Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that promises
the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.

One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight
for the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty
close, around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was offered
$120. When he complained, the offer was raised to $250, obviously much
less than local reputable jewelers quoted.

As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your valuables.

gloria p

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
> months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that promises
> the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.
>
> One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight for
> the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty close,
> around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was offered $120.
> When he complained, the offer was raised to $250, obviously much less than
> local reputable jewelers quoted.
>
> As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your valuables.
>
> gloria p

If I'm selling gold, I want to watch it weighed and be able to take it back.
Our newspaper, The Hartford Courant, went to a few local shops to do the
same thing. One that advertises on TV is Good 'Ol Tom. He says he will pay
you as much as he can. Being cynical, I wondered. Turns out, he did offer
to pay more than any of the other places by at least 15% or so IIRC.

You also have to keep in mind that scrap gold is worth far less than the
pretty stuff on sale in the display case. Jewelry is not an investment.

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
> months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that promises
> the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.
>
> One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight for
> the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty close,
> around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was offered $120.
> When he complained, the offer was raised to $250, obviously much less than
> local reputable jewelers quoted.
>
> As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your valuables.
>
> gloria p



I've seen the ads for mailing gold jewelry to some company and they'll send
you a check. My mom and I used to joke about it; yeah, let's just put our
jewelry in an envelope and send it to someone we don't know. That makes a
lot of sense! (Notice I'm being sarcastic.) I wish people weren't so
gullible. This is not a deal.

I keep seeing ads saying Wal*Mart will cash your payroll check or tax refund
check *only* $3 per check! I don't think Wal*Mart should be acting like a
bank. But then again, I don't think casinos should be allowed to cash
welfare checks. Yet they do.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
>
> "Gloria P" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> > Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
> > months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that promises
> > the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.
> >
> > One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight for
> > the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty close,
> > around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was offered $120.
> > When he complained, the offer was raised to $250, obviously much less than
> > local reputable jewelers quoted.
> >
> > As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your valuables.
> >
> > gloria p
>
> I've seen the ads for mailing gold jewelry to some company and they'll send
> you a check. My mom and I used to joke about it; yeah, let's just put our
> jewelry in an envelope and send it to someone we don't know. That makes a
> lot of sense! (Notice I'm being sarcastic.) I wish people weren't so
> gullible. This is not a deal.
>
> I keep seeing ads saying Wal*Mart will cash your payroll check or tax refund
> check *only* $3 per check! I don't think Wal*Mart should be acting like a
> bank. But then again, I don't think casinos should be allowed to cash
> welfare checks. Yet they do.

NPR had a piece some time ago on the "Bank of Wal-Mart" thing. The
commentator was mostly in favor of it with some monitoring since the
market that would be served by the "Bank of Wal-Mart" was the folks
typically turned away by the "mainstream" banks and abused by the
"Community financial services" a.k.a. loan shark set.

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
> months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that promises
> the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.
>
> One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight for
> the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty close,
> around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was offered $120.
> When he complained, the offer was raised to $250, obviously much less than
> local reputable jewelers quoted.
>
> As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your valuables.

Did anyone catch the 'spoof' add for one of these companies during the
superbowl? It stared Ed McMahon and MC Hammer. It was really well done.

http://tinyurl.com/d27r2p

The company might be a rip but at least they can laugh at themselves.

Jon

Gloria P wrote:

> Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
> months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that
> promises the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.

It's crazy. Sure, I'll just put my jewelry in the mail and trust
you'll give me a fair value. Laughable.

> One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight
> for the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty
> close, around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was
> offered $120. When he complained, the offer was raised to $250,
> obviously much less than local reputable jewelers quoted.
>
> As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your
> valuables.

The bottom feeders are out, looking to make a killing from
people's misery.

nancy

Pete C. wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:

>> I keep seeing ads saying Wal*Mart will cash your payroll check or
>> tax refund check *only* $3 per check! I don't think Wal*Mart should
>> be acting like a bank. But then again, I don't think casinos should
>> be allowed to cash welfare checks. Yet they do.
>
> NPR had a piece some time ago on the "Bank of Wal-Mart" thing. The
> commentator was mostly in favor of it with some monitoring since the
> market that would be served by the "Bank of Wal-Mart" was the folks
> typically turned away by the "mainstream" banks and abused by the
> "Community financial services" a.k.a. loan shark set.

I tell ya, I see those check cashing places now and then and
I think that is just cold. Some people can't get their act
together to get a checking account, so they have to pay
a percentage to cash their paycheck. Ouch. The people
who can least afford it.

I say if WalMart will do that for $3, it's got to help some people.

nancy

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:28:06 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>Gloria P wrote:
>
>> Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
>> months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that
>> promises the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.
>
>It's crazy. Sure, I'll just put my jewelry in the mail and trust
>you'll give me a fair value. Laughable.
>
>> One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight
>> for the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty
>> close, around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was
>> offered $120. When he complained, the offer was raised to $250,
>> obviously much less than local reputable jewelers quoted.
>>
>> As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your
>> valuables.
>
>The bottom feeders are out, looking to make a killing from
>people's misery.

There's an ad on Craig's list for home parties that people are invited
to go and sell their gold. It's amazing some of the things people
dream up.

Lou

On 2009-02-13, Lou Decruss > wrote:

> There's an ad on Craig's list for home parties that people are invited
> to go and sell their gold. It's amazing some of the things people
> dream up.

Those home parties are a whole different ballgame. In that approach, the
person putting on a party purchases a kit that allows him to asses the
actual gold content of the gold jewelry and make valid estimates of the
value to party participants. He then collects the gold, and sends it in.
The people at the party know who they are giving their gold to and he has
the means to provide a valid worth. Then, it's on the guy giving the party
to distribute the $$$. These are usually done amongst friends.

nb

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2009-02-13, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>
>> There's an ad on Craig's list for home parties that people are invited
>> to go and sell their gold. It's amazing some of the things people
>> dream up.
>
> Those home parties are a whole different ballgame. In that approach, the
> person putting on a party purchases a kit that allows him to asses the
> actual gold content of the gold jewelry and make valid estimates of the
> value to party participants. He then collects the gold, and sends it in.
> The people at the party know who they are giving their gold to and he has
> the means to provide a valid worth. Then, it's on the guy giving the
> party
> to distribute the $$$. These are usually done amongst friends.
>
> nb



Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to a
"party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me something.
There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and share
a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy stuff.

Jill

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:43:21 -0500, "jmcquown" >
wrote:

>"notbob" > wrote in message
...
>> On 2009-02-13, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>>
>>> There's an ad on Craig's list for home parties that people are invited
>>> to go and sell their gold. It's amazing some of the things people
>>> dream up.
>>
>> Those home parties are a whole different ballgame. In that approach, the
>> person putting on a party purchases a kit that allows him to asses the
>> actual gold content of the gold jewelry and make valid estimates of the
>> value to party participants. He then collects the gold, and sends it in.
>> The people at the party know who they are giving their gold to and he has
>> the means to provide a valid worth. Then, it's on the guy giving the
>> party
>> to distribute the $$$. These are usually done amongst friends.
>>
>> nb
>
>
>
>Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to a
>"party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me something.
>There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
>Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and share
>a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy stuff.

A friend invited me for dinner and started the Amway pitch. I didn't
even stay for dinner and it ended the friendship.

Lou

On 2009-02-13, jmcquown > wrote:

> Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to a
> "party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me something.
> There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
> Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and share
> a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy stuff.

Some people want Tupperware. What then? Mug hosts on the street?

"Your lettuce crisper or your life!"

nb

On 2009-02-13, Lou Decruss > wrote:

> A friend invited me for dinner and started the Amway pitch. I didn't
> even stay for dinner and it ended the friendship.

Amway isn't a sales party, it's a torture session. I wouldn't be too hard
on folks that try it and invite friends. They're usually pretty clueless
as to how Amway REALLY works. I had a neighbor who invited my wife and I.
He failed miserably and soon after chose an easier career... policeman!

nb

Lou Decruss wrote:

> On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:43:21 -0500, "jmcquown" >
> wrote:
>
> >"notbob" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> On 2009-02-13, Lou Decruss > wrote:
> >>
> >>> There's an ad on Craig's list for home parties that people are invited
> >>> to go and sell their gold. It's amazing some of the things people
> >>> dream up.
> >>
> >> Those home parties are a whole different ballgame. In that approach,
the
> >> person putting on a party purchases a kit that allows him to asses the
> >> actual gold content of the gold jewelry and make valid estimates of the
> >> value to party participants. He then collects the gold, and sends it
in.
> >> The people at the party know who they are giving their gold to and he
has
> >> the means to provide a valid worth. Then, it's on the guy giving the
> >> party
> >> to distribute the $$$. These are usually done amongst friends.
> >>
> >> nb
> >
> >
> >
> >Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to a
> >"party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me
something.
> >There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
> >Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and
share
> >a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy
stuff.
>
> A friend invited me for dinner and started the Amway pitch. I didn't
> even stay for dinner and it ended the friendship.


Years ago a cute guy asked me out for a date, saying, "Stop by my place
before we go out". So I was all excited. I get there and the place is
filled with peeps, it was for his Amway pitch...that quickly disabused me of
the notion that fags necessarily have better taste, lol.


--
Best
Greg

notbob wrote:
> On 2009-02-13, jmcquown > wrote:
>
>> Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to a
>> "party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me something.
>> There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
>> Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and share
>> a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy stuff.
>
> Some people want Tupperware. What then? Mug hosts on the street?
>
> "Your lettuce crisper or your life!"
>


Most malls now have Tupperware kiosks or you can look online for a
local sales representative. There's no need to throw a fake party,
play stoopid games and eat bad food to buy Tupperware, baskets,
cosmetics, overpriced cooking equipment, Amway, candles, or ugly
glassware. Yes, I have been invited to all of those and attended
a few before getting brave enough to say "No, thanks."

I agree with Jill. I'll hang out with friends any time, but don't trap
me into feeling guilty for not buying unneeded junk. That's not a party.

Why don't men get invited to "parties" to buy tools, electronics,
gardening equipment, boating or computer or fishing gear? The closest
thing is a poker party but that's nowhere near the same.

gloria p

On 2009-02-13, Gloria P > wrote:

> I agree with Jill. I'll hang out with friends any time, but don't trap
> me into feeling guilty for not buying unneeded junk. That's not a party.

Geez, whatta buncha paranoids. I was never invited to a tupperware, Avon,
sex toy party, etc, but my wife was and had a few parties at our place (not
host, just provided abode). I can understand Amway. No one likes those and
you need to be tricked into attending. The others, everyone looked like
they were having fun. They knew what was going on up front and those who
didn't want to attend, didn't. You folks must have some real dicks for
friends.


> Why don't men get invited to "parties" to buy tools, electronics,
> gardening equipment, boating or computer or fishing gear?

The amount of beer it would take to pull it off would completely erase any
profits.

nb

notbob > wrote in :


>> Why don't men get invited to "parties" to buy tools, electronics,
>> gardening equipment, boating or computer or fishing gear?
>
> The amount of beer it would take to pull it off would completely erase
> any profits.
>


ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


:-)


--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

"Life is not like a box of chocolates... it's more like a jar of jalapenos.
What you do today... might burn your ass tomorrow."

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
> months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that promises
> the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.
>
> One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight for
> the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty close,
> around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was offered $120.
> When he complained, the offer was raised to $250, obviously much less than
> local reputable jewelers quoted.
>
> As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your valuables.
>
> gloria p

If there is anyone out there who is stupid enough to MAIL their jewelry to
someone and then take what they will pay, I have a slightly used bridge for
sale.

Steve

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:33:20 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> fired up random neurons and synapses to opine:

>I tell ya, I see those check cashing places now and then and
>I think that is just cold. Some people can't get their act
>together to get a checking account, so they have to pay
>a percentage to cash their paycheck. Ouch. The people
>who can least afford it.

The check cashing places and paycheck advance joints are especially
prevelant around military bases. The base commander at Camp Pendleton
tried to put a lid on them a while back, as a lot of naive enlisted
kids were really getting screwed over. This was particularly egregious
when the Marine was deployed and his wife was trying to get by on his
lousy pay and was conned into a loan she couldn't afford.

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--

"Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch!"

-- W.C. Fields

To reply, replace "meatloaf" with "cox"

Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:33:20 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> > fired up random neurons and synapses to opine:
>
>> I tell ya, I see those check cashing places now and then and
>> I think that is just cold. Some people can't get their act
>> together to get a checking account, so they have to pay
>> a percentage to cash their paycheck. Ouch. The people
>> who can least afford it.
>
> The check cashing places and paycheck advance joints are especially
> prevelant around military bases. The base commander at Camp Pendleton
> tried to put a lid on them a while back, as a lot of naive enlisted
> kids were really getting screwed over. This was particularly egregious
> when the Marine was deployed and his wife was trying to get by on his
> lousy pay and was conned into a loan she couldn't afford.

That's harsh. Those payday loans are nightmarish. Since you
mention it, the one check cashing place I can think of right now
is right near a base. Damn. Meanwhile, I think banks must offer
free limited checking* for people in that situation. Go to the bank.
And *forget* those payday loans. 99% interest plus fees!!!!

*I forget if it's just statewide.

nancy

jmcquown wrote:
But then again, I don't think casinos should be
> allowed to cash welfare checks. Yet they do.
>
> Jill

Is anyone surprised that she knows this?

-dk

notbob wrote:
> On 2009-02-13, Gloria P > wrote:
>
>> I agree with Jill. I'll hang out with friends any time, but don't trap
>> me into feeling guilty for not buying unneeded junk. That's not a party.
>
> Geez, whatta buncha paranoids. I was never invited to a tupperware, Avon,
> sex toy party, etc, but my wife was and had a few parties at our place (not
> host, just provided abode). I can understand Amway. No one likes those and
> you need to be tricked into attending. The others, everyone looked like
> they were having fun. They knew what was going on up front and those who
> didn't want to attend, didn't. You folks must have some real dicks for
> friends.
>


Paranoid? Nope, just BTDT. Experience is a good teacher.

People get roped into it with the promise of making easy money without
any effort or investment. Many of the organizations are pyramid selling
schemes and once you recruit all your friends into the business so you
can earn a percentage of their sales of overpriced junk, there's no one
left to sell to. Doh!

gloria p

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:08:39 -0700, Gloria P >
wrote:

>I can understand Amway. No one likes those and
>> you need to be tricked into attending.

Thankfully, I've never been to an Amway party - but there's one
product I buy when I need it. My grandmother loved their detergents.
Grandma and grandpa were on the cutting edge of the "green" movement
and loved amway products.



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

sf wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:08:39 -0700, Gloria P >
> wrote:
>
>> I can understand Amway. No one likes those and
>>> you need to be tricked into attending.
>
> Thankfully, I've never been to an Amway party - but there's one
> product I buy when I need it. My grandmother loved their detergents.
> Grandma and grandpa were on the cutting edge of the "green" movement
> and loved amway products.
>
>
>
Amway stuff was touted as super-concentrated as an excuse for being so
expensive. Hah!

When laundry detergent was $3 for a big box, the Amway stuff was selling
for over $20 for a tiny box. They held about the same number of wash
loads. Amway was so expensive because of multi-level marketing where
everyone and his brother got a percentage of the sales their
underlings sold. Nobody made much money except the people at the top of
each pyramid. In the 70's $20 was a h*ll of a lot to pay for a bottle
of window spray cleaner. I have no idea what it sells for today.

gloria p

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
> Meanwhile, I think banks must offer
> free limited checking* for people in that situation. Go to the bank.
> And *forget* those payday loans. 99% interest plus fees!!!!
> *I forget if it's just statewide.
>
> nancy

Easier said. Many people have no idea what to do with a check, have no
account, if they have an account they are overdrawn. I had a kid at work
that could rack up $40 to $80 in overdraw fees every week because he had no
clue how to handle an ATM card.Yes, we tried to teach him, but it just did
not work.

"notbob" > wrote in message
news
> On 2009-02-13, jmcquown > wrote:
>
>> Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to a
>> "party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me
>> something.
>> There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
>> Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and
>> share
>> a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy
>> stuff.
>
> Some people want Tupperware. What then? Mug hosts on the street?
>
> "Your lettuce crisper or your life!"
>
> nb

Depends on the situation. If you invite people for a Tupperware (or
whatever) party, you know going in what the deal is. We were invited to a
house warming party. Took a gift, of course, and it turned into a Pampered
Chef party. We left.

"SteveB" > wrote in message
> If there is anyone out there who is stupid enough to MAIL their jewelry to
> someone and then take what they will pay, I have a slightly used bridge
> for sale.

A lot of legitimate jewelry is mailed. Registered mail is a very safe way
to send gold and diamonds.

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
>
> "notbob" > wrote in message
> news
>> On 2009-02-13, jmcquown > wrote:
>>
>>> Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to
>>> a
>>> "party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me
>>> something.
>>> There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
>>> Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and
>>> share
>>> a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy
>>> stuff.
>>
>> Some people want Tupperware. What then? Mug hosts on the street?
>>
>> "Your lettuce crisper or your life!"
>>
>> nb
>
> Depends on the situation. If you invite people for a Tupperware (or
> whatever) party, you know going in what the deal is. We were invited to a
> house warming party. Took a gift, of course, and it turned into a Pampered
> Chef party. We left.
>

That's the name I was trying to remember - Pampered Chef! The reason people
"trick" folks into attending is they know you wouldn't show up otherwise. I
remember my parents being invited for cocktails by some new neighbors. They
thought how nice, we get to know the new folks and mingle with our friends.
It turned out to be an Amway sales pitch. Didn't make them popular in the
neighborhood, that's for sure!

I was invited by a friend to a Longaberger basket party but she told
everyone up front what it was. When I politely declined, telling her I'm
not into baskets, she confessed she was just trying to fill the place with
warm bodies. Her hope was if she had a large enough crowd maybe a few
people would buy some things. She collects these baskets and was trying to
earn "points" to get a free (waaaay overpriced) picnic basket. So I went,
and yes, we had fun. There were tasty appetizers, wine was flowing and we
had lots of laughs. We had to sit through the sales pitch by the Rep (of
course). But I'd told my friend up front I wasn't going to buy anything and
she accepted that. (I did see a cute bread basket, but no basket is cute
enough to cost $90!)

Jill

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
>
> "SteveB" > wrote in message
>> If there is anyone out there who is stupid enough to MAIL their jewelry
>> to someone and then take what they will pay, I have a slightly used
>> bridge for sale.
>
> A lot of legitimate jewelry is mailed. Registered mail is a very safe way
> to send gold and diamonds.
>

But is it safe to let them then tell you what they think it's worth? I
sincerely doubt that. It's like taking a very valuable necklace or other
jewelry to a pawnbroker and expecting them to give you top dollar for it.

Jill

jmcquown > wrote:

> I keep seeing ads saying Wal*Mart will cash your payroll check or tax refund
> check *only* $3 per check! I don't think Wal*Mart should be acting like a
> bank.

Every grocery store I've been in cashes checks. Why not Walmart?
And check this out - we even have about 60 places in town that do
only one thing: cash checks.

-sw

Zeppo > wrote:

> Did anyone catch the 'spoof' add for one of these companies during the
> superbowl? It stared Ed McMahon and MC Hammer. It was really well done.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/d27r2p

That's not MC Hammer - that's Arsenio Hall.

-sw

"Sqwertz" > wrote in message
...
> jmcquown > wrote:
>
>> I keep seeing ads saying Wal*Mart will cash your payroll check or tax
>> refund
>> check *only* $3 per check! I don't think Wal*Mart should be acting like
>> a
>> bank.
>
> Every grocery store I've been in cashes checks. Why not Walmart?
> And check this out - we even have about 60 places in town that do
> only one thing: cash checks.
>
> -sw

I don't see any problem either. Banks do banking but Wal Mart and
supermarkets are profit making businesses that offer goods for sale.
Supermarkets bring in extra cash on Thursday just for the purpose of cashing
checks and hope that you stay to buy some groceries so they can make a
profit. From what I've heard of the check cashing places, a $3 charge is a
bargain.

Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

> I don't see any problem either. Banks do banking but Wal Mart and
> supermarkets are profit making businesses that offer goods for sale.
> Supermarkets bring in extra cash on Thursday just for the purpose of cashing
> checks and hope that you stay to buy some groceries so they can make a
> profit. From what I've heard of the check cashing places, a $3 charge is a
> bargain.

It depends on how much your check is for. Typical charge is 1% at
check cashing places.

Walmart only charged me $.17 to cash a $17 check (a reimbursement
check from the Attorney General Crime Victims Fund for which I
submitted over $400 in reimbursable receipts). So they will charge
you only %1 if it's less than $300.

-sw

-sw

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:33:20 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

> Pete C. wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>
>>> I keep seeing ads saying Wal*Mart will cash your payroll check or
>>> tax refund check *only* $3 per check! I don't think Wal*Mart should
>>> be acting like a bank. But then again, I don't think casinos should
>>> be allowed to cash welfare checks. Yet they do.
>>
>> NPR had a piece some time ago on the "Bank of Wal-Mart" thing. The
>> commentator was mostly in favor of it with some monitoring since the
>> market that would be served by the "Bank of Wal-Mart" was the folks
>> typically turned away by the "mainstream" banks and abused by the
>> "Community financial services" a.k.a. loan shark set.
>
> I tell ya, I see those check cashing places now and then and
> I think that is just cold. Some people can't get their act
> together to get a checking account, so they have to pay
> a percentage to cash their paycheck. Ouch. The people
> who can least afford it.
>
> I say if WalMart will do that for $3, it's got to help some people.
>
> nancy

face it, it costs a lot of money to be poor. one way or another, you end
up paying more for the same thing than you would if you had even a little
more money.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy wrote:

>
> face it, it costs a lot of money to be poor.

That it does.

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:28:06 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

> Gloria P wrote:
>
>> Actually I don't know whether to call it a scam or not. The past few
>> months our local stations have carried an ad for a company that
>> promises the highest returns for your old gold jewelry.
>
> It's crazy. Sure, I'll just put my jewelry in the mail and trust
> you'll give me a fair value. Laughable.
>
>> One of the consumer advocates had some gold pieces appraised by weight
>> for the gold value by two separate jewelers. The average was pretty
>> close, around $800. He sent the gold to the TV ad place and was
>> offered $120. When he complained, the offer was raised to $250,
>> obviously much less than local reputable jewelers quoted.
>>
>> As the economy worsens, be more and more careful with ALL your
>> valuables.
>
> The bottom feeders are out, looking to make a killing from
> people's misery.
>
> nancy

'twas ever thus, i'm afraid.

maybe you've heard the kin hubbard line:

'it's not a crime to be poor, but it may as well be.'

your pal,
blake

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:43:21 -0500, jmcquown wrote:

> "notbob" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 2009-02-13, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>>
>>> There's an ad on Craig's list for home parties that people are invited
>>> to go and sell their gold. It's amazing some of the things people
>>> dream up.
>>
>> Those home parties are a whole different ballgame. In that approach, the
>> person putting on a party purchases a kit that allows him to asses the
>> actual gold content of the gold jewelry and make valid estimates of the
>> value to party participants. He then collects the gold, and sends it in.
>> The people at the party know who they are giving their gold to and he has
>> the means to provide a valid worth. Then, it's on the guy giving the
>> party
>> to distribute the $$$. These are usually done amongst friends.
>>
>> nb
>
> Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to a
> "party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me something.
> There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
> Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and share
> a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy stuff.
>
> Jill

actually, jill, it's a party to invite you to *sell* stuff.

your pal,
blake

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:56:48 GMT, notbob wrote:

> On 2009-02-13, Gloria P > wrote:
>
>> I agree with Jill. I'll hang out with friends any time, but don't trap
>> me into feeling guilty for not buying unneeded junk. That's not a party.
>
> Geez, whatta buncha paranoids. I was never invited to a tupperware, Avon,
> sex toy party, etc, but my wife was and had a few parties at our place (not
> host, just provided abode). I can understand Amway. No one likes those and
> you need to be tricked into attending. The others, everyone looked like
> they were having fun. They knew what was going on up front and those who
> didn't want to attend, didn't. You folks must have some real dicks for
> friends.
>
>> Why don't men get invited to "parties" to buy tools, electronics,
>> gardening equipment, boating or computer or fishing gear?
>
> The amount of beer it would take to pull it off would completely erase any
> profits.
>
> nb

there was a story in the *washington post* not too long ago about one of
the gold parties:

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/29/AR2008092903257.html>

it doesn't sound all that awful, and the 'hostess' was offering close to a
market price:

Tonight she's written 21 checks for a grand total of $10,352.89 -- about 75
percent of what it is valued on the day's gold market close. Of the
remaining 25 percent, 15 percent goes to Paige Rhodes's [whose house it
was] cancer walk. The rest goes home with Thomas [the gold hostess].

your pal,
blake

jmcquown wrote:

> (I did see a cute bread basket, but no basket is
> cute enough to cost $90!)

Amen. Same goes for certain vacuum cleaner brands (ahem, 'complete home
cleaning systems') which can cost anything up to $1700.00 (per unit)
here... I'll pass, thankyewverymuch.
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:02:29 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> "notbob" > wrote in message
> news
>> On 2009-02-13, jmcquown > wrote:
>>
>>> Are they really amongst "friends"? I don't appreciate being invited to a
>>> "party" only to find out you've invited me over to try to sell me
>>> something.
>>> There used to be Tupperware parties, those kitchen gadget parties,
>>> Longarberger basket parties. No thanks. Want to get to together and
>>> share
>>> a few laughs? That's a different story. Don't invite me over to buy
>>> stuff.
>>
>> Some people want Tupperware. What then? Mug hosts on the street?
>>
>> "Your lettuce crisper or your life!"
>>
>> nb
>
> Depends on the situation. If you invite people for a Tupperware (or
> whatever) party, you know going in what the deal is. We were invited to a
> house warming party. Took a gift, of course, and it turned into a Pampered
> Chef party. We left.

those are the circumstances under which you get drunk and start a brawl.

your pal,
blake