How to send a mail-in entry
General information, not legal advice. The sponsor's official rules always come first.
A mail-in entry is the most common alternate method of entry (AMOE), and it's simple once you've done one. It takes about two minutes and one stamp. It's also easy to get wrong, and sponsors can throw out an entry for small mistakes, so this guide goes through each step and the reasons for it.
If you're wondering why a sponsor would accept a card at all, read why sweepstakes offer a free way to enter. Mailing a card doesn't mean you'll win. It puts you in the drawing, if the card follows the rules.
Step 1: Read the official rules
Everything below is a common pattern, and the rules of each giveaway override it. Find the section on free or alternate entry and read every word. You're looking for what to write, in what order, the card and envelope requirements, the address and the deadline. Then check the eligibility section for your age and state.
Rules change between editions, so don't reuse last month's card without looking again. On FreeEntry we check mailing addresses word for word against the official rules, but you should still read them yourself before you send anything.
Step 2: Hand-write the card
Most rules ask for a hand-printed card with your name, address, phone number, email and date of birth. Some also ask for a keyword or the name of the giveaway. Write exactly what's requested, in the order requested. Use a dark pen and print clearly, because someone has to read it.
"Hand-written" means by you. Printed, typed or photocopied cards are usually void. If the rules say the entry must be in the entrant's own handwriting, a card written by a spouse or a friend doesn't count.
Step 3: Use the right card size
The usual requirement is a 3x5 index card. Plain white unlined cards are the safest choice unless the rules say otherwise. Some sponsors accept a piece of paper of a set size, and others ask for a card with the details on one side only. If a size is stated, measure it. A card cut down from a bigger one can fail a size requirement.
Step 4: Address a #10 envelope
Most rules call for a standard #10 business envelope, the long kind, sealed, with the card inside. Some ask you to hand-address it too, so do that by default. Copy the address character for character, including any suite, attention line or giveaway name, since a sponsor may use different addresses for different drawings. Put your return address in the corner.
Step 5: Use stamps, not metered mail
Put a regular postage stamp on the envelope. Many rules exclude metered mail, and a meter strip from an office or a printed label from a shipping site can get an entry thrown out. Use one First-Class stamp for a standard envelope with a single card in it. If the envelope is thick or unusual, ask at the post office.
Step 6: Know which deadline applies
There are two kinds of deadline, and the wording matters:
- Postmarked by. The envelope must carry a postmark on or before the date. A postmark is applied when the mail is processed, which may be after the day you drop it off, so don't wait for the last day. If it's close, take it to a post office counter and ask for a hand-stamped postmark.
- Received by. The sponsor must have the envelope by the date. Postmark doesn't matter, and a late arrival is usually void, even if the delay wasn't your fault.
Our mail-by dates allow a week before the sponsor must receive it. That's a guide, not a promise of delivery. You can see what's due first on the ending soon page.
Step 7: One entry per envelope
Put one card in each envelope. Bundled cards are often counted as one entry or rejected outright. If the rules allow repeat entries, each one needs its own envelope, its own stamp and a fresh hand-written card. Check for limits per person, per household, per day and per drawing, and follow them. Exceeding a limit can disqualify all your entries.
Third parties and handwriting machines
Many rules void entries sent by a third party or produced by a machine. That covers entry services, sweepstakes clubs that mail for you and handwriting robots, including pens on plotters and fonts that imitate handwriting. Sponsors can look for identical cards and disqualify the people who sent them.
We never enter on anyone's behalf, and we don't recommend any service that does. A card you wrote yourself is the only one you can rely on.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out a required detail, like a phone number or date of birth.
- Copying an address from an ad or a forum in place of the official rules.
- Using a printed label or a meter strip.
- Mailing on the postmark date and assuming that's early enough for a received-by deadline.
- Entering from an excluded state or under the minimum age.
- Sending a card to a giveaway that has already closed.
- Sending to a giveaway with a low per-card entry count without checking if it's worth it.
That last one is about value, not rules. What's the catch? explains what a card is worth. When you're ready, browse all open giveaways and pick one.
Common questions
Can I use a postcard?
Only if the rules say so. Some giveaways ask for a postcard, others ask for an index card in an envelope. Use whatever the rules specify, and don't substitute one for the other.
Do I need to include a self-addressed stamped envelope?
Usually not for a direct entry. It comes up when the free route is a request for a code or a game piece, and the rules will say if it's required.
Can someone else in my household send a card?
If they're eligible, they can enter for themselves, in their own name and handwriting. Some rules limit entries per household, so check that first. They shouldn't write a card for you.
How will I know my entry was received?
In most cases you won't. Sponsors generally don't confirm mail-in entries, and they usually aren't responsible for lost mail. Sponsors contact winners using the details on the card, so write them clearly.