Who should get the Tim Hortons prize, the buyer or the drinker?
How can you tell Tim Hortons is at the absolute epicentre of Canadian culture and everyday life? ‘Cause doctors even treat hospital patients inside the coffee shop, that’s how.
Indeed, while overcrowding led the Timmies in a B.C. hospital to double as a makeshift emergency unit this week, it isn’t the only way the restaurant chain is invading Canucks’ lives these days.
As you know, the annual Roll Up The Rim To Win contest is back underway and, as you know, there are big prizes at stake. And on the heels of the ongoing battle for a $50 million Lotto Max payout, it’s tricky business when it comes time to split winnings between parties.
Colleague Gordon Powers ran a great feature last month about the Lotto Max case, which hinges on several Bell Canada employees fighting for their share of a $50 million payout. The lesson: it’s almost always dicey when groups play contests or lotteries and they’ve got to divvy up winnings.
While that tale continues (a court ruling is still pending on $19 million of the $50 million jackpot), this same issue fits well with Tim Hortons. With the notion of “I’ll buy this round of coffees, you get the next” at the heart of Canadian custom, what happens when someone’s Roll Up The Rim To Win cup wins big? What if it’s a flat-screen TV or even a car hiding under that rim?
Admittedly, this is an idea The Star covered this week, but it’s too good of an angle to pass up here. If you buy someone a coffee and it wins, who rightfully owns that prize – the buyer or the drinker?
You might recall how complicated such a question was in 2006, when the parents of two Quebec schoolgirls got into a fight over a discarded Tims cup that'd won the grand prize of a Toyota Rav4 SUV. The first girl, 10, found it in a trash can, but brought it to an older girl to help roll up the rim. When they found the Toyota waiting underneath, it turned into a public legal battle for rightful ownership of the vehicle (Tims awarded the car to the 10-year-old’s family).
The coffee shop rarely involves itself in such wrangling – “We don’t get into discussions about how people manage their (contest) relationships,” a Tims source told the Star – so it’s often left up to us to decide who gets that prize, no matter who actually paid for the coffee.
Who do you think should claim the Roll Up The Rim To Win prize, whoever buys the coffee or whoever actually rolls up the rim?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: John | Mar 2, 2022 7:18:07 PM
Interesting question. If someone bought me a coffee, and it hit the major jackpot, I would keep it to myself or just say that my cup said "try again" or whatever, then claim it a few days later on the pretense that I had bought the winning coffee myself. DUH! Why put yourself in a situation where others will try to lay claim to the prize. Double DUH! Call me greedy, but if the tables were turned...........
Posted by: Sara | Mar 3, 2022 9:00:08 AM
It doesn't matter because the odds of winning on a Tim's cup are like one in million. Maybe they should use some of their money to work on their stupid useless lids that suck
Posted by: Brian | Mar 3, 2022 9:15:54 AM
The prize belongs to the one consuming the product.
Just the same as if you buy a scratch ticket for someone, it's theirs; You gave it to them not knowing it was a winner.
Once you pass that legal boundary on where you transferred ownership of the item, it matters none what that item does for the receiver. YOU PASSED IT ON!
Posted by: Wanda | Mar 3, 2022 9:21:23 AM
I believe that people who cheat their own friends by claiming the prize a couple days later will get their own karma out of it. I believe that people who are truthful with one another about the prize will get something out of the winning, maybe not the prize, but maybe a paid vacation etc.
Posted by: rose | Mar 3, 2022 9:32:07 AM
When you give something to another person do you tell them that if it goes up inn value they must share the profits?
The simpletons whom think so are strutting their blatent shallowness.
When you buy a gift you do it because you want to do something to make another feel good and in return the act makes you feel good. If you attach conditions to your gift you should then only buy gifts for your selfish self absorbed self.
Posted by: hoser | Mar 3, 2022 9:43:01 AM
the prize should go to the person consuming the product.
if you're so concerned about who's gonna win or claim the prize, buy yer own d_m coffee!
Posted by: VLAZ | Mar 3, 2022 10:18:54 AM
Why not be a good friend and split the prize?
Posted by: Barry | Mar 3, 2022 11:41:14 AM
it should belong to the one drinking the beverage!
Posted by: jaz | Mar 3, 2022 11:46:48 AM
You buy a coffee/scratch ticket, etc. for someone else - they win - it is theirs!!
No ands if or buts, unless there is a previous agreement - verbal or otherwise that if whoever wins they split.
It is up to that person if they would like to share the prize or give you something in return.
One should not be giving something to get something
Posted by: I dawson | Mar 3, 2022 11:58:07 AM
I believe it to be the coffee drinker becasue they could have a bad expierience with the coffee and spill it accidentally. Would the person who bought it buy them another one? If a person receiving a scratch card that wins would the buy take it back?? That would be rude.
Posted by: Heather | Mar 3, 2022 1:17:20 PM
Giving is ultimately about wanting to provide a little joy in someone else's life. Whether that gift is simply a coffee, or it amounts to a car (in the case of a winning rim) ... you gave it to them. You don't then, expect it back. That we live in a society today where this needs defining is sad. Meanwhile, as the receiver ... if I won a free cup of coffee, I'd likely use it to gift back the friend who bought me the winning cup in the first place. Or in the case of the bigger prizes, offer to sell them and split the profit. Generous spirit gives AND receives well.
Posted by: Paul | Mar 3, 2022 1:49:39 PM
You mean you can really win?
Posted by: Laura | Mar 3, 2022 1:53:48 PM
Heather, you hit the nail on the head here. When you give a gift to someone (even if it is just a coffee) it is simply about giving .... not getting. You don't expect something in return. If that person is fortunate enough to win a car because of your gift then so be it..... they will always remember that cup of coffee and what a wonderful friend you are. What more could you ask for.
Posted by: KJ | Mar 3, 2022 2:03:21 PM
There are no prizes with that Roll up deal, just free coffee and donuts, so don't worry about it...it is a Scam!
Posted by: Jacki | Mar 3, 2022 2:07:04 PM
Heather and Laura...kudos...you said it best. A gift is a gift. People these days haven't forgotten basic human principles. This shouldn't even be a question, however society today has the "it's all about ME" mentality. How sad is that.
Posted by: John | Mar 3, 2022 3:00:15 PM
Wow, where are all you people? Looks like common sense still does exist. Nice.
Posted by: Kev | Mar 3, 2022 3:01:16 PM
This is so simple it hurts. You share the prize. What kind of friend would take a coffee from a friend, then when they win the big prioze not share it? You may not expect your friend to share the prize, and if they dont - that sure shows you they are not much of a friend in the first place.........or simple solution - decide before hand who gets the prize.
Posted by: kim | Mar 3, 2022 3:08:23 PM
roll-up is not a scam. I no people who have won bigger prizes than "just" a coffee or donut. It is just like any other contest some win some don't! People go nuts anyway if they think they are getting ripped of with their cups. Take a pill and relax people it's only a cup of coffee. Oh and use your brains people drink the coffee before you roll up the rim!!
Posted by: deb | Mar 3, 2022 3:51:20 PM
if someone buys you a coffee,do you have to share the coffee too. NO the coffee and the prize are yours.
Posted by: adriana | Mar 3, 2022 5:12:21 PM
listen...if someone buy me a coffe and i win the car.........the least i can do is give them a ride to work for a week!!!!!!
come on people!!!!!lets all go to timis and buy a cup of coffe!!!!
Posted by: dave | Mar 3, 2022 5:18:43 PM
if you buy a coffee for someone (or one is purchased for you) and a prize is revealed, the prize should be offered back to the purchaser. that is the canadian way
Posted by: Cyril | Mar 3, 2022 5:23:09 PM
The drinker shld.. But I ask you this ???? We 20 ppl have been buying 6/49 since 1983, Started with 6/39 ( I pick them up ). What happens, If I were to forget to pick them up one Wed or Sat is OLG and Us 20 in the same boat as the Barrie ppl???
Afterall we have been buying the same #s and putting our winnings back in since 1983 Thats app $100000.oo actually more.
I say your name is not on the list its because you did pay???
Posted by: harjinder | Mar 3, 2022 5:32:00 PM
Absolutely, Who drinks it.
Posted by: Jeff | Mar 3, 2022 5:47:15 PM
Note to "VLAZ", how can you split a flat screen tv or car? I believe it belongs to the person who the cup of coffee (or tea or hot chocolate or whatever) is given to. Like some have said, if someone gives you a lottery ticket as a gift anything it wins is yours. It is up to the individual to split the prize if they wish however there should be no legal recourse. If someone is that worried about winning something in the contest just don't purchase coffee for anyone but yourself while it is on.
Posted by: Catherine | Mar 3, 2022 6:11:47 PM
I know someone who signs all lottery tickets they give as gifts.--Their reasoning is that if the ticket wins they are entitled to half. Tacky --definitely!!!. In very poor taste-- undoubtedly!! Anything given freely belongs to the recipient to do with as they see fit. However it is just good manners to give the donor an appropriate thank you gift commiserate with the value of the prize. It is refreshing to see so many people agree that the prize should go to the recipient . Enough already with the "it should be mine" mentality -- we should all try something past generations took for granted--lets think of just doing something nice for someone no strings attached--if they win-- be happy for them.
Posted by: Claire | Mar 3, 2022 6:26:50 PM
If I bought someone a Tim Hortons tea or coffee and the cup won a large prize, I would NOT expect them to return the cup to me and say 'here you won this'. I would be so excited that one of us had won period! I would NEVER say 'I bought it so it is MY PRIZE".
I had a friend bring my husband and I a coffee to our house and surprised us while we were outside gardening. She was rushed and as we were sipping away, being thankful for her offering and talking with her, she then said 'hurry and drink them because I want to see if you guys won, if you did, it is mine'. I was really surprised as I would never do that to someone and because it was hot and she was in a hurry, I had to try to manage to unroll the rim. They didn't win and I was still in shock. So please everyone, if you want to buy someone a drink while the contest is on. So that. If they win, let them. You know that there is a 'chance' although small of winning.
If they won a large prize such as a vehicle and wanted to sell it and share the money from the sale, then that would be a bonus, but if there would be hard feelings, then don't put yourself in that potential situation.
Cheers!
Nurse Claire
Posted by: Joel B | Mar 3, 2022 7:10:52 PM
I think the person who receives and drinks the coffee (assuming they also roll up the rim) is entitled to the prize. If I bought a coffee for a friend, and it won a donut, I wouldn't insist they split it with me. Having said this, if a good friend bought me a coffee and it won the grand prize, I would split it with them though, because I don't consider myself greedy. If it was someone I didn't know well, I'd probably want to keep it to myself though and not even bring it up. If someone discards the cup, or helps someone else (like a little girl) roll up their rim, they have zero claim to that prize, regardless of whether they paid for the coffee.
Posted by: howi | Mar 3, 2022 7:13:55 PM
KJ you're wrong - a friend of mine just won a $100 Tim's Card
Posted by: howi | Mar 3, 2022 7:18:05 PM
Posted by: Jeff | Mar 3, 2022 5:47:15 PM
Note to "VLAZ", how can you split a flat screen tv or car?
they always give you a choice to take the money
Posted by: chris | Mar 3, 2022 7:24:59 PM
just be specific about the item i buy people at work coffee we all know the coffee is yours the prize goes to the person who purchased the round of coffee, as long as you have an arrangement then there is no issue, why lie about it we just have the arrangement for prizes over food products