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Earnings, IPOs, and the like

by Mike Masnick

Wed, Nov 24th 2004 11:27am





TravelZoo Still Willing To Pay For Gimmick Shares

from the odd dept

Earlier this year we noted that many, many people appeared to have completely forgotten that they had signed up with TravelZoo during the bubble. Travelzoo's initial gimmick to get users is that they gave you free shares in the company for signing up. It appeared that most people assumed, like so many bubble-era gimmicks, that the company behind it simply faded away. However, the company survived, and the stock actually has done quite well. The only problem was that those who owned shares were supposed to make a claim by April. However, after that news came out, some people got upset that they missed the deadline and (amazingly) Travelzoo decided to honor those requests, saying they would pay out in cash what the shares were worth... and yet still most people have completely ignored the offer, which can be worth somewhere between $500 to $1600 for an awful lot of people.

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  •  
    identicon
    Alex Moskalyuk, Nov 24th, 2004 @ 1:19pm

    I was a shareholder

    I was a shareholder till a week ago. As a subscriber to their newsletter and referrer of 3 subscribers, I got 8 shares when they distributed them. For a while it was worth like $4, so I mainly ignored, but when I read a TheStreet.com editorial on TZOO rise, I requested my certificate, when the stock passed $65 and sold at $82. Bummer, I know, it hit $100 recently, I am still puzzled about their stock growth, but free money is free money.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    mickster, Nov 24th, 2004 @ 2:05pm

    I was a shareholder too until a month ago...

    I had signed up in 1998. I signed up for the updated share info and got 3 shares. It split to six shares. I sold it for $71.50. I then shot up to over 105 and came back to the 80's last i saw.

    It was nice to get $410 for nothing more than signing up for a web site. I've never even used the product. But-they do have great earnings and profit from-gasp-internet advertising.

    The reason for the run-up was due to the small number of shares available to trade. A lot of people sold this stock short before their last quarter earnings. Shares needed to be purchased to cover the short positions. Due to the high demand for so little available stock to cover those positions, the price went at a premium. Since most short sellers are now covered, the stock is coming back down to earth. The average share was held for less than a day during the peak of trading.

    There are 2 reasons for the lack of shares. 1) The CEO owns about 80% I think, of all shares. 2) There are, by my best guess, a lot of people like me, with a handful of shares, that are just sitting idle and unclaimed.

    The extension mentioned is for those who did not sign up for their updated stockholder information. I had to send in some share forms, opened a Sharebuilder account and sold the stocks for $15 commision. It cost me about $40 out of pocket with overnight fees and trips to the bank, but it was worth the effort.

     

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    •  
      identicon
      C, Jan 14th, 2005 @ 3:27pm

      Re: I was a shareholder too until a month ago...

      How did you get a hold of your free stock?
      Travelzoo doesn't make it easy.

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

      •  
        identicon
        Jack Venable, Aug 10th, 2007 @ 11:50am

        Re: Re: I was a shareholder too until a month ago.

        I would sure like to know how to go about checking on free shares issued to me when Travelzoo first started out ..

         

        [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Steve Shushkovsky, Jan 18th, 2005 @ 2:24pm

    Travelzoo free shares

    Mike,
    I was one of those who subscribed for Travelzoo's newsletter and received three free shares of the company.
    By now I have lost information on the account, and since I changed email address I stopped receiving their newsletter as well.
    The company's web site suggests in lieu of account number that I enter email address I was registered under... but then says "unknown email address".
    Their contact list does not have a phone number or email address. I wrote them a letter but not sure they will make good on the promise (they can say "we don't have any information").
    Is there a way for me to recover my shares or whatever they are worth now?
    I will highly appreciate any advice you can give.
    Thank you,
    --- Steve

     

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    •  
      identicon
      Marge, Mar 19th, 2005 @ 1:04pm

      Re: Travelzoo free shares

      I just ran across some of my old papers and found my Travelzoo info. I too had forgotten about signing up for shares, and have also changed email addresses. I don't know anything about owning shares but am willing to learn. Did you ever find out how to go about getting (and redeeming?) your shares? Any info would be appreciated.

      Thanks a lot!

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Margie Franklin, Feb 12th, 2006 @ 6:50pm

    Shares of Stock in Travelzoo

    I am supposed to have 8 shares of Travelzoo stock. How can I find out what they are worth?

    Thanks.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Jennifer, May 16th, 2006 @ 12:48pm

    Free Travelzoo Stock

    I took advantage of the free Travelzoo stock years ago. I sent the offer to a few of my friends, asking them to use my email as a referral, and next thing I knew, I had my 10 shares, even though they were essentially worthless at the time. I didn't lose hope. I kept check on the website and the status of the stock, updated info as needed, and registered when asked to. The stock finally went public and has even split since then, leaving me with 20 shares of stock that were, at one time, worth $100 each.

    Not a bad return on an investment of only time and patience.

    If there are ever any more free stock offerings, I will be the first in line. It is quite amusing to read the skeptical stories that you can still find on the internet from 1998 when the offer was made. I figured I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. This time I was right.

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Brian Bauder, Jul 25th, 2006 @ 2:56pm

    Unclaimed Travelzoo Free Stocks

    I also still have the serial numbers of the 3 free shares from back in 1998. I've written TravelZoo a letter (seems the only way to contact them) but haven't heard back. Has anyone got any recent info on this?

     

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    •  
      identicon
      Sharlene Frintz, Jul 4th, 2009 @ 5:17pm

      Re: Unclaimed Travelzoo Free Stocks

      Are my travelzoo stocks still good. Here are the numbers #2797560 #2797661 #2797562 as of July 9,1998. As of Sept.9,2002 my acct # is 279756. After the split I have 8 shares. Are these still valid.

      Sharlene Frintz 309-266-6608
      3o5 N Third
      Morton,IL 61550

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Michelle Blythe, Dec 18th, 2006 @ 12:22pm

    shares

    I recently found my three free share numbers that I recieved in 1998. I am having trouble accessing any information on these. Is there any hope? I would love some insight on this. I have since then changed my e-mail address and moved out of the state I was living in at the time.

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Rich, Mar 13th, 2007 @ 3:10pm

    TravelZoo

    I have 16 shares of the stock from signing up and signing up others under me. I am holding onto them
    I don't think travel zoo is going to fail.

    You did have to convert your free shares into real shares a couple years back. I did and requested the stock certificates.

    hopefully they will grow and the stocks will split and continue to do well.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Kouros, Mar 15th, 2007 @ 9:53am

    TravelZoo

    I also signed up for the email way back when to get the free shares. The email address that I had signed up was no longer valid, but I follow up on their instructions to get my shares issued to me. If you provided your correct personal information in the first place when you signed up for the email, you would not have a problem providing identity info to get the shares. I sold my shares in the mid 70's to make something over $400 - which of course I had to pay taxes on. You can follow links from TravelZoo.com to their Investor Relations section to get more details. They direct you to http://www.corporate.travelzoo.com/2002/ for "Program for Previous Stockholders Who Missed Deadline". Hope this is helpful.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Linda Baxter, Mar 17th, 2007 @ 5:09pm

    Travelzoo free shares

    I got the free travelzoo shares back in 1998 and do not have the same email address and am having a hard time finding the papers that were printed out with proof of shares.. does anyone know how to resolve this problem? I cant even remember half of my old email addresses... It's not fair that they put a expiration date on it.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Sheri D, Aug 23rd, 2007 @ 8:52pm

    eMax

    What do you know about the eMax free stock sign up? Seems to be something similar to Travel Zoo....

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Curtis Gilmore, Nov 9th, 2007 @ 10:13am

    Free Shares from Travelzoo

    Is the certificate conversion required, and is it still going on? Are my shares still on record with you? CG

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Jack Venable, Nov 12th, 2007 @ 7:51pm

    Travelzoo free shares

    I received free shares when Travelzoo started up ..I believe there were four I wonder if their redemption offer still stands ? Would you mind informing me of the status on the shares ..I would greatly appreciate it ...

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Dongyue Liu, Dec 2nd, 2007 @ 1:25am

    free shares

    I got a number of shares..forgot exact how many. My email has changed. Can I still get the shares or cash in somehow? Please let me know. Thanks.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Sharon Engle, Apr 14th, 2008 @ 9:46am

    travelzoo stock

    I signed up for free stocks back in 1998 when I worked for MCI . I have changed emails several times & need to know how to find out how much stock I have what they are worth and what I can do with them now.

    Thanks,
    Sharon

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

    •  
      identicon
      Joanne C., Dec 28th, 2008 @ 8:30pm

      Re: travelzoo stock

      Hi, did you ever find out how much they are worth?, and if we can still cash them in. Please let me know if you did as I have been trying to contact someone about my shares. Thanks.

      Joanne

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Joanne C., Dec 28th, 2008 @ 8:28pm

    shares

    I also have 6 shares that I singed up for in 1998, and I have my member id and password but no papers any longer. I have tried seveal time to contact Travel Zoo but they make it really difficult. Can we still collect the shares even though the date was April, and if it was April why wasn't I notified of the date to cash in shares.
    I think I am going to write to the company.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Joanne C., Dec 28th, 2008 @ 8:28pm

    shares

    I also have 6 shares that I singed up for in 1998, and I have my member id and password but no papers any longer. I have tried seveal time to contact Travel Zoo but they make it really difficult. Can we still collect the shares even though the date was April, and if it was April why wasn't I notified of the date to cash in shares.
    I think I am going to write to the company.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    arabela anya, Feb 17th, 2009 @ 7:09pm

    Do you want buy any properties? Yes the best agency is real estate. If you want know about real estate? There are lots of advantages in real estate and I had through it. They are selling legal properties and satisfy. Don’t miss it guys!
    ___________________________________________________________
    arabela anya
    real estate

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Frederica Nelson, Jun 16th, 2010 @ 8:54am

    Are my stocks still valid

    How do I find out. This is 2010, and I just noticed the article. I have the acct number.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Frederica Nelson, Jun 16th, 2010 @ 8:55am

    Are my stocks still valid

    How do I find out? This is 2010, and I just noticed the article. I have the acct number.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Gene, Jul 15th, 2010 @ 1:06pm

    Link to redeem shares

    http://corporate.travelzoo.com/ir/faqs/#22

    link to redeeming shares

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Tammy Elefson, Nov 9th, 2010 @ 11:07pm

    Travel Zoo Stocks free Bee

    Trying to find out information about the value of my 6 shares of Booking Stocks. Am I out of luck because I did not get the information like many others?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Bev, Apr 23rd, 2011 @ 10:51am

    Travelzoo - Just got my check

    After reading this thread, I filled out the forms and mailed them. It took several weeks, but I just got my check in the mail for my shares!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

    •  
      identicon
      Ron, Apr 25th, 2011 @ 3:02pm

      Re: Travelzoo - Just got my check

      I've been holding six shares since the initial offering and heard that since then they have split and was wondering how many shares I have now.
      Thanks,
      Ron

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

    •  
      identicon
      Susan, May 28th, 2011 @ 5:11pm

      Re: Travelzoo - Just got my check

      Bev -

      Good for you! Have you had the same email address or did you have the stock cert. numbers?

      I have been struggling to figure out what my email address was when I signed up for the free shares. I am just going to take an estimated guess, fill out the papers, send them in and cross my fingers.

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

    •  
      identicon
      Sharon Sirkis, Feb 27th, 2012 @ 11:51am

      Re: Travelzoo - Just got my check

      Hi. I originally got three shares of Travelzoo stock back in 1998. Can you point me in the right direction as to what forms you filled out. Would you mind emailing me? Thank you so much for your help.

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

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    icon
    john p (profile), Sep 26th, 2011 @ 8:19pm

    Travelzoo

    I just got my check for my 1998 shares. I had the original email from then with all the info. I received a check today for $720..... from an email 13 years ago.

     

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    •  
      identicon
      Calvin C, Oct 3rd, 2011 @ 8:59pm

      Re: Travelzoo

      I have the same E-mail from Travel Zoo 13 years ago . Can you tell me how you went about getting it ? Addresses , phone ect? Appreciate any help! Cal

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Brian Betts, Jun 6th, 2012 @ 1:59pm

    Shares

    I filled out the form and sent in my share numbers but its been several months with no response. Does anyone know how to follow up these claims?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    J. Chicago, Aug 30th, 2012 @ 7:51am

    Travelzoo - letter from Computershare c/o Georgeson

    I just received a letter with a Trabelzoo logo. The letter offers to voluntarily "sell all your shares" or offers to allow you to "purchase additional shares" up to 100. Does anyone know about this? I have 14 shares from 1998.

     

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      icon
      J. Chicago (profile), Aug 30th, 2012 @ 8:15am

      Re: Travelzoo - letter from Computershare c/o Georgeson

      Sorry for the typo on Travelzoo. I should add that I have used their travel offerings and have been very pleasantly surprised. I never would have found these deals otherwise.

       

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    identicon
    Todd.Los Angeles, Aug 31st, 2012 @ 2:31pm

    Re: Travelzoo - letter from Computershare c/o Georgeson

    Yep, I too just received this letter from Computershare. Is this a scam or what? I know I signed up with Travelzoo a long time ago and have used their services, but I had no clue or were ever aware that I received their free stocks when I signed up years ago. I have 6 Travelzoo's stocks.

     

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    •  
      identicon
      Sue, Sep 4th, 2012 @ 6:08am

      Re: Re: Travelzoo - letter from Computershare c/o Georgeson

      Yes, I received the same letter. Is it a scam? I really hate the idea of putting my social security # on a form. I do remember many years ago signing up with them, but never used their service other then getting 6 stocks from them.

       

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  •  
    identicon
    Skip, Aug 31st, 2012 @ 3:00pm

    Re: Travelzoo - letter from Computershare c/o Georgeson

    I too received the same letter. If you received the letter, you had a number to call. 1-800-632-6352. Too bad this letter didn't come in April of 2011. The stock price was at 100.00 a share. Have no clue what drove up the price then, but they say history repeats itself. Either way, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Mark, Sep 6th, 2012 @ 2:06pm

    Travelzoo stock certificate

    Got the latest offer, and looked up the stock history. Wasn't thrilled with the latest offer, the commission overhead seems excessive, and the per-share offer they give ($30) outright gouging! Current share price is $23!!!

    Found that you can have them send you the certificate directly, so that you can use your own broker - only downside is you need to get a medallion signature (which our bank does with no fuss) -
    https://corporate.travelzoo.com/ir/services/certificate/Form.asp

     

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    identicon
    Dan, Sep 21st, 2012 @ 11:52am

    Travelzoo Buyback through Georgeson

    Mark - I think you are misreading the letter - they are not offering you to buy shares at $30 when the price is $23. They are saying to send $30/share that you want to buy (because they don't know the actual market price that they will execute your Buy Order with, but assume it won't be more than $30/share). Then they'll execute the Buy at the then-current share price and will reimburse you the difference ($30 minus whatever they bought the new shares at, times the number of shares). They are trying to make it easy for you to buy shares - not gouging you.

    The 3% fee to sell your shares, assuming you have 6 or 10 shares like most of the people they're sending these letters to, will amount to a max of a $7.50 fee - not bad.

    In all it looks like a fair offer, especially considering that most people got these shares for adding their email address to a mailing list (and then being taken off the mailing list as soon as they received their shares).

    Time for me to cash in on the 1 minute that it took me to obtain 10 shares of TZOO for free. I expect to get about $230 for them. Annualized, $230/minute is $28,704,000 - not a bad rate of pay, even for just a minute.

     

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      identicon
      DJ, Oct 20th, 2012 @ 11:22am

      Re: Travelzoo Buyback through Georgeson

      Dan, it's not 3% per share, it's actually a "processing fee" of $3 per share. That's a big ripoff, considering the shares sell for $16 or so, that's a "processing fee" of almost 20% per share. Ugh.

       

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      •  
        identicon
        TTorres64, Oct 21st, 2012 @ 12:12pm

        Re: Re: Travelzoo Buyback through Georgeson

        I just got the reminder letter and I don't recall a first letter I only have 6 shares so guess I could make about $85. What happens if I don't do anything? Do I lose my shares?

         

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        •  
          identicon
          shay, Nov 1st, 2012 @ 3:40am

          Re: Re: Re: Travelzoo Buyback through Georgeson

          I just realized the form had to be returned by tomorrow. Oops. What happens to my shares now?

           

          [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Barbara, Oct 19th, 2012 @ 8:29am

    They can't find my stock

    I did not get the letter, as my email and address etc have changed over the years. I have no documentaion of those shares anymore, lost it in the move. I called the number my friend got on her letter (she got her stock because of me) and they can't find me in their system. They gave me a number to call for Travel Zoo and they cant find me either. Basically said tough luck, no $ for you.

     

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    •  
      identicon
      Gary Hazeltine, Jan 28th, 2013 @ 9:12pm

      Re: They can't find my stock

      Barbara or anyone that can help; Does anyone have a phone# for Travelzoo investor relations or anyone that you dealt with regarding selling your shares? Would greatly appreciate anyone that could help. Regards; Gary Hazeltine

       

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    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 3rd, 2012 @ 4:29am

    travelzoo stock

    My e-mail address was ahoward@computerland.net when I received an e-mail letter on July 29, 1998 from Ralph Bartel, CEO & President, travelzoo.com which listed the 3 Shares that I got
    Share # 8944480
    Share # 8944481
    Share # 8944482

    Please let me know the status of these stocks. Thank you
    A Howard

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    Michelle, Feb 3rd, 2013 @ 1:06pm

    Taxes?

    I responded to the letter and sold my 6 shares. I am a complete dummy when it comes to stock; I signed up for these years ago simply because they were free. Do I need to put this sale somewhere on my tax return? Will Computershare or Georgeson be sending me any kind of tax statement? If so, it should arrive any day now, but I'm not sure if I'm waiting on something that is never going to come.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

    •  
      identicon
      Rosanne, Feb 12th, 2013 @ 12:29pm

      Re: Taxes?

      Just got a statement from Georgeson today. I am also wondering about how to declare since they were free.

       

      [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

      •  
        identicon
        Mike, Feb 13th, 2013 @ 4:18pm

        Re: Re: Taxes?

        You would need to declare them on your tax return. Basically your profit would be Sell Price - Cost Price - Commission.

         

        [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

  •  
    identicon
    wayne cartwright, Feb 6th, 2013 @ 11:51am

    how do i cash these in and were

    I just ran across some of my old papers and found my Travelzoo info. I too had forgotten about signing up for shares, and have also changed email addresses. I don't know anything about owning shares but am willing to learn. Did you ever find out how to go about getting (and redeeming?) your shares? Any info would be appreciated.
    any help will be a help

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]


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