Lottery FAQ
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How do the lotteries work?
When a lottery is open, there is a 24-hour window during which anyone who wishes to purchase the brooch can enter by commenting on the lottery page (a link to which can be found on our homepage and main menu any time there is an open lottery). At the end of 24 hours, we use a random number generator to draw comments and send a private invoice to the winners. They then have 24 hours to pay, or a second name will be drawn. We send one reminder email in case the recipient has not seen their invoice.
Why do you sell this way?
Regular releases through our shop would sell out in seconds and Shopify's checkout process heavily favors returning customers, so this offers more flexibility to allow everyone, regardless of time zone, internet speed, work schedule, saved checkout information, etc., a fairer chance to purchase a brooch.
How do I know when a lottery is open?
We announce lotteries on Instagram, usually once per month. You can sign up for email notifications when a lottery is open here. Patreon supporters get email notifications when a lottery is open one hour before they are announced publicly. When a lottery is open, there will also be a link in our main menu.
Can I enter more than once? Can my partner/daughter/friend/companion animal get me an extra entry?
Nope! The primary purpose of the lotteries is to give more equitable access, so there is a very strict limit of one entry. Please respect the spirit of fairness and do not enter multiple times, including with different email addresses, or with friends or family members who are not entering on their own behalf. We take this really seriously and people entering in violation of these rules are not eligible to receive an invoice.
What if I accidentally submitted more than one entry or forgot to include my shipping country in my comment?
If you need to change or delete a lottery entry for any reason, please contact us here or at hello@tangerinemenagerie.com before the closure of the lottery so that we can fix it before the drawing. If you are requesting that we delete a duplicate entry or entries, please make sure to let us know the email address(es) used to make those entries.
If my comment is drawn, am I obligated to purchase the brooch?
We understand that things come up and your financial situation can change quickly. You are not obligated to make the purchase if you receive an invoice. That said, please do not enter the lottery unless you sincerely intend to purchase the brooch if you are invoiced. Customers who repeatedly "pass" or ignore invoices will stop receiving them.
I received a reminder email to pay my invoice, but I didn't get an invoice!
Sometimes invoices wind up in spam or junk folders, so that's the first place to check! To prevent this, you can add hello@tangerinemenagerie.com to your contacts or trusted emails list. If you still don't see the invoice, please let us know as soon as possible so we can re-send it.
The shipping or billing address on my invoice is incorrect
If you have an address already associated with your account, either because you have made a previous purchase or you added it to your customer information, your invoice will automatically fill in that address. You can easily update it during checkout.
Why does my invoice show tax?
Sales to customers within Washington State are subject to sales tax. If you live outside of Washington State but don't have an address on file with us already, your invoice will include sales tax until you enter your shipping address.
If my comment is drawn, may I offer my lottery "win" to another person?
No; if you are unable to purchase the brooch or are no longer interested, please respond to the email and let us know that. We will draw a new comment from the pool of entries.
Will you cancel my invoice if I can't pay within 24 hours because of a checkout issue?
If we've been communicating and you've confirmed that you do want the brooch within the 24-hour window but are having problems during checkout, we will hold that piece for you until we can resolve the issue.
Can I request a different brooch if my comment is drawn?
Only the design listed in the lottery is for sale; please only enter if you are interested in that specific design.
Why do I need to include my shipping country in my comment?
We need to know where you're located in order to calculate accurate shipping on your invoice. Comments that do not include a country are not valid entries. Please make sure to use the country to which you will want your package shipped if you are drawn so that the shipping on your invoice will be accurate!
Can I pay in installments?
Invoices need to be paid in full within 24 hours.
Can I return a brooch that I purchased from a lottery?
Yes! We want everyone who purchases from us to be delighted with their brooch. If that's not the case, please see our return policy.