The Card Mall Discussion Forum Thanks to The Discount Long Distance Digest (http://www.thedigest.com/) for hosting the Card Mall Discussion Forum. The Discussion Forum can be found at: http://www.thedigest.com/wwwboard/cardmall/ - Be sure to visit and post messages about collecting. I'll try to answer if appropriate.
Telecard East was held in Orlando, Florida on February 27-28, 1997 and was quite a bit smaller than the shows of Atlanta and New York. There were approximately 50 booths, most of them manufacturers of vending machines, switch companies, utility card issuers and other suppliers. None of the dealers that have become regulars on this circuit participated, so the card availability for collectors was almost non existent. A few of the companies sold show cards, and some featured their own cards, but otherwise there was nothing for the collector.
As usual, the show cards were not freely being given out. It was, however, a little easier to get them probably because not a lot of collectors were in attendance. Approximately 15 different cards competed for the title of best show card. Most of the companies kept their cards under the counter and gave them to people who made a point to ask for them. I did talk to a dealer/collector who said that he had no problem getting cards.
Most of the cards were in the 500 mintage range and were very attractive, offering different variations of the show theme and the show location. One unusual aspect of many of the cards is that the show information appeared on the back instead of the front of the card.
A full review of the cards and their pictures will appear in an article I am writing for a future issue of Telecard Times magazine.
The next major phone card show is in Chicago on April 2-4, 1997.
Destiny Telecomm Inc. promised impossible riches to its investors, state and local prosecutors charged in a $20 million lawsuit against the company.
The 18-month old company, based in Oakland, sells long-distance pre-paid phone cards and has distributors nationwide. Its president, Randy Jeffers, denied the allegations.
Albert Shelden, the state's deputy attorney general, said law enforcement officials believe Destiny is operating ``an illegal endless-chain scheme.''
He said a civil complaint alleges Destiny's marketing employees are compensated according to their ability to get new employees to buy their way into the company, not according to sales of products or services.
He said attorneys general in North Carolina and Michigan have filed similar complaints against Destiny and other states are also investigating the company.
The California complaint alleges the company is violating the state's laws against misleading advertising and unfair competition. Investigators conducted a search of Destiny's Oakland headquarters Thursday.
A day earlier, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Sandra Margulies issued a temporary restraining order authorizing the search. The order also froze Destiny's assets.
From: Paula Clark
That’s all for this week,
Alan
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