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PrintQ: What's with the state's 07-07-07 raffle (the $20 tickets)? I bought one the first week at a 7-Eleven, Downtown. The next week I bought one as a gift at Giant Eagle and the machine kicked out a "second chance" drawing ticket. Then I was waiting in another store and I saw all of these "second chance" signs with a drop box on the counter. Do you get a second chance ticket with this lottery or don't you? Do you have to find the "right store" to purchase them in? Does the state have anything to do with this? I can't figure it out, but I feel cheated.
BARB ROBINSON
North Side
A: Don't feel cheated, Barb. The right information can pay off for you. You'll have more chances to win.
You'll find those "second chance" coupons only at Giant Eagle lottery retailers in Pennsylvania. It's a special deal between Giant Eagle and the Pennsylvania Lottery. Nothing sneaky here. Any lottery retailer can approach the lottery with an idea for a special promotion. Elizabeth Brassell of the lottery says Giant Eagle came up with this idea.
Here's how it works. If you buy a ticket to the Millionaire Raffle at most lottery retailers, you get a ticket that gives you one chance to win one of the 7,777 prizes that will be awarded on July 7, 2007. There will be five top prizes of $1 million cash, five prizes of $100,000 cash, 200 prizes of $1,000 cash and 7,567 prizes of $100 cash.
If you buy a ticket at Giant Eagle, you also get a "second chance" coupon. That is for a drawing that each Giant Eagle will hold in mid- to late July. After the state draws its winning tickets on July 7, those of us holding losing tickets can take them to Giant Eagle for a "second chance." That means if you bought your ticket at Giant Eagle, you'll have your coupon and your losing ticket entered to win one of these Giant Eagle "second chance" drawings.
What's at stake? Each of the 90 or so participating Giant Eagle stores in Pennsylvania will draw the names of three people. Each of those people will get $100 worth of instant tickets, but it's not over yet. Those three winners from each of those 90 drawings will be sent to Giant Eagle's corporate offices, where in early September, three more winners will be picked. One will get $300 in instant tickets, one will get $200 in instant tickets and one will get $100 in instant tickets.
Ms. Brassell said it's a great way for Giant Eagle to get more people to buy lottery tickets at its stores and for the Pennsylvania Lottery to get more promotion for its raffle lotteries. Sounds to me like a great way for us to win more prizes, if you can keep track of all the details.
Q: I have a 2003 Dodge Durango that I purchased in 2004. Recently the fan that blows the heater and air-conditioning went. I contacted the dealer thinking that my vehicle was under warranty. My car came with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty. The dealer told me that my warranty ran out a year ago (July 2006) and said that the warranty takes effect when the dealer gets the vehicle and does an inspection of it. Is this right?
CHUCK PRISELAC
Munhall
A: It sure doesn't sound right, Chuck. Without knowing all of the details in your particular case, consumer attorney Craig Kimmel of lemonlaw.com explains how warranties usually work on new and used cars.
"The manufacturer's new car limited warranty expires on the earlier of the third anniversary of purchase or 36,000 miles," said Mr. Kimmel. "For warranty purposes, the start date is the date of the original sale to the first owner."
Mr. Kimmel said that if you bought a three-year service contract on a used car, that contract would run three years or 36,000 miles from the date that you purchased the contract, whichever comes first.
You can find the specific terms in the text of your warranty. I'd check the wording. If you bought a new car, you may not have been treated fairly.
