Tim Horton’s Roll Up The Rim Spreads Influenza And Other Problems With The Promotion

Stop and think for a moment about whether you’re spreading the flu virus to other people after winning Tim Horton’s Roll Up The Rim contest. I mean really think about it. Is it possible that you’re getting other people sick? The answer is yes.

Why can’t Tim Horton’s Relieve Itself From All Sanitary Issues?

I’m going to get to the point in a moment, but before I do, feel free to read one of my previous articles addressing how your Tim Hortons’ coffee cup lid has the potential of being highly unsanitized.

There were quite a large number of responses to the article but in the end nothing has changed. Maybe this article will help promote some necessary changes – and hopefully soon.

The Point Of This Article

The point of this article is to point out the obvious. If you haven’t already noticed that, if a person is sick with the flu or any other transmissible disease, after they’ve dug their teeth into the rim of a Tim Horton’s coffee cup in order to see if they’ve won, once they pass that piece of coffee cup to a Tim Horton’s employee, they’re increasing the chance of spreading their sickness to that employee and obviously to other people.

Now I know all the fanatic Tim Horton’s employees are going to post comments saying “Tim Horton’s uses the most strict policies when it comes to food handling” and so forth, but that doesn’t negate the following questions which I don’t think have ever been asked or answered:

1. does every employee, after taking the piece of the mauled coffee cup, place the piece somewhere sanitary and safe and then proceed to go wash their hands?
2. does the employee taking the coffee cup piece have to wear sanitary gloves?
3. does the person who collects all these mauled coffee cup pieces from the register wear sanitary gloves to transport them to wherever they are stored?
4. after receiving a mauled piece of coffee cup does the employee simply wipe their hands on their pants or shirt?
5. does the employee, after taking the piece of coffee cup do anything sanitary at all?

The answers to the above questions are most likely a resounding no! But wait, there’s more.

If you read the 6 reasons Tim Horton’s employees hate the Roll Up The Rim To Win contest, you’ll see in point #6, that even the employees get grossed out at handling the half eaten piece of coffee cup. And I mean really, during busy hours, who’s got the time or presence of mind to think about washing their hands especially with the boss is down their throat?

Here’s the exact quote from the article:

“When cups are still so fresh that cold coffee and customer saliva are still all over the winning tab.”

The Roll Up The Rim User Experience Is A Complete Fail

I read somewhere that companies love building “love hate relationships” with their customers. In the case of the Roll Up The Rim contest we can safely say there’s a “love hate hate” relationship going on and when it comes to the content’s user experience, it basically simply sucks. And if you don’t use your teeth, you have to arm-wrestle the cup into submission and press and pry with your fingers to usually find a kind request to “Please, play again”. That’s never fun.

I personally despise the strain I feel on my teeth when I have to dig them under the rim and pull and tug. The act actually makes me feel like my teeth are going to come out every time. And interestingly enough, I was floored when I found out that Tim Hortons has actually promoted an event where a 5 year old actually lost his tooth after using his teeth to roll of the rim.

If this type of scenario doesn’t scream health concerns and potential choking issues loud and clear, you need to get your ears cleaned out.

And the elderly are at risk

Elderly people like to drink coffee too! Along with the frustration of digging and grinding your teeth into the coffee cup to win your huge prize of a fresh donut, comes the potential of losing teeth that are already weakened by age or disease.

Frankly I’m shocked there haven’t been a slew of complaints against this contest already.

The Canadian Environment Is In Jeopardy

After a little more research I found an article published by Guy Crittenden entitled “Roll Up the Rim To Win? Tim Hortons contest presents PR, recycling challenge“, where along with the following quote;

I have to use my teeth to roll back the rim, which makes the prospect rather yucky of handing this to Tim Horton’s staff

Guy also cites information alluding to the number of coffee purchases from the giant coffee chain substantially increase during the contest and that a Nova Scotian government-sponsored study proved that Tim Hortons accounted for 22 per cent of all litter in that province.

Oh how we Canadians are the masters of turning a blind eye to some of the most important national and international issues such as the environment if we can secure their toys and luxuries. Read the article I linked to above to really get a grip of the impact the Roll Up The Rim To Win contest actually has on the environment.

No One Wants The Rimroller

In what a first seems like a “cool idea” an Ottawa man invented a devise that “helps” Tim Hortons’ customers roll up the rim of their coffee cup without the apparent, obvious and noted hassles.

Aside from worrying about the health risks related to the contest, I have to say, I don’t buy Tim Hortons coffee so I can then have to purchase a Rimroller. I purchased a coffee so I can drink it.

And if it’s during the contest, I may purchase an extra coffee or two in order to win the contest – but that’s all.

Maybe Tim Hortons should cut their losses, be more considerate of the health risks they’re perpetuating, loop-d-loop the slogan “Roll Up The Rim To Win” for another one, and take after Mc Donalds when it comes to using a cup to promote a contest.

In all seriousness, and in my humble opinion, Tim Hortons has a pretty brutal track record when it comes to sanity issues and their products. I hope they soon discover it’s about time they make some serious changes.