When You Don’t Win A Giveaway

So you enter a giveaway with an awesome prize, you come back every day and do ALL the daily entries diligently, only to find out at the end of the giveaway that you didn’t win.

Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Frustrating, right?

Of course!

And I think you have every right to feel that way. Probably because I too have felt the same way before.

It’s hard to accept that you didn’t get something you worked so hard for. It’s true for giveaways as it is true for other areas of life.

I wouldn’t consider not winning a giveaway as “failure” though because winners of giveaways/sweepstakes are drawn randomly.

And when something is picked randomly, the only thing you can do to get better chances of winning is by increasing your “lots” or entries.

We have to remember, though, that doing all those tasks (the follows, the daily entries, or referral entries) does not entitle us to the prize.

And not winning does not give someone the right to bad-mouth the person/company/blogger who ran the giveaway.

Just last month, one particular company did a giveaway/contest for a high-end item. The official rules clearly stated that there will be 2 winners — one picked at random and one with the highest number of entries (it was an unlimited entry type of giveaway where you gain entries by sharing and referring friends).

What made me sad is that there were a couple of people who were saying that the giveaway / company is unfair.

Drawing a winner randomly is not unfair. But the main issue of those people is that the company was awarding a prize to the person with the most entries — which to them is unfair because they don’t think they can get enough entries/referrals to win the second prize. Correct me if I’m wrong but, to me, it seems just about fair for the company to recognize and thank the one that worked hard to get so many people to sign up. I had thousands of entries to that giveaway and I felt that there was a big possibility that I’d win. But I didn’t win the prize for the most number of entries, and that’s okay. That’s just how giveaways are. You win some, you lose some.

I don’t see anything wrong with the way that company ran their giveaway. And I feel bad for them for receiving such attacks from some people.Β It’s sad that there are people who can be so negative.

Anyway, I guess my point is this: If a certain giveaway is not run the way you prefer, it’s okay not to enter. There will be other ones in the future that will most probably be to your liking. Giveaways are supposed to be fun. So just have fun entering! With a positive kind of attitude, you’ll appreciate winning all the more.

When You Don't Win A Giveaway

Comments

When You Don’t Win A Giveaway — 69 Comments

  1. I have to fully agree and more! In the first place, giveaways are free. It’s a gift to someone out there. You cannot lose what you never had in the first place so instead of being upset and all, it’s good to be thankful that someone wants to give away something free! Yes yes, there are requirements and a lot are for promotional purposes but in essence, the item given is free. I think that’s that, right? πŸ™‚
    Jayne recently posted..Mint Coriander Beef ScrambleMy Profile

  2. I think it would be ridiculous to expect to win every time! My question is how long after being notified that you’ve won should you expect to wait for prize delivery? So far, I’ve “won” two contests and never was shipped the prize.I’m currently waiting on one now that’s looking iffy.I know that the blogger isn’t responsible for delivery, but who is when the party doesn’t come through? I’d never out the bloggers because that would be wrong. But, again what can be done?

    • Only the company is responsible for prize fulfillment, unless it’s a blogger-sponsored giveaway in which case the host is responsible. This is why there’s almost always a “this blogger is not responsible for prize fulfillment” clause in the Terms and Conditions of giveaways.

      But for me, I tell my winners to contact me if they don’t receive their prize within 3-4 weeks so that I can follow it up with the company or PR rep. People can be very busy so sometimes it’s just an oversight. And most would appreciate being reminded. In case the company really doesn’t follow through, that’s where the problem lies.

      As a blogger, I’d feel bad for the winner. I would probably give a substitute prize (one that fits my budget) but technically, it’s not required of me to do that. And not everyone can afford to shell out their own money every single time a sponsor fails to send a prize. I’ve won 2 or 3 giveaways in the past where I’ve never received the prize. I followed up once but that’s it. I just let it go. Most bloggers are struggling moms too. So maybe a little more understanding for each other would go a long way.

      • Thanks for the reply. I wouldn’t want someone to shell out their own money. I too feel bad for the blogger because they do the review and hold up their end. I don’t hold them accountable at all. I was just trying to get some info. I appreciate understanding both sides. Thanks again!

  3. Wonderful post! I’m sorry you didn’t win that one contest but I do think it was generous of the company to offer one prize to the person with the most entries and one randomly. I’m glad you have such a good attitude about giveaways in general – they’re supposed to be fun, not stressful!
    Maggie C recently posted..Summer Romance Book Blog Hop (Giveaway ends 8/16)My Profile

    • Yep! Even in my busy sched I still try to enter giveaways because it’s fun knowing there’s that possibility that I’ll get that prize for free!

    • LOL! Thanks Margaret! I just had to vent. I’ve been seeing the negativity on that company’s page for days and I think it’s just sad. Good thing there’s still a lot of people that are excited about their giveaways.

  4. It is frustrating, but it is life. I think in today’s world we often teach others that they will get something for doing nothing… which ISN’T how life is…

  5. I couldn’t agree more. I mean sure, I would love to win an iPad mini. I try hard and do every entry I can, but just can’t seem to win. That is ok with me. I have gotten to know some awesome people through giveaways and honestly I have learned a lot about parenting by spending so much time on many of these blogs. I am happy that even though many of these blogs are for moms and geared toward women, many have been happy to have a dad commenting and reading. I know I have greatly enjoyed it!

    For me, entering contests has become a hobby and a great time waster. I love it and even though you don’t win doesn’t mean you can’t have fun trying. Thanks for writing this, I really appreciated your view since you host them and work directly with the sponsors. You guys are awesome!!!

  6. I hear people doing this all the time on sweeps sights. I think it is ridiculous. There will always be sore losers and there is nothing anyone can do to make it different. I have heard people state that bloggers pick their friends names to win and that there is no way they should not have won. They complain about how many entries they have to fill out. I always say, if you don’t like the way they are run then do not enter but they still enter. I hope reading what you wrote will get through to some, but you can never appease everyone.

  7. Totally agree! I’ve seen some people get irate because they didn’t get a sample or the site was overloaded.Get a life. If said people put that time and energy toward helping to make the world a better place just think of the possibilities.
    Missy Marie recently posted..$100 ZLZ.com GC GiveawayMy Profile

    • Yeah the way I see it is If I get the sample great if not oh well there will always be more free samples to get and of coarse there will always be more chances to win a giveaway, so you keep your head head up get out there and try again.

  8. i enter so many giveaways and have won several πŸ™‚ when i lose i just saw oh darn it i really wanted that but then i just move on haha and enter MORE πŸ™‚ My goal is to win shoes or a big cash prize haha ive won a couple free shoes (shoe addict) but winning a big cash prize would be awesome hehe

    i think people who complain most likely didnt really do ALL the options. Entering contests is a 50-50 thing. I would just say darn it i wish they picked me and yes ive said that numerous times on giveaways that i was dying to win πŸ™‚

    i give props to all hosts of giveaways for their patience tho πŸ™‚

  9. I have a problem when you win and you don’t get the prize sent to you and you contact the blog and they don’t respond. If they had a problem with the person they got the promotion from I understand that. If they would just tell me that it’s ok. When they don’t email you back then it is a little upsetting. I think they would want to know incase there’s a problem with the company so they don’t use them again.

    • I completely agree! I am dealing with not getting a reply on a few different prizes that never showed up :/

  10. Great post! I feel like it’s better than playing the lottery, because it’s FREE TO PLAY!! yay!
    Thanks!

  11. This has to do with comment about not receiving a prize. I completely understand the sponsor not the blogger is responsible for the actual prize. Here’s the rub though. I have contacted bloggers after not receiving an item most are very apologetic and work to get your prize. One even called me less than 15 minutes after I emailed her. But, it seems some bloggers just don’t care. After the 3rd email to a blogger about a camcorder I never received she wrote back “they will be contacted” no sorry or anything. No camcorder either. Twice, after being “blown off” by a blogger, I forwarded the email conversation to the sponsor and had my prize within the week. And of course there was the 50$ paypal where 4 bloggers went in together to self sponsor. After 10 weeks I went back to the original giveaway post and contacted the other 3 bloggers. Paypal deposit was made in less than 48 hours. Maybe this sounds petty to some. I know I won’t win most giveaways I enter. But, when a prize isn’t received the attitude of the blogger means everything. I DON’T expect them to make it up. But I do expect them to at least be courteous.

  12. I have great spells where I win something monthly…and then dry spells where I won’t even win a free sample for months! That’s how sweepstakes go…sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. That’s why they’re exciting! There are, quite literally, thousands of blogs out there – and I agree with you, if someone doesn’t like the way someone is doing something, move on. I think it’s a combination of bad sportsmanship – especially when you cn be nasty from the safety of behind your computer screen – and a lot of people simply feel entitled nowadays. I attend twitter parties a lot and, just like with sweepstakes, sometimes it’s like luck will smile down and I’ll win three days in a row….then I won’t win again the next 30 parties — and while people are nice and good sports as a whole, you can always be sure that there will be at least one person who cries that the same names are picked or people are cheating…..or copying her answers (as if “making s’mores” couldn’t possibly be anyone else’s favorite camping activity but hers…) – I have just learned to ignore the negative nellies out there, although I do feel bad for the winners and the sponsors/hosts who have to deal with them and the barely masked insults & passive aggressive comments.

  13. I love entering giveaways and have won quite a few. I have probably received about 90% of the wins. I am fine with that. My problem now is I am waiting for a prize I won 11 weeks ago. This prize is worth $500 and there were over 10,000 entries in the contest. The prize is supposed to be sent out by PartnersHub. I have contacted the blogger twice, after waiting a considerable length of time, and I am still waiting. It is very hard to give up on a prize of this size.

    • I was notified May 27th that I won the coffee bar from the What’s your ID Sweepstakes. It said that I would receive my prize 8 to 10 weeks after the promotion ends. The promotion just ended July 12th. That will push it out between Sept. 6th to 20th. I wonder if there was an extended wait period with your win as well? The wait kinda sucks but I know I got a new Keurig coming. Hope you get your prize soon.

  14. I like entering giveaways, as well. This post was fantastic though and a great reminder that sometimes we can’t all be winners πŸ˜‰

  15. Some people are so greedy! You simply can’t win them all. I greatly appreciate everything that the companies and all the bloggers do to bring us these giveaways and sweepstakes. Of course my chances of winning are slim… that’s why I enter more. It gives me something to do, I meet lots of nice people, I read lots of great reviews. I give my thanks to the companies and the bloggers for taking the time to do this for us. And it is rewarding when you finally do win something. It’s really a shame that some people have to be so foul and greedy. Shame on them. Karma… it’s something to think about… hmmmm.

  16. Excellent post, I’ve won many wonderful prizes but when I don’t when I don’t get upset about it and bad mouth a blogger or company. If you don’t like the terms of a giveaway or the type of entries then find giveaways you like to enter. Whatever you do don’t cheat and enter honestly, after all honesty is the best policy.
    Denise Taylor-Dennis recently posted..Sweepstakes from Loveable LabelsMy Profile

  17. I don’t feel bad if I lose I just keep entering. My biggest win (5K cash)happened because the first person who was chosen did not answer their phone nor respond back to the winner notification email so I always hope that even though I may not be chosen on the first try I can still win if the winner does not answer. It takes so long for some contests to get back to you that I usually forget that I even entered them-we just received a dvd for a contest that ended 12/31. I have also had others where I received the item via mail in one to two days of being notified of my win. I feel those companies really deserve my business because they understand that it is a thrill for users to win something after entering a contest.

  18. How true this all is! But when you don’t win (and I’ve been frustrated because I can’t follow on Instagram, or use other entries), remember – there are always more sweeps and giveaways tomorrow. Just look forward to those!

  19. I enjoy entering for things for my family and the chance to win. I am so happy for the others who do win. I get frustrated at times however when I win, respond to the email then the prize does not show up. I contact the blog and I do understand they are not responsible for the prize , but feel they should be courteous enough to acknowledge the email in some way, as I do when the prize arrives. And those rules get me sometimes. I try to follow them but some need to be more clear. I was accused of not following the rules once because it said it was open to the continental US. I happen to win and well I live in Alaska. As far as I know it is part of the continental US. That particular sponsor was very rude and informed me I need to read rules.
    But I appreciate the chance to win, the nice people and the hard work of all the bloggers and sponsors.

  20. If it makes you feel any better, last year I won a really nice gift that I never recieved. Contacted the blogger that held the giveaway and she said she tryed calling the company, blah blah blah. Never got it! I thought she would at least send me something but didn’t care to do that. I was upset but continued to enter other blog giveaways. I will say I don’t follow her blog anymore.
    Shirley Carr recently posted..$50 American Express Gift Card Giveaway Winner Is ?My Profile

  21. Awesome post , thanks! I have won a few and never received prize but followed up and was told that it happens quite a lot. That had not stopped me from entering because I have been blessed to win some really awesome giveaways and had so much fun while entering them. Thanks to all the hard working bloggers for the great post, giveaways, DIY, resources and recipes

  22. yes ive won a few giveaways and theres only been 2 times i never recieved my prize,but i keep on trying.its really exciting when you do win.

  23. yes ive won a few giveaways and theres only been 2 times i never recieved my prize,but i keep on trying.its really exciting when you do win.

  24. i enter giveaways when i have time. i know there is always a small chance i will win the prize. i don’t get mad if i don’t win.

  25. I have been entering giveaways for a while now and I win some and lose many others…It’s a fun thing for me and I know I really want to win a nice umbrella stroller, like Kiddy USE or the Maxi Cosi and I admit I get a little sad when I don’t win but at the same time I am happy for those who did win, it’s all luck of the draw. Do the same people who get angry over not winning a giveaway get that angry over not winning the lottery? And blame the tickets or officals drawing the numbers as being unfair? It’s all a game of chance. Plus the last time I checked you have to be 18 or older to enter which means we should all be adults

  26. I’ve won giveaways and never received the prize either. I think it’s due to companies going bankrupt, or out of business for other reasons. It’s not always necessarily the blogger’s fault. I wouldn’t stop following a blog because I didn’t get my prize. (Unless I knew the blogger was holding the giveaway and not a PR company!) But that being said — it’s still good to follow up on unreceived wins every so often. I recently emailed a blogger about an unreceived win from last April, who in turn contacted the PR company, and UPS put the prize on my doorstep 2 days later! The key is, be polite πŸ™‚

  27. I feel for you. There was a time that I don’t deserve not to win, since I exerted a lot of effort, but that’s life… maybe we need to expect because we might get hurt at the end.
    Mira recently posted..iPollMy Profile

  28. Thanks for this! I’m a self-admitted contest junkie, and not winning is all part of it. There are certain sweeps I’ve entered in the final minutes with minimum entries and won–and others I’ve spent weeks getting all the extra entries I could, and didn’t win. And you’re absolutely right–if you review the terms of any non-random winner sort of contest and you don’t like your odds, pass it by. There will be something else around the corner… or in your news feed… or on pinterest… πŸ˜‰

  29. I used to enter contests with great intensity, even praying to win, but I Never won. I quit entering for some years, and just recently I suddenly felt inspired to start again. But this time, I determined that I would do it for fun and if I won, “that was gravy” as we said in my Southern youth. I care for and homeschool two grandsons and it turned out that the youngest, who has some special needs, delights to help me enter contests, wielding the mouse, clicking all the links and closing the pages, and it gives him something special to do with me as well.

    The upshot of it all is, I started entering contests about a month ago and already I have won a nice cookbook and some curriculum for our home school, and today I was surprised by a box with an iPad Mini in it! You can bet I am going to keep a good and fun attitude about it all from now on!

  30. It always amazing me that people still look for “fairness” in everything. I have tried to teach my kids that “Life is not always fair.” I enjoy using my down time to enter contests with the “hope” that I win never the expectation that I should win. I actually won a trip to Jamaica this year and was thrilled with that but didn’t expect to win. Plus, I sure wouldn’t have been upset if I didn’t win. I actually feel bad for people who live in such a negative state of mind.

  31. I’m so happy when I do win! But I wonder how often I’ve “won” and didn’t know it? So many blogs just do not make it clear if winners are notified by e-mail — or if the expect you to come back and check. If I’m sure that’s the case, that’s fine. But most of them don’t say and many make finding the winner on their blog a real challenge. Sometimes they name a winner but then say that if they don’t contact them soon, they will choose another winner. How many times do I have to go back and check and re-check? I would never have time to enter anything if that’s all I did. Rafflecopter often publishes the winner, but not always. PLEASE, blog owners, tell us what happens if we win!

    • Hi Jennai! In the years that I’ve been blogging, most (if not all) bloggers would send an email to the winner. Then if the winner does not respond within 1-2 days (depending on the terms and conditions), that’s when we draw a new winner. Always read the Terms and Conditions (or Official Rules) of a giveaway. That’s where the info should be. πŸ™‚
      Isis recently posted..An Evening With Guy Kawasaki And The New Moto X Phone #MeetMotoXMy Profile

  32. You r so right. Theses r free and fun. You guys spend a lot of time for us and I c a lot of people complaining. Funny thing is I dont worry so much if I win when entering I worry that if I do win that they will announce/send e-mail and I wont have responded in the allowed time. I always hope someone that needs the prize wins it.

    BTW Thank you

  33. This has really become a hot topic. The only one that is totally safe it seems is the company offering up the prize.The blogger puts a lot of time and work into it. So do the people entering. I don’t know if this idea could help. How about if the contest were run before the review was posted and the prize received? That might be some incentive to ship it out promptly.

    • It’s hard because we enter into partnerships with brands in good faith. I’ve only had 2 companies not fulfill their prizes in the past. The rest were fine so I guess I can say that generally companies do fulfill their prizes.

      By the way, I sent you an email about winning one of my previous giveaways. You’re the 3rd one I have emailed because the first 2 have not responded.

      -isis πŸ™‚

  34. I think that stinks! I have only been entering giveaways for a few months now, and I have one a few things but I don’t get mad if I don’t win. I am always grateful for the chance to even try and win πŸ™‚

  35. We have sadly become an “entitled” generation. Most feel a sense of entitlement on every single thing, no matter how petty. I hope that we’d all be reminded of how giveaways are just that. Free stuff. If you win, then yay! If you didn’t, then it’s okay. It’s not like you paid for it anyway. πŸ™‚
    Cheryl recently posted..SF Giants at AT&T ParkMy Profile

  36. IT’S A GIFT, ITS A CHANCE YOU TAKE!! WQHAT I DONT LIKE IS NOT GEARING WHO BIG WINNERS ARE

  37. I must admit there are times when I get frustrated by entering giveaways on a daily basis, BUT I don’t get upset when I am not chosen as a winner. It’s fun to enter giveaways and if you win then you win, same goes for if I don’t win….not really a BIG deal that others make it out to be!

  38. I’ve won a few giveaways. My highest ticket item being a pair of ProCompression socks and my lowest being a 3pk of running fuel samples. It doesn’t take me much time to enter and I enter while I’m drinking my coffee each AM. I would love to win a high ticket item, or some gift cards…so I’ll just keep entering. πŸ˜‰
    JILL recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Disney TransportationMy Profile

  39. I think it’s important that we remember that giveaways are something we participate in willing. As long as you are aware of all the rules and regulations beforehand, there’s no reason why you should be upset when those rules are applied in a way that may not turn things in your favor.

  40. I’m glad you wrote this post. I win giveaways fairly often but I also put a good chunk of time into it. One important part of winning is knowing when to pass on a giveaway that isn’t a good fit for you. I skip AT LEAST half of the ones I come across. Sometimes they have too many entries already. Sometimes the item would be better for another family and we don’t really need it. Sometimes the requirements aren’t ones I’m able or willing to do.

    Do I think less of the company or blogger? No way! I just move on. There are always more opportunities. Don’t let it ruin your day.
    Crystal Rose recently posted..Review: Oyeta’s Cotton Patchwork ClutchMy Profile