Question/advice regarding postal comps - postcard format

Hi,

I'm not sure if anyone can help but if so please let me know basically I just got back from the shops and I was buying some comp supplies - I got a pack of 50 blank postcards (only £1.99 from WH Smith - seemed a bit of a bargain!) as well as some decent black biros and a book of stamps. Anyway, what I'm wondering is whether when entering postal comps with a postcard, do I have to use the format whereby you separate the back of the postcard into two sections and write my contact details and any answer(s) on one side and the address im sending it to on the other. I only ask as the blank postcards I bought say that I'm to write the address on the front, where the picture/design would be on most (non-blank) postcards and the back is obviously blank.

I seem to remember reading elsewhere online that its important that any postcard entries are written in the right format (*sigh* why do these things have to be so complicated?!).

I just don't want to write out my entries and have them be disqualified but it would obviously take me a long time if I were to sit and change it so they say 'address to be written on the back' and then edit them all individually to be separated into two columns etc... might take me half the weekend to do that for all 50 postcards! plus the place for the stamp is marked at the front - does it really matter? anyone know? im not sure whether to change them or just use them as they are... presumably their sold in this format so they must be accepted by some otherwise why sell them?! idk...

Short answer ... they're fine.

Write the address it's going to on the front where you stick the stamp (obviously) BUT also write 'TO' in the top left hand corner as Royal Mail have a habit of delivering postcards back to you!

On the back write your name and address at an angle - I always turn my postcards 90 degrees to write mine so that my address is written along the short side of the postcard if that makes sense? Also make sure you write 'SENDER' or 'FROM' above it.

Another tip is to write your phone number under your postcode or write your postcode on 2 lines, ie, AA1 then underneath that 2BB - this is because they use a machine to detect where it's being sent to by reading the last line of the address and if it can't read the full postcode it can't be sent back to you (in theory). You could also write the answer to the comp question, where required, under your postcode to avoid this. That way you can pre-write your details on a batch ready for when you need them.

It's quite a common problem apparantly but by using the above methods I've not had a single one returned to me ... yet *touches wood*

I use colourful stickers on mine to make them stand out but I don't know if this has any advantage in all honesty. You know you can get free postcards from the cinema? I always grab a massive pile when I'm in.

Good luck!

Thanks for such a quick reply! I was concerned that for whatever reason, they'd not count if the 'to' address was on the front. I don't know why the companies would be so picky to disqualify entries just because the address is written on the front though, so thats good that their alright lol... yeah I heard that they can get mixed up at the sorting offices. I've done as you said since I started sending off entries last weekend and written my details side ways on, so hopefully their ok

Yes I was going to sit and write my details out so I only have to write any answers and the companies address when I find new comps to enter. I should be ready to go soon then, great :D (btw I'm just 'getting into this' as I decided to 'bite the bullet' and join Prize Finder Plus last Sunday - hence why im entering quite a few postal comps. I have my fingers crossed, if I can win even just £20 or a prize worth £20 once this year it will have more than paid for itself *crosses fingers*).

Thanks again! (ps. yes I used to take the promotional cards from the cinema but I rarely go there these days, its a few towns away from me etc. but next time I go, I'll try and remember to pick a few, its a good tip, can't beat getting a freebie or two! I doubt you could get as many as 50 though, more like two or three)

I do, I literally grab handfuls of them

Oh, so now anyone wondering why there's been a distinct lack of postcards at their local cinema will know who's to blame, hmmm? ;) I think if I did that, I'd fear karma would make it so that any contests I might enter using those postcards, I wouldn't win because I was being so greedy taking so many but maybe thats just me lol...

Well the way I see it is that's what they are there for. I never see anyone else taking them and there's always piles and piles of them on display.

I'm sure they only get binned once the promotions over anyway.

Ok I'll let you off the hook ;) I think the cinema we tend to go to only has about 5 or so of each though, something like that. Hmmm ill take a closer look next time I'm there (if I remember...I tend to have a memory like a sieve lol).