How To: Postal Competitions

Hello compers!  How is your week going, any nice wins to report?  Nothing new to report here unfortunately – still lean times!  January is just the worst month for me for comp wins, but I see from the Chatterbox forum that lots of our members are still managing to win big – well done guys!  I am still hopeful that my more selective approach to comping will pay off this year – that’s what I keep telling myself anyway haha!

As it is a New Year I thought it might be a nice idea to run back through some helpful tips on how to get started with comping – or refresh our memories to make sure we are getting the most out of our comping.  Let’s start off with How to Enter Postal Competitions.  I know a lot of our members will have been doing postal competitions for some time, but for those of us who are slightly newer to the comping community, it might be a good idea to run through how things work.

What are Postal Competitions

Postal competitions cover a number of types of entry methods.  Promoters may ask you to enter using a postcard, a plain piece of paper in an envelope, a sealed envelope or to send in an entry form.  Either way you will need to fulfil all the criteria as stipulated by the promoter – sometimes answering a question and adding it to the postcard or paper, or sometimes just providing your contact details.

Where to find Postal Competitions

The first place to look for postal competitions of course is your monthly issue of Compers News!  Here you will find a fantastic array of postal entry competitions, listed in date order so that you can enter them in good time before the closing date.  You can also keep an eye out for postal competitions in local magazines and newspapers – these are often a great source of postal entry competitions, and usually require you to cut out an entry form and post it off to the address supplied.  The Chatterbox forum is also a great place to pick up postal entry competition information – usually that have been announced since the publication of the last copy of Compers News, or that didn’t make the cut.

Postal Entry Competitions Tips:

• Check the date.  As with all competitions checking the closing date is really important, but even more so with postal entries as you need to allow for how long it will take for your entry to arrive.  Here on the Isle of Wight I always allow an extra day for my entries to arrive – I would suggest entering as early as possible and leaving at least 3-4 days, if not more if you are using second class stamps – you don’t want to be disqualified for late entry!
• Check the entry method.  Make sure you read all the Ts & Cs carefully, so you know exactly what format the promoter wants their entry in.  Do they want you to send a plain piece of paper in an envelope, or do they need a postcard?  Does it specify that the postcard has to be white, or can you use something more eye-catching?
• Buy postcards in bulk.  If you can, stock up on postcards, both plain and coloured, in as large quantities as you can.  Buying small packs of 25 cards at a time might seem a cheap way to finance your hobby, but in the long run it works out a very expensive way to do it.  Try eBay or other online retailers to get the best deal, and look out for deal in Compers News.  Likewise with envelopes, try your local discount retailers or Pound Stores, as they often have large bundles of envelopes at very reasonable prices.
• Make your entry stand out.  If the Ts & Cs don’t specify that you need to send a plain envelope or postcard, why not help your entry stand out to whoever is picking by using unique, colourful postcards and envelopes.  In the January 2015 edition of Compers News you will see a fantastic offer on eye-catching envelopes that you might want to take up.  If you are sending postcard entries, maybe pick a postcard to match the competition if you can.  For example if the competition is to win a Forest Holiday, then send a postcard with a pretty countryside or woodland scene on it, if you have one!
• Make sure your entry can be read.  For me my writing is awful – I am partially sighted and find it very difficult to handwrite things very neatly.  In our house my husband tends to write all the postal entry comps for me, as his handwriting is immaculate.  Make sure that promoters can read all your details, especially your contact phone number or email. 
• Consider using labels or stampers.  There are companies that sell bespoke labels and pre-inked stamps with your contact details on too, so these might be a good potion if you find you are entering heaps of postal entry comps. 
• Stock up on stamps.  Royal Mail have a habit of hiking up the price of stamps when you least expect it.  I try to always have a big bunch of stamps ready to go in my drawer, so that if the price goes up by a few pence per stamp, I am already prepared with stamps without having to invest in new ones.
• Concentrate on comps you want to win.  Don’t bother spending time effort and stationery resources on entering competitions you aren’t really that interested in winning.  Try and look out for competitions for items on your Comping Wish List, or that would be good for upcoming birthday, Christmas or celebrations.  Use your comping time as effectively as you can.
• Have fun!

Happy postal comping and lots of Lucky Dust to you all!

Kirsty x