And you’re a Senior Plugger if you still have themI I remember that we got the Early American cricket chairs with pads from Green Stamps. They were delivered in boxes to the local train station and we had to go pick them up. We also got a TV cart, infant high chair,stroller, magazine rack, bathroom scale, luxuries we never could’ve afforded, otherwise. This was big excitement back in the day. The only thing we have left 50 yrs later is the magazine rack.
My Mother used to get mad at me because I wanted to place each individual stamp in the little boxes instead of putting a whole page in place at once(I think there were 30 stamps to a page—5 wide and 6 high) ! ! !
In 1969 when driving to work I would pass a church that had a “Jesus Saves” sign out front. About 100 yards further along there was a S & H Green Stamp redemption center. They had a portable sign out front like the ones you’d see at gas stations. One day someone in a mischievous mood had relocated the S & H sign. When I passed the church it now said.
Does anyone remember the red, plastic calculators that allowed you to keep track of your grocery money while you shopped? Our local Albers (later became IGA) used to give them away once a year, usually tied in with a marketing promotion by one of the vendors like Oscar Mayer. The fancy ones were the four digit kind.
We still have steak knives we got as freebies at a gas station! (Can you imagine that now?) The glasses broke. The banks used to have promotional give-always, too!
Who remembers this? In the 60’s, there were the gas station wars and sometimes you could get 10x the Blue Chip stamps (So Cal) and fill up a book in nothing flat. Also,later, gas stations gave away beautiful glasses, dishes, collectible place mats. This was when gas was something like .24 a gallon. Don’t even ask what annual income was, but we had everything we needed and with the stamp books, a few luxuries. I think we appreciated things more than people do today.
I wonder how many remember the Radisson hospitality empire (Carlson Companies) got its start as the Gold Bond Stamp Company on a $55 investment..Still a closely held company founded in 1938, and still headquartered right here in Minnesota…
Oh yes, I “bought” with saving stamps! A Cosco kitchen stool (circa 1972) that I still have. TV trays. Boy’s camping tent. Pyrex mixing bowls. Just all sorts of stuff. Green Stamps. Gunn Brothers, Gold Bond.
LOL! I was just cleaning out some of our home office paperwork that I haven’t touched in YEARS! Amongst the items was a full book of S & H Green Stamps. I kept it for old times sake, LOL! I also remember A & P Plaid Stamps, free glasses (good Anchor Hocking glasses) being given away at gas stations (Still have a set of the brown juice and wine glasses), and all the giveaways for being a customer. Now . . being a good customer doesn’t count for “squat” at most places.
LuvThemPluggers almost 10 years ago
And you’re a Senior Plugger if you still have themI I remember that we got the Early American cricket chairs with pads from Green Stamps. They were delivered in boxes to the local train station and we had to go pick them up. We also got a TV cart, infant high chair,stroller, magazine rack, bathroom scale, luxuries we never could’ve afforded, otherwise. This was big excitement back in the day. The only thing we have left 50 yrs later is the magazine rack.
geneking7320 almost 10 years ago
Bonus question:
What does ‘S & H’ stand for?
phelpsgates almost 10 years ago
And you’re a Super Plugger if you still have things you got with Alpine cigarette coupons.
AKHenderson Premium Member almost 10 years ago
I faintly remember Bonus Gifts Coupons from the 60s and 70s.
Olddog1 almost 10 years ago
You also might be a plugger’s parent.I remember an episode of Maverick that did a satire of trading stamps. They were called Gold Brick stamps.
IndyMan almost 10 years ago
My Mother used to get mad at me because I wanted to place each individual stamp in the little boxes instead of putting a whole page in place at once(I think there were 30 stamps to a page—5 wide and 6 high) ! ! !
nosirrom almost 10 years ago
In 1969 when driving to work I would pass a church that had a “Jesus Saves” sign out front. About 100 yards further along there was a S & H Green Stamp redemption center. They had a portable sign out front like the ones you’d see at gas stations. One day someone in a mischievous mood had relocated the S & H sign. When I passed the church it now said.
Jesus Saves
S & H
Green
Stamps
Tigdi almost 10 years ago
Does anyone remember the red, plastic calculators that allowed you to keep track of your grocery money while you shopped? Our local Albers (later became IGA) used to give them away once a year, usually tied in with a marketing promotion by one of the vendors like Oscar Mayer. The fancy ones were the four digit kind.
Satiricat almost 10 years ago
Tigdi, are you from Ohio? Those store names are familiar!
Mavromatis almost 10 years ago
I remember my mom had one of those! I loved playing with it. I also remember Top Value Stamps – the yellow ones you got at the stores.
Laura Chapman Premium Member almost 10 years ago
My mom got me an art kit with Green Stamps once. Now I have a subscription to a club that sends me painting kits.
ladylagomorph76 almost 10 years ago
We still have steak knives we got as freebies at a gas station! (Can you imagine that now?) The glasses broke. The banks used to have promotional give-always, too!
geneking7320 almost 10 years ago
You got it! I think they had an office building in the suburban Chicago area.
TheWildSow almost 10 years ago
I equipped my first kitchen with Green Stamps, and I still have some of the pots, pans, & kitchen tools.
sharondoyle almost 10 years ago
Oh, my! Brings back memories. My mother worked for Green Stamp store in our town….from 1950 until 1975. I still have some things from that store.
LuvThemPluggers almost 10 years ago
Who remembers this? In the 60’s, there were the gas station wars and sometimes you could get 10x the Blue Chip stamps (So Cal) and fill up a book in nothing flat. Also,later, gas stations gave away beautiful glasses, dishes, collectible place mats. This was when gas was something like .24 a gallon. Don’t even ask what annual income was, but we had everything we needed and with the stamp books, a few luxuries. I think we appreciated things more than people do today.
neverenoughgold almost 10 years ago
I wonder how many remember the Radisson hospitality empire (Carlson Companies) got its start as the Gold Bond Stamp Company on a $55 investment..Still a closely held company founded in 1938, and still headquartered right here in Minnesota…
Radical_Knight almost 10 years ago
HEY!!!
Fontessa almost 10 years ago
Oh yes, I “bought” with saving stamps! A Cosco kitchen stool (circa 1972) that I still have. TV trays. Boy’s camping tent. Pyrex mixing bowls. Just all sorts of stuff. Green Stamps. Gunn Brothers, Gold Bond.
pschearer Premium Member almost 10 years ago
In Philly the most common stamps were yellow (but never called gold). I don’t remember a brand name for them.
Dry and Dusty Premium Member almost 10 years ago
LOL! I was just cleaning out some of our home office paperwork that I haven’t touched in YEARS! Amongst the items was a full book of S & H Green Stamps. I kept it for old times sake, LOL! I also remember A & P Plaid Stamps, free glasses (good Anchor Hocking glasses) being given away at gas stations (Still have a set of the brown juice and wine glasses), and all the giveaways for being a customer. Now . . being a good customer doesn’t count for “squat” at most places.
Mary McNeil Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Not furniture, but a set of dishes and a set of stainless steel flatware.
Sangelia almost 10 years ago
Had one of those S&H places to trade the filled pages for in Minneapolis.