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The Competition World Seems to Be Changing

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Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the changes going on with competitions?

I already get annoyed with comps on social media, all the following and limitless entries, so rarely enter them and filter to website and email only.

But lately i have noticed that many comps i am about to post are dependent on purchases, downloading apps, signing up to many other sites apart from their own. The magazine comps are dire lately and take half the time they used to, which is good timewise but lots of comps not even worth entering when value only £25. I expect this is a post christmas slump and may pick up.

Have you noticed anything new, worse or better?

a week ago
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I have noticed the same. Many prizes seem to be geared up for 'internet based health wellbeing sessions' rather than anything tangible too.

But, as you say there is always a slump on the prize front after Christmas and it takes much longer each year to get back up to speed too, I am sure I mentioned it to Mr T last June (that there wasn't much going on)!

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Reply4

tumblespots yes there is a mole clinic check up prize and similar. These do not cost much as they are probably filling appointment gaps. Same with overnight stays, you will probably only get a room not booked so cost isn't too high, just a couple of meals usually. Also some of the purchase requirements are very high, saw one recently to enter if you spent over £200. Doing a comp probably brings as much custom as advertising and is lots cheaper.

Of course there are still some really good ones.

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Reply2

Lynibis There are a lot of non-comps about, I even post them myself from the magazines. Another 2 recent comps include '£264 Calm Club membership by Liz Clifton calm coach' and 'Personalised Midlife Coaching Package'. It's never something that I thought I would see....

I agree that the advertising is probably well worth it but I always thought that most companies used a comp as a kind of loss leader? I once made a purchase through a comp link and got into a conversation with them and they were surprised when I said that seeing the prize made me make my purchase!

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Reply1

tumblespots it stands to reason really, don't know how they don't see that. I haven't ended up buying anything ( nothing I need) but certainly browse the websites from time to time.

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Reply2

Yes I have noticed that there have been changes with comps recently. There is usually a post Christmas slump so hopefully that will pick up soon.

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Reply2

MrsCraig I am a bit torn as I like spending less time doing them but it means less chances to win.

I will only enter what I would really like from now on. After a long dry spell I won 2 in one day last week, crime thriller books and some odds and ends for knitting. I will donate as raffle prizes at our over 65s club.

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Lynibis I have been spending less time comping recently, I've been focusing on doing my surveys instead. Congrats on the wins

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Reply2

Competitions are definitely becoming more difficult to win nowadays

I really dislike the one night stay ones, who will travel the other side of the country for one night

Then there are the 3 nights in the maldives hols etc, without flights

Again who would go for just 3 nights and pay a thousand or two on flights ?

To me these companies are getting free advertising with nothing to offer in return

And don't get me started on most now going through social media, a real put off

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Reply3

telmel what can I say? I agree with all points wholeheartedly.

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there are fewer decent ones available at the moment but I guess its not unusual this time of year. Hopefully will pick up later. I very rarely bother with the social media ones now. Occasionally I might do a few facebook ones but no longer bother with Instagram and am no longer active on Twitter either.

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didbygraham I find the Instagram ones so unfair, every one has different rules and if you don't have loads of 'friends' to tag you're at a disadvantage.

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Reply1

I am finding it harder to win these days, and it appears that other compers are feeling the same way. I think it started a few years ago with the pandemic and everybody being stuck at home, more people got into comping and have stuck with it since, thus decreasing your chances of winning. An increase in the UK population also doesn't help.

In terms of the magazine comps, there isn't much of interest on there at the moment. Mostly staycation holiday comps with many of them being for the one night. Unless it takes me less than 2 hours to get there then I can't be bothered if it's only for the one night. With Easter being just a few months away, perhaps the magazine comps will pick up again soon.

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RegularComper91 you've hit the nail on the head. I never enter one night mini breaks unless fairly close to home, as you say maximum 2 hours is ok.

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Reply2

Interesting to hear about this, i’ve very recently started entering competitions. Not won anything yet but hoping for some luck soon

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Reply1

I used to win regularly a few years ago but hardly anything recently and i am entering the same number of competitions as then, if not more

The only thing i have won recently are some vouchers on spar products on an ongoing spin the wheel comp , it's something i suppose

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Reply2

Wholly agree. I used to do half as many competitions(mostly by post)and win twice as much. I cannot remember the last time I had a win. I don't like using IG for competitions because its just posting free ads in my personal space. Other sites are just piling up data and using it for mailing purposes. Yep You're right, comping just aint the same as it used to be.

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Reply1

Just read this in the travelscoop email, and to think some don't get a whiff of a prize lol.

We have one extra-lucky winner and a prize update from “lucky Dan” to tell you about this week…

Luck has been on Richard’s side this week - he’s won TWO different travel competitions!

Radio Times got in touch to let him know he won their comp with Intrepid Travel for a 10-day trip to Vietnam. The prize includes hotels, breakfast, an overnight boat and sleeper train - and visits the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi and Halong Bay.

And then Richard discovered he was the winner of a Blue Danube river cruise worth up to £2,000 from TourRadar.

Nice one, Richard!

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