Val's Quest For Redemption (Of Her $500 Lottery Ticket)

After scratching off my $500 winner on Thursday evening, I was itching to get it cashed. Not because I had any plans for the money, other than to roll it over into my casino/lottery bankroll. No special purchase on the horizon. Just money to sock away in one of the safes until I want it for something. Still, you don't want such a winner to loll around the house, possibly being misplaced, or having a chance of being stolen or burned-up or blown away in a tornado!

According to Missouri Lottery rules, any winning ticket of $601 or more must be redeemed at a regional Missouri Lottery office. They are located in Jefferson City, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield. Since my current winner was $500, I could cash it at a retailer. EXCEPT...

Each ticket has a disclaimer printed on the back:

Claim prizes of $3, $5, $10, $15, $20 and $25 at ANY Scratchers retailer. Prizes from $25.01 up to $600 are paid at retailer option. You may also claim prizes by signing the ticket and mailing it to Missouri Lottery [with the address of the Jefferson City office].

Here's the thing. Not every retailer will cash a $500 ticket. I know that the Gas Station Chicken Store will, if the Man Owner or Woman Owner are there to do it. They allow clerks to cash up to $300 winners. 

10Box will also cash a $500 winner. 

I have never asked at Country Mart, where I bought this winner. I only go over to Sis-Town once a week. They MIGHT do it, since 10Box used to be a Country Mart, and also did it back then. With my history of getting teenage workers over at Country Mart, I didn't want to make the 20-mile round trip to see if somebody with such a ticket-redeeming authorization was working.

None of the Casey's will cash a ticket that high. Their policy is $100 or less. I'm not sure about the Liquor Store. I haven't asked there.

I left home early on Friday, hoping to cash my ticket at the Gas Station Chicken Store. I'm a regular there, you know. They might as well holler "NORM!" when I walk in. Thing is, both owners have usually left by 4:00 p.m. I got there just before 3:00. My favorite clerk told me, "Oh, they both left early today." So that was out. 

I went over to 10Box. The manager-type lady who was working is the one who took my GUILT MONEY for the two six-packs of Diet Mountain Dew that I stole a couple weeks ago! She went right to the service desk to check and see if they had the funds. They did not.

"Sorry, but we don't have that much cash for a $500 ticket. We've only cashed in one ticket today. It was for $40."

"When might be a good day for me to try again? There's no hurry."

"Come back tomorrow. We do a LOT of business on Saturdays. Try mid-morning."

"Okay. Around 11:00, maybe? Or will it be lunch times?"

"Oh, somebody will always be here who can do it, even during lunches."

"All right. Thank you very much."

So I went back at 11:00 on Saturday. I was also picking up some lettuce and salad dressing and bread. At the checkout, I saw only two lanes open. I went to the older lady, rather than the young guy. I asked if she could call somebody to the service desk. Well! You'd think I'd asked her to reassemble a 747 to fly me to Las Vegas in the next 10 minutes! She got all flustered, started talking to herself, turned to ask the kid who was there to call...

AND JUST THEN... a manager-type lady came in the front door, just back from lunch! She's really nice. She's offered to open a register for me at times when the lines are backed up, even though I tell her it's okay to wait. So polite. She said that yes, they could certainly cash my $500. Just give her a minute to go to the back for the money. Which she returned with momentarily, apologizing that it was all in twenties. Not a problem! I actually prefer twenties. It's what I use at the casino.

My ticket is cashed, and the money squirreled away, safe from that lawnmower-buying Hick's eyes! I'm ready to do it all over again.