Back When Mail-Order Meant Waiting 6-8 Weeks | Get Geekish Podcast #189

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Today, we’re spoiled by 2-day, 1-day, overnight, and within-the-hour shipping options. Back in the day when we ordered something in the mail, it generally meant 6-8 weeks of waiting. From saving of cereal box tops to mail in for prizes, to ordering 15 CDs for a penny, the wait times we had to endure required a lot of patience, and often led to a lot of disappointment. What’s the best/worst thing you checked your mailbox incessantly for as a kid?

One thing I remember being super excited about was a purple and silver insulated Trix water bottle. I saved up something like 8 proofs of purchase and sent out a letter to order my reward. A few months later it finally showed up. It leaked. It smelled funny. I think I used it three times and threw it in the trash.(Curse you General Mills!)

I wonder if BMG and/or Columbia House have the actual numbers of people that never paid for their free albums?

Columbia House Ad From Reddit
BMG Ad From Reddit

Cereal Box Prizes from the 1970s and 1980s [FLASHBAK]

Mail Order Memories [CHEAPISM]

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