User Reviews

Beaver and Gilbert are listening to records. Gilbert's sister joined a record club; maybe Beaver can join one. It's only 87 cents a week. Beaver pitches the record club during dinner, and Ward says fine, and gives him a dollar to start him off. But from now on, Beaver has to manage his own finances. Ward will give him money but then that's it. He asks Beaver to list his expenses. Beaver comes up with a list of expenses that both Wally and Ward feels is ridiculous. Ward finally gives him an amount he feels is fair.

Beaver joins the record club immediately. It's been three days and Beaver is waiting for his records. Wally needs Beaver to take a book back, and pay the fine. Beaver blows up when Wally asks Beaver to pay the 2 cents fine. Beaver needs to know when will he get his money back. Beaver already he had to pay a delivery man and wait for two hours until his mom paid him back. Wally suggests Beaver read the book he's returning: it's Silas Marner.

The records arrive, but they also arrive with a ton of offers. There is a card that says it must be returned or you agree to purchase their offers. Wally tries to get Beaver to pay attention but Beaver is too busy being "cool" listening and dancing as he plays his records.

A week has passed and Beaver is ready for his allowance. He will have to get it at night. Not to worry, he has money left over. And the record packages start arriving and arriving and arriving and. Beaver hasn't been sending the "no" cards back; now he owes $17.60. Where is he going to get the money? June is getting worried about the packages. Maybe Ward should speak with Beaver. Ward says to wait until the next allowance. Just before allowance day, Beaver gets a registered letter from the record company. Pay or we turn this matter over to our attorney. Gilbert suggests Beaver should stay with him until this blows over. Beaver tells Gilbert they are no longer little kids, they just can't run away.

Beaver has no choice, he has to tell Ward. Beaver admits it is his fault. Ward asks Beaver to come up with a solution, but Ward has to find a way out. Ward will write a letter to the company that cancels the membership; but Beaver will have to send then half of his allowance until the $17.60 is paid off. While Beaver claims he understands; he still thinks it's unfair somehow that he loses his allowance for so long.

The debt has been paid. Beaver receives a letter from the record company. Now that he has paid his debt, he has been reinstated and . . ..No and, Beaver yells for Ward crying out, "Dad, there doing it too me again," An episode than that no doubt registers with a lot of Baby Boomers. I know I joined the Columbia Record Club and those cards seemed to arrive every week. It was a nightmare trying to send them back in time. I had several albums arrive that I never wanted. Trying to resign was like fighting a hydra. You would send a resign card; and still the next offer cards would arrive. They were easy to join but almost impossible to leave. To this day, I suspect they knew their members were teenagers and exploited that to their benefit.

It's impossible to give Beaver a pass on this one though. First he signed up to be a model and had to get a lawyer; and he promised no more mistakes. Then he signed a contract to receive an accordion and that cost him forty dollars. And he still signs up for a record club? Isn't that three strikes?

I really liked Wally's allusion to Silas Marner. The writers had to know that every ninth grader had to read that book. I recall a number of my colleagues hated it; but I thought it a great then; and still do.