Wonder how many books of stamps one would need to get the latest smartphone, LOL.
These stamp programs taught people how to save. You had to save up enough stamps to get the thing you wanted. Now if you want something you just put it on your credit card.
This was the same time frame that the big, fat, telephone books used to dump onto our doorstep with a section for white pages (local residences) and yellow pages (local businesses).
Of course, way before the internet and smart phones was even a concept.
You could excude your residence from the white pages but that was rare, usually you wanted to be in the phone book during those days.
Also, during the 1970s, the supermarkets would have a promotion for a set of encyclopedias. Usually the Funk & Wagnalls edition. Sometimes the Americana (if it was an upscale supermarket).
Anyway, the idea was that the supermarket would introduce a new volume each week, removing the previous week's volume, encouraging you to go to the supermarket often.
So the situation developed around 1975 that I was collecting every volume of the Funk & Wagnalls encyclopedia by going with my mother shopping, as she filled the cart with Underwood Deviled Ham, slabs of sliced Kraft American cheese, Hood milk, Starkist tuna, Jello, Prince macaroni, Wonder Bread, and other such staples of the time.
I would make sure we got the latest volume each shopping trip and upon return to the house, I would place it proudly on our bookcase at home, hard by the Zenith TV with the remote control that never once worked properly, forcing me to get up and adjust the vHold, or the channel and volume upon my father's demand while he was watching F-Troop, Bewitched or some John Wayne western movie. My father had a huge crush on the Bewitched woman, Samantha, who was nothing like my mother at all. My mother was more like the mother-in-law on that show.
Anyway, we went on a vacation that summer of 1975 for two weeks so I totally missed out on getting the Funk & Wagnalls volume that went from Me-No. So if I wanted to read in that encyclopedia set about Montana or Nigeria, I was completely out of luck.
Those were rough times. The 1970s. Though I did get an Archie's 45 single out of a box of Corn Pops cereal.
Never did remember what we got with the green stamps. But I was put in charge of filling up those books by putting my saliva on the stamps and sticking them in.
I’m feeling so bad for some of you kids. I guess we were wealthier than some of you. We had a sponge.
My father found a better way to get "stuff" for the house. He played BINGO when household items were the "win". Dad did good. I can still picture some of the stuff...
I remember Blue Chip Stamps, also.
Warren Buffet was a big fan and major stockholder. He loved them because they collected money up front (from the merchant) and they took an average of over 18 months to redeem. Plus, California being more wealthy and laid back than the rest of the nation, many didn't get redeemed at all.
I still had 2-3 books when I moved away. I gave them to my girlfriend for helping me move. Just over 14 months later, I decided I couldn't live without her and she became my wife, never expressing a desire to return to California except to visit family on occasion. She was definitely a keeper.
The silverware I use daily was gotten with S&H stamps back in the late 70s or so. Just a cheap set, but at this point they’re a family heirloom. ;-)
Apparently Im the only one dumb enough to click the links.
Despite what you will read along the way you will eventually run into a dead end sign...
“PROGRAM DISCONTINUED
Please visit myfreshpoints.com for more details.
S&H Green Stamps are no longer valid and we are no longer accepting them. They have no value.
Effective October 4, 2020, we are also no longer accepting or redeeming S&H greenpoints here.”
I still have some.......
I remember getting a backyard croquet set with S&H green stamps.
-PJ
I also remember Betty Crocker coupons. We got some nice sets of stainless Oneida ware with those.
My mother used to make me lick the stamps and put them in the books. 😆
INB4 CDC issues report that S&H Green Stamps contained a carcinogen in the glue on the back.
My mom used to collect those.
I remember the local gas station gave those out. Gas was 23 cents a gallon back then and they would check your tire pressure, oil level and clean your windshield while it filled up. All of that was done with a smile on their face too. And stupid people ask .”what was so great about America back then.” They just have no idea. Come to think of it, none of my teachers encouraged me to pretend that I was a girl either.
I vaguely remember them. I do t recall what you got from them as I was a little tot then. I used to lick the stamps and place them in the book.
Found two filled Green Stamps booklets while cleaning out the garage.
IIRC, I got a cutlery set from them back in the day.
Fun Times. Got lots of stuff!
I believe the S&H stamps were the launching pad of Carlson Companies in MN. Could be mistaken.
Anyone remember Gold Bond stamps? They were just like the S&H racket.