For some, the idea of shopping sprees dredges up childhood memories of stampeding down toy store aisles, clearing entire shelves in a race against the clock. Several prominent toy chains offered these timed shopping sprees, granting children the delicious dilemma of so many toys and so little time. But that romanticized image is a far cry from what real shopping sprees look like--not that that lessens their value.

A shopping spree is more like a gift certificate to your favorite store. You can use it as an open credit toward anything from music and electronics to furniture and housewares. And as with gift certificates, these sprees are usually neither transferable nor refundable. If you're going to enter to win a shopping spree, make sure it's at a retail outlet you'd patronize even if you weren't being awarded a freebie.

The Truth about Shopping Sprees

To a vendor, then, a shopping spree is equivalent to a loss, unless, that is, they're receiving goods and services in exchange. This is always the case, even if the phenomenon works in subtle ways. Many radio stations, for example, offer "Christmas Wishes" (or some equivalent) in which they help an underpriveleged family enjoy a holiday bonanza. The station may appear to give away 500 dollars from a local department store, but that station has already secured 500 dollars of advertising to cover it. The store, meanwhile, gets its name read to thousands of listeners, so everybody wins.

The same logic applies to contest sponsors in their sweepstakes. You may think you're receiving 1000 dollars of free bath and beauty products, but the company supplying them is only too happy to receive the mass exposure. Which is all well and good, especially, if, instead of soap suds, you win a free vacation or a tidy lump of cash.