The chances of winnings, and time spent on comps.

NotAnExpert_3

Hi all,

I was just wondering what are the 'odds' of winning in these various competitions. I see a lot of 'sigs' with details of people's winnings, and it's impressive. Some have total monetary values for the year (eg, "wins for 2007 £3,494), values which are substantial (although, I do appreciate a big win will take that value up considerably).

I was wondering how long you actually spend (per day, etc.) on the comps board, submitting answers to competitions - which can be a tedious process. Also, on average, how many competitions you enter (per day, etc.).

I was always cynical about such winnings, but coming on here, I now realise people do win. But is it more a case of those that enter and win have their wins on their sigs, whereas those that enter but don't win, won't actually advertise that fact? Therefore, it distorts the overall picture, and makes it look like everyone's winning.

Anyway, that was long! Sorry. Hope some of you can share your experiences.

Oh, and good luck!

Sophika

I've been on here since October and don't enter that many but I've had 5 wins, 3 of them good ones (a luxury weekend away, £300 of kitchen gadgets, 2 big bags of cosmetics). I work full time and I don't have the chance to enter all that many but I'm quite impressed so far. I'm sure I'd win more if I entered more, but I just stick to things I'd really like and I'm happy to have fewer wins further between.

schizometric

Very good point you made there! I suppose the people who tend to enter more are also more likely to be big compers on the site and thus more likely to be in with the community and want to advertise the winnings/help they've gained too, so it could be the act of entering more comps increasing their chances! Hmmmmmm...

That probably made no sense. I've been revising all day and my brain hurts.

Anyway, not very helpful answer to your question but I've entered most (90% but only the ones I'm interested in/could use for family or friends) of them posted within the past 2 weeks and won a shoes voucher that hasnt arrived yet I also backtracked and entered a few posted in Sept, etc, but I've not given up hope and know that I may even have won one or two that havent turned up yet.

Good luck anyway

ryan85k

Its the luck of the draw, i won quite a few small things in december through not entering many. I must have entered well over a thousand comps that have ended in the last week (31st december) and as of yet have not had a winners email or any post for 2008!

Although obviously the more you enter the more you will win as a general rule, the law of averages would dictate that.

Just think of each entry being a free lottery ticket, the more lottery tickets you buy the more chance you have of winning.

ryan85k

I must add to that, people dont like discussions on this board, there is a thread above for discussions (see stickys at the top), doesnt bother me but just a word of warning!

lph537

I reckon I spend roughly an hour and a half a day at the most entering competitions. I don't enter every day though. I have no idea how many I enter, probably about a thousand a week but that really is a guess. I average a couple of wins a week but can go ages without a win and then get loads. I also reckon I win about £3k a year.


In 2008 I've won some website software, a load of Pantene and a set of knives with knife block and chopping board - total around £120 so a good start to the year for me!:T

purplevamp

Last weekend I had a catch-up session and did well over 300 comps!!! I was on the poota for about 3 hours (it was in the early hours of the night after everyone had gone to bed and I could FINALLY get on here :rolleyes: . This week I think I've entered about another 100, so far no wins this year, but last year I won a couple of bits.

standingupformyself

I only started in November and have had a few wins already.. a fish tank! a shoe voucher, an advent calander, a watch, and some face cream...
I spend a couple hours a day, when I can entering competitions.. I aim to do about 50 per day, easier said than done of course,

masterthief

yeah, I tend to check in here once in the morning and once in the evening, though when I first started I did a big sesh as there were tons of comps, none of which I'd entered (obv).

I got lucky with the wins in my sig, whichwere all won within my first week's comping, but they were comps that also ended within that firt week. I must have entered at least 1000 comps that week, but some of them don't finish til march 08 or similar, so it distorts the 'win rate'.

also, gotta disagree with ryan85k - I don't think the law of averages rally plays that big a role in comps. it would if there wwere only a small number of ppl entering each comp (i.e. you have 1 in20 chance of winning each comp, you enter 500 comps, there's a good chance you win at least one), but many comps posted here have at least 100 'thanks' on them, and MSEers probs only account for a tiny fraction of overall entrants. when you have a 1 in1000 chance of winning (or higher as is probably often the case) you could spend years entering comps before you see any return on it.

I think the type of comp you enter does affect win chances though - e.g. comps with smaller/less coveted prizes may atrract fewer entrants and there are more small prize comps posted online than big ones. also, tiebreakers and skill games will have fewer entrants so if you're good at either, you should focuson those. I'm crap at gaming, especilly on the internet laptop I'm using, so I know it's not worth me spending hours tying to make santa jump further than anyone else (or similar) because there'll deffo be someone out there who'll beat me. but I'm good at tiebreakers (god at english lang. and lit. andI've been writing songs for years, so coming up with succint catchy phrases, using rhyme, playing with words - they're all skill which I excell at, and they're the kind of thing which win you tiebreaker comps.

aytch

I started in Sept 07 and have had a continuous trickle of prizes, mainly small, but anything free is nice to receive! I enter roughly 50 per day (on a good day)

I am a person who cannot just sit and watch TV in the evening and used to spend my time on shopping sites / ebay, so now I enter comps, it is saving me a fortune, is fun, things arrive I haven't paid for and talking to other members is always a pleasure.

Good luck with your entries.

:j

ryan85k

yeh but masterthief, surely if i enter 50 comps for ipod nanos in one month i would have a better chance of ending up with an ipod nano then if i entered 10 comps for ipod nanos within a month? therefore i have to disagree with you, im sorry!