Marketplace

MARKETPLACE
NEWSLETTER
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PAGE 7, APRIL, 1976
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Over 40 years ago, in 1935 to be exact, the publisher of "Marketplace" urged the
creation of a "National Coin Machine Public Relations Bureau". From time to time over
those 40 years, this publisher has repeated that cry. Has watched as manufacture;s
distributors and operators set up "public relations divisions" in their associatio~s.
And watched as these gradually faded away.
To this day, over 40 years later, there still is no "National Coin Machine Public
Relations Bureau" in existence. And yet all in the industry agree this is one of the
very greatest needs. Because there is no organization, no association, that can do what
a "Nat'l P.R. Bureau" can do for this industry - now and in the years yet to come.
Only a "Nat'l P.n. Bureau" could keep huge and complete files of favorable publicity
and have these instantly available to help any and all operators everywhere. Would also
have a file of all bad actors, sharpshooting salesmen, thieves of various kinds, to be
used to erase any wrong impressions of this industry by releasing such information to
the proper authorities when necessary.
A "Nat'l P.R. Bureau", because of its files gathered from thruout the industry,
could influence legislation. Would be in position to help operators in any area who
were faced with adverse publicity. Would quickly step in where needed to explain
this industry's side of any argument or proposed legislation.
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For example, many areas were and still are plagued by sharpshooting salesmen who
sell video games to the general public. Sell and run. Sell to old, retired people.
Sell one or two games on location at fantastic prices and, by the time the oldster
calls around to advise the game's out of order, they're gone. District attornies, the
police, postal inspectors, other law enforcement agencies in both.the U.S. and Canada,
are still seeking many of these sharpshooters •
A "Nat'l P.R. Bureau", thru the dedicated and upstanding people, the fathers and
mothers of this industry, would know about these salesmen, know their sales methods,
be able to advise local authorities before they could get started and would, therefore,
save this industry many a blackeye and much adverse publicity. The "Nat'l P.R. Bureau"
would keep the names of these people on file, just as it would keep the names of the
people helpful to this industry on file.
Many methods have been proposed over the years as to how the "Nat'l P.R. Bureau"
could be financed. Some have suggested a few dollars to be added onto each machine
in addition to tax deductible donations for this non-profit bureau from operators,
distributors, suppliers and manufacturers. The big job is to get a "National Coin
Machine Public Relations Bureau" under way - TODAY!