I t becomes more aggravating every year as more and more non coin delaers attempt to sell their coin wares to unsuspecting novices. This past Christmas season I recieved one particular catalog from Heartland America, who's main products are a bit of everything but all at liquidation prices. They sell home goods, electronics, car stuff,etc.,etc. But they also sell a lot of coins also. The prices are laughably outrageous and descriptions border on false advertizing, if not completely false. For instance, a complete set of Eisenhower Dollars...their idea od complete is 21 coins, when we all know that a complete set is over 30 coins.There are numerous examples and for ha ha's you should check them out online. Another is Things You Never Knew Existed by the Johnson Smith Co. If I had the time I would be writing formal complaints to the Attorney generals Office. These companies should be banned from selling coins altogether just for their bogus ad gimmicks. Has anyone seen any of this? What have been your experiances? Have you reported any of them? Just curious as to what anyone might feel about this type of marketing.:hail:
All I can think of is the saying "A fool and his money are soon parted" These type of companies seem to always find some people to buy their offerings. And their mailing lists seem carved in stone. Thank goodness for spam blockers and the Federal Do Not Call list. BTW you can tell telemarketers that the fine from the FCC for a first violation of the Do Not Call Registry is $500.
The "Johnson Smith" company is still around? I remember them when I was a kid in the 1950's. They had a catalog where they would sell things like fake vomit, whoopie cushions, and handshake buzzers.
Well, a complete set is kind of a relative thing. I have seen so many different definitions of a complete set it isn't even funny. For example, according to the simple Whitman folder, a complete set of Ike's consists of only 12 coins. With Ike's there are so many different issues (circulation, silver BU, proofs, silver proofs) plus varieties that a complete set can probably be defined 10 different ways. I think they should be more specific in what they are selling...but a "complete set" is a very relative term. I completely agree.
Yep, the Johnson Smith Co. is still around and they still sell fake vomit. (George Carlin used to do a hillarious spoof on some of their items). Of couse you cannot by the "Joy Buzzer" for 99 cents anymore. lol
You really shouldn't get so irritated with them. They too are in buisness to make money. And there are a lot more of thoes mail order catalogs floating around than you know of. Companies sell that service to people today and show them how to make a catalog full of anything and only when they get an order do they acquire that product. Almost all of them now carry something in coins since it is a really big hobby now. And all you have to do is order one item from one of them and poof, you get lots of them in the mail. Each one sells your info to others and the catalogs come floating in. Don't let it get to you. Those people also sell many other products that they have no idea in the world what they are, how they are made, who makes them or will they explode. It's all just buisness. Ever hear about the guy in Wisconsin that sends for all those catalogs, flyers, pamphlets, etc and uses them to heat his house all winter? Did you see that add on TV by Montel about the Obama coins. Turns out those are just regular coins with stickers on them. Think Montel even ever saw one? I'm sure he is feeling real bad on the way to the bank with the money being raked in.
I remember Johnson Smith from their Boys' Life ads in the 1960s. I believe they also sold "X-Ray specs". I was always tempted to buy a pair but never did.
My wife and I went to the beach last year and she made me lieave the "x-ray specs" at home. THEY REALLY WORK! NOT!!!! Seriously, My folks would not let any of us kids buy their stuff but my buddy down the block did actually have the fake vomit, x-ray specs and bald head wig.
Not "all" agree. Quite a few years ago someone issued a 21-coin set in a wooden box and marketed it as "complete". I have one somewhere around here, acquired sometime before 1990 or so when I quit collecting US. If I can locate it I'll post a picture.
I actually have my X-ray specs, a package of itching powder and a mini electricians book. Anybody wanna buy them? lol
Found it. Well the memory isn't what it used to be. The "Complete Eisenhower Silver Dollar Collection Brilliant Uncirculated Condition" consists of only 20 coins, three each from 1971-1977 (Denver clad cu-ni, Philly clad cu-ni, San Fran 40% silver clad); and 1978 Denver/Philly clad cu-ni only. Nowhere on or in the case is the company which created the sets identified. (There is a "Made in China" label on the bottom of the case.) If the set is defined as circulation strikes ignoring varieties, it is complete according to the Redbook, which lists only the 15 cu-ni and 5 silver clads included in the set as being struck for circulation. There are 5 cu-ni proofs and 4 silver proofs listed, for a total of 29 coins if varieties are ignored. Including all varieties there are either 30 or 31 distinct coins. (A Bicentennial silver clad variety 2 is listed, but no mintage quantity is specified, and I'm too ignorant on the subject to know whether there really is such a coin.)
