IHG Promotion - Minimum 47k points for $46.06

[Marco Polo]

+1
Do we need to register for this?

Yes.

[tzifanya54]

Yes.

Thanks, tried finding a link to register, but I couldn't. I'm guessing that means you can't register until the 15th?

[Marco Polo]

Thanks, tried finding a link to register, but I couldn't. I'm guessing that means you can't register until the 15th?

Search in this thread. Should be among the first few posts.

[lunatic]

Note that this requires registration and doesn't start until 11/15.

"First you must register at pricelesssurprises.ihg.com"

I guess you register once per account.

[coralsnake]

3x5 is an index card, no?

[jedderai]

yes. standard size index card.

[srap]

3x5 is an index card, no?

Yes, but that is card stock.  Of course, it is officially paper, but when they can be sticklers for 'to the tee"...

Paper vs card.   Thoughts?

[lunatic]

Yes, but that is card stock.  Of course, it is officially paper, but when they can be sticklers for 'to the tee"...

Paper vs card.   Thoughts?

I was also hoping to use index cards

[Dan]

DDF preview special, feel free to check my math and see if I went wrong anywhere or add other suggestions.




IHG is starting a promo called "Priceless Surprises" today (11/15) together with Mastercard.

It's intended for mystery prizes for hotel stays, but you can receive prizes even without a hotel stay as per the official rules.

Just register via the link above and then hand print your full name, complete mailing address, day and evening phone numbers, valid email address, member number, the first six (6) digits of a MasterCard, and date of birth on a 3" x 5" piece of paper and mail it in an envelope with proper postage to “IHG and MasterCard® Priceless Surprises® Promotion,” c/o HelloWorld, Inc., P.O. Box 5996, Kalamazoo, MI 49003-5996."

I'd assume a standard 3x5 index card would do the trick.

Within 5 days of them receiving the envelope you will get an email with a free chance to win. The results will be instantly displayed.

All mail-in entries must be handwritten and must be postmarked by February 15, 2016 and received by February 22, 2016. All Game plays must be completed by March 15, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

You can enter up to 94 times per member/email address.

The Group A prizes are:
-2016 Paris Tennis Tournament Package and $5,000 cash (3 winners, $23,407 ARV)
-Winter in New York City and $6,500 cash (2 winners, $22,016 ARV)
-Priceless New York and $6,000 cash (2 winners, $19,300 ARV)
-Arnold Palmer Invitational Honorary Observer and $5,000 cash (3 winners, $19,826 ARV)
-$2,500 gift card (10 winners)
-1 million IHG points (1 winner, $5,000 ARV)
-Bose Sound Touch 120 home theater system (3 winners, $1,099 ARV)
-Adventure Package (2 winners, $1,050 ARV)
-Sony Package (3 winners, $799 ARV)
-Bose Wave SoundTouch® music systemIV (4 winners, $600 ARV)
-Free Night Stay at IHG Property in the Americas (525 winners, $120 ARV)
-$50 gift card (1,050 winners)

If you don't win one of the Group A prizes above you will win one of the following Group B prizes with the following odds:
-5K IHG points (1:42.86)
-2K IHG points (1:28.57)
-1K IHG points (1:14.29)
-500 IHG points (1:1.18)

If you and your spouse each sent in 94 envelopes (188 total envelopes) and only win Group B prizes the odds are that you'd win:
-4.39 of the 5K prizes (21,950 points)
-6.58 of the 2K prizes (13,160 points)
-13.16 of the 1K prizes (13,160 points)
-159.32 of the 500 prizes (79,660 points)
=127,930 points
Alas those numbers are only adding up to 183.43 prizes instead of 188, so their odds numbers seem a bit off.

But in total you can assume that you'd get roughly 130K points. If you have the absolute worst luck in the world the minimum you would get is 94K points.

With the cash plus points trick you can buy 130K points for $940.

So I ask again. Are you bored enough to fill out 188 handwritten envelopes for approximately $940 worth of points?
Sound off in the comments

[Marco Polo]

Is the play to fill out index card and then stuff in envelope? Will just mailing a postcard work?

[emak]

Copying by machine definitely not going to qualify?

[lunatic]

If I get my kids to do this,  I would think it would work as long as the member number and email is legible?

[Dan]

Will just mailing a postcard work?

No.

[tzifanya54]

Search in this thread. Should be among the first few posts.

It's not. For all those looking for a link to register:
https://pricelesssurprises.ihg.com/?promoCode=10637&offerId=Q0637&cm_mmc=OSMAM_thirdparty_US_PricelessSurprises15_DEFAULT&cm_sp=MasterCard_DEFAULT

[David Smith]

IMHO, working with your math, $940/188 is $5 an envelope, not a horrible rate per hour, assuming you can do one a minute ($300 an hour.). Of course, you have to factor in postage and insanity from monotony, but there are definitely worse ways to spend your time.

[Dan]

Thanks guys.
Changed the end to:


With the cash plus points trick you can buy 130K points for $940.

188 stamps will set you back some $92.

So I ask again. Are you bored enough to spend a couple of hours filling out 188 handwritten envelopes for approximately an $848 profit? Will you have your kids do it for you
Sound off in the comments

[luckyluck]

the official rules.

Link not working?

[@Yehuda]

I think EJ's point should be mentioned as well - the top prizes are going to be given out on random days, so sending in all the envelopes on day 1 will kill your chances of getting a top prize (not that the chances were too high anyway).

[Dan]

Link not working?

https://d2ukkex5d6aodv.cloudfront.net/pdf/PricelessSurprisesRules_FINAL.pdf?v=PJIwn

[Dan]

I think EJ's point should be mentioned as well - the top prizes are going to be given out on random days, so sending in all the envelopes on day 1 will kill your chances of getting a top prize (not that the chances were too high anyway).

I'd assume it's when you play it, not what they issue.