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Non-Tech : Bill Wexler's Dog Pound -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Larry Brubaker who wrote (5126)	11/28/1999 10:26:00 PM
From: DanZ	Respond to of 10293

Larry, <The real question would then be will those who tried it recommend it to others, or buy it again themselves?> I agree that repeat sales are important but there's really no way to get a feel for this in a single quarter. I don't think it's fair to assume that the group of people who bought Zicam after the PR a few weeks ago will be the one's to carry the flag to other first time users. The company has been advertising and the second round of clinical studies are due out soon. The advertisements and to a larger extent, the media blitz that will probably occur if the second round of clinical studies come back positive, should give sales another boost as a whole new group of people hear about it. The international market is also untouched but there is demand there as well. I don't have any doubt that Quigley's Cold Eeze works per their claims, and I don't think that their problems are related to the efficacy of their product. I think that Quigley's biggest problem is the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). This Act enables companies to sell zinc lozenges as dietary supplements and companies have used it as a loophole to avoid paying Quigley royalties. While companies that sell lozenges under DSHEA can't make claims about reducing the duration and severity of the common cold, they are placed right next to Cold Eeze at stores. No such loophole exists that would allow companies to get around Gel Tech's patent for Zicam, which is now pending. The other problem with Cold Eeze is that people report that it tastes bad. They have some new flavors out now but many people may have given up on them since it took so long to get the new flavors on the market. Still, I think that their biggest problem is competition and lack of a diversified product line.

To: Larry Brubaker who wrote (5126)	11/28/1999 10:42:00 PM
From: Mike M	Respond to of 10293

The real question would then be will those who tried it recommend it to others, or buy it again themselves? Bingo, and if it works to shorten 70% of all colds and even works to prevent rhinoviruses from starting in the first place....there just might be a continuing demand. And so goes the circular argument. As "wrong way Wexler" continues to short GUMM at higher prices and his army defend his right to do so, Zicam production is being increased from 200,000 to 300,000 bottles per week...Everybody is making their bets! Isn't life grand. P.S. An attempt to make a comparison with QGLY is a dead give away that you know next to nothing about Zicam and/or GUMM....Not to worry, it is an affliction of the "troops" as well as the "general" around here.

To: Larry Brubaker who wrote (5126)	11/29/1999 11:13:00 AM
From: BDR	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10293

My local Costco had three boxes of Zicam on the shelf yesterday and a few units had been sold out of the top one. No time to stand in line to inquire of the pharmacist how well it was selling. Since you pay for it at the check out counter and not the pharmacy, the pharmacy staff may not know. Bought one myself. Costco charges about $5.70 as I recall, so there was probably $300 (retail) of Zicam sitting on the shelf. I don't know the wholesale price but it looks like Larry's figure of $200 per store may not be far off. $8 million in "sales" may just be filling the channel.