IHG Wants To Bribe You To See Just How Bored You Are…Will You Take The Bait?

why can’t I write it once and copy it ?

@leshmah101:
Because then it would be copied, not handwritten.
But feel free to try on a few and let us know!

This is what https://www.fiverr.com/ was created for.

Oh gosh way too much calculations for a Sunday!!

@dan how can we confirm that the address can be typed?

@Mendy:
That’s why I did them for you 🙂

@ben:
The rules just say to handprint the info on the 3×5 card, nothing about the mailing address.

But if you’re nervous try it on one card first and then go all in.
And be sure to let us know!

Send as postcard, save on stamps

does it need to be a mastercard credit card?

@al:
The terms say to send the 3×5 in an envelope.
If you try a postcard let us know what happens.

@Anonymous:
As opposed to?

As opposed to a gift/debit card

In the interest of full disclosure what you list as “probability” the plain language of the official rules list as “odds” which would result in a different probability and thus expected value. However, other sources have stated that they have contacted the contest promoters and confirmed that a prize will be won every time.

Think i’m just going to wait until reports of winning every time roll in before I invest in carpel tunnel.

@HEY:
It doesn’t say that it needs to be a credit card.

@GTR:
In addition to IHG contacts confirming there’s a prize every time, the email announcing the promo also says you get a surprise every time.

Either way, fill out a couple entries with a computer printed address and test it for yourself before going all in and you’ll know yourself pretty quickly.

how can it be postmarked by today?

HelloWorld (who is executing the promotion on behalf of IHG) has been known in the past to not send out emails after receiving postcards. I specifically recall this exact problems with the Victoria Secret promotion and most recently the Taco Bell Playstation promotion they ran. Not saying the same thing will happen this time around but I’m weary whether or not I’ll get all my entry emails per envelope sent and wanted to warn others of that risk.

@Shmelly I’ve never used Fiverr but I like your thinking. Maybe this shall be my first try with the service.

@Dan why did you say 188 stamps. It’s 94 entries and thus 94 stamps… Am I missing something?

Why do you say 188 stamps? Shouldn’t it be 94 stamps? Or are you assuming all of us are married?

@Chris:
Right, if they say envelope I’d stick to the rules.

@GJones:
@Alan:
“If you and your spouse”
Don’t need to be married though, partner, significant other, parent, etc all work too 🙂

But yes, 94 if you only play the game by yourself.

Does it have to be your own MasterCard number or can it be a family members with the same last name?

Sorry Dan- typing error I meant envelope. People followed the rules exactly in other promotions run by HelloWorld and still didn’t get nearly all their emails for envelope sent in.

I still think a cost of a stamp is worth the gamble but just wanted to post the warning.

Not for Canadians …
Only US residents

dan u rock! (in case u had any doubts)

I might actually be bored enough to do this.

@Dan, Chris
why not put all entries in envelopes acc. to rules and then mail the whole pile in a large manila envelope or box? I’ve done that successfully before w/ staples rebates 🙂

@say…: @say…: That will save on postage, but all entries will have been submitted at the same time. Winners are chosen at randomly picked times throughout the promo.

Read the rules guys, 1 per envelope.

@srap – i think the winners are “turned on” at random and when you play is whats determanitive, not when they receive the entries.

Your math is flawed the max is 50k

Can you and your spouse both use the same card info if you’re an authorized user?

@shay peleg:
Please explain.

@MC:
Yes, all you need are the first 6 numbers.

@Dan master card only?

@Dan: thanks. What if it’s your spouses card, not your own? Will they care? Or you need to be a MasterCard member?

I know some will try printing the envelope, but beware. The terms say that “use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification”

That could include the use of printed envelopes. We’ll see though…

Anyone know of any deals on stamps?

@Anonymous:
They won’t have a clue from the first 6 numbers.

@DFWJon:
Automated systems refers to online scripts, not printing envelopes.
Still might not work, but not because of that.

@SC:
Costco.

@SC: Costco only saves you a few cents. I usually try to use an Amex offer. If there’s no offer for a store that sells stamps, look for an offer for a store that sells gift cards for a store that sells stamps.

I think shay means if you get 500 points per prize (500×100) it’ll be 50,000. But Dan meant that statistically you’ll prob get more. (Plus spouse)

Looks like IHG pulled the official rules from their website. Maybe they are closing this method?

Any update on that last post anyone?

I figured I’d email them to inquire, because they haven’t fixed the broken link to the official rules. The email address they have listed, support@ihg.com, bounces back as undeliverable.

The official rules link still doesn’t work. I tried calling the 800 number on the site but the rep had no idea what I was talking about. Has anyone had any luck with this?

The Official Rules link works again – everything appears to be unchanged so the main in entries are still good to go!

I don’t understand “if you’re bored enough…” I make $50 an hour. I’m taking off 2 hours from work to do this for an effective $400 an hour profit. No brainer. Nothing to do with being bored. Dan, I also wanted to mention that you and your spouse MUST ever with different email addresses.

@John:

In what world are you getting even 94 of these done in 2 hours.
In order to print legibly and get this done correctly you are spending a minimum of 4 hours per set of 94. Most likely longer. I would be careful with listing everything specifically. I feel like these companies are just looking for reasons not to accept these entries.

New T&C Are up. Notice the mention of the last 4 digits of the Mastercard?…

Mail in Alternate Method of Entry: From November 15, 2015 to February 15, 2016:
You can enter the Instant Win Game without completing a Qualifying Stay. However to
be eligible for the chance to win prizes in section 9 below you are required to have an
IHG Rewards Club account. If you do not have one, you can sign up for free by visiting
http://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/us/en/home and following the instructions. To enter
without completing the minimum two Qualifying Stays, hand print your full name,
complete mailing address, day and evening phone numbers, valid email address,
member number, the first six (6) digits of your MasterCard and date of birth on a 3″ x 5″
piece of paper and mail it in an envelope with proper postage to “IHG and MasterCard®
Priceless Surprises® Promotion,” c/o HelloWorld, Inc., P.O. Box 5996, Kalamazoo, MI
49003-5996.

@Dan S:
@Dan:
I’m sending 3 today with the address printed on the envelope. If that works, I already found an undergraduate student willing to write all 94 for $20! I will report back!

Hey Dan.
would you be able to post a sample index card fill out?
If I have the same day and evening phone # and write it down once, do you think they’d disqualify it?
Did someone say they changed the rules and you need to write last 4 digits of MasterCard now also?
Would you preface all your info on the index card too. Like before date of birth would you write “dob:”? That would probably double the time to do this?
Are they really gonna be sharks?

Dan, you write that the 1k points prize is part of section C. The terms and conditions I downloaded have them listed in section B. Meaning you can’t get more than 5 of them. Which means your math is probably very off?
Am I missing something?

I’m game — sure as h*ll beats responding to the privacy invading garbage from e-surveys for meager points from far, far too many of the loyalty programs (and shilling web sites shamelessly push)

@bob from accounting:
Whoa, did they just change the rules?

Does the information need to be hand PRINTED (that is in uppercase letters) or lowercase letters would be fine? I wrote everything in uppercase except my email address and only realized it after mailing in the envelopes.

Don’t think so. I was reading from a pdf my phone downloaded on the 15th.

@bob from accounting:
This post was written on November 2nd…
Time to update it, it seems.

@APoshiterYid: I don’t see anything abotu the last 4 digits of the Mastercard – only the first 6 which is the same as it was before. Where do you see that?

Wait…. Can they change the T/Cs like that?

Subscribing for updates.

Subscribing.

Is there a “one per household” stipulation? I assume most of us have a spouse/sibling/parent who lives at the same address as us… Assuming there are different IHG account numbers, obviously, can that work? OR, do we need a unique address for each person?

It says : limit 1 prize from group A and 5 prizes from group B per person..

Nevermind that–I didn’t see that group c prize

2 postcards mailed 11/7 and no update from IHG re prize/pts.

@Ryan:
11/15 was the first valid postmark date.

Any updates? I mailed a few on Nov. 15 and haven’t heard anything.

Any news from anyone? Sent mine in on the 18th and still haven’t heard anything?

@Dan
1. Can I just us the same credit card for myself an my wife since its only the first six digits which you cant tell from anyway?
2. Do they ask for verification after you win?
4. Sorry dor ignoranve are IHG points transferrable?

I plan on doing all 94

Thanks

@bob from accounting: I sent in about 25 entries when this first started and have not heard anything back from them.

@Anyone or @Dan

I bought index cards that are 3.42×4.88 inches does anyone think that are they going to actually measure? Or does it go into a machine which reads it/measures it?
Just want to now before time gets wasted for perhaps nothing
Thanks!

Just wanted to report that I sent in two entries on Nov. 15 and today during lunch, my husband and I both received the email saying “You qualify for a Priceless Surprise®!”
Dear LINDA,

Success! You have qualified to play for Priceless Surprises, from IHG® Rewards Club and MasterCard®. Now it’s time to open the elevator doors & see what’s waiting!

Each floor holds a chance for a Priceless Surprise, like:

a private helicopter tour over NYC
VIP access to the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
1 million IHG® Rewards Club bonus points
and even more unforgettable surprises

Choose your floor here.

See you soon,

IHG® Rewards Club

Upon choosing the floor (one through six), my husband received 2,000 IHG points. He picked No. 5 BTW. Then I went and picked No. 6, I received 500 points. Neither has posted to our individual IHG accounts yet. After seeing the amounts, it said check your email for instructions on how to redeem your reward.
Pretty excited about this so I am going to go ahead and send it the rest of the entries.
For some data points: My husband’s entry had a handwritten address with a mailing label return. Mine had an addressed label and a stamped, inked return. Both were put on lined 3 X 5 cards purchased at Dollar Tree.

Finally got my first igh prizes email. Sent in approx 35 the first day, remaining 59 the 2nd day of the contest. Still waiting on 93 emails..atleast this gives me some faith they are just backed up and wont just ignore all the entries all together.

I sent in 5 on nov20th and got my 5 emails today

@Bridget:
And what did you get?

67 emails:
2x 5K
3x 1K
62x 500

Oh I got (5) 500 point prizes. Not too exciting but now that I know it’s working I will send in the rest!

Did you fellows who had success make sure to include the copyright sign in the address?
Make sure to write different numbers for morning and evening? Our art least write it twice?

@Dan: So bottom line… are you changing your winnings estimate?

I did not use the copyright sign in the address but I did include a day and evening phone number. I hand wrote everything.

I wrote 5 submissions 16 days ago, using different “shortcuts” on each (such as not including the ®, or using only one number or not titling every line) and have yet to receive any emails. One of them was written without any shortcuts.

Update: After spending 20 minutes on the phone with IHG, they suggested I email HelloWorld Customder Service: questions@helloworldfulfillment.com. I did so and got the following response:

Good Morning,

Thank you for your patience and for reaching out to The IHG Rewards Club Priceless Surprises Promotion. Entries are processed on a weekly basis. As of now we have processed 6 (sic) entries for you this week. Not all entries arrive at the same time,so we ask for your patience while all entries are processed. Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Customer Care

HELLOWORLD.com

@Jay: Way to go, sounds like they did an extra one for you. If the blog-0-sphere picks up on this way of communicating directly with HelloWorld, we are all toast.

I mailed in a total of 25 envelopes and just started getting entries yesterday. So far I have received 18 emails from IHG.

@RedCardTom: I was certainly not given the impression of being treated specially, but at any rate, although they do take three business days to reply to you, they are nonetheless required to reply. I do apologize if in my ignorance, I caused any damage to anyone else.

Have now played 40 entries
35 x 500
4 x 1000
1 x $50 Mastercard prepaid gift card

Hoping to get some of the bigger prize pts. Not sure if they changed 1000 to the prize pool in b which is caped at 5 prizes per person.

To all those who received points did you actually get the points in your account and if so how long did take from when you “won”?

My points did not show up in my account (yet).

if i write one phone number and the card is a little smaller then a 3×5 will it be disqualified?

I have received to zero point prizes out of about 20 plays, so not all plays get points. My 2,000 point prizes have made up for the zeros though.

I did 3 took 4 weeks to receive email. Only 2 win 500 points. The other was a loser. I thought it was guaranteed at least 500 points

My points did not post yet either. Please let us know when your points post. Officially it is only supposed to be a maximum of 10 days for it to post. But it has been much longer than that.

If multiple people enter from a single household, how will MC and/or IHG know that it is not a single person making multiple accounts? Any danger of them all being disqualified? Also, it appears from the comments that not every entry is guaranteed to win. Any revised point estimates for 94 plays?

My points just published to my account!!

Thank you Dan!!

@Dan: I have a master card debit card which is the card for my checking account. Is it valid? Also when does this hole thing end?

@Dan: does a mastercard debit card (The one for my checking account with my bank) count.

@Dan: Off the record what would you suggest to someone who is 20 and wont be 21 for another half a year who wants to participate.

@dov: See comment 12

Dan, you will presumably send out a reminder in early February to complete all entries before Feb. 15, but please keep in mind that many have reported that it took over a month to receive a response to their mail-ins, and the games must be completed by March 15.

6 submissions im totaling 4k points (posted)!
I think im gonna try some more now after not winning the powerball 😉

sent them in late November, still heard nothing. All hand-written…

anyone get responses that only wrote 1 phone number?

@sb: Yes, my first five were each written with various shortcuts, and all of them received game plays.

As John stated above, I had one submission that received NO prize. Originally, I thought you were guaranteed at least 500 points but I guess that changed.

this was a error from their website as it happened to me too
that it showed that i did not win anything
but i just got an email as
Thank you for your participation in the IHG and MasterCard® Priceless Surprises® Promotion! It appears that you may have accidentally received a message that you did not win when you played the game today. Please be assured that you have won the following prize:

500 IHG Rewards Club Points

@Jay: Thanks. The other shortcuts i used were mc: ###### for the mastercard number and dob:mm/dd/yy for date of birth. I also printed out the envelopes and handwrote the cards. Did you use those shortcuts as well?

Also I sent them in about a month ago and still no response. does it take that long?

How many times can you select the elevator floor for each email?
It seems like I can re-open the emails and i am able to select the floors again. There was one time I selected two different floors from one email and got 500 & 1000. So does that mean, in theory, i can play 6 times? and get up to 3000 points per entry?

@sb: With my first five I used:
DOB:m/d/yy,
Day/Night #:xxx-xxx-xxxx, (only one number)
Did not label “Name,” “Address,” or “email.”
(Didn’t print the (R)’s or 4 extra digits on the destination on envelope.)
However, all my envelopes were handwritten.

It was a long time ago, so I don’t remember if I tried any other shortcuts at the time, and the ones I tried more recently I haven’t yet found out if they were accepted.

And yes, it took more than a month to get many of my gameplays.

I sent in my entries in late November and just now got the link. They replied to my email at first saying they sent the links, but I had not received them. Then they sent me a single link but verified I had 94 entries. I am using that same link each time.

Out of my first 20 tries, I got 17-500 points, and 1 each of 5000, 2000, and 1000. Seems like I’m quickly using up my 5 max of category B prizes.

I did 94 of them. ended up with 2 1K prizes, 1 2k prize, 1-5K prize, and the rest 500 point prizes. Ended up with about 52,000 points. Not bad for a lot of bored writing time.

Is there some way to contact them and confirm they received my entries. I mailed in 94 cards on 2/8/16 and have not heard from them while my friend mailed her cards in a week later and started receiving points?

I also had the same thing happen. I mailed mine in on feb 1 and got all my entries. My gf mailed them in on 2/3 and still hasn’t received any. Im betting they scammed people at the end but i hae no proof.

I filled out around 40 cards, but never got any thing for it, any thing i can do. I never got a confirmation email that they got my mail ins.

Thanks