mcewan@uiucdcs.UUCP (04/12/84)
#N:uiucdcs:44000005:000:1243
uiucdcs!mcewan Apr 12 14:12:00 1984
In today's mail I received the following postcard:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
----------------
This is to inform you that you are entitled to receive an exciting vacation offer
to more than 30 major resort areas including Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe,
Disneyland, DisneyWorld, Hollywood, New Orleans, Opryland plus the New
DisneyWorld EPCOT CENTER and many more.
Your vacation includes first class accommodations for two adults and two
children in the resort area of your choice, and you will have until December,
1985 to take the vacation.
Along with your vacation, you are entitled to receive gifts valued at more than
$300.00.
For complete details and to reserve your vacation you must call 602-991-4036
within the next 5 days Monday thru Friday, during the hours 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mountain
Time.
Contest Clearing
House Number Sincerely,
Le Ann Dotzler
2991 Vacation Co-ordinator
The return address is
Nationwide Travel & Tours
12242 Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
It is hand-addressed and mailed at normal postcard rate, not bulk rate.
It sounds suspicious. Has anyone heard of these people before? Is it worth
a long-distance phone call? TIA.
Scott McEwan
pur-ee!uiucdcs!mcewanruffwork@iham1.UUCP (Ritchey Ruff) (04/14/84)
[] I just recieved a card EXACTLY (even the Clearing House Number) the same, so I gave them a call... You can recieve a vacation for 4 (2 adults and 2 children) in any of over 150 resort areas (including bahamas, etc.). Stipulations: - only good durring off-seasons (surcharge otherwise). - must use before 12-31-85. - must respond to card with time limit. I was told I didn't have to pick the resort beforehand, but would be mailed a coupon. Also, with this clearing number I would also recieve a gift certificate for $500.00. This offer covered 2 days and nites, BUT WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION OR MEALS!!! (YOU have to get there on your own...). THE HOOK: "There is a $49.50 service fee for processing your vacation arrangments. Do you want to pay via VISA, MASTER CHARGE, or AMERICAN EXPRESS ???" "Can I pay by check or money order?" At this point there was a 2 or 3 min. pause, an I was told that "yes, I could; but..." they hold checks and money orders for at least 30 days, so if I wanted to use the offer right away I could just give them my charge card number and it would be in the mail right away... Am I crazy, or does this sould like a scam??? Who should I contact to see if this place is ligit??? Thanks, Ritchey Ruff ...ihnp4!iham1!ruffwork ...ihnp4!ihuxn!ruffwork []
eli@houxq.UUCP (04/16/84)
I got a similar postcard a few weeks ago, from Holiday House, Inc., of Sparta, Tennessee. Here's the text: =============================================================================== IMPORTANT NOTICE This is to inform you that you were selected by HOLIDAY HOUSE, INC. to receive a 5-days and 4-nights Holiday Offer in Florida, with your last two nights in the exciting Orlando area, home of Walt Disney World and EPCOT. For complete information, please call for anyone at the below listed number this FRIDAY, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. TELEPHONE: 1-615-836-8441 (signed) WILLIAM S. HOWELL, PRESIDENT (and now the fine print) Valid for couples between the ages of 23-60 (except for New Jersey residents who must be 18 or older) traveling together. You have between now and December 15, 1984 to use this offer, but you should claim your voucher immediately. The cost of your initial call will be reimbursed. This does not constitute an offer or offering in any state. Void where prohibited by law. Member of Sparta Chamber of Commerce =============================================================================== This was also sent out at first class rates, and the address was hand-written. When we called up, we were told there was a $59.95 handling charge. Based on the phrase "This does not constitute an offer...", I presume that when you attend, they *will* be making an offer (for you to spend at least several thousand dollars). Note also that this "holiday" is for four days, but only two are at Orlando. In other words, instead of the usual two hour hard sell associated with these things, they plan to harass you for two *days*. And they expect you to pay them to boot. We didn't pay the $59.95, and we didn't get the cost of our call reimbursed.
kho@hou2a.UUCP (S.KHO) (04/19/84)
If something is too good to be true, it is. S. Kho hou2a!kho