Well, Hostess makes it less than fun again. A lot of trouble for a sweeps entry where the $1,000,000 sweeps prize may or may not be awarded.
In Hostess' Halloween Instant Win Game and Chance for a Million Dollars Sweepstakes the entry process is the same for the instant win portion and the sweeps entry. You have to log in and play the concentration type game to gain a sweeps entry in addition to a chance at an instant win prize. No entry into the sweeps just for logging in, no click here if you can't see the game option. No mail in entry option for the sweeps portion.
Even if you're lucky enough to be chosen for a chance at the million dollars, you still have to choose two envelopes with matching pieces to win the million dollars. Odds are the million will not be awarded.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
All I Want for Christmas This Holiday
Universal Studios All I Want This Holiday is a dream to enter. You have 15 chances a day to win up to $100,000. You can bypass viewing the trailer on the start page, log in and the click here if you can't see the game link is avaialable for the instant win.
AT & T Make Them Green With Envy
Gotta love AT &T. They run most of their sweeps different than other companies. The Green With Envy Sweeps is another example. Most sweeps, even those with instant wins, just logging in gets you an entry into the sweeps, whether or not you play the instant win portion. Not AT & T. You log in and have to play the game to gain entries to the sweeps.
Another problem I have, is that even though I have given eprize and AT & T permissions in Firefox, the game freezes up, I have to use another browser. I've found that to be the case in most of those run by AT & T.
Another problem I have, is that even though I have given eprize and AT & T permissions in Firefox, the game freezes up, I have to use another browser. I've found that to be the case in most of those run by AT & T.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Chase Picks Up the Tab
Chase Picks Up the Tab Has a very easy entry form. The tab order works as expected and the verification code is nice and easy to read. Robo doesn't fill in all fields at first, but you can fill it in and save.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I Hate Flash
This is a post from my other blog, VickieB's Ramblings
OK, maybe I don't hate Flash, but I dislike it intensely. Flash when used to enhance a site can be cool. But, for most commercial sites, it should be at the option of the site visitor. A well designed HTML web site can project a much better image for the average consumer than a Flash site.
When I go to a site like Suave or Dove (these are sites I have been to lately) and I try to navigate a less than optimal Flash based site like Suave, it's a real turn off. I have had to spend twice as long looking for information than is necessary. You can't use the back arrow or you're taken back to the beginning of the Flash movie losing even more time. The Dove site has a sitemap available, but click on a link and you are still pulled into a flash site. But, at least with the Dove site you can use the back arrow and go back a page without starting all over, but still it would be much better to have a standard site available. Unfortunately, most, but not all, of Unilever's site are Flash based. Big turnoff.
WD Diary , part of Woman's Day and Classic Heartland, a public radio station have Flash based menus with no alternative, you either have Flash enabled or you can't navigate the site. Not a good impression and another big turnoff.
Most sweepstakes entry forms done in Flash suck, too. There is no reason that your browser's form filler, Google's form filler, Roboform or the like should not be able to fill in a form, any form. There are a lot of people out there who have a hard time either seeing or typing.
OK, maybe I don't hate Flash, but I dislike it intensely. Flash when used to enhance a site can be cool. But, for most commercial sites, it should be at the option of the site visitor. A well designed HTML web site can project a much better image for the average consumer than a Flash site.
Flash based sites
When I go to a site like Suave or Dove (these are sites I have been to lately) and I try to navigate a less than optimal Flash based site like Suave, it's a real turn off. I have had to spend twice as long looking for information than is necessary. You can't use the back arrow or you're taken back to the beginning of the Flash movie losing even more time. The Dove site has a sitemap available, but click on a link and you are still pulled into a flash site. But, at least with the Dove site you can use the back arrow and go back a page without starting all over, but still it would be much better to have a standard site available. Unfortunately, most, but not all, of Unilever's site are Flash based. Big turnoff.
Site menus done in Flash
WD Diary , part of Woman's Day and Classic Heartland, a public radio station have Flash based menus with no alternative, you either have Flash enabled or you can't navigate the site. Not a good impression and another big turnoff.
Most sweepstakes entry forms done in Flash suck, too. There is no reason that your browser's form filler, Google's form filler, Roboform or the like should not be able to fill in a form, any form. There are a lot of people out there who have a hard time either seeing or typing.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Get Some Green to Go Green Sweepstakes
Just like ABC's Water Cooler Moments that ended in December, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Get Some Green to Go Green Sweepstakes is a great example of a lousy entry system. Both the area of the log in button (in the middle of the page) and the log in area (at the top of the page) are Flash. You have to log in in to your account, which is no big deal, but after pressing the button to take you to the log in form, you have to scroll to the top of the page. When the log in form shows up, it looks like it has focus in the user name field, but if you try to type your user name in, nothing appears. You have to click in it first to give it focus. After logging in, you have to scroll down again to see the confirmation. I should be able to use RoboForm (it has all my log in data) to login, but no way. Also, unlike most of ABC, Disney sites, if I am logged in on a related site, I am not automatically logged on to this site.
M&M's Checkered Flag Sweepstakes
Like all of Mars and M&Ms sweepstakes the M&M's Checkered Flag Sweepstakes is Flash based. However, this form is overkill. Like their other entry forms, they are not designed to be used with a form filler, so why they decided to put a hard to read verification code on the form beats me. If they are going to use a verification code, the form should be designed to be used with a form filler.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Malt-O-Meal Free Cereal Sweepstakes
You can enter the Malt-O-Meal Free Cereal Sweepstakes online or through snail mail. Each of the 15 winners will receive 52 coupons worth $5.50 each. The entries are limited to one per person/email/household.
Very fast loading, clean looking, easy form. The verification code is also very easy to read. The only drawback is that usually the Address 2 field is optional, but the form states all fields are required.
Very fast loading, clean looking, easy form. The verification code is also very easy to read. The only drawback is that usually the Address 2 field is optional, but the form states all fields are required.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Win Your Dream Kitchen
The Win Your Dream Kitchen, part of the Reader's Digest Winner Take All creative presentation and sponsored by Taste of Home made a change on their entry form on the 25th.
The form now has a user name and password field. You try and submit and get a "email address already in database" message and a submittal error.
You need to go to the site and register as a user now to enter. No where in the rules does it say that. Now I'm registered, which was a feat in itself. Went to the site, didn't have password (so I guessed), couldn't log in, said email not in database. Tried to register and said I'm already in database. Had email sent for forgotten password, was able to log in, finally found the entry form on their site and entered, getting the Thank you confirmation.
Just brought up the form from my bookmarks and it's the nice simple form. Closed the form, deleted all cookies, brought the form up again and the form with the user name and password shows up.
We'll see how the entry process goes tomorrow.
Edit 3/2/09
Well, there is now a log in link that works on the form. Log in and it brings up the form partially filled in. You would think that if they bring up a form with your info that the state field would be filled in also, but it's not.
The form now has a user name and password field. You try and submit and get a "email address already in database" message and a submittal error.
You need to go to the site and register as a user now to enter. No where in the rules does it say that. Now I'm registered, which was a feat in itself. Went to the site, didn't have password (so I guessed), couldn't log in, said email not in database. Tried to register and said I'm already in database. Had email sent for forgotten password, was able to log in, finally found the entry form on their site and entered, getting the Thank you confirmation.
Just brought up the form from my bookmarks and it's the nice simple form. Closed the form, deleted all cookies, brought the form up again and the form with the user name and password shows up.
We'll see how the entry process goes tomorrow.
Edit 3/2/09
Well, there is now a log in link that works on the form. Log in and it brings up the form partially filled in. You would think that if they bring up a form with your info that the state field would be filled in also, but it's not.
Reader's Digest Big Money Joke Sweepstakes
The Reader's Digest Big Money Joke Sweepstakes is part of the Reader's Digest The $30,000 Winner–Take–All Prize (#002)creative presentation. The form is the same one used for the sweeps that expired this month.
According to the form, if you do not have a joke to submit, you can skip steps 2 and 3. Step two is an option as to what you are submitting: A Joke, A Funny, True Story, A Quote and step 3 is the content of your submittal.
You CAN NOT skip these steps on the form, Joke is already preselected and there is no way to normally clear the fields. I use RoboForm, and if I so desired, I could clear the option field, but that is not how the form is designed. With the option field already preselected, you HAVE to have something in the submit your joke (content) field, the form will not submit without it. Most often I will just put a period or dash in the content field.
They are fully aware that the form does not work properly and still have not done anything to fix it.
To find the sweeps, go to the Reader's Digest site and look for the sweepstakes links.
According to the form, if you do not have a joke to submit, you can skip steps 2 and 3. Step two is an option as to what you are submitting: A Joke, A Funny, True Story, A Quote and step 3 is the content of your submittal.
You CAN NOT skip these steps on the form, Joke is already preselected and there is no way to normally clear the fields. I use RoboForm, and if I so desired, I could clear the option field, but that is not how the form is designed. With the option field already preselected, you HAVE to have something in the submit your joke (content) field, the form will not submit without it. Most often I will just put a period or dash in the content field.
They are fully aware that the form does not work properly and still have not done anything to fix it.
To find the sweeps, go to the Reader's Digest site and look for the sweepstakes links.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Hachette Filipacchi Media Instant Cash Giveaway Sweepstakes
The Instant Cash Giveaway Sweepstakes now being sponsored by Hachette Filipacchi Media (Woman's Day, Elle, etc.) is a change from the sweeps previously run. For the past few years, they have participated in the "Dream" Series (Dream Come True, Dream of a Lifetime). This year, it looks as though only their magazines are involved in this particular creative presentation. Entry has been changed to one a month. Easy entry form. In addition to the prizes offered at the end of the promotion, there is a monthly prize, and the winners will be drawn much sooner than the 8+ month wait time after the sweeps ends of the "Dream" series.
Still a long running promotion, but in my opinion, much better than the previous ones.
Another change that I feel is great, the winners list for this promotion will be published online.
You should be able to find the entries at Sweepstakes Advantage
Still a long running promotion, but in my opinion, much better than the previous ones.
Another change that I feel is great, the winners list for this promotion will be published online.
You should be able to find the entries at Sweepstakes Advantage
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Offensive Error Messages
I guess one of my ongoing sweeps is no longer active. I tried opening the page from a bookmark in IE and was directed to the home page. That's no biggie. However, this is an error message I received when trying to open the same page from a bookmark in Foxfire (with referrer blocked):
403 Access Denied
Access to the requested resource has been denied. We suspect you are using an automated process to access this website. Please retry with a regular browser.
I do believe they could come up with something more appropriate and much less offensive. They could just state that you need to allow private headers.
403 Access Denied
Access to the requested resource has been denied. We suspect you are using an automated process to access this website. Please retry with a regular browser.
I do believe they could come up with something more appropriate and much less offensive. They could just state that you need to allow private headers.
Monday, January 19, 2009
HGTV Dream Home Entry Form Disappointing
The HGTV 2009 Dream Home Giveaway could use a change in their form. Really disappointed in it.
If you tab through the fields, it skips over the state field. It does it in Internet Explorer and Firefox. You should be able to use your keyboard to get to a field. In addition, at one time (not this particular sweeps) the phone field was one line and they wanted it formatted as (xxx) xxx-xxxx. The phone field has been changed to three fields (area code, prefix and last four numbers), but the notation for how they want it formatted has not been updated, and the area code field is not large enough for (xxx).
If they're worried about automated entries, they should put in a security code. (An easy to read one please)
The prize is great, the form sucks.
If you tab through the fields, it skips over the state field. It does it in Internet Explorer and Firefox. You should be able to use your keyboard to get to a field. In addition, at one time (not this particular sweeps) the phone field was one line and they wanted it formatted as (xxx) xxx-xxxx. The phone field has been changed to three fields (area code, prefix and last four numbers), but the notation for how they want it formatted has not been updated, and the area code field is not large enough for (xxx).
If they're worried about automated entries, they should put in a security code. (An easy to read one please)
The prize is great, the form sucks.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Disappointed in Kimberly Clark Room-a-Day Sweepstakes Rules
According to the rules, [...]Every online entry submission must be manually keystroked and manually entered by the individual entrant; automated and/or repetitive electronic submission of entries (including but not limited to entries made using any script, macro, bot or sweepstakes service) will be disqualified and transmissions from these or related e-mail or IP addresses may be blocked.[...]
It's the manually keystroked part that bothers me. For the normal person, no problem. But doesn't that seem like it might leave out people who have a hard time with a keyboard? I quite often have difficulty with keyboarding, comes from a "vascular event" that occurred in my brain. What about those who have difficulty seeing a screen? People rely on form fillers for a lot of different reasons. Doesn't it seem like they are actually trying to alienate the same people who buy their products?
For those who use the capabilities of their browser, Internet Explorer as an example, to remember their user name and password; if you were to go to the site and your browser fills in the fields you've just disqualified yourself.
I use RoboForm, sometimes for entering data on a form. As much as possible, I use it to enter user name and password fields. Personally, for online business and shopping, I shy away from sites where I cannot use RoboForm, especially for my user name and password. RoboForm is one of my means of protection in addition to be a handy form filler.
The instant win game is a disappointment as well. Instead of of quick 1-2-3 your done game, or better yet an option to skip the game and see if you are an instant winner, you have to match up the products, like concentration. You cannot advance to see if you're an instant winner until you have matched all of the products. It's like 10 or 12 products to match up.
That doesn't mean I won't enter the sweeps, the prize is too good. It just means I'm disappointed in the wording of their rules and the game. Doesn't leave a great impression of the company.
It's the manually keystroked part that bothers me. For the normal person, no problem. But doesn't that seem like it might leave out people who have a hard time with a keyboard? I quite often have difficulty with keyboarding, comes from a "vascular event" that occurred in my brain. What about those who have difficulty seeing a screen? People rely on form fillers for a lot of different reasons. Doesn't it seem like they are actually trying to alienate the same people who buy their products?
For those who use the capabilities of their browser, Internet Explorer as an example, to remember their user name and password; if you were to go to the site and your browser fills in the fields you've just disqualified yourself.
I use RoboForm, sometimes for entering data on a form. As much as possible, I use it to enter user name and password fields. Personally, for online business and shopping, I shy away from sites where I cannot use RoboForm, especially for my user name and password. RoboForm is one of my means of protection in addition to be a handy form filler.
The instant win game is a disappointment as well. Instead of of quick 1-2-3 your done game, or better yet an option to skip the game and see if you are an instant winner, you have to match up the products, like concentration. You cannot advance to see if you're an instant winner until you have matched all of the products. It's like 10 or 12 products to match up.
That doesn't mean I won't enter the sweeps, the prize is too good. It just means I'm disappointed in the wording of their rules and the game. Doesn't leave a great impression of the company.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Dove Flash Based Site
In the course of the last couple of weeks, I've entered a couple of giveaways that required me to go to the Dove site and then come back to the hosting site and make a comment.
I use Dove products and I really like them, but I hate their Flash based site. The Dove site is really no different than the other Unilever Flash based sites, not user friendly. Thank goodness for sitemaps because it's the quickest way to navigate the site.
Edit 1/16/09
I went to their Suave site yesterday and it's just as bad.
I use Dove products and I really like them, but I hate their Flash based site. The Dove site is really no different than the other Unilever Flash based sites, not user friendly. Thank goodness for sitemaps because it's the quickest way to navigate the site.
Edit 1/16/09
I went to their Suave site yesterday and it's just as bad.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Woman's Day Entry Forms
Well, it's nice to see, Woman's Day changed their entry forms. The state field is back to a drop down and you can tab to the field and use the down arrow to select. Not quite a nice easy traditional form yet, still cannot tab through the optional information like you should be able to. Until then, still a thumbs down.
Friday, January 9, 2009
HTC Fuse
HTC Fuse has a sweeps running that is entirely Flash based. I have FlashBlock installed in Firefox and cannot enter. It must use a sniffer code, because it tells me a file is missing. Stupid. Without the code and error message I would be able to enable Flash for the site. I can use another browser to enter, but just an example of lousy coding.
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