'NOT ACCEPTABLE': Tim Hortons mistakenly emails customers they won a boat

Tim Hortons' Roll Up the Rim contest is in hot water.

Advertisement 2

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
• Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
• Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
• Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
• Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
• Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
• Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account.
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
• Enjoy additional articles per month.
• Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Article content

Many customers were ecstatic to learn via email that they had won a boat, however, their excitement quickly turned to disappointment when a follow-up email was sent out.

Article content

"We're reaching out to let you know that technical errors may have resulted in incorrect information about rolls or prizes being included in your Roll Up to Win recap email which you received today," the mass email read.

The message detailed how many rolls and points they earned during the contest, along with a summary of what they won, like a free coffee or donut.

However, some people were notified that one of the prizes they had won was a 2024 Tracker Targa 18 WT boat and trailer.

"Unfortunately, some prizes that you did not win may have been included in the recap email you received. If this was the case, today's email does not mean that you won those prizes," the message continued, before asking customers to "disregard" the first email.

However, despite trying to put out the fire, many customers who thought they were Roll Up the Rim winners took to social media to complain about their dreams being dashed.

One person went on Reddit to ask, "Is this a scam? Or did I really win the boat?"

And a woman from Prince Edward Island took to Facebook to share how "excited" she was to get the email congratulating her on her "newest win."

Advertisement 3

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

"Let's just say my hubby and I were pretty excited to get this email," she wrote, detailing that she drove to her local Tim Hortons store to make sure it wasn't a scam — and was told it wasn't.

But after being on hold for most of the day to find out how she could redeem her prize, she received the follow-up email that Tims had made a mistake.

"These big companies get away with all that but if it was a small company it would not be OK!!," she ranted. "They should have to come good for the mistakes they make like this, in some way. This is NOT the first time either for Tim Hortons. NOT ACCEPTABLE."

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Tim Hortons apologized for the frustration it has caused but clarified that any prizes won in the contest "would have been revealed instantly" when customers played Roll Up the Rim, "and any large value prizes would have had a further verification process."

A Tim Hortons spokesperson told the Toronto Sun that the Roll Up the Rim recap email was sent "with the best intentions of giving our guests a fun overview of their 2024 play history."

They added: "Unfortunately there was a human error that resulted in some guests receiving some incorrect information in their recap message."

Recommended from Editorial

1. Tim Hortons' Roll Up To Win marks chain's 60th anniversary

2. 'STUFF TOSSED ON BREAD:' Lacklustre Tim Hortons grilled cheese mocked on social media

3. TIM HORTONS TIMELINE: Iconic chain celebrates 60th birthday in 2024

Article content