Los Angeles, California United States
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January 5, 2011
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I am new to CA Lottery Scratchers, played some and read the rules. They say take the winning ticket to ANY retailer.
But is this just a bad thing to do: Buy scratcher at one store, redeem at another?
I spread around my buying between different stores and different days. I don't know all the ins and outs of how the stores get paid, all I read is that they get a take on the jackpots. But not sure about the little $500 amounts. How do they make money off of that payout?
United States
Member #97,725
September 22, 2010
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There is only one fair way to do it. Figure out which stores you bought which tickets at and take them back to those stores. You could also cut the tickets up and divide it between retailers. That would probably be easier than trying to remember which store you bought whatever ticket at. Make sure that each section contains at least a part of a bar-code, or the number from the front. Lottery retailers are smart, so don't try anything funny with them. If you have a $2.00 ticket and split it four ways, then expect only 50 cents from each retailer. They have a way of knowing if a part of a bar-code has been cashed in before. You can always cash in half a ticket for a dollar.
The Ville, FL United States
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August 19, 2010
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From what I have been told here in FL, retailers do not get a percentage of winnings off of scratch-offs...They just get "Bragging rights" when they sell a big ticket.
They do however get a check when someone wins the FL Lottery, Powerball, or Mega Money.
To answer your question, when I have a winner of $100 or more, I usually take it to a different grocery store because there has been too many times where a clerk may expect a tip for selling you a winning ticket. It will avoid all akwardness. I do not personally tip clerks because I do not feel the need to since I paid for the ticket and all they did was rip it off the roll and hand it to me. They arent a bar tender
So they get 6% on the sales of tickets, but only 1% on the redeeming of tickets. I did hear that some stores may ask you to go back to the original store and was not sure why.
So they get 6% on the sales of tickets, but only 1% on the redeeming of tickets. I did hear that some stores may ask you to go back to the original store and was not sure why.
So with the information you found, I guess it would matter where you cash in your winners. If you had a favorite store, I guess I'd take them there
then. There's some stores that I go to only if I have to...incompetent, slow, unfriendly, rushed, no customer appreciation. Then there's the places
that make sure you're taken care of...the ones that know by heart what you're going to ask for even before you open your mouth. Those places
Los Angeles, California United States
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January 5, 2011
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I think I can see why they might not want to get a whole bunch of people from other stores cashing in at their store. If it was abused, then they would have to carry a lot of cash and do a lot of paperwork for the 1% redemptions, but are not getting the 6% on all the sales. I also saw another document where they dropped the redemption compensation from 2% to 1% recently, so that may be even more why they might complain.
As long as it is not abused to that extreme, I guess one or two mix-matched here and there should be OK.
But the scenario where I would buy from a whole bunch of stores in the area, but only cash in winners on the closest store to where I live, that is what I was wondering about if they would complain. But then again, if there are others doing the same, buying all over and cashing in at their closest store, it all evens out, statistically at least.(that's all this stuff is, eh? ;)
So far since I just started "scratching" I haven't gotten any sizeable winners yet to run into this situation...
Nashville, TN United States
Member #86,736
February 9, 2010
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In Tennessee it doesnt matter -- the system keeps up with it all and that is how they know.
FOr instance one time I asked a retailer if I cashed a winning ticket at their store that was bought at a nother store, do they get the credit for it? They said no, it goes back to the original store because that is who sold it.
I see all these signs up in stores that show "winning ticket of $100,000 sold here' or the like. Notice it says SOLD here, not CASHED or REDEEMED here.
But maybe its different per state and maybe there is still a small payer bonus for redemptions.
United States
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September 22, 2010
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Quote: Originally posted by B$Rizzle on Jan 6, 2011
From what I have been told here in FL, retailers do not get a percentage of winnings off of scratch-offs...They just get "Bragging rights" when they sell a big ticket.
They do however get a check when someone wins the FL Lottery, Powerball, or Mega Money.
To answer your question, when I have a winner of $100 or more, I usually take it to a different grocery store because there has been too many times where a clerk may expect a tip for selling you a winning ticket. It will avoid all akwardness. I do not personally tip clerks because I do not feel the need to since I paid for the ticket and all they did was rip it off the roll and hand it to me. They arent a bar tender
I have never tipped a clerk. Now if they started selling me mostly $100 winners, or if 4 out of every 5 tickets they sold me won, and that happened regularly when I purchased tickets that they sold me, I would start tipping them then. So far no clerk has gone above and beyond what I would expect as average, decent good service. I do hold some in higher esteem than others, but none have done anything on a regular enough basis to consider them worthwhile of any of the winnings.
In Georgia, here is what authorized lottery retailers receive:
A 7% commission on every Cash 3 ticket sold;
A 5% commission on all other Lottery product sales;
2% on all winning ticket prizes paid up to $600;
$25,000 for selling a winning Mega Millions jackpot ticket (Georgia Retailers only - this amount does not roll with the jackpot);
$5,000 for selling a winning Win for Life top prize ticket (Georgia Retailers only);
$2,000 for selling a winning 5 of 5 Fantasy 5 ticket (this amount rolls to the next drawing anytime there is not a 5 of 5 winner)
Have you ever noticed that some retailers try and convince you to purchase Cash 3 tickets, and the fact that they push Mega Millions over Fantasy 5? They say things like "Cash 3 is where everyone makes all of the money," or "Buy Mega Millions, that Jackpot is in the millions, Fantasy 5 is only like $50,000," even when the draw for Fantasy 5 is $300,000 for that day. It is just a script. They are programmed by the owners of the retailer or GLC to sell certain products. I am still waiting for GLC to do something about this retailer who ripped me off.
I can tell from these posts that retailers are either directly lying about what they receive, or have been lied to by their bosses and do not know any better. Also, Georgia retailers are REQUIRED to pay any winners up to and including $600 immediately. It can be by the payment method that they choose. There is no requirement that they pay cash.
What about Tennessee retailers? They cannot accept tips, as per their retailer contract:
Retailers shall not condition the sale of Tickets upon the purchase of any other goods or services and shall not impose any other unauthorized restriction or condition upon the sale or redemption of Tickets. Neither Retailer nor its employees shall request, demand or accept gratuities or other remuneration of any kind in exchange for the performance of any obligation required under the Retailer Contract or these Rules and regulations, unless specifically authorized by the TEL.
They also have this very interesting rule:
Retailers shall not knowingly sell a Ticket or combination of Tickets to any person or entity, which would guarantee such purchaser a grand prize win or jackpot win.
I am not sure exactly what that means, or how it would be proven or enforced. Does this mean that the retailer would have a way to know that they possessed a grand prize winning instant ticket?
I have not yet determined factually whether or not TN retailers receive compensation for cashing tickets.
What about Tennessee retailers? They cannot accept tips, as per their retailer contract:
Retailers shall not condition the sale of Tickets upon the purchase of any other goods or services and shall not impose any other unauthorized restriction or condition upon the sale or redemption of Tickets. Neither Retailer nor its employees shall request, demand or accept gratuities or other remuneration of any kind in exchange for the performance of any obligation required under the Retailer Contract or these Rules and regulations, unless specifically authorized by the TEL.
They also have this very interesting rule:
Retailers shall not knowingly sell a Ticket or combination of Tickets to any person or entity, which would guarantee such purchaser a grand prize win or jackpot win.
I am not sure exactly what that means, or how it would be proven or enforced. Does this mean that the retailer would have a way to know that they possessed a grand prize winning instant ticket?
I have not yet determined factually whether or not TN retailers receive compensation for cashing tickets.
I will try to ask more retailers to see what they say.
But honestly, I think sometimes they dont even know. one time as I purchased a mega millions ticket (The jackpot was over 100 million at the time) , I asked if he would get a bonus if he sold the winning ticket. He said no. I thought for sure they do, and I even posted here on Lottery Post and most people seem to think they do receive a bonus.
But I have never thought about or asked about any other redemption i.e. scratchoffs or online games.
Sometimes when I ask stuff like this it can get lost in translation too though (I am probably not very clear when I ask or it could be they think I am up to something and dont want to reveal too much info).
I plan to ask some clerks now though and will let you know.
United States
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September 22, 2010
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Quote: Originally posted by TheOtherOne on Jan 7, 2011
I will try to ask more retailers to see what they say.
But honestly, I think sometimes they dont even know. one time as I purchased a mega millions ticket (The jackpot was over 100 million at the time) , I asked if he would get a bonus if he sold the winning ticket. He said no. I thought for sure they do, and I even posted here on Lottery Post and most people seem to think they do receive a bonus.
But I have never thought about or asked about any other redemption i.e. scratchoffs or online games.
Sometimes when I ask stuff like this it can get lost in translation too though (I am probably not very clear when I ask or it could be they think I am up to something and dont want to reveal too much info).
I plan to ask some clerks now though and will let you know.
I have had retailers lie about it, intentionally or otherwise. If you ask them and you catch them in a lie, then you might not want to trust them, that is unless you feel like they were lied to themselves, and did not know any better. I still have not been able to determine much about TN. Their website does not provide much information. This is about it:
Economic benefits to retailers include a 6.5% commission on lottery sales in your store. A Tennessee Retailer who sells a winning Powerball jackpot ticket will also receive a $25,000 selling bonus.
By the way, I notice "Sweep Dates" listed on state's lottery sites, in the retailers area. Does anyone know what this means?
Nashville, TN United States
Member #86,736
February 9, 2010
513 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by CarHauler on Jan 8, 2011
I have had retailers lie about it, intentionally or otherwise. If you ask them and you catch them in a lie, then you might not want to trust them, that is unless you feel like they were lied to themselves, and did not know any better. I still have not been able to determine much about TN. Their website does not provide much information. This is about it:
Economic benefits to retailers include a 6.5% commission on lottery sales in your store. A Tennessee Retailer who sells a winning Powerball jackpot ticket will also receive a $25,000 selling bonus.
By the way, I notice "Sweep Dates" listed on state's lottery sites, in the retailers area. Does anyone know what this means?
Hmm, I have never heard of sweep dates. It almost sounds like sweepstakes which reminds me of raffles a lot of lotteries are doing, and I wish TN would do one too!
I did ask one clerk at a newer tobacco shop the other day. He did say something about the bonus for selling the big ticket (i.e. powerball). I asked about cashing in the instant games and he just laughed and said I 'Should' tip him for that. I told him if he can make sure to sell me the winner I would absolutely tip him!
so yeah, kind of hard to get info from a lot of these folks. And as you pointed out the TN Lottery website doesnt give much insight either.