LEFTOVERS: These couch potatoes scored big
The Denver Broncos weren’t the only big losers of Super Bowl XLVIII.
Jim McIngvale and Gallery Furniture took a $7 million hit after he ran a promotion that would give customers their money back if the Seattle Seahawks won the game.
A coin flip determined which side the Houston-based stores would back and it came up Denver. For the customers, it was simple — no point spread, no special conditions. Just have Seattle win and you got your money back.
There was one caveat: You had to purchase at least $6,000 and have your furniture delivered prior to kickoff Sunday to be eligible for the promotion. Approximately 1,000 people took McIngvale up on the offer.
McIngvale, the company’s CEO, did not take out insurance to cover himself, and the $7 million he lost is roughly 5 percent of Gallery’s annual revenue.
“Doing a promotion like this creates affinity, creates trust with the customer, makes you relevant,” McIngvale told ESPN.com. “We already have people sending us videos of them jumping up and down celebrating so I have no doubt that what we will lose is already worth it to our business.”
The payouts will be made in two separate “refund parties” scheduled for Monday and again on Feb. 23. The average rebate is approximately $7,000 and one lucky customer will receive $30,000. Maybe that person can buy an extra recliner from Gallery with the money.
■ PICK FLOYD’S FOE — His May 3 fight is still a few months away but Floyd Mayweather Jr. is letting his fans have a say as to who his opponent will be that night at the MGM Grand Garden.
Mayweather went on Twitter over the weekend to tell his 4.65 million followers on @FloydMay weather to weigh in as to who he should fight. The choices are either Amir Khan or Marcos Maidana. Sorry, Manny Pacquiao isn’t an option this time around.
“I’m going to let the fans vote. Tell me who I should fight next. Khan or Maidana?” Mayweather tweeted.
It’s a cute public relations gesture but Mayweather probably already knows what’s next for him. You may recall a year ago when he was all but set to face Devon Alexander and then wound up fighting Robert Guerrero instead.
Mayweather, who is 45-0 with 26 knockouts, plans to fight twice in 2014 — May 3 and probably in mid-September. So if either Khan or Maidana don’t get selected for May, there’s a good chance the other guy gets his shot at a big payday in September.
■ TONYA’S BIG BREAK — Former UNLV women’s golfer Tonya McCall is one of 12 finalists competing on the Golf Channel’s reality show, “The Big Break Florida.”
McCall, 28, who is married with two kids, played for the Rebels in 2007-08 when she was Tonya Choate. She has played professionally, took time off to start a family, now is trying to re-start her career. The winner of the event receives exempt status on the Symetra Tour for 2015 with all entry fees waived along with an equipment contract. In addition, the winner receives an exemption into the LPGA Tour’s Manulife Financial Classic in June.
“It was very exciting,” McCall said of the competition at Amelia Island, Fla. It will begin airing Feb. 24. “Even to be selected as a finalist is really neat. It’s a great opportunity.”
COMPILED BY STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
