When a dealer offers a card that was originally meant to be distributed via dealers in a marketplace for a very low price, that is not dumping. I feel collectors should consider it an opportunity, not something that will hurt the hobby. The main thing to remember that for phonecards as with any collectible, they should not be used as an investment tool. While I have gotten caught up in hoping value would increase on some items, I don’t own anything that I would not want to collect. With this in mind, there is no way to lose.
Of course, an obvious solution to preventing card values from decreasing would be to have them not expire. USA Cards does not place an expiration date on their cards, and they hold their value very well. A lot of this comes down to phone time. If the cards don’t expire, the value would probably not decrease as it has with some cards.
The WDCPCCG meeting was held on Wednesday night despite reports of an eminent ice storm. Six of us braved the 37 degree temperatures to the comfort of the Pentagon City Mall. Our old friend, Art Becker, was conspicuous in his absence. An empty chair and no key chains or casino cards this time.
Tom Zelinski sent his partner, Susan, who has become just as much a collector as he. No doubt, Tom was composing another insightful message for the compuserve TeleCard Forum on the impact of current price cuts and the definition of "dumping". Susan brought some supplies and some orange envelopes which Tom prepared as giveaways. She also included some cards donated by Grapevine including the Mars Landing Card and the much wanted Corn Nuts Cards.
Our newest member has relocated from SanFrancisco to Springfield, Virginia. George Samuels has been collecting phonecards since 1994 and shared a portion of his impressive collection with the group. George also brought a sizable batch of cards from Lenny Rapp, which were shared and included in the kitty for the close of the meeting. Umpteen Sprint Jetsons cards and a smidge fewer Happy Mother's Day Westgate Mall (OMniTell and GO For It cards. Thanks Lenny.
Richard Brook returned from another trip to Italy. It's not as easy to get free cards over there due to competition from young Italian card hunters. He also traded some and sold some of the Mobil GO cards which he acquires from a station near his home. I traded some of the cards I recently acquired from Chris Osbourne for some interesting Italian cards. (Anyone interested in Chris Osbourne's deal should contact him at WillowPond_Lympsham@CompuServe.Com)
Maria Rost Rublee brought a box of cards, many of which she acquired through rebate offers. Much trading went on. There was a lot of interest in a small phone card die cut into the shape of a small bottle of Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion. Richard and I also fought over the Puttermans' cards. Maria pledged to resolve the dispute at our next meeting.
Chuck Cornelius brought some of the Washington Airport Tower Cards. He also shared the Lost World card acquired in the Best Buy Video deal. He has a web page at http://members.aol.com/fctelecard/index.html.
As you can see, a lot went on at this meeting. This report only shares my view of a hectic night of phone card discussions. It seemed like a long time since our last meeting. I brought some of the 7-11 cup phonecards. I couldn't convince the clerk to sell me some at a discount since I didn't get the soda. I shared a summary of the discussion on CompuServe's chat with Chris Garibaldi. We all look to the future to see what will become of our Hobby. Tom Williams, of MoneyCard Collector was also at the forum. It will be interesting to see how the new format of MoneyCard enhances the hobby.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 11th.
"Uncle Sam" on Visa Cash - Although collectors have known for sometime that the US Army has issued two Visa Cash cards at Ft Leonard Wood in Missouri, its been heard through the grapevine that Ft Knox, the US Strategic Bullion Depository now has a Visa Cash card. This reloadable, no expiration date, non-denominated card is reportedly being used at the Depository in the cafeteria and vending machines. The card is issued by First Union, who also issued the Ft Leonard Wood cards in denominations of 200$ male, and 260$ female cards to new recruits. The theory is that female sundry supplies are more costly than those needed by males. These denominations are in direct contradiction to the Federal Reserve ruling directly banks to issue disposable stored value cards in denominations not to exceed 100$ US, go figure. The Nationsbank Bronx Veterans Hospital in New York City also has two patient and staff reloadable cards, and two public disposable cards in 10$ and 20$ denominations. The 10$ card features the seated figure of Lincoln as found at the Lincoln Memorial with the famous quote: "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan..." The 20$ card features a furling American Flag, overprinted with the beginning of the US Constitution, "We The People" and a section of Article I. Both cards are issued by Veterans Canteen Services, and have on the reverse, the US Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service official seal, as do the military cards mentioned above, thus "Uncle Sam" is officially positioned distributing Visa Cash, through two banks, to reduce repetitive small ticket transactions at specific federal locations.
Citibank, N.A. $5 Complimentary Card - Citibank offered with the purchase of 60$ or more of its four card Street Musicians series a very rare (1,000) piece complimentary $5 Sax player card. Officially know as the Ansonia Condominium card, reportedly only 5.250 of the regular issue $10 card were printed, the remaining 1,000 being the $5 complimentary card. All have been distributed by Citibank and are reportedly "non-existant" to the collectables market. Some cards have surfaced, albeit very difficult to obtain, seek and find one now, as has been the case in the past, once a card has come and gone, the difficulty of obtaining it later gets even greater.
Spain Visa Cash - Two issues have now surfaced here in the US, one a student multipurpose ID card, issued through "La Caixa" bank for the Balears Island University. Distribution of this cards began in early December 1997. they feature a unique chip and are produced by Solaic. Ironically these cards carry the original Visa Cash logo, which was no longer used in the US after January 1997. The cards have a student color photo on the front, bank, university, and Visa Cash logo's. A second card has surfaced from Ibercaja Bank, and is the next generation of Visa Electron, a "triple card", this account related reloadable features a Visa Cash line of credit, electron magnetic stripe debit capability and a chip for use of the Visa Cash enhancement. The original Visa Electron cards were merely a Visa line of credit card with debit capability. Reportedly this next generation of Electron is now debuting in Mexico also, at up to 13 banks there. Featuring beautiful artwork, one card with Mayan ruins, others are reported with Mexican artists paintings.
Taiwan Visa Cash - reportedly up to 8 banks have begun issuing cards. Famous artists paintings are the subject of these beautiful cards, reports have it that one is a gorgeous Gaugain painting.
There were 10,060 cards produced, with long distance time provided by Sprint. There are 5 minutes on each card, good for fifteen months from activation.
For more information about this card, contact Gazelle Telecard at (206) 935-3576 or metalcore@aol.com
From: Joyce Fine
Buy 1 of 2 different accordion file folders and get a free 10 minute card. Card says "Free Time at Tax Time" "Prepaid Phone Card from Globe Weiss &" with the Staples logo.
The second offer is a buy 2 get 1 free deal on their regular 30 minute phonecards which are $9.99 each.
From: Andrew Henderson
From: Jim Silva
Until Next Week,
Alan
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