Attention: Piercing Pagoda and Zale are NOT Closing

Don't pay any attention to that. One person probably misheard something and the rumor spread to the other stores in the mall.

Ok I hate to say this but there are once again rumors floating around. Now it is coming from the other big jewlers in the malls. We were told by three different bigger jewlery stores that Sterling is buying out Zale's and closing all PP's. I hope this is just what I said , a rumor, but whether it is or not I am already job hunting. Not to mention my store has not gotten what we sell the most of in shipment and we have barely any of it left in back up. Good Luck to everyone and hopefully your stores are not next!

I work at a Pagoda and the Zales in my mall just closed this
Saturday. Poeple there told us 45 Zales are closing this same
weekend with a total of 100 planned by end of fiscal year. I don't
have much faith with this company anymore. I've been working at
Pagoda for almost 8 years now and am seriously thinking about
leaving before the entire company tanks - too much fishy stuff
going on for me-

i work at zales..something is very fishy and no one will tell us a
THING! .. zale corp. does not care about their employees because if
they did they would give us time to find new jobs not kick us out
on the streets..

LOL. Dezi, Kramer made a lot of recommendations too and you see
where that went. As far as being smart enough not to go through
chapt 11 again, I think we've all seen some crazy changes from
Zale, so I wouldn't discount anything in regards to them.

Ignorance is bliss. For those of you that think your store is too
important or making too much profit--wake up, the dream is over. I
was in a high position in the company, so I know how they work. If
you can't survive without an income or health insurance, start
looking for a new job NOW!

Zale Corp is bigger than PP, Zales, and Gordons. Don't forget about
our northern stores, Mappins and Peoples, as well as, a few smaller
chains Zale owns. Zale has around 2,100 stores across North America
and Puerto Rico. Canada and PR aren't having as many problems as
the US stores are. Not only that, but finacial gurus at Forbes are
recommending the ZLC is the stock to buy. Including a huge
investment by a former member of the FED. Zale went through chapt
11 (which is temporary protection from creditors) back in 1994. I'm
sure its smart enough to try and not go through that gain.

I work for Zales. Out of necessity, not choice. I'm an out of work
corporate VP from the finance industry (I was a jewelry store
manager years ago, thus my fall-back), so listen up-- Well, here we
are at the end of February, and lo and behold, the rumors ARE true.
115 stores closing and over 200 home-office staff cut. It's amazing
how corporate gets its employees to buy their bull
hook-line-and-sinker. Less than a month before liquidation was
announced, our DM at Whitehall actually tried to convince us that
Ch. 11 was not bankruptcy! Back to Zales---This is not to mention
the involuntary 25% pay cut they mandated overnight about 3 weeks
ago (ALL full-time capped at 30 hours max). We're also on the hook
for $80 million in leases for the Bailey Banks and Biddle/Finlay
deal gone bad. If Finlay goes Ch. 11 (likely) we can't even use the
name (signs, bags, displays, etc., etc.) because the name is owned
by Finlay and would be an asset in trust with the court subject to
liquidation. Genius maneuver. The stock has dropped 93% in the 52
week period ended 2/28/09. The company has been downgraded or
placed on the watch list of most of the big ratings firms. We were
sued over the last couple years multiple times, but 3 big ones
were: 1) Breach of fiduciary responsibility class action by
employees for improper retirement plan investment in company stock
and cooking the books by hiding $24 million in charges and losses,
and 2) & 3) for blatant trademark infringement, including being
so brazen as to use the same logo! All were "settled". The CEO
makes $2 million/year, and has announced no pay reductions for
himself. All of this is public information to be found in court
records, financial filings and financial analysis. Except for maybe
the pay cut, because I haven't heard anything about that yet. I
believe Zales is headed for Ch. 11 within 180 days. We'll see. I'm
in a very tough spot because this is my job, and my friends work
here, but the management in this company are a bunch of crooks and
unethical imposters. They should all be ousted by the shareholders
and start over. When I started working here, I loved it and was
really impressed with the company. Since then, they have reduced my
pay, and jeopardized my family by royally messing up my benefits
and refusing to do anything about it. I have also gotten to see
first hand how upper management works, many of whom have no
experience in the jewelry industry! I hate this company. Don't
believe me? Look this stuff up and call the company for comment,
just leave me out of it.

Truth be told Zales corp is in extreme financial trouble. You may
or not know that most of the top inventory and loss prevention
personel have been let go. However do not worry because even though
Zales itself is hurting Pagoda is not. They are the only branch
showing a profit. Selling them is a big maybe. Lets be realistic
though most of the people upset are the ones that complained to
begin with. Maybe those employed should think how they can improve
their work.

sooo hows everyone feelin about their future NOW? how many more
stores have closed since mid jan? stay positive? i was just slapped
in the face with a 6.55 an hour 20-25 hr week job offer. rumors of
bad economy? wake up sweety...thats a qtr of my usual pay.

Seems obvious the corporation is going down, since the past few 50%
off sales going on that i have never seen at a piercing pagoda
location.. ever. It was 50% everyting 29.99 and up.. but then.. it
was off EVERYTHING... And im sure there will be another sale the
just the same in the future

... trying to explain "Temporary Price Cuts"), and introduced a
huge amount of lower-quality/priced items to try and appeal to the
"Value" shoppers. Why in the world would Zale, after spending so
much time and energy on the huge liquidation sales and massive
holiday discounts, try and move Zale to an everyday price? At LEAST
do it to Gordon's first!

Everyday Low Price is a hard sell right now, unless the prices are
obviously below all competitors and/or coupled with a price match
policy (see: Walmart, Costco). Helzberg has had issues with their
everyday pricing (you should see the sales associates trying to
explain "

Does anyone know about the "test market" Everyday Low Price stuff
going on in certain regions of Zale stores and how it is affecting
your store business and region. It is hitting our store
hard---Everyone is lower priced---other Zale stores(in a
neighboring state), Zale.com, Kay-Leroy---EVERYONE! Our store was
trending down prior to all this Everday Low Price BS. I know this
is mostly PP respondants but any info might be helpful. Thanks!

Anyone know what's up with pacesetter stores? I work at one and we
are always below plan,even though it has been adjusted lower. A lot
of stores in the mall have closed, new ones come in and close. Yet
the mall is building new stores, like a target outside the mall.
The mall is virtually dead in the water! We hear rumors all the
time. Very disconcerting.

I have worked for Piercing Pagoda for a long time and the fact of
the matter is stores close. This is not new, nor will it ever
change. If the company is losing money on your store it will close.
Your sales is just a portion of it. Your controllable expenses play
a large part in it, including your turnover, payroll, suppy order,
etc. If you have ever looked at your pnl report you can see all the
variables that go into this. As far as the company waiting until
the last minute, that is your regional manager. They are notified
well in advance. Recently, a store from my region closed on
12/26/08. This manager was notified over a month in advance. She
chose to stay until the end along with all her employees because
the regional was honest with them. So, open the lines of
communication with your regionals. Ask to see the pnl report for
your store on a monthly basis. Control every expense you can and
try to keep your people. I have been told by a DOS that stores with
high turnover will move themselves up the list quickly because they
are costing the company money by constantly hiring and training new
associates. Zales has been in worse financial shape than this and
we weathered the storm.

I've been a Key at a piercing pagoda for four years and I jut
wanted to say, we close stores all the time, mostly because theres
more than one in a mall. Honestly piercing pagoda has a higher
profit margin than a zales store does. We are smaller, have less
staff and less people in the store at a time, our rent in the mall
is way less because its only a kiosk , all that means we have a
higher profit margin, not that we make more money but our profit
margin is higher. Also as most of you who have worked for the
company for awhile know, we were not always owned by zales, and it
would make absolutely no sense for zales to close us instead of
sell us off. There is no way someone wouldnt want to by piercing
pagoda and it would be possibly the worst business mistake to close
the company. I know the whole bbb thing is a huge hit to zales but
honestly i you work for piercing pagoda you job is safe unless you
have terrible sales then they will shut you down, but closing a 100
stores is like an every year thing for us.

Hey guys. Let me say a few things ... First off, yes, Zale's stock
is in the toilet, trading at about $1.50 right now. However, my
sense is that the company is not going to file anytime soon, at
least in the year ahead. Now, I'm not a financial analyst -- just a
guy who talks to people -- but from everything I understand the
company is not short of cash. The Finlay/BBB lease situation -- if
we get to that point -- is certainly a problem, but my
understanding is that they are unlikely to have to pay out the full
$80 million, as there will be negotiating going on between the
landlords. (And we are not at that point yet, regarding Finlay.)
Finally, to the vendors: What is the credit insurance situation
like shipping to Zale? And how might the Finlay situation impact
Ultra? Answer here or at my email: rbates - at - reedbusiness. Good
luck to everyone during these crazy and uncertain times.

It should be obvious that Zales will be closing 100's of stores.
The new "Crisis" CFO will implement a plan to save cash as 1000's
of layoffs are reported day after day. If Finlay implodes the
blowback will sink Zales, Ultra etc. Big Question-Who will ever
lend to our industry?

Are there any vendors out there who are holding off on producing
Zales PO's? I have several that we have not started on yet. I'm
concerned that we'll make the jewelry, possibly even ship it, and
then they will file Chapter 11! Just looked at stock prices: 52
week high $42.23 9/18/08 52 week low $1.14 1/23/09 1/28/09 closed @
$1.45 Okay, a little bit of a gain, but are they circling the drain
or pulling themselves out of it??

If your local Zales location has closed, you have to drive to the
next closest store. They're in basically every mall.

Sooo What happens if u just spent $2,500 on something from Zales
with a lifetime warranty and now its going to close? Now what are
people to do?

There are often good reasons to handle a store closing this way,
from a corporate perspective at least. When people are told well in
advance that a store is closing, guess what often happens?
Employees (and yes, often managers) stop coming to work, or reduce
their hours, or spend more time worrying about/interviewing for
their next job than working. Motivation to do anything typically
dies. Merchandise "mysteriously" goes missing, as people assume it
won't be missed in the chaos of winding things up. And so on.
People just behave differently when they can see the end coming.
There are excellent reasons why professional liquidation companies
exist, and why they get called in to run things instead of a
company trying to do it in-house. Sorry folks, but that's business.

I worked for pagoda yrs ago and they are right when they say they
will not give you warning at all if it in tells bad news. Also you
can be up in sales all you want but if stores are closing left and
right in your mall and no new stores are moving in you can bet that
Zales/PP will follow suit to keep from losing money. They may move
your location some where else but if there isn't a decent mall or
strip mall close by then you are S.O.L.

There are many reasons why a CFO might be let go. If they are let
go for reasons that are more sensitive then there won't be any
further comment other than "

The quote from public is nothing. Is there anyone who could share
with us a little bit insider info on why the CFO was let go?
Thanks.

Here's a quote from an article linked in Rob's Friday list: "The
Irving-based retailer said chief financial officer Rodney Carter
left earlier this week at the board's request. Carter had been in
the job since September 2006. Longtime Zale executive and
controller Cindy Gordon has stepped in as interim CFO during the
search for Carter's replacement. "In this environment, the board
wanted a CFO with a different skill set," said treasurer David
Sternblitz. "

Anyone could share a little more why the CFO left? If he was fired,
for what reason? Thanks.

I dont feel that there was bickering from what I read. Sounds like
it was just a heads up for what may or may not come to pass. I feel
sorry for the ones that lost positions in the company and feel
hopeful for the ones that remain employeed. Here's a beer in toast
to a fruitful career!!!! I have been a victim of employee reduction
before. Its really no fun, but you continue on and do what ya need
to do. I say: Go on and give it all ya got till ya cant give it any
more!!

My store is doing bad. We didn't make plan in December at all. We
have two stores in our location, we should have only one the way
our mall is going. Disney closed, Gap closed, RJ Gators closed.
Everytime I turn around another store closes. Our mall isnt
profitable. I believe we are closing 100%. And of course the
company will continue to hire people, they need someone to work.. I
am the top seller out of my two stores, so hopefully they keep me.
But I am still scared. My inventory is coming up in the next month.
I think that is when they are pulling the plug.

Everyone posting needs to remember the confidentiality agreement
they signed when they were hired, which remains in effect even
after termination. What you need to know is this...It is what it
is. No amount of speculation or rumor or terminated employess ill
will is going to change it. If we don't close that's wonderful. If
we do..you might as well stay to the end and make the best of it.
No amount of worrying is going to change the outcome. So let's use
JCK for the wonderful info and insight it gives us instead of this
back and forth bickering.

The three stores that were closed were singles. In the mall just by
themselves and accompained by a Zales. No other pagoda's. My lease
was not up at all...had another three years on it and I cant speak
for the other 2. They just renewed my business Lic. as well. Plus,
I know that one of the stores was to hire a new employee the day
that she was closed. No warnings!!! They just show up!!!

To the stores that closed, did you have other locations in your
mall and when were your leases up if they weren't due yet.

Your PNL report wont tell you your closing!!! Mine was great. Made
profits each month. I closed. Its a reality!!! Out of a job. You
will be too as Zales stock is even lower today. Plus, the CFO didnt
quit - HE WAS FIRED!!!! I WAS on the inside...and got the news
first hand. But now reality set in...my store is closed forever!!!
Get a clue clueless....your next!!

to the one that just got hired, it doesnt MATTER!!! As a manager, I
was supposed to hire someone the day I got closed. So don't bank on
your job for any length of time.Good luck!!!!

you have to check your pnl report like someone mentioned. it will
tell you if your store is making a profit or not.

Zales people, I had alot of friends that worked at Whitehall and
Friedman's...They were told business as usual all the way to the
end...In addition to your CFO quitting yesterday, the Indian
government is not going to be insuring any new invoices being
billed to Zales...Do your homework...research "

I WAS the manager of the Spokane Valley store that was just closed
on the 19th of this month. These "rumors" are REALITY and not
rediculous at all!!! The economy crisis is real. We did NOT GET any
notice of thr closure. It was "business as usual" until Monday
morning. My store was on point...making goal everyday plus! I was
$2200.00 over as a matter of fact. They do not care if you have a
lease either. You close when they say you close. My lease wasnt up
and they just renewed my business license too. So that doesnt
matter either. It comes as quite a shock. You are the "deer in the
headlights" -trust me. No warning, no calls, no idea....just "hi,
Im here to close your store." They will lie to you on the
phone...tell you everything is great and then your done. Finished.
No job. IT SUCKS!!! I hated calling my employees. It was the worst
thing I have ever had to do. And its not just PP going under. Has
anyone looked at the Zales stocks lately?? They stink. Last year
they were at almost $34/share...this year?? lol They are at an all
time low....at $1.00/share. Glad they saved me the heartache. Dont
get my wrong - I loved being the manager. But reality bites!!! I am
glad that I was forced to leave the sinking ship. At least my
future will be brighter now with the new job I just aquired (the
day my store closed). GOOD LUCK to all who remain employeed within
the walls of Piercing Pagoda....may you retain your jobs!!!!
Honestly??? I think ALL OF YOUR JOBS WILL BE DOOMED sooner or
later!!!!! Sorry for the bad juju!!!

I just got hired by the Piercing Pagoda at my mall. They would not
be hiring new employees if they were thinking about closing it
down. These rumors are ridiculous and the whole "economy crisis" is
going to everyone's head.

just because you are top ten doesn't mean anything. I was in the
top ten as well. I just noticed that my nose rings weren't being
replenished, my supply orders were sent incomplete, the lp auditor
did not show up during the hollidays, thats just a few things. They
wont even tell you a head of time. I came to work and my regional
said were closing your store today. That was it.You dont even have
a chance to even respond because you're just in shock. good luck

We had a very small shipment last week also and I doubt seriously
that mine is closing because I know we're profiting and my regional
said we were probably in the top 10 in the company. That is
definitely a normal shipment after the holidays to give you time to
get rid of the over shipments during the holidays. Of course I had
a lil more than 25 pieces but my normal shipment is between 4 to 6
hundred pieces because we're a high volume location. So don't panic
and just do everything you can to make sure yours is in the
positive margins and thank god and pray every night that we don't
close :)

25 pieces is a back to regular buisness after christmas shipment.
They only close stores that are losing money and they normally wait
until the lease is up. If your lease isn't up until 2010, you have
nothing to worry about right now. Just make sure your store is on
the right track before then. If you are doomed to close, they will
relocate you if you are worth keeping and there is room.

maryann You are right. I have a feeling mine is closing. Due to the
wierd things my regional says and my gut alone. Our shipment was
only 25 pieces this week. 25!!! out of a normal 200 piece shipment.
We never got our supplies, and our store is almost out of
backstock. Open your eyes employees!! They will not tell you ahead
of time. They will tell you a few days before.

That letter Neil sent went to certain stores. I am a manager as
well and that letter went to the other pagoda in our mall but not
ours... Maybe not all are closing but many are. Just pray it isn't
yours.

Well like one manager said, you're working one day and not the
next. I had feeling they were going to close my store and the other
two in my area. Good luck zales seems like you're going down. They
will lie and tell you that you are not closing the stores they lied
about were... Piercing Pagoda Northtown Mall, Spokane Valley Mall
in spokane washington and Silver Lake Mall in coeur d lene
Idaho.Just lied and we didnt recieve a notice. So if your
suspecting your store is closing pay attention to your shipments...
if you dont get one you might be closing. That was just one insight
to my gut feeling. Good luck everyone. Former Manager of Piercing
Pagoda Northtown Mall

Where I am at we are trying to simply generate sales. If that means
extra discounts to give us 20% margin, so be it. We need the cash
flow first. Cuts in payroll and other controllable expenses are
what we are doing to enhance the bottom line. The top number is
what matters to directors right now. Sales will pay bills, not
margin percentages, is the mantra. Hopefully we will weather the
storm this way. So far, January has been better than LY, which is
always positive news.

after neil reassured us with a email and conference call during the
x-mas season we were on a roller coaster pulling signs every 2 days
with 50% off every thing in the store how are we suppose to turn a
profit? that's when i began to wonder are we closing?

Sterling wanted (and maybe still wants, if the price is really
amazing) Gordon's, and they were mildly interested in BBB for a
while. Gordon's is a weak enough tradename that they are easily
converted to JB Robinson or a local regional nameplate without much
fallout, while BBB could be run by Jared management as a new mall
concept. I don't see Sterling wanting Piercing Pagoda, as I
-believe- they used to own a kiosk/kart concept ("Karat Gold") and
it was shuttered years ago.

i just heard that sterling might be buying the pagodas. im a
manager of pp. i guess we'll see.

I've been a mgr for 7 years now and I've witness first hand how our
company closes stores. One day your working in a store and the next
it's closed. As for what is traveling on the internet the ones that
are closing are the under performing stores. So the way I see it if
you make your sales plan each day then you have absolutely nothing
to worry about. On the other hand if your store is known for bad
customer service then you could be next. I have been treated good
my years on the job so i'm gonna stay until the end. And FYI we all
are getting tired of beign asked about it everyday by everyone.

I heard that Zales in No County Fair Mall in Escondido, and Zales
at Valley Fair Mall is Santa Clara were going to close down.
"Industry people" told me this!

Hi Vendor2U (and all those asking me questions) ... Will check out
the downsizing rumors ... I mentioned the BB lease situation here:
www.jckonline.com/blog/870000287/post/1190037519.html. That may end
up being a big deal. Keep in mind there are a lot of rumors
floating around about a lot of companies right now; not all of them
are true. I try not to print anything until it's pretty nailed
down. Next week may be an interesting week. If any of you has any
specific information you want me to check out, or just want to
share, my email is rbates - at - reedbusiness.com. Rob ..

Rob- we are suppliers to the majors and we are hearing rumors that
Zales will be down-sizing to the tune of 100+ stores (wise move)and
that PP IS in trouble. Plus, rumors are swirling with regard to
Baily Banks and Finlay...that if they default...or get no
financing...they'll go out leaving Zales with ownership of the BBB
leases! Rob- can you comment on all this? Thanks

Besides, it doesn't make sense to have that many locations in one
mall anyways. Especially when the spot and store rents have gone up
tremendously, at least in Simon Malls. Kirklands is even closing
their stores in the Malls and moving to a strip mall due to the
rent increases.

I'm a Piercing Pagoda Manager and we are not closing. In fact, they
are rebuilding my kiosk all new by the end of the month. They may
be down sizing to one or two locations per mall instead of three or
four that they currently have. But if you're store is profiting,
they will not close it.

as of now i have found that 38 stores closed on 12/26/08 & more
have closed since then... i found out info on the inside that the
company is going down...

"C'Mon Rob" ... I wrote about Zale today in my "new year's" post
but am not aware of any news with them beyond that. They should be
announcing their holiday sales results soon, and that should give
us a better picture. I know there is a little more talk about them,
but there are a lot more companies that are in far more danger
right now. If there is something specific you want me to look into,
you can email me at rbates at reedbusiness.com.

We need you to come through Rob! What's going on with Zales???

as i was saying above. i had no prior warning that i was going to
have my store close and lose my job... more that 20+ stores were
closed on 12/26/08. the company is going under

I WAS WITH PAGODA FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, WHEN I CAME INTO WORK
ON 12/26/08, MY REGIONAL MANAGER WAS ALREADY THERE WITH PAPERS TO
CLOSE MY STORE &

YES, LIKE THEY WOULD ANNOUNCE THEY ARE CLOSING ALL THOSE STORES SO
EVERYONE CAN BAILOUT! NOT. I BET SOME WILL CLOSE THAT ARE
UNPROFITABLE, AND ONES THAT MAKE MONEY WILL STAY OPEN. LOOK AT YOUR
PNL STATEMENTS.

you would not know about the store closing as the home office would
worry about theft from employees because alot of times people who
are losing there jobs after the holidays don't care so they will
steal from their stores as they are closing so it's not like they
have to worry about losing their job as they already are losing it.

Take a closer look to find the truth. There is more truth to that
email than mistruths!

It is getting frustrating. I am an assistant manager of one of the
piercing pagodas. we are not closing people. and why would anyone
go up to someone working and say i heard you guys are closing down.
Thats just like saying "Hey i heard your loosing your job." come on
people dont listen to everything you here. Piercing Pagoda makes a
lot of money for Zales Corp. It would be a very stupid move on
there part. We will see when January comes.

corporate visits are a common thing. i've worked for the company
for 7 years and we've had at least 1-2 corporate visits every year.
they are trying to change the ideal of pagoda. make them a cleaner,
nicer jewelry store. they also do unannounced visits, and you may
have helped them and never known. its always been a complaint from
stores that corporate is never around and they never see how things
are. they need to see stores, to know whats needed and whats not.
they cant help us make our stores better if they dont see them. im
a manager and i've had 4 corporate visits this year alone. all to
make the stores better,to see what we need and what is really going
on. they dont need to see your store to size up if you cant sell.
thats why they close stores. b/c you cant produce numbers. they
dont need to travel to see that.

i am still skeptical. we have 6 corporate employees coming this
week as they have been hitting up multiple locations in my state
over the past few days. As long as I've been an employee I've never
seen this many (only 1) come visit. I am thinking that maybe they
are closing some stores and they are starting to assess which ones
to close right now. For security reasons it would be stupid to
announce that 100+ jewelry locations are closing and a thousand
people out of work, esp right at christmas, everything would go
missing...i still think something is up. dont be so sure of
yourselves!

Yes, I too am getting tired of people believing this story to be
true. As long as people believe us everything will be fine. But a
comment to Venesa W., if Zales Corp. is closing your store you will
NOT know about it until the day they close it. Our mall closed one
of the three locations a couple of years ago and those employees
only found out the day they started packing everything up. As a
major corporation, for security reasons, they are not going to let
anyone know till the last minute so merchandise does not disappear
and they still have employees till the end. But rest assured we are
not closing. We are one of the few brands the Zales is showing a
profit on.

I am a Manager at a piercing Pagoda as well. We are not closing,
please stop asking. We have been around for a very long time and we
will not be going anywhere.

I am also a Manager of Piercing Pagoda and frankly I so annoyed by
people asking me if we are closing after the holiday season that I
am tempted to pull my hair out!! GET OVER THE HYPE PEOPLE...IF WE
WERE CLOSING WE WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT!!!

thank goodness. I work at zales and you have no idea, I had three
people call in asking and four people ask me in person just in the
last two days!

thanks for the clear up...as a manager for piercing pagoda, my
staff as well as myself was getting a little nervous because we
kept hearing this from customers. we received an email from our ceo
neil to settle our fears, but im glad to have it confirmed.

Very true that you dont know what is accurate. You just have to
trust that in some cases the economy is just not as bad as it is
made out to be. Most rumors are started by a unhappy customer or
let go employee.

Thanks for helping to set the record straight. There's plenty of
sobering information that's true these days, we shouldn't have to
wade through dismal news that turns out to be false. But
unfortunately, that's one price of the Internet Age--disinformation
spreads as quickly as accurate info (sometimes faster). A good rule
is to always question any email that is forwarded to you and
doesn't have a clear source. Snopes is an excellent web site to
either verify or debunk. And those ads--both the real one and the
parody--are both great and both true!!!