Hello! I apologize profusely as I’m nearly certain that this isn’t the appropriate place to post this, but as I have only JUST (finally) joined the message boards after all these years I am apparently not allowed to post in the Marketplace forum yet - and I’m not even sure that the Marketplace forum would be the best place for this post!
To my question: does The Straight Dope still offer the excellent swag for sale that used to be available when I first encountered the website (nearly twenty years ago)?
I purchased an EXCELLENT t-shirt, which I loved dearly, from this website back in 1999. That shirt finally degraded to such a state that my significant other insisted that it was no longer appropriate for wear, even just to bed, a couple of years ago, so I surrendered it to the landfill.
Earlier today I was reminded of that shirt and I decided that I wanted another one immediately. Unfortunately, on navigating to the site, I found that it appears that there is no longer a Straight Dope store. I am profoundly bummed by this, everybody.
I really, REALLY want another Straight Dope T! I will give you money for it! Many dollars!
The absence of SD t-shirts is both a fundraising and promotional fail. As a wearer/collector of far too many t-shirts commemorating various places and causes, I bemoan the lack of Straight Dope tees (our members could surely design some beauts).
If we had access to t-shirts, not only could we explain to random weirdos, junkies and political outcasts the benefits of posting here (and viewing pop-under ads), the Dope could raise enough money to host an annual Management/Moderator bash in Akron or other exotic locale.
And how much gear did you buy back in the years it was available? I recall it being said that it was being discontinued because hardly anyone wanted it, thus costing more to maintain the stock than they got in sales.
They could make one of those novelty pens that you turn upside down and it shows a different picture - it could reveal the identity of Cecil Adams (fully clothed, of course).
By the time I was aware there was any “gear”, I’m not sure there was anything more than a mug and maybe a bumper sticker available. And I’ve never been too keen on the work of the official SD cartoonist.
Admit it, you’re worried that the reappearance of new stock would threaten your plan to retire on proceeds of selling your rare SD collector mug at a Christie’s auction.
If it’s for sale, it’s not swag. Swag is the free stuff they give away at trade shows and the like. Taken from the older meaning of swag referring to stolen goods.
