My 2008 Adventures in Roll Up The Rim To Win

2009 Season has Started

2009-02-24T06:44:00.000-08:00

Please visit the 2009 edition of my Roll Up The Rim To Win Blog to find out my results of this season!

Free Cups Received - One winner!

2008-04-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

I got one winner out of the three free cups I received. This brings my 2008 Roll up The Rim to Win stats to 5 wins in 50 tries. Just slightly below the stated 1 in 9 odds of winning!

This year they placed the whole cup in a bigger envelope than my self-adressed stamped envelope and then added another 63 cents postage

As you can see in the photo, my complaint remains regarding the cup being squat so much that the rim could easily be checked before it is placed in the envelope.

Another loser, so I tried an Ice Cap!

2008-04-19T09:28:00.001-07:00

The weather has been turning to spring for the last week, so after trying another shot at the roll up and losing - I went with an ice cap!

Below, I took a picture of the ice cap after it was fully enjoyed.

And here is a video of a roll up the rim winning a Matrix:

Free Roll Up The Rim To Win Lids!

2008-04-19T08:44:00.001-07:00

Thats right, lids! Last year I sent in a couple of self-addressed stamped envelopes to get a free contest cup and it turned out to be the lid of a cup ripped off and put in the envelope.

So I've decided to send in a few more this year and to see what I get back. Obviously the LIDS I received back were all "Please Play Again/Réessayez s.v.p.” - we'll see if anything changes this year.

If you want to receive a free contest LID, just send a self-address stamped envelope along to:

Tim Hortons Contest Cup
PO Box 9899
Saint John, NB
E2L 4P8

They must be post dated by May 3, 2008 and received by May 11, 2008 in order to be eligible.

Media Attention

2008-04-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Recently The Globe and Mail ran an article about how unlucky Tim's Roll Up The Win players have been this season. They asked me if I could answer a few questions and I ended up getting quoted in the an article by Patrick White - Coffee junkies say it's a lean 'Roll Up the Rim' season.

Since then I have done interviews on a few talk radio shows such as Radio 1410 Vancouver Morning Show, with Shannon Nelson, Calgary Today with Mike Blanchard and the CBC Radio Afternoon Show out of Whitehorse, Yukon. As it turns out much of the country is grumbling about their lack of winners this season. It could be a number of reasons, from the economy to the bad weather. Or some even speculate that there is tampering with the cups and this is reducing the number of winners that customers can collect. Who knows! I still want to believe that I'll get a nice prize when I roll up the rim!

There are still some cups left at Tim's around here - so hopefully I can pull out a winner before the season ends!

The Losing Streak Stops?

2008-04-15T17:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if this counts but after 8 more losses the ninth won that I purchased was a winner - but it wasn't mine! It was my brothers. So the question - does this count as a win to break my winning streak?

Some Tim Hortons are running out of cups now so that means that the season will soon be over. My record stands at 4 wins in 46 tries! According to the stated odds of 1 in 9, then with purchasing 46 cups, then I should have won about 5 times. This means I ended the season winning less than the stated odds, unlike last year. At least I'm not as bad as others who after 25 purchases still have not won!

Here is my final loser of the year - I think I'm on to Ice Cap's but I might give it one more try to get back up to average!

The losing doesn't stop....

2008-03-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Three more tries in the last couple of days and the bad luck continues. I have not won in my last 29 rim's now! That brings my total for the season to 4 wins in 38 tries which is below the stated odds of 1 in 9!

Another Day, Another Loser

2008-03-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

That makes it zero for my last 26 cups. In total I am now 4 wins in 35 tries!

Why Not Keep Losing!

2008-03-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

Still better than the overall odds of 1 in 9 at 4 in 34. But I have not won in my last 25 cups!

I'm turning sour on this contest! But one donut win will make me happy again!

The losing continues

2008-03-16T15:03:00.001-07:00

I thought if I started updating the blog again it could start another winning streak but I lost again today! Making it a dreadful 0 for 24 slump!

Here is the large tea double double losing cup:

Update

2008-03-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I jinxed my lucky streak. Since my last post I have not won! To make th ings worse I have had Tim's 23 times. Meaning I am 4 wins in 31 tries! This is still better than the stated odds of 1 in 9 but going on a 0 for 23 streak stinks!

Here are a couple of poor photos that were on my phone.

Day 6: Another day another winner

2008-03-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

Keeping my lucky streak alive!

Day 5: Three Large Tim's = One Winner

2008-02-29T13:58:00.001-08:00

Today I had Tim's three times! I got one winner out of it! See below:

Day 4: Frugal Tips For Roll Up The Rim To Win

2008-02-28T16:34:00.000-08:00

I am seriously falling behind in this competition with Boo Radley. He won again yesterday for the second time in row! I certainly have my work cut out for me. I wonder if its winning percentage or total wins that matters most? I guess it doesn't matter right now as I am behind in both!

Also, for those of you with a Country Style in your area Boo Radley has confirmed they will be giving away free coffee for each "Please Play Again" rim. As MediaInCanada explained they will be giving a free medium coffee for each non-winning rim from Tim Horton's from March 3rd to the 9th. They go on to explain this is a "promo hijack" and are using various viral marketing avenues including Facebook postings to promote it!

This, my friends, is a massive XTRA-LARGE Smoothie from Tim Horton's. I used my "Win Coffee" rim to get this. Many people don't know, but the free coffee rim's can be used to get any hot beverage in ANY SIZE.

I know, its not that big of a deal. But for those of you out there who like to get the most out of everything this is a good tip.

To make the best of it, I won another coffee from this roll up the rim.

This now brings my totals to 2 wins in 4 chances. Not quite as good as Boo Radley's 2 wins in 3 chances but its well above the stated 1 in 9 posted odds!

Tim's Cups Not Recyclable

2008-02-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

Buzz at The Blog According to Buzz has pointed out that Tim Horton's Cups are not recyclable. This seems to really bother him and he ultimately suggests "Got a problem with Tim’s doing this promo, again? Let ‘em know:" and he proceeds to give contact information.

I might have missed the boat but what does this promotion (a fantastic one I might add) have to do with the cups not being recyclable? Is it being suggested that without this contest that people would bring reusable mugs in to be filled up? I find that notion hard to believe.

Sure, you might be displeased with the cups not being recyclable but please - I think your anger is misguided by attacking the Roll Up The Rim To Win contest!

What does everyone else think?

Day 3 Bring Good News

2008-02-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

Thats right, good news! Decided to get my Tim's before going to work and I got a free coffee! Woot woot!

This makes me 1 for 3. Three large tea purchased and got one winner! Defying the odds so far! While Boo Radkey was successful on his second day, he'll need to lose toay and we will be tied!

Latest Statistics (Updated Feb 27, 2008):
Record: 1 - 3
Spent: $4.65
Won: $1.55
Probability: 33%

Car won in Newfoundland

2008-02-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

I've been informed that a Matrix has been won in Newfoundland. There was a rumor circulating this morning and it was confirmed this afternoon that it has in fact been one. That means there are only five other cars in the Atlantic region now!

Crunching the Numbers on the 2008 Edition of Roll up the Rim to Win

2008-02-26T05:18:00.000-08:00

If you look at the results below you'll notice that the Tim Cards, GPS and Boat are pretty much fairly distributed throughout each of the regions. However, you'll notice quite the difference for the Matrix.

The spreadsheet to quickly view this information has been included here.

First thing I noticed are there are almost 300 million contest cups this year - 282,492,000 to be exact.

Your overall odds of winning the Matrix are about 1 in 8 million.
However you have the best chance of winning the Matrix is in region 4 which is Quebec (excludes Bas St.-Laurent, aspsie & Iles-de-la-Madeleine) & Labrador. Your odds of winning the Matrix there are 1 in 5.5 million. The worst place to have a chance at the Matrix is in Ontario, where your odds are 1 in 10 million.

I thought the differences in odds were interesting, what do you guys think of this?

Day 2 Results

2008-02-26T04:07:00.000-08:00

I decided to frequent my Regular Tim Horton's today and as I approached the place (pictured below) I had a very good feeling about todays roll up the rim! Forgetting that my odds of winning are 1 in 9 - I am determined to defy the odds! How you ask? I have no idea - please help! I went with a large and could hardly wait to drink it before I rolled up the rim!

Another disappointment, bringing my record to 0-2. I'm thinking about going with medium next!

Let The Games Begin

2008-02-26T02:59:00.000-08:00

Boo Radley over at Smart Canucks has decided to compete with me in this RUTRTW contest. Hopefully we can both win something big in this years contest - even a $50 cash card to pay for the extra Tim's we drink during this time of year!

Now, do I go with a large or medium? Boo Radley went with a medium yesterday and was unsuccessful. Yesterday at the office two people won on mediums - I've always heard this rumor that medium were more successful than large. But in my mind the extra-large should have the most winners since that is Tim's best customer, no?

I'll post later when I get my Tim's to start the morning - hopefully day 2 brings better luck to at least me or Boo Radley, unlike day 1.

Rick Mercer Breaks Down Prior Year RUTRTW Contest

2008-02-25T16:06:00.000-08:00

Rick Mercer has this humorous clip on the breaking down the Roll Up The Rim To Win contest.

2008 Roll Up The Rim Prizes

2008-02-25T15:22:00.000-08:00

Well, its here, Tim Hortons annual Roll Up The Rim To Win contest means spring is just around the corner. The prizes this year pretty good. The car this year appears to be a little less than what they have given in prior years but we now have a million dollars worth of Tim's cards that are going to be given out. I think that medium level prizes like this are more promising than a bigger grand prize. I would settle for a Garmin Nuvi prize too! That is one of those type things you always want but don't really want to spend the cash on it so if you won it in a prize its perfect!

I noticed on the cup today, your odds of winning are 1 in 9. I'm 0 for 1 so far!

Day 1: Starting out wrong.

2008-02-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

I have this feeling that something great is going to happen for me this year on Roll Up The Rim To Win! I'll document my thoughts on the contest and how I am doing.

Unfortunately I never won on day one. I purchased a large tea, two milk and one sugar and here are the results(hopefully you can see it, I took the picture with my phone):