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For other uses of this term, see clearing house (disambiguation)
Publishers Clearing House
Company typePrivate
IndustryPublishing
Founded1953[1]
HeadquartersPort Washington, New York, United States
Key people
Revenue$705 million according to Crain's (2011)[2]
$750 million according to Publishers Clearing House (2012)[3][4]
Number of employees
444 (2013)[5]
Websitepch.com

Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is a Port Washington-based multi-channel direct-marketing limited-liability company that sells merchandise, magazine subscriptions and operates prize-based websites. The company uses online and direct-mail sweepstakes, contests and prize promotions to market its products. Publishers Clearing House is best known for the Prize Patrol, a team that surprises sweepstakes winners at their home and was started in 1988. It has no retail offices, but operates out of several physical offices.

The company was founded in 1953 by Harold Mertz to replace door-to-door, single-subscription sales with a single vendor offering multiple subscriptions by mail. Sweepstakes were introduced as a way to market the subscriptions in 1967. When competitor American Family Publishers was formed in 1977, the two began competing for larger sweepstakes prizes and promotion ideas. Both companies sent mass mailings suggesting each recipient was a finalist or winner, leading to concerns that the company may have misled consumers about their odds of winning and implied that purchases increased their chances.

In 1993 the company settled a class action lawsuit, and between 2000 and 2010 made settlements with Attorneys General in all 50 states. The company also agreed to make changes to its promotions and a "compliance counsel" was formed to regulate the company's marketing. After the lawsuits, Publishers Clearing House expanded online and in selling consumer merchandise, which it began selling in 1985. It acquired Blingo Inc. in 2006, which was rebranded into PCH Search and Win. Publishers Clearing House also created several contest-based websites, iPhone games, social media contests and online video game sites.

History

Early history

Publishers Clearing House was founded in 1953 in Port Washington, NY by Harold Mertz,[6][7] a former manager of a door-to-door sales team for magazine subscriptions.[8] The company started in Mertz's basement with help from his wife LuEsther and daughter Joyce.[9][10] Its first mailings were of 10,000 envelopes from Mertz's home in Long Island, NY and offered 20 magazine subscriptions. 100 orders were received. Within a few years the company moved out of Mertz's basement into an office building and started hiring staff. When Publishers Clearing House moved its headquarters in 1969, its prior location was donated to the city and renamed the Harold E. Mertz community center.[10] The company grew to $50 million in revenue by 1981 and $100 million by 1988.[8]

In 1967 Publishers Clearing House started its first sweepstakes as a way to increase subscription sales,[11] based on the sweepstakes held by Reader's Digest.[6] The first prizes ranged from 25 cents to $10 and entrants had a 1 in 10 chance of winning. After the sweepstakes increased response rates to mailings, larger prizes were offered of[10] $5,000[8] and eventually $250,000.[12] It began advertising the sweepstakes on TV in 1974.[9][13] Publishers Clearing House was the only major multi-magazine subscription business until 1977. Former client Time Inc. and several other publishers formed American Family Publishers to compete with Publishers Clearing House after the company turned down repeated requests by Time for a larger share of sales revenue from magazine subscriptions.[6][10]

American Family Publishers and Publishers Clearing House competed for exclusive rights to magazines and for the better promotion and prize ideas. When American Family Publishers increased their jackpot to $1 million,[12] then to $10 million in 1985, Publishers Clearing House raised its prizes to match.[6] $7 million in prizes were distributed by 1979,[14] $40 million by 1991[7] and $137 million by 2000.[11] In 1988, two members of its advertising team, Dave Sayer and Todd Sloane, started the tradition of the Prize Patrol, a publicized event where winners are surprised with a check at their home. The idea was inspired by the 1950s television series "Millionaire."[6][15]

In 1992, thousands of discarded sweepstakes entries from contestants that did not buy magazine subscriptions were found in the trash by city employees,[6][16] reinforcing beliefs that the company was favoring those that made purchases in selecting a sweepstakes winner.[6] Publishers Clearing House said this was done by a disgruntled employee at their mail processing vendor.[10] A class action lawsuit resulted from the incident, which they settled by giving discarded entrants a second chance to win.[6][16][17]

Lawsuits

Publishers Clearing House sent mailings telling recipients they were all "finalists" and American Family Publishers did the same.[12] Some mailings said the recipient was a prize-winner in large letters, then featured a smaller disclaimer "if you return your entrance form and it displays the winning number."[6] This led to a series of legal troubles for both companies due to concerns that the mailings misled consumers about their odds of winning and implied that magazine purchases increased their chances.[6][12]

Bad publicity[18][19] state lotteries, legalized gambling and an improved economy resulted in less interest in sweepstakes.[12] Industry sources estimated Publishers Clearing House's response rates decreased 7-12 percent and its sales volume by 22 percent.[8] In 2000, Publishers Clearing House laid off approximately one-quarter of its staff.[20] Publishers Clearing House reached settlements with all fifty states and continued to operate under the regulation of a "compliance counsel."[8]

Online development

Publishers Clearing House began selling merchandise in 1985[9] with two products. When a Hershey's Chocolate Cookbook, followed by a diet cookbook that sold more than other products, the company began expanding into jewelry, media, collectibles, household products and others.[10] The company also shifted its focus online.[1][21] It began selling magazine subscriptions and merchandise on PCH.com in 1996.[22] In 2006, it acquired Blingo Inc., an ad-supported search engine that was later re-branded as PCH Search and Win.[15][23] Publishers Clearing House ran contests on Twitter, Facebook and Myspace. iPhone apps for slot games and trivia were developed. The company created online play-and-win sites like PCHGames.com and PCHQuiz4Cash, with air-hockey and video poker games.[1]

In December 2010, Publishers Clearing House acquired Funtank and its online gaming site Candystand.com.[24] In 2011, Publishers Clearing House promoted a "$5,000 every week for life" sweepstakes in TV ads and the front page of AOL.com.[13][25] The following year the company acquired a mobile marketing company, Liquid Wireless.[26] The company utilized, then stopped then started again utilizing coregistration (through other websites) to expand its customer base.[27]

According to Alex Betancur, the general manager and vice president of PCH Online Network, the digital efforts are intended to "bring young customers into PCH’s world." The New York Times described the digital transition as "part of an overall effort to collect information on Web users, show them advertisements and use the registration information for PCH’s mailing lists."[1]

Products

A screenshot of PCHSearch&WIN.com

Publishers Clearing House is a direct-marketing company that sells merchandise, magazine subscriptions and operates several prize-based websites.[13] While best known for the sweepstakes and Prize Patrol it uses to promote its magazine subscriptions,[1][22][15] the majority of the company's revenue now comes from merchandise.[13] The company has been selling books, media, jewelry and other consumer items[6] since the 1980s.[10] Publishers Clearing house operates eight websites, including PCH Search and Win, PCH Lotto, PCH Games, PCH Save and Win, and Candystand.[1][13]

The company also sells magazine subscriptions at a discount and advertises subscriptions along with its sweepstakes.[28] It's estimated that companies like Publishers Clearing House keep 75-90 percent of the fees from the original subscription, while publishers use the increased distribution to improve circulation numbers and revenue from renewals.[12][29] Publishers Clearing House popularized the idea of using sweepstakes to sell magazine subscriptions in the direct-marketing market and became known by detractors as a producer of junk-mail for advertising through mass-mailings.[7][28] Documents filed with the New York State Department in 1993 said that year the company mailed 220 million envelopes. Frequent buyers can receive 30-40 mailings a year.[30]

Government regulation

The New York attorney's office initiated an investigation into potentially deceptive advertising practices in 1993 in response to consumer complaints.[31][32] The suit was joined by 14 US states.[33][34][35] In 1994, Publishers Clearing House denied wrongdoing, but agreed to pay a settlement of $490,000 and to change their practices.[34] Under the agreement, Publishers Clearing House would define terms like "finalist" and reveal the chances of winning.[36] In 1997, a contestant of competitor American Family Publishers flew to Tampa, Florida thinking he had won, though he didn't actually. The resulting publicity caused more lawsuits for both companies.[8] Publishers Clearing House reached a $30 million national settlement in 1999,[10][37] and participated in Senate hearings[10] that led to the passing of the Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement Act.[6] At the hearings, Publishers Clearing House claimed most customers knew their chances of winning were small and knew that purchases did not increases their chances. They said only five percent of customers were spending more than $300.[10]

In 2000, another $18 million settlement was reached with 24 states, after the company sent mass mailings that said "You are a winner!" and used mock personalized checks.[38][39] According to The San Francisco Chronicle, "State officials said 5,000 consumers in California paid more than $2,500 a year purchasing magazines under the false belief they were increasing their odds.[38] Publishers Clearing House agreed to make it more clear that purchases don't increase a participant's chances of winning. It also agreed to avoid similar mailings in the future, to add a "sweepstakes fact box" with information about the chances of winning and communicate other disclaimers.[39][38]

State attorneys spoke out against the national settlement and additional lawsuits were filed by individual states.[10] Another $34 million settlement was reached in 2001 in a lawsuit involving 25 states.[1][40] As part of the settlement, Publishers Clearing House was required to add disclaimers to their mailings saying that the recipient has not won and that purchasing merchandise won't increase their chances.[40][25] The company said it would avoid terms like "Guaranteed Winner," but was allowed to continue using language like "you could be a winner." Publishers Clearing House apologized in the settlement for its deceptive sweepstakes promotions and said it would contact customers who had spent more than $1,000 on merchandise the prior year.[41]

In 2007, Publishers Clearing House reached an agreement with the Iowa Attorney General to pay a $2,500 penalty each time it mails to someone who has been removed from its mailing list and to contact customers over 65 that are spending more than $500 a quarter.[42] In 2010 Publishers Clearing House paid $3.5 million to 32 states and the District of Columbia after the Attorneys General of these states alleged that it had violated the terms of the 2001 agreement. The company denied wrongdoing, but agreed to increase its efforts to educate consumers that purchases do not increase their odds of winning and to hire an ombudsman to review mailings quarterly.[43][44] The company also agreed to stop tactics that implied the recipient was close to winning, such as sending mail from a "Board of Judges" or saying the recipient had a "key code" for the winning entry.[45]

Sweepstakes

Prizes

The Prize Patrol delivering an over-sized check to a sweepstakes winner for $1 million plus $5,000 a week for life

Although Publishers Clearing House advertises its sweepstakes along with magazine subscriptions, no purchase is necessary to enter or win.[12][30][46] As of 2012, $225 million in prizes have been distributed.[10] Some of its larger prizes are for $5,000 a week for life,[47] or $10 million.[48] Prizes can also range from $1 Amazon gift cards to $2,500, $1 million or $3 million.[49] In 1995, Publishers Clearing House began the tradition of announcing winners of its $10 million prize just after the Super Bowl.[50]

Sweepstakes scammers often pose as being from Publishers Clearing House and say that a cash payment is needed before they can deliver a prize.[51] According to Chris Irving from Publishers Clearing House "If you are contacted by anyone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House and they request payment of any amount to collect a prize, do not send any money... You have not heard from the real Publishers Clearing House."[52][53]

Odds of winning

The odds of winning a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes vary depending on the number of entries and what prize or sweepstakes is involved.[49] According to the official rules, the estimated odds of winning the largest prize of $5,000 a week for life are one in 1.215 billion.[54] In 2011, the odds of the same prize were one in 1.75 billion.[25] The odds of winning the $10 million prize were one in 505 million in 2008[48] and one in 1.5 billion in 1995.[55] Smaller prizes have better odds that may vary from one in 223 to one in 80,000, depending on the prize.[49]

Prize Patrol

The Prize Patrol surprises sweepstakes winners at their homes, work or other locations with cash prizes and captures the event on video.[9] Since their introduction in 1989, these reality TV-style videos of prize-winners surprised at their doorstep with checks for $1,000 to $10 million have been used in widely broadcasted television commercials, and, more recently, in the company's online acquisition efforts, websites and social media communications.[9][56][13][57] In 2013, a $5 million television campaign modified the traditional prize patrol commercial by digitally altering video from classic sitcoms like The Brady Brunch and Gilligan's Island to show the prize patrol visiting characters in the show.[57]

The Prize Patrol has made in-person appearances or delivered prizes on TV shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show[58] and The Price is Right.[59][60] Their surprise winning moments have been spoofed by Jay Leno,[61] Conan O'Brien[62] and the cast of Saturday Night Live,[63] woven into the plots of movies like Let's Go to Prison,[64][65] The Sentinel[66] and Knight and Day[67][68] and the subject of cartoons.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Clifford, Stephanie (23 December 2008). "ADVERTISING; Old-Line Magazine Sweepstakes Company Gets Digital". The New York Times. p. 3. Cite error: The named reference "Clifford" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Top 125 Privately Held Companies, Crain's New York, November 19, 2012, retrieved June 13, 2013
  3. ^ Publishers Clearing House History, Publishers Clearing House
  4. ^ As a private organization, Publishers Clearing House is not required to disclose its revenues
  5. ^ "Publishers Clearing House." (n.d.): MarketLine/Medtrack Company Profiles, EBSCOhost (accessed June 13, 2013).
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Lammie, Rob (June 21, 2012). "You may already be a winner! The story of Publishers Clearing House". Mental Floss. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Saslow, Linda (20 January 1991). "It's Sweepstakes Time, and It's a Frenzy". The New York Times. p. 1.
  8. ^ a b c d e f International Directory of Company Histories, Vol.64. St. James Press, 2004.
  9. ^ a b c d e Haire, Thomas (February 1, 2013). "PCH Wins All Day Long". Response Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Lester, Darrell (October 27, 2011). The Naked Truth About Publishers Clearing House (PDF). Pennywyse Press. ISBN 1935437429.
  11. ^ a b "Disappointed couple sues Publishers Clearing House". Associated Press. April 15, 2000. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g By, G.J. 1998, Sweepstakes Industry May Not Be a WINNER!, New York, N.Y., United States, New York, N.Y.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Mummert, Hallie (November 1). "Cover Story: Full Sweep". Target Marketing. Retrieved July 31, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Merzer, Martin (July 25, 1979). "Sweepstakes: Some do Hit the Jackpot". The New York Times. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  15. ^ a b c Campanelli, Melissa (June 26, 2001). "Publishers Clearing House Acquires Blingo". Direct Marketing News.
  16. ^ a b "Publishers Contest Error Admitted". Associated Press. October 24, 1992. pp. A-6.
  17. ^ "Lawsuit sets off million-dollar alert". Associated Press. November 26, 1992.
  18. ^ Krol, C. (1998). Dismal year for sweepstakes doesn't signal a demise. Advertising Age, 69(42), s24.
  19. ^ Kelly, Keith (October 30, 1995). "Mags Stamped by Dramatic Drop". Advertising Age. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  20. ^ "PCH Cleans House, Goes Virtual in Profit Play". Long Island Business News. February 18, 2000. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  21. ^ Macavinta, Courtney (December 28, 1999). "Publishers Clearing House Rushes the Net, Grapples with Privacy". CNET. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  22. ^ a b Levere, Jane L. (1 December 1997). "Publishers Look to New Medium To Rekindle Sales in Older One". The New York Times. p. 11.
  23. ^ Crowell, Grant. "How Search Engines Make Money". Search Engine Watch. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  24. ^ Mickey, Bill (January 11, 2012). "Publishers Clearing House Buys Mobile Lead-Gen Provider Liquid Wireless". Foliomag.com. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  25. ^ a b c Stuart Elliot (July 11, 2011). "Prize Patrol Heads Over to AOL". The New York Times.
  26. ^ Wauters, Robin (December 6, 2010). "Publishers Clearing House Buys Funtank, Gaming Site Candystand.com". TechCrunch.com.
  27. ^ Publishers Clearing House Clears Coregistration Concerns By Eric Barkin Customer Relationship Management magazine July 2013 Page 52
  28. ^ a b Rothenberg, Randall (31 January 1989). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Read This and Win $10 Million!!". The New York Times. p. 1.
  29. ^ Hunds, Michael (January 17, 1988). "Mail that glitters is not necessarily gold". New York Times Service. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  30. ^ a b Span, Paula, "Sweep Dreams, America!," Washington Post, January 28, 1993, pp. C1, C8.
  31. ^ "Magazine Promotion Investigation Ordered". The San Jose Mercury News. January 29, 1993. pp. 18A. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  32. ^ "Popular Sweepstakes Methods Probed". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. January 29, 1993. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  33. ^ Evans,David (August 25, 1994). "Contest Offers Mislead Entrants Publishers Clearing House Pays $490,000 and Promises To Change Its Promotions". Bloomberg Business News (via High Beam). {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ a b "Sweepstakes firm, 14 states make deal". Associated Press. August 25, 1994. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  35. ^ "That Big Magazine Contest Pays". Associated Press. August 25, 1994. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  36. ^ "Publishers Clearing House to Spell Out Winning Chances". The Associated Press. August 21, 1994. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  37. ^ "Publishers Clearing House to Pay $30 Million to Settle Suit". Associated Press. February 21, 2000. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  38. ^ a b c Pae, Peter (August 23, 2000). "Publishers Clearing House Loses $18 million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  39. ^ a b "Publishers Clearing House Strikes Deceptive-Practices Accord". The New York Times. August 23, 2000. p. 16.
  40. ^ a b "Miller Announces $34 million sweepstakes settlement". Associated Press. December 15, 2003. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  41. ^ Ulferts, Alisa (June 27, 2001). "Publishers Clearing House settles". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  42. ^ "Publishers Clearing House". Direct Marketing News. December 28, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  43. ^ Blackman, Teresa. "$3.5 Million Publishers Clearing House Lawsuit Settled in Oregan". KGW. Retrieved April 30, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ "States settle Publishers Clearing House "deceptive" trade practices". Consumer Reports. October 21, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  45. ^ A.G. Brady announces unprecedented settlement with Publishers Clearing House, Delaware Attorney General, June 26, 2010, retrieved July14, 2013 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  46. ^ "Non-buyer can win sweepstakes". Star-News. July 29, 1979. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  47. ^ Grauschopf, Sandra (July 5, 2013). "Wish you had won the last PCH SuperPrize? Here's another chance". About.com. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  48. ^ a b Grauschopf, Sandra, Publishers Clearing House - $10 Million Giveaway Number 1170 EXPIRED, About.com, retrieved June 8, 2013
  49. ^ a b c "Odds of Winning", Media FAQ, Publishers Clearing House, retrieved June 8, 2013
  50. ^ Meier, Barry (January 27, 1996). "You're All Finalist!". The New York Times. p. 33.
  51. ^ Grauschopf, Sandra, Top 7 Places to Report Sweepstakes Fraud, About.com, retrieved April 26, 2013
  52. ^ Wood, David (July 15, 2007). "Scammers Channeling Publishers Clearing House". Consumer Affairs. Retrieved July 15, 2007.
  53. ^ "Contest Hoax Got Couple's Hopes up". Associated Press. Associated Press. May 13, 1994. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  54. ^ Official Rules, Publishers Clearing House, retrieved June 8, 2013
  55. ^ Dresser, Michael (January 17, 1993). "The season of hope and Hype: it's sweepstakes time American mailboxes have been filling with invitations to instant wealth". The Baltimore Sun.
  56. ^ Stuart Elliot (July 11, 2011). "Prize Patrol Heads Over to AOL". The New York Times.
  57. ^ a b Elliott, Stuart (May 6, 2013). "Publishers Clearing House Imagines Handing a Big Check to Gilligan and Mike Brady". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  58. ^ "Million-Dollar Moments". The Oprah Winfrey Show. October 28, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  59. ^ Upping The Ante On Plinko! The Price Is Right (Video Clip). youtube.com: Price Is Right. April 9, 2012.
  60. ^ Maloni, J (April 9, 2012). "Full week of Plinko, chance to win 100K when PCH Prize Patrol visits The Price is Right". Niagara Frontier Publications. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  61. ^ PCH On TV Jay Leno Spoofs the PCH Prize Patrol (Video Clip). youtube.com: PCHarchive. January 24, 2011.
  62. ^ Conan O'Brien Promo with Jane (Video Clip). youtube.com. January 29, 2011.
  63. ^ Saturday Night Live Publishers Clearing House Giveaway (Video Clip). hulu.com.
  64. ^ Marder, Brian (November 24, 2006). "Let's go to Prison! Review". Hollywood.com. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  65. ^ Let's Go To Prison Trailer (Video Clip). youtube.com. October 23, 2006.
  66. ^ "The Sentinel". Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  67. ^ Smith, Joseph (July 1, 2010). "Movie Review Knight and Day". SunGazette.com. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  68. ^ Ivers, Patrick. "Laramie Movie Scope Knight and Day". Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  • pch.com, the company's official website
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