Back in the 90's Travelzoo gave away shares in it's company to anyone who signed up with them for something-or-other and extra shares for people who got their friends to sign up as well. I managed to get 6 shares which at the time were worth almost nothing but recently were worth as much as $500 or so.
I decided to get sell my shares ASAP. The only problem is that you can't just click "sell shares" there are a few steps involved. If you have some of these shares, here is how to get them:
First thing to note is that at some point in the late 90's or early 00's Travelzoo made you confirm that you still wanted these shares by logging into their site and updating your information. I'm sure quite a few people lost their shares at that point. Travelzoo is kind of jerky for doing this, but what u gonna do?
1. Go to https://corporate.travelzoo.com/ir/services/account/ . You probably don't remember what your account number and/or password is but hopefully you remember what email address you were using in 1996 or whenever and still have access to it. (If you don't you are going to be writing a letter and posting it to TravelZoo via snail mail. I have a friend who is trying this route and has yet to hear back.) Click the link that will ask you for your email address and instructions will be emailed to you on how to recover your account number and password.
2. Once you are logged in go here: http://corporate.travelzoo.com/ir/services/ from here you should first make sure your contact information is up to date. After that is done you should click on ' Transfer Travelzoo Inc. stock into your brokerage account' - this will bring up a standardized form with your information on it. Print this form out. Also at the above link click on 'View your account with Travelzoo Inc. online' and print that page as well.
3. You'll notice at the top of the form that it says you must have a MEDALLION GUARANTEE on your signature or the form will be rejected. A medallion guarantee is much like a notary public seal but is specific for stock transfers. Most banks offer this service to their customers for free at the main branch if nowhere else. You MUST HAVE THE MEDALLION GUARANTEE ON THE FORM AND THE BANKER MUST WITNESS YOU SIGN IT. You should also bring a print out of the webpage stating how many shares you own (that you printed in step 2) and a print out of a recent quote on the stock price from Yahoo or wherever. This is very important. If you don't have all of theses things you might have to come back another day.
4. On the form you will need to enter your social security number and the number of shares in this format: '1 certificate @ 6 shares' This just means you want one certificate for the number of shares you own. I have six so I entered 6 shares- you will want to enter the number of shares that you own.
5. Take your form and make a few copies of it. Then post via certified letter the original form with the medallion guarantee to:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 43070
Providence, RI 02940-3070
6. Wait one week. A certificate should arrive in the mail in a large envelope.
7. Now you have a stock certificate. What does that mean? Not much. If you can find someone to buy it you can transfer it to them by signing the back but most people will want to transfer it to a brokerage account.
8. If you already have a brokerage account you can transfer it by following their instructions. E*Trade sent me the following when I sent an email asking how to deposit my paper certificate:
Thank you for your message regarding stock certificate deposits.
To deposit certificates into a brokerage account, please complete the following instructions:
1. On the front of the certificate, write your full E*TRADE Securities account number in the upper-right corner.
2. On the back of the certificate, appoint E*TRADE Clearing LLC as attorney, and sign your name exactly as it appears on the face of the certificate.
We will complete any additional fields as necessary. If the certificate is registered to a name other than the name on the E*TRADE Securities account, please have the current certificate owner(s) sign the back of the certificate. Please also obtain a notarized letter of authorization from the current certificate owner(s) giving E*TRADE permission to deposit the certificate into the account.
Please mail both documents by Certified or Express Mail to the following address:
E*TRADE Securities LLC
Harborside Financial Center
501 Plaza 2
34 Exchange Place
Jersey City, NJ 07311
After the certificate has been received in good order, please allow three to five business days for the shares to be posted to the account. The account will be updated online once the deposit is complete. To view the shares online, please log on to the account and go to Trading & Portfolios > Portfolios. The cost basis information and the acquisition date of the stock can be updated here by clicking on the Edit link to the right of the shares.
Once the shares are in a brokerage account you can sell them when you think the time is right (ie the price is as high as you are gonna get) and at a moments notice. Most brokerages will accept certificates as an initial deposit. Call or email the brokerage to find out details.
Your local bank may also be able to sell the shares for you if you don't want a brokerage account.
Good luck!
P.S. buy Apple Stock, it's really a no brainer even if Stevie J dies.
P.P.S. I am not qualified to give investing advice to anyone. Anyone who follows my advice will probably lose everything they own and end up begging on the street corner.
