impossible to win instant awards

[Tomsowa]

I'm deeply distrustful of the whole Rewards operation.

For one, I've gone through more than 400 consecutive Instant Wins and won nothing. NADA.

And why is that?  Anyone explain that?

And what about finding out some general information on who's winning the rewards sweepstakes? Is there any attempt on the part of the provider/operator or AARP Rewards to give out some information that explains there are real people winning the sweeps?

AND why can't the provider of AARP Rewards provide me a running total of my cumulative entries into a sweepstake? It used to do that, provide a running total on all my entries, but now it doesn't do that.

As always, I'm deeply skeptical of the people running this thing...

[KellytheBelly]

Do you still play the sweepstakes, and instant wins every day? Or, have you boycotted this. True what you've written, as well as, I see the same names winning in sweepstakes, too. I mean, transparency is great and everything, but it's right there for everyone to see how questionable the winners' list is, and how the same names win the BIG sweepstakes, many times. I should say it's questionable when the same names win even the 100.00 sweepstakes month-after-month, and often. You stated, 'I reported this to AARP rewards in 2021 but apparently nothing has been done about it.' If you could provide a link to the post, then maybe it can be conjured as 'active,' again. I do recall this discussion many moons ago.

References, here:

• Daily Instant Wins:  http://winlists.helloworld.com/245438_IW.pdf
• Sweeps: http://winlists.helloworld.com/245438_SW.pdf

⬆️Check it out! 🙂 ⬆️ 🔎

[BeachGirl23]

I don't know how to provide a link to the post but here it is:

Re: Instant Win Games

by BeachGirl23 in Redemption

‎07-24-2021 12:37 PM 

5 Kudos 

I have been doing searches for the Instant Win game winners for 7 months now. I download the info into a pdf file on my laptop and can then do a search along with the number of wins for select people. The winners had uncommon names but consistently win 7 to 14 times over a 3 month period. These are names like Shinobu, Hsiuchi, Masahiro, Winnie, Reese Anne - I will not report their last initial as displayed but the last initial is consistent within the list of winners that is to say there are not 2 different people with the same first name. Now perhaps there are different people who have the same first name AND first initial of the last name but I do believe those odds are slim given the uniqueness of the first names.   I have been asking for well over 3 months now about how some people can keep winning on a regular basis when most of us cannot. I have gotten no reply. Maybe @AARPTeri is looking into this. I truly hope so before the rest of us get so frustrated that we give up on this system.   Another member suggested that the Instant Wins should be for members only. I agree. Also, Instant Wins should be limited to 3 a month. Do I hear deafening laughter out there? Here I am suggesting 3 a month when most of us cannot win 1 in 3 months.   Thanks for being another voice on this issue.  

[Tomsowa]

I’m generally sure your instincts are right, which is that there’s something rotten in the AARP Rewards program.

I intend to boycott AARP -- namely not renewing my membership. Or my wife’s -- until some transparency is provided. Who are these so-called winners? How do they manage multiple wins?  

I have gone approximately 590 Instant Win tries and not won a single one, going back more than 14 months or so.

My wife, who joined AARP a year ago, has gone the entire year and won not one single thing, despite numerous daily or every-other-day entries.

Either the system is rigged, or AARP has run out of cash and can’t fund many Instant Wins. Or someone else has come up with the trick for getting to the prizes in a non-random manner.

Don’t get me started on who’s winning the sweepstakes. I don’t dare even think about how AARP has effed up that series of contests. I haven’t won one of those ever, and I’ve no doubt submitted more than 43,000 points for assorted ones over the past five years.

If it’s not a scam, PLEASE, someone at AARP contact me and make me see things your way.... In the meantime, I’ll keep entering the contests but I will not renew.

[KellytheBelly]

Hi, @Tomsowa. I know your frustration(s)! I just won an Instant Win today, and was gobsmacked! Winning something (for me) is about as rare as the 'Blue Moon' this month.

That's why I posted about winning an instant win here... https://community.aarp.org/t5/Redemption/impossible-to-win-instant-awards/m-p/2512780/highlight/true... (mainly giving some proof that the 'little people' can win, too! (╹ꇴ◠) )

Keep trying and good luck?  🌬 ☘️

[Nadja7]

Very interesting!  I know sometimes I have been on a roll and have won more than once in a month.  Lately, it has been very few wins. What do they know that we don"t? I do miss the box opening with confetti when you would win. Ah, the good old days.

[KellytheBelly]

Yes, there it is! Excellent! 👍🏻 

I think that since nothing has been acknowledged there since 2021, maybe a quick 'bump' could bring it to the forefront? It is a good read. 😉 I wonder if AARP will admit they have rigged something. haha

Also, from same thread (2021), hilarious...

[RE: The removal of the 'Lucky You' confetti box - IWs]

@AARPTeri 
Community Manager
‎07-09-2021 09:28 AM wrote: 

@rednexsrus @MichelleM50204 @GitaG508487  Thanks for noticing!  We will pass on your comments to the team and we certainly appreciate seeing your feedback! The team simplified this due to confusion it was causing a number of users who provided that feedback.  You will still be notified if you are a winner but via text.  

🤔😂

[KellytheBelly]

After all of these years, you never won one? I'm keeping tabs on when I do win, which is few and far between, but it seems to be geographically coordinated and also by month. Mine was March, and it usually hits again in September. Still believing this to be true, I play every day, because 'Why Not.' I have a ton of points to use, and it's sort of fun to boot. I do miss the confetti box that opened when you did win, though. lol Keep trying! ☘️ Good Luck! 🙂 

Depeche Mode - Nothing's Impossible ♡

[cp1128]

You and me both. I think it's a hoax.I've played diff times and days and cards for 3 years and never won anything. I'm about done wasting my time on it.

[JoLo49]

Unfortunately, Kroger closed stores in California because they were unwilling to pay their employees an additional $4.00 per hour for pandemic hazard pay.  Grocery chains in California with 300 or more employees are required to pay employees the extra pay.  Albertson's and Safeway are big grocery chains on the West Coast.

[andrewtoo]

@rednexsrus 

I was pleased to see the Kroger Instant win game out there.  I, too, believe that it is probably the best gift card to offer because I am at one frequently and get a lot of items there on sale that have limited shelf lives.  I can't use Albertson's or Safeway...

Kroger stores make up the one of largest brick and mortar groceries in the United States.  Publix too.  Walmart and Amazon are fine choices IMHO, but...

More Kroger gift Cards for Points Please!

My two cents, thanks,

[rednexsrus]

I certainly hope this topic does not come true especially for me, where the KROGER gift card is concerned. I cain’t remember the last time we saw this GC in the line up.

I know not everyone has a KROGER in their area, but still I think its one of the best GC’s out there, Instant Win, points only and Sweepstakes. Just Saying

[AnneG461594]

Good Luck!!  Noticed that Instant win for Kroger this morning, but both that and the Albertson's Super Play are only beneficial for people in parts of the country where those stores are located.  Well that's points I save I guess.  I would jump for joy if they had GCs for Wegmans or Publix.....

[andrewtoo]

@KristinaD289916 

Congratulations Kristina!

@rednexsrus 

Lucy, WOW...your comment "Hang in there, Your turn will arrive one day."

was absolutely prophetic!  A little encouragement goes a long way.

Do you have any lottery numbers to share?  he he

[11320cs]

So, we now have six instant wins instead of seven?  Or am I missing one?

[rednexsrus]

@11320cs 

Yes you are definitely missing one !!!  ( $10 Barnes & Noble,  does not expire until 11:59 PM 3/8/2022) ??  😡 Really makes it impossible to win instant rewards when admin won't even put it on the page

Just Saying 

Anyone else missing this IW ???

[andrewtoo]

@KristinaD289916 

I don't know how long it will take to win my next instant win prize.  I have long draughts without an instant win and I get discouraged.  However, with the win today, I have hit two instant wins in 2022.  This is by no means typical; I'm not usually that lucky.  The other win this year was in January at about 8:10 PM EST.  

[KristinaD289916]

Thanks for your response. Is this not funny....I posted a reply to you and low and behold....today I won an instant win. I rarely play sweepstakes as if it takes me a year to win an instant win, doubt I will ever win a "one chance" sweepstakes. Sadly, I play most instant wins (as a vegan do not try instant wins for restaurants without an option for me), and of course, won one I probably will not use....but can give to a friend who will. 🙂

[SeniorOmelette]

I'm going to reply as well to see if it changes my fortunes.  I've only won one instant win game despite playing thousands of times!

[KristinaD289916]

How many years does it take to win an instant win? Never seem to win.

[rednexsrus]

Hang in there, Your turn will arrive one day 🙂 🙂  

[andrewtoo]

Just hit an instant win...$10 Chipotle  at 3:02 AM EST.

I used the free method from the official rules.

This Chipotle instant win game just started at

12AM today.

I fail to see a pattern of wins.  I enter

all of them one after the other.  I "play" everyday.

Instant wins...not hopeless, just very rare.

[rednexsrus]

@andrewtoo 

KUDO'S to you Andrew, I just cain't figure out this free method, just seems to take too long & I get too many errors. I will continue to pay the points

Just Saying  

[rednexsrus]

I was just wondering about the circumstances surrounding the 7 Instant Wins.

We know that to win one of these elusive items you have to be on target when the random number generator or is it a random time generator comes up to get the "LUCKY YOU"

My question is: Does the random time that comes up apply to all 7 Instant Wins OR is there actually 7 different random times one for each reward card. Could you get that rare "LUCKY YOU" twice ?? on two different GC's. Hummmm

Something to think about. Just Saying 

[JoLo49]

@rednexsrus, @BeachGirl23 

On the rare occasion when I have won an Instant Win, it is only the one win.  I play all 7 at the same time.  I suppose it could be possible to hit a multiple win, but probably highly unlikely as it's difficult just winning one Instant Win.

[BillD916633]

That's me, all 7 one right after another BUT I start with the least desirable GC and work toward the one I want the most. Worked a few times in the past 😅 😅

Some members say just pass on the less desirable GC's saving those points, you reduce the chance of getting a GC you cain't use, BUT

here it is the last 2 days of the month and you still have two redemptions left, It's much better to use those points on that ugly GC rather than just lose it !! Maybe just maybe you will be able to gift it to some lucky person.

[gm5271]

@BillD916633 

Hey Bill

Just wanna say that 'Daily Instant Wins' have NO LIMIT on amount can win Nor do they count towards your limited 3 per month Points only cards("you stated last 2 days need use redemptions") Nor are they all set to expire end of month .... each runs for 7 days once they are posted....its a rolling changeover 1 leaves 1 comes everyday.... you can see date each ends in its information listed

It's been over year since I won one...I only play for ones can use but makes no sense to me to play for a card can't use or easily giveaway & have it when another could win & use

I do play all one after another most desired first then others I've never won 2 in same day but when last won Oct2020 I won 1 then another different one 3 days later 

As mentioned in others posts here... I'm under the impression that each one plays its on times for wins since they are each setup & go away on different days.... never heard of anyone winning multiple at same time... be curious to hear if others have 🤔

Enjoy your day & good luck

Ginger ;  )

[BeachGirl23]

This is an excellent question. One I have been wondering myself since another member wondered how the random times are generated and applied. I never know if I should do all my instant win entries at one time (all losers) or spread them out throughout the day (still all losers). The question you ask would resolve my dilemma. Of course loosing all at one time vs spreading it out over a 24 hour period still has the same result - that is loosing. I do hope you get an answer.

Thanks for asking.

[Jason2020LovesKelly]

Good to see 7 IWs available, but I feel like a sore loser when I state that I am unhappy about not winning anything in awhile. 😞

[andrewtoo]

Just to share some data...

Won the $10 Sephora eGift card at 8:10PM (EST...opps!)

today 1/25/22.  Today is the first day it was

available and I won using the "Free Method of Entry"

from the Official Rules.

Daily Instant Win Rules links I have been using are at 

the following link :https://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/rewards-terms-and-conditions/instant-win-rules/ 

If others shared when they won, maybe we would see a pattern?

This is not the instant win that I wanted to win.

[KennethG683811]

Hi Andrew - I won an Athleta card at around 2:30PM ET, I can't use it but my princess loves yoga clothes and can use it.  Hope that helps!

Kenneth