Originally posted by ttnc4me:
I just received a solicitation from QSP and if I read it correctly, it's more like a phishing strategy. Each student turns in a card with 7 names & addresses on it. For every 25 cards turned in, we get free die cut equipment.

QSP does our catalog sale, including their Reader's Digest Magazine brochure.

We do not do the postcards -- they are like a really bad pyramid scheme.

We are happy with the Reader's Digest selection of magazines, we like the items in the catalog, and we have a great rep. I think that as long as he is working we will use QSP (unless another company blows us away with a new program.

We make, I think, 52% on magazines, and the magazines count double when calculating the junky QSP incentive prizes that the kids love so much. I think we make 48% on regular catalog items and World's Finest candy. These amounts may be due to our long relationship and early signing bonuses, though.

We also really like the prize party/show options that QSP offers, including a BMX show and a ventriloquist (who I can't wait to meet next month!). I am pretty sure these things are all available with the magazine-only drive.

[ 10-09-2006, 09:52 PM: Message edited by: CapeDad ]

Our girlscout troop has done QSP and we got money for filling out the post card but no money for any orders from the cards. They also pay for orders taken but it wasn't much. Then they charge you for postage and also for the prizes the kids get. Our school does schoolmall.com which has the postcards also but we make money three ways and it's free.

We used qsp years ago so my info is old, but the thing I remember about that kind of fundraiser is that the money just dribbles in all year long. We had a hard time planning our PTO year because, unlike a typical catalog sale, magazine orders and thus profits didn't occur in a specific sales period. It might have worked for us if it weren't our primary fundraiser, but we really wanted something with a start and end time so we could be finished with fundraising and move forward spending our profits.

I just received a solicitation from QSP and if I read it correctly, it's more like a phishing strategy. Each student turns in a card with 7 names & addresses on it. For every 25 cards turned in, we get free die cut equipment.

Reader's Digest magazine program is called QSP. A couple of years ago, a company called Great American added magazine sales to their fundraising repertoire. In the process of rolling out this huge program, they acquired a significant number of sales reps and executives from QSP. Apparently it was quite a shake-up for QSP. The new Great American reps ( former qsp folks) were not allowed to contact their schools for one year, do to a non-compete clause in their former QSP contracts.

Once that non-compete was over, all schools and organizations that formerly had used QSP/Readers Digest were now fair game for Great American.

We are one of those schools who had used QSP for a long time, and switched to Great American. We found that the whole new QSP staff was just that, new and inexperienced. WE opted to stay with our sales rep who had switched to Great American.

QSP is a great company who is probably experiencing some re-grouping pains right now. We have also been very pleased with Great American, and their percentages and plan are competitive and fair. Their brochures are also easier to read, better layout and eye appeal, and they offer 1000's more magazines and on-line ordering and order-tracking for customers. ( all customers from your school , not just the PTO as a customer). You can order magazines any time of the year, too!

Their website is www.gafundraising.com
They are called Great American Opportunities,based in Nashville and are NOT great american fundraising from San Jose CA.. so, if you google it, make sure you get the right one!

I don't have personal experience with them, but our new principal has used them for years and wants us to go back to using them in the future.