Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site kitty.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!rochester!rocksanne!sunybcs!kitty!larry From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Re: Knife ads Message-ID: <518@kitty.UUCP> Date: Wed, 23-Oct-85 23:24:02 EDT Article-I.D.: kitty.518 Posted: Wed Oct 23 23:24:02 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 08:04:15 EDT References: <858@cvl.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY Lines: 51 > Recently in the Washington Post Magazine and through direct-junk-mail, > I have seen ads for the "MALIN M-15 Survival Knife." > ... > The ad claims that it is an advertising campaign - you have probably seen > the type. > > Does anyone know anything about this (beyond having seen the ad)? > My cataloge does not use the name "MALIN M-15"; has anyone heard of it? > The most suspicious thing is the name and address of the company. > It is "A & C" at a PO box in Hicksville, New York. > I think that this is another reincarnation of the infamous > Abernathy & however, alias Gem Collectors International, alias > Cheeselovers International (or some such) alias whoever it was > who I bought a super-cheap "UDS computer telephone" from a few years ago. > There was a discussion about them in net.consumers a year or so ago. > They are usually a junk dealer; worse than that, I had to threaten them > with the postal authorities before they would come up with the phone. >>> RIPOFF WARNING <<< This firm is the infamous Abernathy & Closther, a/k/a Carter & Van Peel, a/k/a E.M.P. Sales, a/k/a Marine Surplus Depot, a/k/a Romar Sales, a/k/a ad nauseam. There was a recent "Fight Back" TV show segment on one of their fine quality diamond inlaid watches. This outfit is notorious for naming products such that they sound similar to legitimate ones. `Malin" is probably supposed to stand for `Marlin'. My favorite name was when they were selling 35mm cameras for $ 5.00. I had to read the name `Yahama' at least five times before I realized that it was NOT `Yamaha'. They also think they are clever in defeating fradulent advertising laws when they say a product is `Nationally Advertised', because they claim that `Nationally Advertised' is a *trademark* and not a literal statetement. Any `merchandise' which they have to sell is, to put it bluntly, pure shit. I must say, I do enjoy reading their ads literally. My favorite line is when they described as a *feature* that their `mini-binoculars' have lenses which are `non-prismatic' and `unbreakable plastic'. Gee, if only Zeiss offered those features... Does anyone remember the $ 39.00 `mini-motorboat'? This ripoff company hides under a number of names, addresses, and post offices boxes, none of which has an obvious telephone. HOWEVER, there IS a telephone number for the `parent' operation, E.M.P. Sales of 535 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y., which is 212/682-1540. Call 'em up and tell 'em that you won't fall for their advertisements! Better yet, call collect! This outfit is a cancer and should be eradicated from the face of the earth. === Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York === === UUCP {decvax,dual,rocksanne,rocksvax,watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry === === VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice,shell}!baylor!/ === === FAX 716/741-9635 {AT&T 3510D} syr!buf!/ === === TELEX 69-71461 ansbak: ELGECOMCLR {via WUI} ihnp4!/ === === === === "Have you hugged your cat today?" ===