Do you remember Service Merchandise?

[KristaTX]

That was a weird store. My parents used to go there often when I was a kid. They had one display of everything (e.g. clocks, dishes, electronics) out in the store, but they had retrieve whatever you bought from the back warehouse part of the store. I think you had to take a number or something from the display to a counter, and your stuff would come out on a conveyer belt. That was a strange system.

 

[vicki_c]

That was a weird store. My parents used to go there often when I was a kid. They had one display of everything (e.g. clocks, dishes, electronics) out in the store, but they had retrieve whatever you bought from the back warehouse part of the store. I think you had to take a number or something from the display to a counter, and your stuff would come out on a conveyer belt. That was a strange system.

There were a number of stores like that in the past. We also had a Brand Names near us that worked the same. I think they were called catalog merchandisers or something like that.

 

[KristaTX]

I just googled them, and they still exist as an online company. My husband pointed out that they should have been all prepared for the internet age. Basically their system was like online stores now, only you placed your order and got it at the store instead of ordering it on the computer having it mailed to you.

I don't know how well they do nowadays, but Service Merchandise missed out on a great opportunity. They should have become what Amazon is!!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I loved Service Merchandise! My first baby's nursery furniture came from there.

 

[teacup princess]

I worked there during college. I was the girl that pulled your stuff off the conveyor and gave it to you. It was a weird store.

 

[thedonduck]

There is a store in London that is a catalogue store. Imagine Sam's club type variety, but ordering in a catalogue and waiting for them to bring it up to you! I bought a pillow and comforter and they gave me a bag the size of a grocery bag because it was so tightly vacuum packed . It was quite fun. Argos.co.uk

 

[luvmyfam444]

I remember it. Liked going there - but funny I don't really remember the conveyor belt. But it seems like it was in our mall @ first then moved to another location years later. I remember looking @ luggage & jewelry

 

[Buckalew11]

I remember it.

I remember my grandfather came down to see us about 2 months after my grandmother died and he brought his new GF. If that wasn't shocking enough, I remember him taking the GF and I (I might have been 7th or 8th grade) there and on the way to the store he told me he was picking out a ring for her and I could help. I remember being so shocked and thinking how upset my mom was going to be. But sure enough, we bought her a ring from Service Merchandise.

 

[Octoberbeauty]

I remember it very well. I bought all my Glamour Gals dolls there as a young girl. I still have them.

 

[Tozzie]

Growing up we had a store like that near the house that was called Consumers Distributing and when I moved out on my own I found Service Merchandise, it was a great store for someone just starting out. I was sad to see it close.

 

[KristaTX]

I worked there during college. I was the girl that pulled your stuff off the conveyor and gave it to you. It was a weird store.

I remember it.

I remember my grandfather came down to see us about 2 months after my grandmother died and he brought his new GF. If that wasn't shocking enough, I remember him taking the GF and I (I might have been 7th or 8th grade) there and on the way to the store he told me he was picking out a ring for her and I could help. I remember being so shocked and thinking how upset my mom was going to be. But sure enough, we bought her a ring from Service Merchandise.

Well y'all definitely have memories of the place!

I remember that my brother and sister and I would sometimes stay out in the car while my parents Christmas shopped there.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I remember that store. I remember the jewelry too. I cant remember the conveyor belt.

Somehow I am thinking we had a clipboard and we had to write our orders on it?? Does that sound familiar. This was in NY.

I do remember waiting up front for our order.

 

[LuLuO]

We went there all the time when I was a kid.

 

[KristaTX]

I remember it very well. I bought all my Glamour Gals dolls there as a young girl. I still have them.

I can't remember anything specific we ever got from there. I'll have to ask my mom. I'm sure she still has stuff they got there back in the '70s and '80s.

 

[KristaTX]

Somehow I am thinking we had a clipboard and we had to write our orders on it?? Does that sound familiar. This was in NY.

Yes! I just asked my husband, and he said, "I think you got a little bitty clipboard with a little bitty pencil and wrote stuff down."

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

They aren't the ones that had S & H Green stamps are they? I remember that a long, long, time ago. You'd collect these stamps and then order something from their catalog.

 

[denisem]

Oh, wow, haven't thought about Service Merchandise for years...I recall a couple others with the same concept in Metro Detroit area - does Foley's ring a bell to anyone?

 

[maelstrom]

Yes! I just asked my husband, and he said, "I think you got a little bitty clipboard with a little bitty pencil and wrote stuff down."

I seem to remember two different systems... I remember the clipboard and the little pencil but I also remember, and maybe this was later on, being able to take a pre-printed slip for the item. But still with the conveyor belt. Circuit City (at least ours) had the conveyor belt too but I think it was only for really high-priced items back in the days when a megabyte of RAM cost $100.

I bought my first SLR film camera at Service Merchandise when they went out of business. As a child I called it "Searcha Mercha-dice". Ours is now split between a Petsmart and a Home Goods.

 

[Imzadi]

We had a local store that went by a family name, instead of Service Merchandise. But, they went by the same format.

As I recall, it wasn't such a weird thing to do, at the time. Anyone who used to shop out of the Sears or Montgomery Ward catalog also had to fill out forms to receive catalog merchandise. I vaguely remember being able to call up those stores to place orders that would arrive at the store a week later. It was the days when people trusted each other. We didn't have to use a credit card to place orders. We called up, gave our name, address & phone number, that was it. We got a phone call when the order was in, or they mailed a post card. Then we went to the store to pick up the order and paid in cash.

That was the days before people had shopping addictions, or people calling up to place faux orders for kicks, I guess. There was no need to pay for stuff ahead of time or "restocking fees" for returning stuff.

They aren't the ones that had S & H Green stamps are they? I remember that a long, long, time ago. You'd collect these stamps and then order something from their catalog.

No Green Stamps were before Service Merchandise. I remember when they announced they were going out if business and my parents were trying to find things to get so that they could cash in on all their accumulated green stamps.

 

[denisem]

No Green Stamps were before Service Merchandise. I remember when they announced they were going out if business and my parents were trying to find things to get so that they could cash in on all their accumulated green stamps.

OT, but anyone else remember looking at the S&H Green Stamp catalog and wondering how people saved enough stamps to get a motor boat?!?

On topic: got my first stereo and 8-track player from Service Merchandise.