You asked for more of those “mail order bargains” I have in Dick’s Gadget Warehouse….so here’s another one!

Friday, January 15^th, 2009 Daily Giz Wiz 1005

Why are we giving away GIANT DESIGNER 5 PIECE LUGGAGE SETS for only $9.95? This is not a misprint! -----  

Yes, this is how so many of those “mail order scam ads” of the 70’s & 80’s started. You still got something for your money, but nothing like what the photo promised. Or what the glowing copy led you to expect when your package arrived. Here’s more copy from the ad:

Hard to believe, but true. As part of a nation wide publicity campaign, the New York firm of Peabody & Wright, Ltd. will distribute one million nationally advertised GIANT Designer 5 piece luggage sets for the astonishingly low price of of only $9.95 plus shipping and handling to the first one million persons who write to the company address. (Only one million people?)

These are the most expensive and fastest selling luggage sets ever sold by this New York company. (and how much would you want to bet it's the only luggage set ever sold by this company!)

Each set consists of: Expandable folding garment carrier with 2 sturdy handles. Super roomy Pullman to hold an entire vacation/business trip wardrobe, with convenient full length shoulder strap, toiletry kit/super-cushioned cosmetic case.

These will not be sold in any store! (That's because in a store you would see that they were just just thin nylon shells!) Each piece is covered by the company's full one year money-back guarantee and will be replaced or refunded if it ever fails to function. There is a limit of 3 sets per address at this low price but if you send in your request early enough you may request up to six!  (And I bet if you said you needed 12 sets they would say, "oh, okay!")  

What you received via a uniformed employee of the government (the mailman)  was 5 flimsy nylon shells. They arrived rolled up in a small reinforced paper envelope. That's when I knew I was in big trouble! I used to say: "Don't throw out the pape envelope. It could be the 6th piece of this cheap luggage set.

While $9.95 + $5 shipping doesn't seem like a lot of money, but don't forget this was 30 years ago! Even in today's money I sure wouldn't pay $14.95 for these nylon shells! They might good for the TSA personnel at airports. They could practically see through them without bothering with the xray machine! 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1005