Remember Mail-in Offers?
I was thinking about how there used to be so many offers in magazines to send away for - maybe save up some labels or just send some money and you could own something pretty nice -probably some of these things we thrifters wish we could find now!!
I started going through my vintage magazines, offers have been around for a while, in the older magazines it was usually booklets that were offered. Then, bigger items became availalable, for next to nothing!! I'm using only summer issues for this post - it's a fun one, hope you enjoy it too.
The earliest offer I found was from a 1957 Woman's Day issue. Isn't this a strange advertising promotion - meat for perfume!!
Woman's Day from 1960 offered up this insulated baby bottle bag - I hate to say this but Mom had one of these for me, it was pink and it's still hanging around!!!
This might be my favourite of the bunch - The Hot Dog Rollster for $1 and the neckband from Kraft Barbecue Sauce. It's from Woman's Day, 1961.
This "Bummin' Bag" was a nice deal - bag, tablecloth and apron - for $1.50 and the plastic top from Accent - from Family Circle, 1968.
All you had to do to get a roll of color film was turn in the coupon on The Del Monte juice can - from Family Circle, 1968
I like this one too, a lucky ladybug daisy pin or a tie bar - the tie bar was Sarah Coventry - it's another funny promotion - it was offered by Hudson Sprayers and Dusters. This offer was in Woman's Day, 1969
If you were reading the Canadian ladies magazine, Chatelaine in July 1970, you might have sent in for this fondue set - with $2 and one wrapper from Chipits.
Things are getting more expensive in 1972 - $4.95 and one seal from a Kotex product for this underarm shaver - from Family Circle.
You had to save up 6 package fronts from Green Giant frozen vegetables or $1 and two fronts for this Green Giant bag - that's pretty cute! From Family Circle, 1973.
Woman's Day, 1973 had a couple of offers - notecards from Virginia Slims -no cash, just four package bottoms.
No labels were involved in this offer from Jean Nate - just cash - $13.99 for a caftan worth $30.00.
This was a pretty good deal, $1 for each Disney doll and a Close-up toothpaste carton - from Woman's Day, 1974.
This handsome tote bag featuring jet-set styling and around the world durablity could be yours for just $5.50 and proof of purchase from Bonine - from Woman's Day, 1976.
The newest offer is from a 1981 issue of Family Circle - that's a pretty stylish running suit for $9.75, along with your cash register receipt showing purchase of Sugar Free Dr. Pepper. Now, that's the way I remember sending away for things like this, with the cash register receipt.
Did you ever take part in mail in offers? What did you get?
Linking up with Dawn's Home and History Party at We Call it Junkin
It's been quite a few years since I did anything like that. Did get a couple novelty license plates for my daughter with her name on it through a cereal offer. My mom used to get things back in the day-- Green Giant cloth doll, plastic Kool-Aid canteens, a block stacking game from Hi-C. Still have that believe it or not. Companies never give anything away anymore. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteAw! thanks for sharing these with us! Memories!
ReplyDeleteMaybe with all the retro revivals going on, someone will get smart and start offering these type of fun promotions again!
When I was a little girl, I got a doll named Calico Lassie through Corn Flakes and also some animal pics for my wall through???? I can't remember. I don't know why I remember it was corn Flakes for the doll!
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Jill, these were so fun to see. I remember sending for lots of offers when I was young. Can't remember any specifics right now. I do remember my sister getting a stuffed Green Giant.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Dianne
Love the Bummin' Bag. I remember my mom sending away for lots of things.
ReplyDeleteI ordered a joy buzzer from the back of a comic book once - neat post!
ReplyDeleteI remember begging my mom to let me send in for some of the offers from her magazines! She never let me because she didn't trust sending money in the mail :-)
ReplyDeleteThank goodness they don't still do this. Maddie would have a hayday with it all!
Erica
My mom used to send for a lot of stuff for us. Usually we got advertising character dolls, Poppin Fresh, Green Giant and Sprout, and others. We had the Virginia Slims notecards. Nobody smoked in our family, so my mom must have gotten labels from a friend, or maybe it was one of the offers where you just sent money and not labels.
ReplyDeleteI remember being fascinated by these but I don't remember getting any mail-in offer.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1960's my mom would get Gold Star stamps at the grocery store and then could redeem them for items from their catalog. We had a dust pan and a spice rack from that catatlog.
I always loved sending it ads like these to get something free...or for a little bit of shipping. It was fun getting something in the mail! (and still is) Very cool! Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this, Jill, and I'm featuring it tomorrow at History & Home. Take care - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.
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