An Inside Look at Magazine Clearing House Contests and Sweepstakes

Entering contests can be a form of entertainment for many people, who like the thrill of knowing there's a chance of changing their lives by winning a large amount of money. Every day in the mail, we receive promotional items, meant to entice us into entering contests or taking advantage of some great deal. Before you run to the phone and call those 1-800 numbers, keep a few key thoughts in mind. Having formerly worked in the call center of one of the famous publishers' clearing houses myself; I've seen the good, bad and ugly things they can stoop to, to get your personal information and money. It wasn't for me and I got out, because the company wasn't ethical enough for my liking. Some companies are better than others, of course, but having witnessed the dark and seedy underbelly of the magazine-fueled money machine, my advice is to run. Run far, run deep, and just toss that promotional flyer that promises to win you fame and fortune, right into the trash. Here are a few reasons why.

For those unacquainted with the usual magazine influenced contest, here's the general lowdown. You get an official flyer in the mail. It looks pretty official, maybe even like a telegram, telling you to call right away regarding this or that contest. Intrigued, you reach for the phone, to see what the heck this thing is all about. Is this a scam or is it legit? These marketing mailers are designed by those in the marketing know, to pique your interest and get you to contact the company. In my opinion, these contests serve two purposes: to give hope to those in desperate financial need, of winning big money. Also, this clever ploy is to get you to buy something, usually magazines. I have nothing against magazines at all. They serve a great purpose in this world, informing us on all sorts of interesting topics. There is big business in the world of magazines. They are an impulse buy, something bought on the spur of the moment, usually. One way to sell them, like a host of other products, is through the mail. In every American life, some magazine promotion must fall. But how you respond to it, that is the question.