I do know the Eye team is careful to ensure that both types of submissions are considered on equal terms. My understanding is that the number of email submissions is about the same as postal ones. So, each issue, a random selection is made to determine which type goes into the ‘draw’. If it’s emails, the prize winner is chosen by ‘blindly’ scanning up and down the list of messages for that issue and clicking on the lucky solver’s message. This system seems quite fair to me and as good a method as is reasonably practicable – which is my way of saying I’m not going to get into further discussion on the matter!

It’s true that not all email submissions are read – but this applies to postal ones too. So, as you’ll gather, any comment/ complaint/ tribute(!) included with your crossword entry probably won’t get seen. You’d need to send a normal letter to the mag. or email strobes@private-eye.co.uk.

Oh, about the ‘nina’ in puzzle 400: I didn’t intend the “giveaway” preamble included in the print version to be published. It was just a throwaway comment I put in my covering email to the Eye.

Finally, since this belated posting of mine might not get read by many of you, I’ll repeat it when Eye 401 is reviewed.

I too enter by email and have done for about 5 years – I just send a tiny text with the answers in the style of the “last week’s answers” as under the crossword in the mag. I have been known to mistype them – but not so much since doing this blog.
I too am waiting for my first win.
A couple of years ago I sent a message saying something like “please just reply to prove someone reads these” – I’m still waiting for a reply. No surprise really. I figure they do the equivalent of putting all entries in a hat and picking one, and only then looking at the mail – GOK how much spam mail that mailbox must attract and how they filter that out given the nature some of the answers.
Nevertheless I still send by email as it’s something of a habit.

Nick

Nick