ken@sharkey.cc.umich.edu (Ken Jongsma) (03/28/91)
About three or four months ago, I received one of those postcards
saying that I had won a contest and could claim my prize simply by
calling this particular 900 number. I don't recall the charge, but it
seems that buried in the fine print it said $10 per call. Also in the
fine print it said that I could mail in my claim at no charge.
Not expecting to hear from this company, I mailed in the card. Today I
received a letter from Gift Hot Line (Irving, TX) outlining my $300
prize!
Well now, you didn't *really* think they were going to send me $300,
did you?
What they actually sent was a "certificate" stating I could order the
following merchandise:
Description Price "Discount" Pay
Magnavox 19" Stereo TV 319.95 50.00 269.95
Sylvania 2 Head VCR 249.95 50.00 199.95
Magnavox Stereo Set 299.95 40.00 259.95
Visions Cookware 99.95 20.00 79.95
French Cookware 69.95 20.00 49.95
Regal 2000 Cookware 129.95 30.00 99.95
Hudson Baker Luggage 99.95 40.00 59.95
Singer Sewing Machine 179.95 40.00 139.95
Plastic Food Storage Set 29.95 10.00 19.95
======= =======
300.00 1179.55
So, to claim my $300 prize, all I need to do is spend about $1200!
Actually, considerably more than $1200, since they want from $7-$20
per item for shipping. Even with the "discount", a quick look at a
catalog store ad reveals that most of this stuff is about 30%
overpriced.
I wonder how many calls they took in and how many people actually
ordered any of this junk.
Ken Jongsma ken@wybbs.mi.org
Smiths Industries ken%wybbs@sharkey.umich.edu
Grand Rapids, Michigan ..sharkey.cc.umich.edu!wybbs!ken