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When does a gift become a cost

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, November 9, 2018 7:49 PM

It sounds like you guys are talking about the " Dream , Plan, Build "video series. Well, I'm the guy with a whole set of coins ! I bought about half of them, and others I now wish I hadn't sent them back.

 They were actually very good. A little HO, some G, and they really planted the seeds for my interest in Toy Trains. Stan Roy's Lionel layout, Dick Robinson's Flyer layout, and Tony Lash's Hi Rail layout. Didn't know much about Toy Trains at the time, but  thought " that sure looks like fun"...

Paul

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Friday, November 9, 2018 5:55 AM

Yes, I remember getting a disc several years ago from them (mind you I did not request the disc) and later getting a letter indicating they wanted me to return it.  I seem to recall the disc I got was some sort of track planning disc. Since, I had in no way ordered this item, I did not see any reason to spend money on postage to return it. 

Surprising to hear that they have tried the same ruse on subscribers more recently.  I suspect the request to return it is more of a way of getting people to feel guilty and pay for it.  

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Posted by phrankenstign on Friday, November 9, 2018 2:06 AM

Now that I think about it, I think the second letter they sent me with the offer not only asked recipients to pay for the "FREE" coin from the previous letter, but I kind of remember them asking to send the coin back too if one didn't subscribe---just like the CD you mentioned.

I can't imagine anyone actually paid to return either the "FREE" CD nor the coin back.  I also doubt those promotions were very successful.

BTW What was on that CD?

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, November 9, 2018 1:00 AM

Never said it was worth it or not, just there way of promoting it. 

phrankenstign Back a few years ago they sent out this CD that was suppose to be the first in a series, You didn't request it, they sent it, If you didn't want to subscribed to it, they wanted you to return it. There was some harp about that too if I remember correctly.  

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by phrankenstign on Thursday, November 8, 2018 11:30 PM

Awhile back, Kalmbach sent me a letter with a coin inside of it as a "gift".  Later I got another letter where the coin was mentioned with an offer to pay for it (the FIRST coin) and a subscription to have more coins sent to me in the future.

I was like "What???"  You want me to pay for a previously sent "gift"?  I might've signed up for the subscription had I not been insulted by getting asked to pay for the "free" first coin.  I was always curious about what other people thought about the coin offer, but I never posted anything about it at the time.

Kalmbach must have a different dictionary than most people that contains alternative definitions for the words "free" and "gift".

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Posted by Firelock76 on Thursday, November 8, 2018 7:54 PM

I assume you're talking about the CTT special issue "Christmas and Electric Trains."  I bought mine over the counter at Metro Trains and Hobbies in Fort Myers FL Monday for $12.99.  No-one made me do it, I wanted it and I'm not sorry I bought it, Roger Carp and the crew put out a masterpiece.

Not sucking up to Kalmbach Pubs here, it's the truth.

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When does a gift become a cost
Posted by rtraincollector on Thursday, November 8, 2018 4:54 PM

When it comes from Kalmbach

First off not saying it may or may not be worth it but, In the november issue of CTT magazine from editors desk it reads Our gift to you.Revives Memories of trains of the holidays.

No where in the article does it say anything about it costing between $12.99 - $18.99. But it does give you web address to find it in there store. So it was no surprise to me that it wasn't really a gift. 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

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