bdc@drux3.UUCP (Crumby) (11/02/83)
In August (1983) I received a letter saying they had a book about my rare surname 'Crumby' and for $27.?? they would send me a copy. They also said I could have a 10 day trial period and if I did not want it I could send it back and they would give me my money back. So, I tried it. When I received it, it was not a book about my surname but on how to find out about my surname and a computer list of other people (I guess living) with the same surname. The reason I know it was a computer list is some computer list has the middle initial of my name stored incorrectly and that is how my name was printed in this book. All this to say that if you receive a letter similar to what I received it may not be what you think it is. The book may or may not be good, I do not know. But it was not what I thought it was. The ending of the story. I returned it and received my money back (less $.20 letter postage and book return postage) and received another similar letter from another company.
fred@umcp-cs.UUCP (11/09/83)
From: bdc@drux3.UUCP In August (1983) I received a letter saying they had a book about my rare surname 'Crumby' and for $27.?? they would send me a copy. . . . About 12 years ago, my mother recieved a similar advertisement. It made the claim that ``Hundreds of years ago, the Blonder Family Crest was officially registered.'' (Ok, after twelve years I may not remember the wording exactly.) and for appropriate payment, they would produce fully researched documentation. Well, in our case this is particularly absurd, since the family name has only existed for about 150 years. It might have been interesting to see what documentation they could have produced, but we never bothered. Fred Blonder (Any more of you out there?) harpo!seismo!umcp-cs!fred