postal comps...worth the time?

Money_maker

mjm3346 wrote: »

At one stage Hearst magazines were getting 670,000 postal entries per year (almost 13,000 a week) so quite a few people still bother with them.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=69030737&postcount=98

Thats really interesting although this looks as though it may be 2012? Would be good to see how the figures have changed in the last 3 years.

mjm3346

As far as postal and ITV goes there doesn't appear to have been a single winner from the regular shows so far this year while there were around a dozen in the same time last year when free web entry was available.

jaibaby

mjm3346 wrote: »

As far as postal and ITV goes there doesn't appear to have been a single winner from the regular shows so far this year while there were around a dozen in the same time last year when free web entry was available.

But you need to remember that with the free online route people could enter as many times as they like (phone numbers permitted). I read somewhere that someone was entering ITV comps with 30+ different numbers :eek:

I used to enter using two (home & mobile) and max the both. Now I send 1 postcard, if I catch the comp in time. Not a lot of people on these boards are willing to spend 60p odd on a stamp to enter, so therefore, the odds of someone on this forum winning is very small

mjm3346

jaibaby wrote: »

But you need to remember that with the free online route people could enter as many times as they like (phone numbers permitted). I read somewhere that someone was entering ITV comps with 30+ different numbers :eek:

I used to enter using two (home & mobile) and max the both. Now I send 1 postcard, if I catch the comp in time. Not a lot of people on these boards are willing to spend 60p odd on a stamp to enter, so therefore, the odds of someone on this forum winning is very small

That was the point, ITV now have far far fewer "free" entries making a free win very unlikely without even taking into account the probable substantial increase in "paid" entries with the raising of the entries allowed per number and people switching from free to a pay route as well.

jbissy

I've been doing the postal comps for about 18 months. I only enter once & only for good prizes, usually those offered by TV channels. Not won anything yet but reckon the amount of entries is still very high even without a free route but ever hopeful x

mjm3346

jbissy wrote: »

I've been doing the postal comps for about 18 months. I only enter once & only for good prizes, usually those offered by TV channels. Not won anything yet but reckon the amount of entries is still very high even without a free route but ever hopeful x

From their annual report for 2014 when for some of the year free web entry was still available

Interactive revenue was up £4 million due to higher income from competitions.

Taking the higher £1.50ish per paid entry fee that's over 50,000 extra paid entries (potentially over 100,000 entries with the bogof they all have) per week.

Lakebird

I understood that where you had three methods of entry, such as postcard, text and phone, that the details were all entered onto a single computer and that is how they pulled a winner. That way would they know if the entry had originally been a postcard ??

mjm3346

Lakebird wrote: »

I understood that where you had three methods of entry, such as postcard, text and phone, that the details were all entered onto a single computer and that is how they pulled a winner. That way would they know if the entry had originally been a postcard ??

Entry method should make no difference to the chances of winning however they select them.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5209425

lovetowinacar

Not had very much success with postal competitions this year at all. About 3 years ago I used to have a regular win from them mainly small prizes but was lovely to receive something back.

Now the price of stamps is higher so they cost more and not getting any wins. I am also starting to question whether the cost is worth it.

jamielmdjs

Still not a single postal wins. You begin to question whether your entries are getting there or being accepted (in the case of 'home made' postcards). Sticking at it, but it's a chore with no reward so far..