Trading Stamps

[Washinsheen]

(I always love talking about this topic with friends.) I know that a lot of you MUST have had trading stamps in your lives, while growing up. I grew up in west TX, and Gold Bond Stamps were what we mostly had. We shopped at Furr's Supermarket on Wednesdays, because it was "Double Stamp Day." But occasionally, we would go somewhere else, particularly while out of town, and we'd get S&H Green Stamps. My mom would reserve stamps for buying bridal shower gifts for girls at church, but we were able to get other things, sometimes.

So here's the question: What trading stamps did you have, and what are some things that your family bought with them? Here's what I remember us buying.....

Bedspreads (chenille, of course)
Curtains (kitchen and bedroom)
Bathroom scales
Deviled egge dish, w/the chicken salt & pepper shakers
Milk glass handled fruit basket
Milk glass and brass scales
Wooden key rack, the shape of an old skeleton key
Two Siamese cats TV lamp (see attached pic)
An off-brand Barbie doll (sister's b-day)
TV trays
Chocolate brown nogahide foot stool
Magazine rack
Ice chest
Two all-in-one lamp/tables
Bath rugs

And who knows what else! But it was great fun to look through the gift catalog and fantasize about the nice things that my sister and I wish that we could get!

 

[63getelevision]

I got a green Emerson AM tube radio in 1965, Green Stamps, I don't really remember anything other than that. The radio got away from me somewhere, but I replaced it with a duplicate from a flea market. Just remembered-an Ecko stainless and copper rolling pin Mom got when my cousin Susan got married. Love your TV lamp!

 

[kenmore58]

Green Stamp memories

I have to say that when I think back on Green Stamps, I have mixed emotions. My family has always been in the automobile business; and in the '70's, I was the office manager. Of course, we had to purchase gas for the cars; and the local stations we purchased from would give us stamps. Well, back then, we were probably spending $200 a week in gas (remember it was the '70's) Every week he would come into the office to pick up his check and every week he'd dump books of stamps on my desk (sheets of singles). One of my jobs was, of course, to glue the stamps into the books.

Over the years, we purchased a variety of items. I still have the Cosco bridge table and matching folding chairs, a Lady Seymour retractible clothesline, and a Shetland electric broom in avocado and white. Items I remember that are not around anymore are two aquariums, a typing table, and a few kitchen appliances.

Yuk, just thinking about it, I can still taste the glue!!

Ron.

 

[westie2]

Trading Stamps

I grew up with the Gold Bond stamps from an independent grocery, Green Stamps from United Supermakets, Gunn Brothers from IGA and TOP Stamps fro a local Pucketts. S & H were big with some appliance dealers and other stores.
S & H ihas come up with S & H Greenpoints. My wife after retireing from teaching went to work for a small supermarket chain at their Home Office and she is handeling the roll on for Greenpoints for the 55 stores in the chain. They are rolling on about 3 stores a month. The customers receive a key fob with upc's and is scanned at the registar and is filled with Greenpoints.

http://www.greenpoints.com/account/act_default.asp

 

[sudsmaster]

Back in the 50's and early 60's, my mom got a set of real silverware with trading stamps. Not sure if it cost her any cash in addition, but she amassed them over a number of years. I remember a kitchen drawer just crammed with stamps - S&H Green stamps, I think - and booklets.

 

[rp2813]

We had "Blue Chip" stamps and S&H. My recollection is that we were at the Blue Chip redemption store more often than at S&H. That's more a reflection on where my mom shopped than which stamp she preferred. I remember the clerks would work the stamp dispenser something like a rotary phone dial. I think we also ended up with a card table and chairs, and that set is still around. Can't remember much else that came from there, but I'm sure there are more than a few items kicking around at my mom's that did.

Just a while back my mom came across some books of S&H stamps and I was surprised to find an on-line redemtion site. For the amount of stamps I had there wasn't anything with redeeming qualities in my opinion and I just recently threw the books into the recycling bin.

 

[Washinsheen]

I can also remember an avocado green carpet sweeper with a black handle that my mom got with Gold Bond stamps. And when we would go visit my grandparents in Roswell, we would make sure to gas up at the filling station where my grandma always went, because they gave out Green Stamps.

 

[whirlcool]

I remember in the basement of a Wieboldt's department store in Oak Park, IL (on Lake Street) there was an S&H redemption store. They had just about everything in the catalog on display. It was interesting to browse. I always had my eye on the Color TV for 550 books. I always wondered if anyone ever came up with that number of books? I think my mother got an ironing board and an iron there one time. Of course, guess who had to lick the stamps..

In Chicago, Amoco and Standard gas stations gave out S&H Greenstamps. I think Shell handed out Top Value stamps. National Food stores also handed out S&H.

I wish I knew of some places that gave out S&H Greenpoints. I know some websites do along with purchases, but I think maybe Fleabay should do it with all the money they are making!

 

[maggie~hamilton]

Mama collected S&H and Green Stamps. I remember going to the redemption center from time to time to get her booty. The only thing I specifically remember was a G.E. electric skillet.

Somewhere around here I have a late '60s catalog from one of the trading stamp companies with a hilarious photo on the cover - a strange-looking lady is perched on a set of risers surrounded with small appliances -- mixers, blenders, hair dryers, etc. and she is holding up, Vanna White style, a huge plastic vibrator!

 

[washerboy]

TV or Top Value Stamps

I tell people everything I own either came from a dead relative or something my mother got with TV stamps. Mother kept a drawer in the kitchen that was just for stamps. I remember once the iron stopped working...mother drug out the stamp drawer and we sat in the kitchen floor and licked stamps all afternoon. When I was 11 I wanted a tv for my room...mother decided I could have one for Christmas provided I licked the stamps....I think I threw up that night from ingesting all that stamp glue.. that black and white tv lasted me into my 30's. Things we got with stamps:
coffee pot
waffle iron
clothes iron
wall hangings
bathroom scale
Desert Rose Dishes
tv
I'm sure there were many other household items mom got with stamps. We had Gold Bond stamps then for whatever reason they stopped...I remember momma had a ton of them; took her forever to decide what to redeem them on before the stamp store closed.

I think my most treasured memory of the stamp days... despite all the licking, sticking and yellow stained fingers..it was quality time spent with my mom.