Nov 2, 2015, 8:31 am
Last edit by: Suite Disposition
ALL THE URLS AND LINKS IN YOUR EMAILS ARE THE SAME. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO "REPLAY" A GIVEN EMAIL.
Plays are linked to your IHG account number and your IHG link you receive in the email. The links contained are unique to each IHG account number and cannot be "shared".
If you didn't receive all your plays and think that HW might have gotten your email address incorrect, then simply click the link again in your email.
Their email is [email protected].
Quantity of emails received does not always equal quantity of plays available. Emails received does imply that you have plays available.
If you click on your email links and receive a screen with the below message then you do not have plays available.
We love your enthusiasm!
However, you do not have any instant win chances to use.
Complete a qualified stay before February 15 to earn another chance to win.
Prizes:
Chances of winning:
500 pts 1:1.18 or 84.75% (This does not mean you will be guaranteed 500 pts per play)
1000 Pts 1:14.29 or 6.7%
2000 Pts 1:28.57 or 3.5%
5000 Pts 1:42.86 or 2.33%
Other prizes or no prizes: depends on number of entries
5B Prizes= 1,000, 2000, 5,000, $50 GC & Free night
BE SURE TO REGISTER BEFORE SENDING IN ENTRIES!
Leave Surprises here:
500 points (x1098)
1000 points (x42)
2000 points (x26)
5000 points (x17)
$50 Prepaid MasterCard (x13)
1 free night at any IHG hotel (x6)
$2500 Gilt.com GC (x1)
Sony Package (x1)
No Win (x7)
Official Rules
Logistics of the Mail-In Option:
Index Cards Okay? YES (I used 3x5 blank index cards and they were accepted)
Lined Index Cards Okay? Yes, of course, enough with the index cards!
OK to mail cards not inside an envelope? Not according to the rules, which state they must be inside envelopes, one card per envelope
Need to write title before each line? NO
Need second phone number? NO
Middle name required? NO (Left mine out, still got emails. If it's part of your account info, maybe leave it.)
Printed Destination Address Okay? YES (I used printed a bunch of sticker labels and put them on envelopes, accepted)
Printed Return Address Okay? YES (I used an ink stamp)
No Return Address Okay? Yes
Envelope size? Doesn't seem to matter
Non-IHG MasterCard Okay? YES
Debit MasterCard Okay? YES (I used an Ally Bank issued Debit MasterCard)
Use somebody else's MasterCard first 6 digits? YES
There have been reports of mail-in entry emails being sent out on 12/4 and 12/11, and the emails came in rapid succession. This is indicative of HelloWorld batching these out.
Initially batches of emails sent out was on Fridays but as of of 1/6/16 appears to be Wednesdays
#1 Batch=12/4
#2 Batch= 12/11
#3 Batch= 12/18
#4 Batch(xmas)= 12/23
#5 Batch(New Years Day)=12/30
#6 Batch= 1/6
#7 Batch= 1/13
#8 Batch= 1/18-1/24 (emails appear to be arriving daily)
#9 Batch= 2/3-2/5
As of 1/5, points have been posting within a week(ish) of playing and getting confirmation that you've won points.
Points will be paid out without additional email
Some points have been distributed (probably in batches on either Monday or Tuesday)
Points Payout Batches:
#1 12/28 & 12/29--500 pts, 1000pts, 2,000 & 5,000pts (plays before 12/25)
#2 1/4 & 1/5 (plays 12/25-12/30?)
#3 1/11(free nights & pts) & 1/12 (plays from 12/31-1/8)
#4 1/15 (limited due to MLK holiday on 1/18) (for plays from until 1/14)
#5 1/19 (plays from 1/15 til?)
#6 1/29 (plays until 1/24)
#7 2/3 (plays until 1/29)
#8 2/5 (plays until 1/31?)
Has anyone received email with instructions on how to redeem prize? YES ($50 MC redemption instructions received 12/28)
STATUS:
--As of 1/19/16 10:00 am et(estimated) all plays were showing up as no wins. . The play site seems to be undergoing maintenance. Best not to use up the majority of your plays until things smooth out.
--As of 2:45 pm ET on 1/19 play site appears to be back up.
--as of 4:17pm ET on 1/19 500 point plays seems to be working again. No 5B prizes seem to be won at this time
--As of 6pm ET on 1/19 emails being received for wins during the morning hours of 1/19 where it stated no win after select elevator.
--As of 2:30pm EST on 1/20 still reports of nearly 100% 500 pt wins only. Best not to play alot of plays unless you only want 500 pt wins
--As of 8:00 pm EST on 1/20 multiple reports of 5B prizes being won again. Seems to be back to normal.
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/21 reports of $50, 2k, 5k, 1k pt wins (unsure of free night wins)
--As of 6:00 pm est on 1/22 everything seems to be working as usual(although very few mentions of free night)
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/25 seems like daily emails have been sent out since 1/18 until now.
--As of 6pm EST on 1/29 reports of emails being received from mailed in entries from around mid January. So turnaround for new mailings appear to be about 1 week.
--As of 5pm EST on 2/2 appears that emails have stopped arriving daily with many reporting last email received on 1/29.
Plays are linked to your IHG account number and your IHG link you receive in the email. The links contained are unique to each IHG account number and cannot be "shared".
If you didn't receive all your plays and think that HW might have gotten your email address incorrect, then simply click the link again in your email.
Their email is [email protected].
Quantity of emails received does not always equal quantity of plays available. Emails received does imply that you have plays available.
If you click on your email links and receive a screen with the below message then you do not have plays available.
We love your enthusiasm!
However, you do not have any instant win chances to use.
Complete a qualified stay before February 15 to earn another chance to win.
Prizes:
Chances of winning:
500 pts 1:1.18 or 84.75% (This does not mean you will be guaranteed 500 pts per play)
1000 Pts 1:14.29 or 6.7%
2000 Pts 1:28.57 or 3.5%
5000 Pts 1:42.86 or 2.33%
Other prizes or no prizes: depends on number of entries
5B Prizes= 1,000, 2000, 5,000, $50 GC & Free night
BE SURE TO REGISTER BEFORE SENDING IN ENTRIES!
Leave Surprises here:
500 points (x1098)
1000 points (x42)
2000 points (x26)
5000 points (x17)
$50 Prepaid MasterCard (x13)
1 free night at any IHG hotel (x6)
$2500 Gilt.com GC (x1)
Sony Package (x1)
No Win (x7)
Official Rules
Logistics of the Mail-In Option:
Index Cards Okay? YES (I used 3x5 blank index cards and they were accepted)
Lined Index Cards Okay? Yes, of course, enough with the index cards!
OK to mail cards not inside an envelope? Not according to the rules, which state they must be inside envelopes, one card per envelope
Need to write title before each line? NO
Need second phone number? NO
Middle name required? NO (Left mine out, still got emails. If it's part of your account info, maybe leave it.)
Printed Destination Address Okay? YES (I used printed a bunch of sticker labels and put them on envelopes, accepted)
Printed Return Address Okay? YES (I used an ink stamp)
No Return Address Okay? Yes
Envelope size? Doesn't seem to matter
Non-IHG MasterCard Okay? YES
Debit MasterCard Okay? YES (I used an Ally Bank issued Debit MasterCard)
Use somebody else's MasterCard first 6 digits? YES
There have been reports of mail-in entry emails being sent out on 12/4 and 12/11, and the emails came in rapid succession. This is indicative of HelloWorld batching these out.
Initially batches of emails sent out was on Fridays but as of of 1/6/16 appears to be Wednesdays
#1 Batch=12/4
#2 Batch= 12/11
#3 Batch= 12/18
#4 Batch(xmas)= 12/23
#5 Batch(New Years Day)=12/30
#6 Batch= 1/6
#7 Batch= 1/13
#8 Batch= 1/18-1/24 (emails appear to be arriving daily)
#9 Batch= 2/3-2/5
As of 1/5, points have been posting within a week(ish) of playing and getting confirmation that you've won points.
Points will be paid out without additional email
Some points have been distributed (probably in batches on either Monday or Tuesday)
Points Payout Batches:
#1 12/28 & 12/29--500 pts, 1000pts, 2,000 & 5,000pts (plays before 12/25)
#2 1/4 & 1/5 (plays 12/25-12/30?)
#3 1/11(free nights & pts) & 1/12 (plays from 12/31-1/8)
#4 1/15 (limited due to MLK holiday on 1/18) (for plays from until 1/14)
#5 1/19 (plays from 1/15 til?)
#6 1/29 (plays until 1/24)
#7 2/3 (plays until 1/29)
#8 2/5 (plays until 1/31?)
Has anyone received email with instructions on how to redeem prize? YES ($50 MC redemption instructions received 12/28)
STATUS:
--As of 1/19/16 10:00 am et(estimated) all plays were showing up as no wins. . The play site seems to be undergoing maintenance. Best not to use up the majority of your plays until things smooth out.
--As of 2:45 pm ET on 1/19 play site appears to be back up.
--as of 4:17pm ET on 1/19 500 point plays seems to be working again. No 5B prizes seem to be won at this time
--As of 6pm ET on 1/19 emails being received for wins during the morning hours of 1/19 where it stated no win after select elevator.
--As of 2:30pm EST on 1/20 still reports of nearly 100% 500 pt wins only. Best not to play alot of plays unless you only want 500 pt wins
--As of 8:00 pm EST on 1/20 multiple reports of 5B prizes being won again. Seems to be back to normal.
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/21 reports of $50, 2k, 5k, 1k pt wins (unsure of free night wins)
--As of 6:00 pm est on 1/22 everything seems to be working as usual(although very few mentions of free night)
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/25 seems like daily emails have been sent out since 1/18 until now.
--As of 6pm EST on 1/29 reports of emails being received from mailed in entries from around mid January. So turnaround for new mailings appear to be about 1 week.
--As of 5pm EST on 2/2 appears that emails have stopped arriving daily with many reporting last email received on 1/29.
Priceless Surprises Promotion
Dec 16, 2015, 1:44 am
#541
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
I'm fairly confident in saying that they couldn't care less what kind of postage is used.
Dec 16, 2015, 5:15 am
#542
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 394
But that's OK; I'm moving to Tierra del Fuego, to get away from it all... where I can be just as blindly ignorant there, in a new language, as everyone seems to be here, in our own mother tongue.
Sorry, Linguistics has been my thing for many decades now; IHG IT just a new frustration/fascination to deal with these past 2 years. We'll deal with that tar pit later.
Thank you, Points Scrounger; after we're gone, they can keep copying each other and say whatever the F they feel like saying; for now, I'm satisfied with this small reassurance from you...
Dec 16, 2015, 7:27 am
#543
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 394
Are these mail-in plays showing up on the dashboard? (As in Stay #1-94..) Or are you just playing them off of the email links, and getting a prize response?
I can't tell if the few I've received are from my small test mailing, or from stays more than a couple weeks ago. It did post the 1000 point first stay, but not as many additional as I would expect since then.
We know the mail-ins are sweeping on Fridays, so far, but have the stay emails gotten into this stream yet? I guess we'll know more (or less) in a couple of days.
I can't tell if the few I've received are from my small test mailing, or from stays more than a couple weeks ago. It did post the 1000 point first stay, but not as many additional as I would expect since then.
We know the mail-ins are sweeping on Fridays, so far, but have the stay emails gotten into this stream yet? I guess we'll know more (or less) in a couple of days.
Dec 16, 2015, 7:51 am
#544
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: EWR
Programs: AA, Delta, NWA,HHonors, Hyatt BF
Posts: 1,762
I'm actually happy just to see someone avoiding my pet peeve (driving me insane, ok?) by writing "couldn't" instead of "could", thus reversing 20+ years of wondering "Is it me? Or is the rest of the (supposedly) 'English-speaking' world going insane, by saying the F**#*@ing! OPPOSITE of what they THINK they're saying???" I swear, 9 out of 10 times, people get it backwards, and their brains blink on EMPTY! VACANT! NO ONE HOME!, not even knowing what is what.
But that's OK; I'm moving to Tierra del Fuego, to get away from it all... where I can be just as blindly ignorant there, in a new language, as everyone seems to be here, in our own mother tongue.
Sorry, Linguistics has been my thing for many decades now; IHG IT just a new frustration/fascination to deal with these past 2 years. We'll deal with that tar pit later.
Thank you, Points Scrounger; after we're gone, they can keep copying each other and say whatever the F they feel like saying; for now, I'm satisfied with this small reassurance from you...
But that's OK; I'm moving to Tierra del Fuego, to get away from it all... where I can be just as blindly ignorant there, in a new language, as everyone seems to be here, in our own mother tongue.
Sorry, Linguistics has been my thing for many decades now; IHG IT just a new frustration/fascination to deal with these past 2 years. We'll deal with that tar pit later.
Thank you, Points Scrounger; after we're gone, they can keep copying each other and say whatever the F they feel like saying; for now, I'm satisfied with this small reassurance from you...
...and so much for a priceless surprise within 5 days of checkout
Dec 16, 2015, 11:54 am
#546
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
Have a quick question ... what kind of envelopes can we use?
Thanks
Thanks
Dec 16, 2015, 12:23 pm
#548
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
Dec 16, 2015, 12:39 pm
#549
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CVG
Posts: 58
I used #10 envelopes. I thought I had read somewhere that was what we were supposed to use... Been reading too many forums about this process, so I cant remember the source
I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. 40 count for $1. I also picked up the 3x5 index cards there 100ct for $1.
I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. 40 count for $1. I also picked up the 3x5 index cards there 100ct for $1.
Dec 16, 2015, 12:53 pm
#550
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,750
The odds hinted that some unlucky folks make get a rock like that on rare occasions, unfortunately.
I forgot to add to my above post, that in addition to requiring the envelope itself be hand addressed, only #10 (regular sized letter envelopes) could be used for the related promo; I bought a box of smaller ones for this one.
I forgot to add to my above post, that in addition to requiring the envelope itself be hand addressed, only #10 (regular sized letter envelopes) could be used for the related promo; I bought a box of smaller ones for this one.
What? The small size envelopes are not eligible? I mailed our 2x20 all in small size envelopes last week.
Anybody used smaller size envelope for their early entries and still waiting emails?
The rules do not require handwritten envelope given many are using printed label and printed envelopes.
Anybody used smaller size envelope for their early entries and still waiting emails?
The rules do not require handwritten envelope given many are using printed label and printed envelopes.
I used #10 envelopes. I thought I had read somewhere that was what we were supposed to use... Been reading too many forums about this process, so I cant remember the source I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. 40 count for $1. I also picked up the 3x5 index cards there 100ct for $1.
I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. 40 count for $1. I also picked up the 3x5 index cards there 100ct for $1.Apparently only the entry itself needs to be hand-written, on 3x5 whether it is paper or index card does not matter as long as hand-written in the sequence required.
Envelopes can be the No.8 smaller size, and can use printed label (versus printed address directly on the envelopes). Return address is not an requirement.
Now only if the processing at HelloWorld is faster... as now it seems to take 3 to 4 weeks to get your emails to play.
Dec 16, 2015, 12:55 pm
#551
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: UA Explorer card, AA Plat, Copa Plat, IHG Plat,
Posts: 567
I used #10 envelopes. I thought I had read somewhere that was what we were supposed to use... Been reading too many forums about this process, so I cant remember the source I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. 40 count for $1. I also picked up the 3x5 index cards there 100ct for $1.
I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. 40 count for $1. I also picked up the 3x5 index cards there 100ct for $1.
Dec 16, 2015, 12:57 pm
#552
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
I've been dribbling them at a couple per day, but do they end up being weekly batched anyway in the end?
Dec 16, 2015, 2:55 pm
#553
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,021
Hopefully we are now clear on the envelope size and whether printed label works or not.
Apparently only the entry itself needs to be hand-written, on 3x5 whether it is paper or index card does not matter as long as hand-written in the sequence required.
Envelopes can be the No.8 smaller size, and can use printed label (versus printed address directly on the envelopes). Return address is not an requirement.
Now only if the processing at HelloWorld is faster... as now it seems to take 3 to 4 weeks to get your emails to play.
Apparently only the entry itself needs to be hand-written, on 3x5 whether it is paper or index card does not matter as long as hand-written in the sequence required.
Envelopes can be the No.8 smaller size, and can use printed label (versus printed address directly on the envelopes). Return address is not an requirement.
Now only if the processing at HelloWorld is faster... as now it seems to take 3 to 4 weeks to get your emails to play.
Dec 16, 2015, 2:58 pm
#554
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
I mailed eighty-four (84) #10 envelopes, computer printed address, with one 3x5 handwritten card in each. No return address on the envelopes, and no perfume either
Got 84 emails back (first a batch of 81, then 3 more a week later), each with the same URL to enter the contest. The 85th time I clicked it, the page showed that I was out of entries.
So, HelloWorld's system seems to be working perfectly.
Got 84 emails back (first a batch of 81, then 3 more a week later), each with the same URL to enter the contest. The 85th time I clicked it, the page showed that I was out of entries.
So, HelloWorld's system seems to be working perfectly.