The problems I have with the direction of this promotion are as follows.
Last year's Gillette promotion was quite a chase for many collectors. For those who were not collecting then, or just do not remember, the first edition Gillette cards could have been completed by acquiring 35 different cards. Some savvy collectors noticed a variation on the access numbers, so it was determined that a full set really consisted of 140 cards, not 35 (35 unique designs, 4 sets of access numbers, 140 cards total). There were quite a few crazies (and I mean that in the nicest sense of the word, since many of these people I know well and even like!) who went after and completed the sets! This year's sets should be easier to complete because there are only 16 cards. However, with the new collector's edition cards and the jumbos, the number triples. Of course, that is much less than 140. But the difference here is that most of the set will have to be purchased outright from dealers. The fun part was the chase - people buying packs of razors (I have enough to last until 2015) and trading duplicates. That will not happen to the degree that it did last year. This is really too bad since that promotion got quite a few people started with phonecards. What really disturbs me is which dealers will get the cards, what the prices will be and who will set them. For the completist, there will only be 100 complete sets. The prices for the jumbos will surely be high, causing some collectors to abandon their pursuit of a complete series, or placing a heavy financial burden on those who do complete the sets.
What bothers me the most is that the same company that makes the Gillette series also produced the Unocal 76 cards. For those who do not remember or do not know, Unocal 76 ran a promotion where cards were sold with fill- ups of gasoline. Many collectors went out of their way to buy Unocal gas, even burdening their friends and families. Prices rose to an acceptable level considering that this was a promotion in a local market (Southern California) and the difficulty in getting the cards. Last fall, ads appeared in the back of a magazine where many large dealers were selling these sets at a fraction of the market value - probably around 25%. This has negatively affected the market value of these cards. That same company, Brilliant Cards, is playing games with the G2 promotion. Where did those extra Unocal cards come from? Were they overruns that were dumped on the hobby? Now that G2 cards will appear outside of the original distribution system, namely packs of razors, will the same thing happen? Quite a few people commented last fall on the Unocal situation, and no answer or feedback ever came from Brilliant.
My enthusiasm for G2 has been diminished. While I still plan on purchasing some, I will not purchase in quantity. I do not wish to try for a set, and be burned by cards being dumped at a later date in the market place. Until I hear from Brilliant Cards (and I welcome them to respond, they can have space in this newsletter) I will associate the company with over-production and dumping.
The best part of collecting is the friendships that develop. This is very true with phonecard collecting, because like it or not, we are a relatively small group. Luckily, we are mostly a friendly group. I am involved with other hobbies, and the level of friendship and communication is higher here.
The Baby Bells are doing a fine job overall. Pacific Bell now allows for collectors to purchase from an 800 number, they are doing promotional cards for companies and advertise to all of their customers. Southwestern Bell offers a Collector's Club, and even gave away a free phonecard. NYNEX has a superb Collector's Club. The cost is $15. I have received many times that back in free cards and special offers.
The Olympics are going to be spectacular, and I am not only referring to the athletic competition. Besides the fact that lots of people from just about everywhere will be coming and trading phonecards, the U.S. will be formally introduced to the smart card - stored value debit cards. What better company to introduce us to a new form of "money" than Visa? It is a name that everyone recognizes, and that many of us use already for non-cash transactions. Add to that the security of real banks issuing these, and they will be accepted. There still is a stigma to phonecards, especially since a few companies have gone under and the card holders are left holding the bag, so to speak.
Head Start is a national program which provides comprehensive developmental services for America's low-income, pre-school children ages three to five and social services for their families. Specific services for children focus on education, socio-economic development, physical and mental health, and nutrition.
A 1996-97 Congressional act calls for $137 Million cut in head start funding. We are Selling phonecards to try to compensate some of the cuts. The cost of the card is $10, and it includes 25 minutes of phone time. The card can be recharged, and the recharge rate is .22 to .25 per minute. 10% of the total cost of each recharged card will go to Head Start. Additionally, $4 of every $10 card is tax deductible since the profit is going directly back into support of Head Start Programs. 2500 First Edition cards will be available.
You can order by calling: (800) 585-4528
or fax (215) 221-5095
New Beginnings Head Start
1907 W. Tioga St.
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Attn: Lois Remick
If you mail in an order, please include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope for return postage.
Head Start plans a series of phonecards, and they can all be ordered from their home page at the Card Mall - The Card Mall is pleased to offer a home page for this worthy organization, and I strongly recommend that everyone purchase a card to support a program that supports education.
This really is too bad. Even though Phonecard Collector was quarterly, 50,000 people were able to read a whole magazine dedicated to phonecards. With the new arrangement, they will be lucky to find it in the non-sports magazine, especially since most people probably do not read this insert. There is good news, and that is that there are plenty of quality phonecard magazines out there, including Moneycard Collector and PCM Report. (Which I recommend to everyone reading this that they subscribe to both!)
More Cheese Last year, Wisconsin Cheese ran a promotion where very few people won. You can try again this year and lose. The phone number is (800) 452-7000, and a working UPC code that they require is 21000 63382. This information was provided by Tim Sternberg.
There is a NEW FREE PHONECARD available from Pay-Per-View TV.
All you have to do is order the movie, "Apollo 13" from Pay-Per-View TV
through your local cable TV company. You will recieve a collectable Apollo
13 phonecard with 5 minutes of phonetime. You must order and watch the
movie to find out the details on how to get the phonecard.
From: Kurt Kemmling
Until Next week, Happy Collecting,
Alan
2) Direct e-mail. Send a message to: phoneline@cardmall.com
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