Which comping strategy do you recommend?

Dreamer_m

Hiya Compers!

I have been using Prize Finder and Loquax for the past six months, but only recently found MSE and I must say I am blown away by this forum!

Just wanted to ask you guys what’s your recommended strategy for comping? I have been entering loooots (seriously, lots!) of free comps but unfortunately I didn't win anything yet :mad:

While chatting with my neighbor the other day, she told me she had won 2 holidays, £5000 and many other high value prizes! She pays to enter comps (wouldn't mention the names, so they won't get free publicity) because she doesn’t believe that the free postal entry route has the same winning odds as the paid one, in spite what the operators claim.

So, what do you think? Would you enter only “free” comps or also “pay-to-enter” ones? Do you think the high value prizes, or perhaps the charitable donations, justify paying for these comps?
Really curious to know what you think and what would you do because I am a little bit green with envy

Thanks!

tammyk

Hi, I only enter free comps and when I started thought I would never win anything...but I have! The thing is though there are no guarantees. I see every competition as a raffle - if your name is in the hat you've got a chance. That's all though, a chance, no guaranteed wins. I enter for low and high value things, anything that I can use for myself and my family or as a gift.

For me its a hobby I really enjoy and am completely addicted to!!!

ikkle87

I wouldn't pay a site to enter for me, takes away the fun of comping really I think.

I enter free web comps like whats posted on MSE, the occasional text comp and then buy magazines for entry forms and probably enter around 24 post card/entry form comps a month. So some comps do cost me but I'm still putting the effort in.

Dreamer_m

ikkle87 wrote: »

I wouldn't pay a site to enter for me, takes away the fun of comping really I think.

Thanks for your reply tammyk! :hello:
Just to make it clear, she doesn't pay a site to enter for her, but rather texts/pays by herself to enter the comps (ITV, The Health Lottery, etc.).

mjm3346

I wouldn't bother paying to enter a competition as in most cases you can get better odds elsewhere (odds with ITV are so bad you can even get a better return on just the cost of a postal entry never mind the cost of a text or call).

I do not know about the honesty of your neighbor or the competitions she claims to have won but in the vast majority of competitions for major prizes each individual entry has an equal chance of winning regardless of entry method and any company can be required to prove that.

The_3rd_Zebu

Dreamer_m wrote: »

While chatting with my neighbor the other day, she told me she had won 2 holidays, £5000 and many other high value prizes! She pays to enter comps

You should ask her how much she has spent entering competitions.

ikkle87

Dreamer_m wrote: »

Thanks for your reply tammyk! :hello:
Just to make it clear, she doesn't pay a site to enter for her, but rather texts/pays by herself to enter the comps (ITV, The Health Lottery, etc.).

Ah that's different then. Like I say I do the occasional text but usually only if there is no alternative entry method same as entry forms. There have been winners who entered the itv comps via postcard and won though. I dread to think how much her bill is.

Misslayed

I've never paid to enter a competition, other than a fund raising raffle type comp for a cause I already support. I've won lots of lovely prizes, a few big ones and enough smaller ones to keep me keen. (BTW my idea of a smaller prize might be someone else's idea of a big prize!). I certainly wouldn't pay someone else to enter one for me.

grannybiker

When ITV comps had a free online entry route there were many folk who won from there. So many, in fact that there was a club on here for ITV winners !


ETA Here it is! https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4393093