Hi Everyone! It’s been two month since the last issue, so I wanted to publish something so you would not think I have fallen off the face of the earth (I’ve been quite busy, but that is usually how it goes)

Over the past five years, I’ve really relied on people to supply information to be published in this newsletter. Over the past two months, I can’t remember getting a single correspondence from anyone regarding a phonecard offer, or news from the U.S. or abroad. Consequently, I have not published anything because I have no news to publish. I believe that the unsubscribe rate would skyrocket if you had to hear me rant and rave every few weeks. I do want to keep this publication alive, so I am sending this plea out to everyone to consider contributing. If you have any phonecard news, please e-mail it so I will publish.

Here are some of my observations.

The market still seems very slow. Most of my sales are going overseas, and not in the U.S. As I have stated before, if the hobby grows again in the US, I think a lot of important US cards will be overseas.

The US Postal service now has stamps on their phonecards. The rates have come down quite a lot since they were first introduced, and I have noticed that if you buy one 60 minute cards, you get one free. I did the math, and that still works out to about 20 cents a minute. Better, but not competitive enough. It will be interesting to see what type of value these cards have years from now, since stamp collectors and phonecard collectors will probably be interested in them.

Talking about the Postal Service, they have a drawing for a $1,000 visa gift card. Every time you use you visa card there, you will be entered in the draw. No details of how long this contest runs.

Shell Gas, or at least my local gas station, is selling a $50 smart card for car washes. It has a chip and everything, and actually only costs $39.99. I may buy one to see what it is like to actually use a smart card.

All is quiet as well with the conclusion of the Naples phonecard show. There was a lot of talk about doing a show in 2001, but so far I have yet to hear any formal announcement. If one comes, I will publish. Hopefully there will be some news after the first of the year. The longer time there is to promote the show, the better chances of it being a very successful one.

That’s all for this time. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone (in the US) and I hope to publish one more issue before the New Year.

Until Next Time,

Alan

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Phonecards On-Line© is published by Alan Cohen. It is a newsletter devoted to phonecards - Current news, viewpoints, and reviews of new issues.

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