Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for June 07, 2022

Yup, with the loss of Brick & Mortar stores, companies can skip the quality control because everything is being bought sight unseen. Caveat Emptor!

Do your homework and use common sense. Don’t just look for the cheapest. You never know you might get lucky.

Don’t forget the spring shoes, and the cardboard submarine, Arlo.

https://archive.org/details/Novelties001/Novelties001.jpeg

Leave the Sea Monkeys out the complaint, unless you are actually expecting sea going monkeys. Those little critters kept my two sisters fascinated and out of my hair for hours at a time.

Serendipity: Both Arlo & Janus and Frazz are riffing on sandals today.

Don’t forget the 2 person submarine .

I’ve been shopping by mail for years way before the internet too. Clothing items are very tricky since you can’t see and try them on. The big advantage is you can find items without having to visit a dozen stores. But if I see an item in store, I like, I don’t go online to buy it!! I get it there.

I think Jimmy J has nailed the on-line shopping experience. 8^ )

At least today you can return your bad purchases – good luck doing that with sea monkeys back in the early 80’s.

Agree! I’d much rather go into a real store to actually see the merchandise…

A good one.

Arlo, you shouldn’t be purchasing clothing or shoes from an online retailer unless they have a satisfaction guarantee and free returns.

A friend of mine was a tropical fish enthusiast, and told me that sea monkeys were just brine shrimp, and sold in any tropical fish store as fish food for about a penny apiece. So I steered clear of that one.

Got the X-Ray specs, though. Those ads should have been illegal.

I hope Amazon penalizes the sellers who peddle missized clothing and shoes that are repeatedly sent back. I get to know the UPS store lady real well. 4XL motorcycle helmets sized for pinheads. Size 14 shoes that are actually sized for a little girl. Tall shirts with cuffs up around the elbows. All free to return, but I’ve come to just assume I’ll have to go through several to get something I can keep.

The only two things I specifically remember ordering from the backs of comic books were the “Throw Your Voice” device (A rip. The best you could do was make a buzzing noise.), and the “500 Stamps From Around the World” (Exactly as advertised.) I did have a build-a-crystal-radio set and Mexican Jumping Beans, but I am unsure how I acquired them.

Teacup monkeys and other delights: https://www.amazon.com/Mail-Order-Mysteries-Real-Stuff-Comic/dp/160887026X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18N387JTCRB0N&keywords=mail+order+mysteries+book&qid=1654607725&sprefix=mail+order+my%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-1

When I was in grammar school I fell for the “Blue Star Ointment” scam and after lots of agony managed to get an xray viewer for my effort. It worked great at first and I could see the bones in my hand clearly by following the instructions. Trouble was everything else had a bone. My dad took the tube apart and found there was a chicken bone glued to the focal plane. I’ve been a Skeptic ever since.

Sea Monkeys! My son lost an entire civilization of them when he knocked the container over on our carpet . . .

As a kid never had the money…..

Try Keen Shoes out of Portland, OR. Great shoes and sandals made in the U.S. (although materials may have been sources from overseas). Not as inexpensive as those from Walmart, Amazon, etc. but you get what you pay for.

“Visage-to-me!?” I love it!

whats wrong with sea monkes and xray glasses. i still have mine

The x-ray glasses were especially enticing to adolescent boys as a means of seeing through girls’ clothing and were a major disappointment when they didn’t work. Drat!!

You’re right, Arlo. On one seems to care about quality and customer service anymore :-(

The Sea Monkeys were a short entertainment item, but what I really wanted was a Tea Cup Poodle! My parents must have been as clueless as I was to send for this stuff.

Only once have I been disappointed by a purchase on Etsy. I’m able to supply my measurements, even for slippers, and get a perfect fit and high-quality product.

I made the mistake of ordering some slippers. Very nice – Size 9 AAAA. Got a runaround from the seller and ended up cancelling the transaction.

I’m sure it’s somewhere on the page, but what is a “Premium Member”?

The best part of this one might be the way that she seems to be completely ignoring him.

With ya, Arlo!!! I always wanted both of those things.

Don’t forget the pet rocks.