally although i'm in the minority I admit, i'd rather see a comp duplicated than never posted ;-) x

jewels84 · 18 July 2013 at 1:33AM

like others have said...at least you tried to post & searched before you posted (more than what some do). If it's a dupe then it's a dupe,,,nothing lost. Someone will be along soon enough to say it's been posted before.

Of the few comps I have posted..I have double checked via search whether it has been posted before by using numerous criteria like URL, prize, important phrases.But from what others have said it's not always reliable. Even the old-hands* dupe other posts..try not to worry about it too much.

*no offense to the 'old hands' your input is very very much appreciated

:p

Zanzib · 18 July 2013 at 2:10PM

I've found the best way to search to see if a competition has already been posted is to search by the provider name, either the website name or the prize provider name.

I've found just putting the competition details often doesn't bring it up even though it has been posted- just phrased in a slightly different way...

Barnabysue · 18 July 2013 at 3:21PM

I've found that the shortened URL works best for me eg argos.co.uk and with Facebook using facebook.com/argos

thingamaBob · 18 July 2013 at 4:32PM

You should also remember that the search data is only updated every 15 minutes, so you should do a manual check of entries for the last 20 minutes or so. This catches a lot of people out.
I always search by site name, e.g. Argos without the .co.uk. It has been known for a site to have the comp on both .com and .co.uk. so if you search with .co.uk and the previous post was with .com, you will not find it.
The only problem I have had with search is that it sometimes comes back with no results at all when there should be some. If you get no results always check again.