It’s that time of year again — time for a contest that has hundreds of hopeful customers who’ve shopped at Robert’s Jewelers in Southold wishing for a heavy snowfall.
For the 22nd year, Robert Scott, owner of the business, has kicked off his “Winter Snowfall Madness” contest.
Customers could possibly win big: If it snows three inches or more, as measured at the closest National Weather Service Office in Upton, on December 31, January 1, January 2, or January 3 from 6 p.m. until midnight — customers can choose a day when shopping at Robert’s Jewelers — Scott will refund those who’ve chosen the lucky day with 100 percent of their purchase price, except for sales tax, on items bought between November 20 through December 24.
The last day when customers can pick their own date is December 21; customers who shop through December 24 will automatically receive December 31 as their date.
The contest is a beloved favorite, but after it snowed last year and Scott was faced with a hefty payout, some were wondering if he’d run the contest again this holiday season.
“It’s happening,” Scott said this week. “I said I’d do it till it snows, and I’ll do it till it doesn’t.”
What that means, Scott said, is that if there is no snow this year, and no winners, this go-round will be the farewell season for the contest.
But if it does snow, winners will receive all their money back, except for the sales tax, and will see a payout during the first two weeks of February — and the contest will go on again next year.
Last year was the first time in 20 years that it snowed during the specified dates, and 160 customers of the shop got a windfall in the Winter Snowfall Madness Contest.
Scott, whose shop is located in the Feather Hill Shopping Center, at 53345 Main Road in Southold, did not disclose how much he had to refund customers last year who won after the snowfall. “I never reveal that,” he said.
Most important, Scott said the contest always inspires good cheer during the holiday season — and said his business, along with the contest, brings him great personal joy. “Number one, I love jewelry,” he said. “Number two, I enjoy people. And after 40 years in the business, the contest creates excitement. You can’t pay for the neatness of this, or the anticipation. It’s just a fun, fun thing to add to buying new jewelry.”
And, he said, if customers are going to spend money, “It’s nice that they shop here and this gives them an opportunity to get it back.”
Some winners, he said, didn’t want to take the money back. Scott insisted, saying customers should give away the money if they wanted or even use it to buy a Valentine’s Day gift in his shop.
Reflecting on last year’s whopping payout, Scott said, “I had a beautiful time last year. I went through stages. The first was denial, then depression, then came acceptance, and when I was here, days later, giving money out, I was totally happy about it. It’s like being Santa.”
