has anyone ever won anything from these competition sites?

JessicAhh

What about SWOOSH?

I made the mistake of entering for something from there the other day (via a discount vouchers.co.uk email), and I got tonnes of emails telling me that I'd been signed up for websites, like InboxPounds etc. All the other comps I entered around that time were ones I know as legit from previous experience, so can only think it was Swoosh...

Luckily I didn't enter my phone number as something told me it seemed a bit like the GetMeATicket ones... :eek:

vanpopple

Personally jessica i think swoosh is defo a spam site, like you first time i saw it thought same thing, and tbh it doesnt hurt to avoid it as theres plenty of other comps, if there were a sudden drought of comps maybe, but thats not gonna happen anytime soon.

jdsaint

What you have to understand is all these other sites are run for PROFIT.

And MSE is run for no profit at all...?? The advantage MSE has over other competition portals is that it has the ability to probably earn more in a weekly email or it's finance side than some sites do in a year.

I kind of figure your point, but don't say this site is not run for profit. This site (as a whole) is awash with links that earn for it's owners - not a problem but it's unfair to berate others for running a business aimed at compers.

Now I accept your opinion that you prefer a seemingly ad free service... but sites like those mentioned have server costs, development costs and people costs - so why shouldn't they earn? MSE have the same overheads but choose to use other means for generating their revenue - and content. Through that you get this section for free.

However, other comp sites also won't make a great deal from clicks (few sites do pay per click) and with ads a lot of the time it's commission based. I've just looked at TPF's new today list - 4 out of 170 comps listed potentially may earn for it... 3 look sales commission based and the 4th a leadgen.

With Loquax we did a lot of things compers wanted (no offer type listings, options to opt-out, not selling data etc) - and we funded that by doing other things. It proved to be a bad option in the end!!

Basically.. I'm saying give those other sites a break when you're going on about they're for profit. Yes you have a wonderful free facility here and it's been great for compers, but don't be so blinkered in your view about the rest of the comping world, or indeed what's infront of you.

Who knows.. a new broom at MSE may look at forum resources and note that the most popular section brings in little revenue - making it question why it's here...

Blulu

I agree with you Jason. I don't get why making money is so often perceived as something somehow 'dirty'.

Blu X

vanpopple

(Profit making via COMPING only i mean)
It doesnt bother me either way, however as MSE makes nothing from me visiting, then why should i visit other sites that may make money for exactly the same thing.
At the end of the day we could all set up comp blogs and do the same thing, i choose not to, and am happy that mse doesnt directly make a penny from my visiting.
Why would i want to give any other sites money for nothing, they are choosing to run a site so you know it costs money to run a website so you cant 'moan' that people should give others a chance, if you think youre costs are high then dont do it simple, NOBODY told you or any of these other sites to set up did they???????

(and technically jd you are ''self-promoting'' here which isnt allowed)

mjm3346

jdsaint wrote: »

Who knows.. a new broom at MSE may look at forum resources and note that the most popular section brings in little revenue - making it question why it's here...

Bit of an understatement, as the comping section is so far ahead of all the rest (over 600,000 views a week when figures were listed which was more then the rest of the top 10 combined) and all those views help bump the forum up the various ranking sites without even considering any overspill onto the rest of the forum and the main site, all potentially money making.

jdsaint

and technically jd you are ''self-promoting'' here which isnt allowed

I'm giving an opinion on your comment from a different point of view. There are no links, no suggestions to visit, no nothing other than a personal view with a bit of insider information... but if you think that's self promoting then report it under MSE rules. Let them decide if it's ok for me to offer an opinion and add to the discussion.

But I think you actually miss my point... I'm not saying use these sites because they make a profit (it's up to them to figure out the numbers and get visitors). I'm saying that it is not fair imo to say MSE is non-profit making therefore that makes other comp sites bad.

Bit of an understatement

Not really... most popular section can't be trumped can it? And sure it will have some benefits as you say, but I just asked a what if ... nothing more.

libra10

I can vouch for the integrity of Loquax, have been a member for many years and receive no spam whatsoever.

Competitions are now posted by regular members of the forum, and the mods soon spot if anything is wrong or any website suspect.

Loquax will not sell on your details - I use both Loquax and MSE, and can vouch for both.

vanpopple

Sorry each to their own as they say.
Im sure some folk would be happy to help a site run if it does involve adverts or whatever, i dont mind like you im just proffering my personal opinion, i have nothing against loq and as you know i have tried it, but i still prefer mse as the listings and advice are second to none, as im sure you know as you are here also!!
Im glad you didnt close its nice for people to have choices..
(and just to add im also a member and never had any spam, only the odd newsletter)

mjm3346

jdsaint wrote: »

Not really... most popular section can't be trumped can it? And sure it will have some benefits as you say, but I just asked a what if ... nothing more.

My point was more about the potential money making that already goes on with competitions time not the "what if?" and while correct, simply "most popular" doesn't convey the massive difference between this section and all the rest.