From: metcalf@CATFISH.LCS.MIT.EDU (Chris Metcalf)
Subject: anyone heard of a marketing "promotion" from Olympia Group?
Followup-To: poster
Organization: MIT Laboratory for Computer Science
Distribution: ne
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 16:55:55 GMT

I just got the standard promotional postcard in the mail, "you are
absolutely guaranteed at least one (1) of the following five awards
for participating in our National Promotion", etc.  (The awards are:
a car or $12k; a Hawaiian holiday; a 46" TV or $2.5k; a jeweled tennis
bracelet; a $2k cashier's check.)  I called the marketing company running
the program, who explained you had to buy a 5-piece luggage set for $550
(5 year warranty, S/H included) and send them a happy promotional photo
of you and the luggage, and they would randomly pick an award and send
it to you (plus a $199 diamond designer watch from Oleg Cassini, whoever
that is).  I also called Olympia directly (in Jackson, MI) and got similar
info, including the fact that they are handling 50-100 such orders daily.

Apparently they had gotten my name from one of my Visa companies as
a "preferred customer".  Also, lucky me, I happened to have the magic
"bonus number" on my postcard, entitling me to to not one but two of
the five awards.  (This was actually not mentioned on the postcard.)

The Jackson Better Business Bureau was skeptical, and said they
actually had a set of the luggage in question in their offices, and
it was of extremely poor quality (they also suggested that cashier's
checks sometimes have to be cashed in VERY obscure places that can cost
you a lot of money to get to).  They didn't have an specific complaints
on their computer, however.  The Houston Better Business Bureau had
information on the marketing company (Olympia Group, a front for Hallmark
and Associates Marketing Co.), saying they were running a new promotional,
and giving some standard warnings, but admitting that they had received
no actual complaints as yet.  The Boston Better Business Bureau had an
entertaining computerized message about promotional scams.

A few specific things make me even more sceptical:  

  o The marketing company claimed the Better Business Bureau would not
    likely give good information, as they were currently being
    investigated for charges of favoritism to member companies.
    Unfortunately, I didn't ask WHO was investigating them.  (Of course,
    both people at the Jackson bureau were amused and denied it.)

  o I was asked to give my credit card expiration date "for
    confirmation".  Not my card number, mind you.  Now that's weird.

  o According to the marketing co., Olympia has only been in business
    for a year or two.  Seems more likely they're scamming if they're young.

  o The postcard says, "we were unable to contact you be phone, therefore,
    we are advising you in writing that our obligation to hold your award
    will expire within _72_HOURS_OF_RECEIPT_ of this notice."  Unable?
    I have an answering machine.  72 hours from *receipt*?  There's no
    way they could know on what day I received the card.

I've wasted enough money on phone calls (though Olympia Group claims
they will reimburse me for my initial call if I send them a copy of my
phone bill... we'll see).  I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else
with a similar postcard or experience with the companies involved.
I will summarize back to the net if I hear anything.
-- 
			Chris Metcalf, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science
			metcalf@cag.lcs.mit.edu   //   +1 (617) 253-7766
Newsgroups: ne.general