Observations of a Raffle Ticket Seller
By Bob McNulty

Larry’s Market and downtown Bellevue QFC were my venues on two Sundays. It was like being on two different planets. My favorite was Larry’s. However, there were “unique and peculiar” characters on both planets, which is a nicer way of saying weirdoes.

Selling raffle tickets is a real study in human nature, and all Rotarians should experience standing in front of a supermarket trying to peddle them. I’ve learned to love it because it’s fun and entertaining.

However, you have to guard against being too caustic or sarcastic to those who spit out lame excuses. For example, one nicely dressed man of about 50 who I approached said, “I’m just passing through.” To which I said, “Aren’t we all.” He came out a different door with his wife and pointed at me; his wife turned in my direction and nodded, recognizing that I had sized up her man correctly.

The downtown QFC was tough and unfriendly – at least on the Sunday morning I was there. Since the Huskies had won against Indiana the day before, I surmised that most people I encountered were unhappy Cougar fans after their loss to Notre Dame the previous day.

I recognized the chairman of a large corporation as he came out of QFC and I approached him. He reached down deep and came up with $6.00, but suggested that I give the raffle tickets to the next three young people I saw, as they would enjoy winning a “cool” VW Bug much more than he would. The question I did not ask him was why he shops at QFC? As some of you know, I work for a small, Seattle based, investment banking and research boutique. I couldn’t tell him where I worked, as he knows our firm just put out a sell report on his firm, and I was afraid he’d ask for his $6 back!

Statistics, numbers and probabilities are an important part of my business. And I can report that only one in 10 who tell you they’ll buy a ticket, when they come out of the store, will. They usually try to slink out another door from where you are standing when they exit. And when you are the only Rotarian on duty, as I was that Sunday morning at QFC, it’s impolite to chase after them or tackle them in the parking lot to make them keep “their promise” However, I did conclude that the downtown Bellevue QFC might be the original home of Beavis and Butthead. I shop there myself, which is a difficult admission to make!

At Larry’s, the results were better and customers were much nicer. Unlike my day at QFC, the car was there for all to see. Whenever an attractive young lady shopper arrived, you could tell her how nice she’d look in the convert if she won. “You’ll never know if you’re lucky unless you buy a chance,” as the old saying goes. One young lady, who kept saying no thanks, was so attractive that I bought a ticket for her – a ploy learned many years ago to obtain a name and phone number

Generally speaking, I found that women are more likely to buy raffle tickets than men. But when men buy, they buy more tickets. There are other hard sales among the population which you’ll learn when you’re at your raffle sales post.

The most likely buyers of raffle tickets are parents who are entering the store with their children. The chance of winning a VW convertible works with parents with teenagers, but the large stuffed bear is a sure thing with those dragging along little kids, especially if they think the bear goes with the car. One little girl started crying when her mom said no the first time. Mom eventually bought $10 worth.

Women are great conversationalists, if given a chance. I spent 15 minutes listening to an 80-year-old lady who said she would not want to win a German car under any circumstance. Then I had to hear about how she grew up on Bainbridge Island and learned to drive her father’s 1928 Packard, the greatest car ever made. When she realized that I was a McNulty and she was a McVey, she decided to buy a few tickets. Then she realized that I was representing Rotary, which either I neglected to say or she didn’t hear the first time, and she proceeded to tell me about all the good Rotary does and all the Rotarians she’d known in her life, including her father. A point taken: If they know up front you are doing this for Rotarian reasons, the sale becomes much easier. It isn’t always readily apparent who’s selling the raffle tickets as people pass by, unless you make it clear. Thanks to Mrs. McVey, I learned that lesson. I met some delightful ladies at Larry’s, from age 6 to 80.

If you haven’t signed up sell at one of our locations, I encourage you to do so. You will meet and observe some very interesting people. Most are delightful, but some are eccentric and you can have fun with them, if you’re so inclined. It’s not a waste of time, and you will learn something new and/or unique from the experience.