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Asheville hits 3+ inches; Wilmington jeweler will have to pay up!

Originally reported by Ashlea Kosikowski

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - It looks like Alan Perry from Perry's Emporium will need to give away nearly $500,000 in jewelry, as a large snowfall lands in Asheville on this Christmas day.

As of 7PM Christmas Night, Meteorologist Robb Ellis tells us the airport in Asheville has officially recorded six inches of snow.

Perry's ran a promotion from November 26-December 11, claiming if it snowed three inches or more at the Asheville airport, Perry's Emporium will give away everything it sold to those customers for free.

"Men like to gamble," said Perry this week prior to Christmas. He calls the promotion a huge success.

Perry says they sold almost a half a million dollars in merchandise.

Perry bought an insurance policy that will pay for the refunds. In return, he paid them a percentage of every dollar that he took in during the promotion.

"They're gambling that it's not going to snow and they get to keep their money," he said. "I'm gambling that it is going to snow and I get all their money!"

Ellis said it's only snowed more than three inches in Asheville on Christmas day twice in the past 60 years…but that didn't mean it wasn't possible. Prior to Christmas, he said that meant there's a 3% chance for snow on December 25th.

Perry remained confident late into the holiday week.

"We've been praying for it to snow," Perry said. "It's definitely going to snow."

Customers will have to bring in their receipt and it will take about 45 days for refunds, according to Perry.

This was the first year for the snow promotion. When asked if he plans to run the promotion again next year, Perry replied, "Has a cat got whiskers? Absolutely."