News and Views

Only 499 Cases?

The new Score Board McDonald’s phonecard has led to some controversy in on-line circles this past week. Classic has announced that only 499 cases of this product were produced. Compared to their earlier Assets material, this would indicate a serious decrease in production. Granted that there are three phonecards per pack instead of one, but most Assets product had an announced print run of about 2000 cases.

Steve Schwartz of Sears Phonecard Department calculated the number of cards available based on the number of cases produced, as well as the number of $2 cards available. There are 6100 of each $2 card. With 50 in the set, this brings the total number of $2 cards to 305,000. If every card in every pack were $2 cards (Which they are not!) that would mean that a maximum of 269,460 cards would be necessary to fill the cases. Since there are higher denomination cards, this means that there were many more cards produced than could fit in the 499 cases.

Those reading this newsletter know that I am quite critical of Classic’s marketing plans and ethics. This falls into the same category. If a print run of 499 cases is announced, then the total amount of product should be in that print run. If the print run is not announced, then Classic has the right to print as much of this product as they want. As for me, I will probably wait for the price to drop as it always seems to when dealing with Classic.

Amerivox Update

I have heard from a reliable source that Amerivox will be eliminating the activation fee that I have written so much about in this newsletter. According to my source, "Amerivox will remove the activation fee from their cards. New card will be 29.9 (plus tax ). If the user signs up for their renewal program with $100 then the rate immediately drops to 24.9(+). No more volume discounts, but *all* the old cards will continue to have the discounts, so on all the existing cards the rates can still drop to 14.9 or 16.9 depending on the card."

Removing the activation fee is a big step for Amerivox. It makes me curious how directors will make much of their income, as the activation fee was $10. Half of that went to the company, and half to the sponsoring director. In the long run, it will make Amerivox cards more competitive. At the rates they are offering, I will start to purchase them and use them. However, I wonder what the directors think of this change.

Amerivox Part II

Amerivox has leapt across the border and is now retailing phonecards in Canada. The name of the company on the Canadian side of the border is CanaVox. Be on the lookout for a whole new series of cards to emerge from this venture.

From: Roger (Amerivox Director)

Free Phonecard Update

Last week, a web address was listed and an offer for a 30 minute phonecard was made. It turns out that the only way to get this "free" card is to switch your long distance service over to this company. Not exactly worth a 30 minute card, especially when you are dealing with an unknown. I apologize for not fully checking this link out before listing it, a few people wrote to inform me of this. While I don’t think this is a scam, I also do not like the way they do business - Without stating clearly that you are switching your long distance carrier.

A Great Story

Collector David Wegman of North Carolina submitted this story to POL:

"Members of our local AARP Chapter volunteered to host the Sunday Hospitality Day at the USO in Jacksonville, NC. We served coffee and home made cakes to the GI's in the service at Camp LeJeune.

My wife (Evelyn) had the bright idea to pre-address several stamped envelopes to herself and I made a poster to put them on. The poster said: "I am a Senior Citizen and my hobby is collecting prepaid telephone calling cards. If you have used the time off of yours and you do not want it, please put it in one of the attached envelopes...I would love to add it to my collection."

Well that idea paid off...we have gotten some really great cards from the GI's using the USO facility. One of the ones she got we cannot identify even though she has called several numbers in her phonecard catalog...they don't know what it is.

It looks like a $10 bill, has Hamilton's picture and all, it's of heavy plastic stock and has the following print on the front of it. "Prepaid Telecard; Fone Bux; A Product of Fone America"; Ten Dollars. On the back of the card it has the access -1-800 number and PIN number as usual; a customer service number -1-800-876-2255; and 1993 Fone America, Inc."

If anyone knows the answer of David’s question, please let me know. I will forward responses to him.

Mobil Gas Update

Two more collectors wrote in concerning the Mobil gas card giveaway. One reports that they are available in Amsterdam, NY (30 miles from Albany). Larry Ware reports that they are available in the Orlando, Florida area. You must spend $3 or more "inside" the gas station/store to get a card.

AT&T True Rewards

AT&T is offering a new prepaid phonecard to AT&T customers who are members of the True Rewards program. Members redeem points from their True Rewards account in order to receive the phonecard, which is available in three denominations as follows:

15 units - 350 points
25 units - 550 points
50 units - 1125 points

From the picture I saw, the card looks attractive. "AT&T True Rewards" is printed in big colorful letters in the middle of the card. Each denomination has a different background color (15 units - red; 25 units - purple; 50 units - green).

In order to earn True Rewards points, AT&T customers must be members of the True Rewards program (free). Members earn one point for every dollar of AT&T long distance calls they make each month. Double points are earned if over $75 of AT&T long distance calls are made.

From: Anthony Janakas

Florida Marlins

The Florida Marlins will be issuing the 2nd of three phone cards at their game against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, August 15th, 1996. No specific information as of yet regarding the issuer or image on the second card. As you may recall, the first card was issued by ATT (with logo on reverse), had a licensed image of Gary Sheffield on the front and was released on May 13, 1996 (Mothers Day).

From: Michael Hersey

That's it for now. Until Next Week,

Alan

Distribution

Phonecards On-Line is written and distributed by Alan Cohen. It is a weekly newsletter devoted to phonecards - Current news, viewpoints, and reviews of new issues. It is distributed free of charge, and available two ways.

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