HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bwhitlock@uiuc.edu (Brent Whitlock)
Subject: Re: OK..why shouldnt I get an extended car warranty?
Originator: whitlock@ipoint
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 19:46:43 GMT

staggers@cup.hp.com (Ken Staggers) writes:

>I just bought my new car, a Mercury Tracer LTS. 

>I need to be reminded...why are they such a bad deal?  On principle, it
>sounds great.  For $660 I can get an extra 2 years of coverage.  And the
>brochure they give indicates a lot of things that are covered.  I have
>a lot of power options like door locks and windows.  Couldnt they fail
>during years 4 and 5?  What didnt the sales guy tell me?  What was he
>leaving out?

>Yeah, I turned it down.  But they will be "giving me another chance" to
>take it when I pick up the car.  I wonder how many other chances will I
>get afterwards?

>--Ken
>  staggers@cup.hp.com


Since it's a Ford product, I would probably buy the extended coverage.
There are some things I would look for in it, though.  It had better be
full coverage, bumper to bumper, of the vehicle.  I would want zero
deductible, though I know some of the extended warranties have $100
deductible.  It had better cover the vehicle up to 60,000 miles, at least.

I have an '87 Ford Taurus, and it has been extremely expensive for me
to keep running.  Between 58,000 and 73,000 miles, I have put over 
$2,400 in repairs into the car.  This includes a replaced transmission,
CV joint, CV boots, stabilizer bar, power steering fluid tubes, transmission
fluid cooling tube, oxygen sensor, throttle body, heater core, and some other
things.  Some parts aren't even available for the car from Ford anymore.

Many people I know who have Taurus's also are experiencing the same reliability
problems as I am after the car becomes over 3 years old.  

I take good care of my cars.  My Datsun 310,
which I had before this Taurus, was very reliable.  I drove it from 60,000
to 120,000 miles while putting less than $1,000 in repairs into it.  

Other things that are going bad with my car include door hinges and door locks.
There is also an intermittent starting problem which mechanics haven't been
able to isolate.  After buying this Taurus, I would definitely not buy
another Ford product.  But that's another issue, altogether.

-- 
    * * * * * * --> DISCLAIMER:  I speak only for myself. <-- * * * * * *
Brent Whitlock		Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology
bwhitlock@uiuc.edu	Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering
			University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
From: roder@cco.caltech.edu (Brenda J. Roder)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Legal Tender???
Date: 15 Dec 1992 23:39:04 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: sandman.caltech.edu

henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch) writes:

>a sorta-related issue: why are usans so squirrely about
>large-denomination banknotes?  if you read other newsgroups then you
>know i travel the world; i've only seen this sort of braindeath in the
>usa ... i have a hundred-guilder note from the netherlands in my billfold,
>and if i go to a dutch newsstand and buy a three-guilder newspaper the
>merchant will make change cheerfully, will not fret and fuss over the
>denomination, and i'll be on my way in minutes.

I think it is a matter of ratios:  3 guilder out of 100 guilder is like
buying a 0.60 dollar newspaper with a 20 dollar bill, which is not something
that most newsstands would flinch at here.  However, trying to buy a 60 cent 
newspaper with a 50 or 100 dollar bill would be something else.  Also, there
is the matter that most places that limit the bills they accept only do it
late at night when there is worry that the probability is higher that they
will be robbed so they keep money available (i.e. change) to a minimum.

-- 
-- Brenda (roder@cobalt.caltech.edu)
Thought before action, if there's time.
    _The Edge_  Dick Francis
From: kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Legal Tender???
Date: 16 Dec 92 23:52:03 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering

In article <184652@pyramid.pyramid.com> lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell) writes:

[stuff about getting away with "free" gasoline deleted]

I once filled up a car with about $5 worth of gas, and was in shock to
discover (already being done pumping) that I had left my wallet at home.
Oops!  I went up to the cashier and explained the situation, and they said
that this was OK -- just leave my name and phone number, and come back in
another day or two with some money.

I was pleasently surprised that they had this nice policy.  They didn't
even ask for ID, although I'd be willing to bet they might if the total had
been more.

Is this experience the same at all gas stations?  Or are others less
trusting of humans?

						---Joel Kolstad
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: myee@apple.com (Michael K. Yee)
Subject: Re: camcorders 8mm vs. VHS-C
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 17:28:06 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.

pdressne@netxcom.netx.com (Peter Dressner) writes:
> I recently bought a JVC VHS-C camcorder. I like it except that
> copying the tape to a regular VHS tape results in significant
> degradation of picture quality.

> I still have time to exchange the unit for an 8mm. I've heard that
> copies of 8mm tape to VHS are much better.

> Does anyone know this to be true? Overall, what is a better 
> format - 8mm or VHS-C.


	I just bought my parents a VHS-C Panasonic recorder, and I had to
	adjust the tracking on playback on a VHS deck.  Otherwise, the
	playback had a lot of noise.  So, try adjusting the tracking before
	changing.  Another hint, if your camcorder has a built-in light, USE
	IT.  It improves the picture quality and color 100%.  BTW: I have
	8mm camcorder and am very happy with it.

	=mike
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:20868 misc.misc:4116 comp.sys.mac.comm:12197 comp.sys.mac:539 comp.sys.ibm.pc:1004
From: podenski@bcsaic.boeing.com (Patrick Podenski)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.misc,comp.sys.mac.comm,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: PRODIGY New and improved STILL SUCKS, HORRIBLE as before
Date: 17 Dec 92 16:33:28 GMT
Organization: Boeing Computer Services, Seattle

In article <1992Dec16.205326.29305@gateway.ssf-sys.DHL.COM> jdavis@ssf-sys.DHL.COM (Jim Davis) writes:
>In article <1992Dec16.060755.6327@panix.com> imran@panix.com (Imran Anwar) writes:
>>
>>If you are considering joining Prodigy as a new member, or left and are
>>considering rejoining with their "come back" mailing efforts, or are
>>just thinking Prodigy is the service you should use - just several
>>pairs of two words:  STAY AWAY!  IT SUCKS!  BAD MOVE!
>>
>>Imran Anwar
>>
>>PS I love internet and Compuserve if you wanted to know :-)
>
>I chopped out most of this but you get the idea Imran doesn't like Prodigy.
>Well I feel obliged to respond.  I've used Prodigy for a couple of years and
>like it very much.  I tried Compuserve and think it SUCKS!  So there you are!
>What do they say, "different strokes for different folks, etc"?

I tend to agree with Imran. CompuServe is a lot better when you use
either CompuServe Information Manager (CIM) or Navigator. Better than
that is America Online (AOL) -- in fact way better.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tzs@stein.u.washington.edu (Tim Smith)
Subject: Re: Endless magnetic tape (cassete)_
Organization: University of Washington School of Law, Class of '95
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 10:47:32 GMT

Just get an ordinary C-60 or C-90 and fill it with "Feelings."  It
will then *seem* like an endless tape...
From: NAVGC@CUNYVM.BITNET
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Radar detectors advice one more time - no philosophy please
Date: 18 Dec 92 00:05:35 GMT
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

I must have missed the beginning of the radar detector recommendation thread;
by the time I got to it, it was full of information on the CHP or moralizing
about their use.

Let's go back to basics, please. Assuming that you want one, and assuming you
are not interested in lectures about the moral depravity of driving over 55
MPH, which radar detector is best? Are the mini-size systems as good as the
full sized ones? Is it worth spending the extra $$ to get a 3-band, as opposed
to a 2-band, detector? What features should be looked for?

Now this is the type of information I'll really like to have. Any thing in this
direction is welcome.
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:20680 rec.autos:29874 rec.autos.vw:7486
From: sszeller@us.oracle.com (Scott S. Zeller)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos,rec.autos.vw
Subject: Going to arbitration with VW and the BBB
Summary: Any advice
Date: 15 Dec 92 20:25:17 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores CA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by an unauthenticated user
              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

I will be going into the Better Business Bureau's arbitration program within
the next couple of weeks (for problems with cold/warm starting, engine 
stalling, etc. in a '90 VW Golf).

I would like to hear from anyone who has participated in the BBB program.  Any
advice/experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: weissman@netcom.com (Bob Weissman)
Subject: Re: OK..why shouldnt I get an extended car warranty?
Organization: The Ranks of the Unemployed
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 21:00:08 GMT

In <1992Dec16.163816.2945@mtu.edu> vetter@mtu.edu (STEVEN J. VETTER) writes:
>  I don`t know all the taboo's against any extended warranty, however, I do
>  know that you can usually get a better one from your insurance company.  
>  I have heard of severall insurance companies that offer extended warranties
>  that usually cost in the neighborhood of 1.5 to 2 times the dealer warranties, 
>  however they often have NO deductible, and cover a lot more.

California State Auto Association (AAA) offers "All Risks" insurance on many car
models.  You don't have to start paying a premium for it until your original
manufacturer's warranty is about to expire.

This is a good deal.  It covers literally everything except tire wear.  There's
something like a $250 deductible, though, and after your car reaches a certain
mileage, they start pro-rating your benefits downward.  Still, this saved me a
bundle when my old '82 Mazda started to show its age.  (But they won't cover
my 300ZX Turbo under All Risks.  Too Risky, I guess.)

Ask your insurance company if they have something like this.  If not, ask them
why not.

-- 
-- Bob Weissman
-- weissman@netcom.com
--
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:20922 misc.consumers.house:15947
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Subject: Re: OK..why shouldnt I get an extended car war
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:54:54 GMT

egreen@East.Sun.COM (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher) writes:

>It's been awhile, so here beginnith my extended_warranties.FAQ:


<FAQ delete>


What is the FAQ based upon?  It sounds like it was based upon one person's
bad experience with an extended warranty, and it is certainly an over
generalization to say all EW's are bad.

Sound Advice is a Hi-Fi Video chain in Florida and offer EW's for a reasonable
price.  (~2% of the purchases price per year.) Better yet, if you don't use it 
you get credit against a future purchase for the full price of the warranty.  
Sure they get to use your money for a few years, but hey you can't beat that 
deal.  (Of course you have to keep your warranties in a safe place.)

Bottom line is ALL EXTENDED WARRANTIES ARE NOT BAD  - AND -

		ALL EXTENDED WARRANTIES ARE NOT GOOD DEALS


Just use your common sense.



Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Tell me about electric blankets
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 09:19:07 GMT

teds@symbiosis.ahp.com (Ted Slack) writes:
: 
: >What's the latest report on EM fields and your health, especially with
: >respect to electric blankets?
: 
: I too, have wondered about this.  I suppose that an enterprising person
: could make a box that would operate an electric blanket from Direct Current.
: No AC EM field would be generated, just DC.  The blankets I've seen
: would work fine on DC, but perhaps not all of them. 
: Perhaps using DC only for some parts of a home would be beneficial.
: Whether there would be any health benefits or not, I don't know.

So, what advantage would there be in a DC EM field over an AC EM field?

Bill
From: moy@jomby.cs.wisc.edu (Howard Moy)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Midwest Micro
Date: 15 Dec 92 06:23:51 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison -- Computer Sciences Dept.

I just placed my first order with them last week.  They say your
stuff will be shipped if in stock and placed before 3pm,
but they actually mean within 24 hrs (that's what happened
to my order).  The other out of stock stuff I placed should
be shipped out any time now  (I should get this week).

Guess they're ok.  Prices are pretty good, except they charge a $3
ordering/processing fee.


-- 
-Howard
_______________________________________________________________________________
!			       Howard Moy				      !
!			     (608) 255-6379				      !	
!		      Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison			      !
!	moy@cae.wisc.edu			moy@jomby.cs.wisc.edu	      !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From: murthy+@EDRC.CMU.EDU (Sesh Murthy)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: rechargeable batteries and recycling fees
Date: 20 Dec 92 17:17:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.BzKIpx.Dqy.2
Organization: Carnegie Mellon University

Why isn't there a recycling fee of $1.00/battery.  I use all rechargables
and I do not understand why other people should not be charged for putting
toxic heavy metals in my environment.  If there is a recycling fee on tires
then there should be one on batteries too.

Using rechargables just takes a little bit of organization.  I just need to 
make sure that I have a set charged always.  If people can do this for their
camcorders I don't see why I cannot do this for my toys etc.  In any case
if there was a fee, I think people would discover this rather quickly.

Sesh Murthy
From: briang@bari.Eng.Sun.COM (Brian Gordon)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: OK..why shouldnt I get an extended car warranty?
Date: 16 Dec 1992 22:11:42 GMT
Organization: Sun
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: bari

In article <1992Dec16.143215.29151@noose.ecn.purdue.edu> rjwade@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J. Wade) writes:
>	[...]
>ken, you did good!  the *rule* is: never buy an extended warranty!
>they are always a ripoff.  why do they sell them?  cause they make a fortune
>off of them.  salesthing gets big cut and so does dealer.  why are they a
>ripoff?  lots of reasons....let me ramble on some...
>first they get your money free for 3 years while you are under normal warranty.
>also many times therex are exclusions for what they pay and usually co-payments.
>keep your money and stick it in the bank and if/when something breaks after
>3 years use that money to pay for it. many magazines have written complete
>articles explaining the scam.  i know 4 people who have bought them and they
>never paid off...even one guy who had lots of problems and has had his car
>for 6 years now...he still would have been money ahead by keeping his money
>and using it to pay for repairs...here is his story:
>	[unfortunately typical extended warranty woes deleted]

Just for a little balance, I would modify that to _rarely_ is it worthwhile to
buy an extended warranty.  If you can get them to offer it for about half of
their first price, you are probably close to their cost (since commissions run
around 50% -- that's why the salesman is so interested in your buying it!).
Then, if either (1) the car appears to be a piece of junk, but you have reasons
to buy it anyway, or (2) you know the car will have unusual service that will
make it more likely to fail in ways that are covered (a lot of fine print to
read, there), you might _consider_ it, anyway.

My experiences to date include a 1980 Dodge MaxiVan -- the only vehicle
available that would haul a family of 8 and pull a 32' trailer, but that was a
piece of junk anyway: policy ~$350, claims ~$3,000 in 50,000 miles.

1988 Dodge Colt (Mitsubishi, of course): I knew it would be driven _many_ more
miles than average, and was offered a no mileage limit policy for ~$400.
Claims to date are over $3,500 (at about 84K miles) with about 9 month of
coverage remaining.
--
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
| Brian G. Gordon	briang@Sun.COM    		briang@netcom.COM     |
| B.GORDON2 on GENie	70243,3012 on CompuServe	BGordon on AOL	      |
:-:- Hi! I am a .signature virus. Copy me into your .signature to join in! -:-:
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics,soc.culture.japan,misc.education,misc.entrepreneurs
From: egreen@east.sun.com (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Dumb finance question?
Date: 16 Dec 1992 21:09:20 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, RTP, NC
Distribution: world
Reply-To: egreen@east.sun.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: laser.east.sun.com

In article 5660@mobil.com, etpeters@dal.mobil.com (E. T. Peterson(Eric)) writes:
>
>1) Assume you have other itemized deductions that exceed your standard
>deduction.  

Is this possible?   :^/

{I realize it is *possible* but very highly unlikely for us "normal"
taxpayers...]

---
Ed Green, former Ninjaite |I was drinking last night with a biker,
  Ed.Green@East.Sun.COM   |and I showed him a picture of you.  I said,
DoD #0111  (919)460-8302  |"Go on, get to know her, you'll like her!"
 (The Grateful Dead) -->  |It seemed like the least I could do...

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: douglis@chimay.MITL.COM (Fred Douglis)
Subject: Re: Financial software
Organization: /u/douglis/.organization
Date: 14 Dec 92 14:37:49
Comments: Hyperbole mail buttons accepted, v3.06.

>>>>> On 13 Dec 92 00:52:45 GMT, mlustig@stein.u.washington.edu (Mitch Lustig) said:
    Mitch> Quicken, Quicken, Quicken.

    Mitch> It was designed for computer idiots, like me.  Cant go wrong.  Besides, its
    Mitch> much cheaper than MYM.

I have quicken but have ordered MYM after hearing from so many people
that it's better than Quicken.  I got it through an offer with an Amex
Gold Card, for $29.95 + $5 postage.  I saw it offered in a mail-order
Mac software catalog for something like $35-40, comparable to Quicken.
And I saw an ad in Money magazine for maybe $45, but where they send
you other software in addition.  So all in all I don't think price is
the right reason to skip MYM.

I can't personally vouch for whether it's better since it hasn't yet
arrived.  Your mileage may vary.
--
Fred Douglis
Matsushita Information Technology Laboratory  | Email: douglis@mitl.com
182 Nassau Street			      | Phone: +1 609 497-4600
Princeton, NJ 08542 USA 		      | Fax:   +1 609 497-4013
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: sns@bondi.jpl.nasa.gov (Sam Southard)
Subject: Re: Help !! == cable TV on second floor ==
Organization: SAR Systems Development & Processing, JPL
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:02:29 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.204526.11548@sol.UVic.CA> tapp@uvphys.phys.uvic.ca writes:
>In article <1gl56rINNe5g@terminator.rs.itd.umich.edu>, vln@icpsr.umich.edu
>(Victoria Neff) writes...
>>Is it against code to run tv cable to the second floor through the cold-air
>>intake??
>
>You should use the kind rated for plenum usage which can be ordered from 
>computer-supply mail-order companies as type RG59 plenum (CL2P) cable.

Be aware that some cable companies won't connect to RG59.  They claim that it's
too lossy and may require RG6.  I looked at the specs, and RG6 does seem to
have less loss, though not spectacularly so.  The number that sticks to in my
mind is .5db compared to .6db attenuation per 100ft.  I forget the frequency
that's for.

Don't ask how I know :(.

While I'm here, I've got a related question.  I live in Pasadena, CA, with a
line of sight path directly to Mt. Wilson 5-10 miles away (I think) as the crow
flies.  For those of you not in the area, Mt. Wilson is the place where just
about every station in the area has an antenna.  They're all clustered
together, so I'd expect to get extremely good reception for all channels by
simply pointing the antenne right at Mt. Wilson.

However, I don't.  I receive most of the channels very well, but some (channel
13 in particular) are not so great.  You can still see it well enough to follow
the story easily, but it's grainy, ghosty, etc.  It's not bad enough to want
cable, but I'd like it better.

I've tried everything I can think of.  I replaced the antenna (we've recently
bought the house and the antenna was probably old) with the biggest one Home
Depot sells (I'll eventually move it into my attic, but it's well-hidden as it
is, so it's not an eyesore).  I've replaced the mast with a taller one.  Last
weekend I even went up and strung 100' of brand-new RG6 straight from the
antenna to the TV.  It didn't seem to improve matters.

It's not the incredibly obvious - I just checked, and channel 13 isn't an
exception to the rule.  They do in fact have an antenna on Mt. Wilson.

The current setup is an antenna with place to connect a 300 Ohm lead.  Attached
directly to the antenna I have a 300 to 75 Ohm converter, so I never actually
use 300 Ohm cable (except the cable which is part of the converter).  The cable
then follows a contorted route to get into my TV.

What could I do to improve the situation?
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.misc,comp.sys.mac.comm,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
From: zkessin@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Zach, the Lego Maniac)
Subject: Re: PRODIGY New and improved STILL SUCKS, HORRIBLE as before
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 03:51:37 GMT

jmalloy@itsmail1.hamilton.edu (Joseph T. Malloy) writes:

>In article <zkessin.724555976@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu> zkessin@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Zach, the Lego Maniac) writes:
>>
>>DON'T use Prodigy, well not unless you dont care that other people may
>>be snooping on *YOUR* files. I just read on alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
>>something about Prodigy uploading stuff from peoples HD's. I think the
>>EFF has more info.
>>
>>just a warning.
>>
>>Zach
>>zkessin@cs.brandeis.edu

>I thought this bit about Prodigy (which is awful as an on-line service,
>if you ask me) "snooping around one's disk" was sort of an urban myth.
>If I recall correctly, there is a file, STAGE.DAT, that Prodigy uses as
>a temporary cache-like storage area, and it's this file that gets
>written to (and read?), hence the time stamp changes often.  I don't
>recall anyone demonstrating that the evil Prodigy empire was out there
>looking for major industrial secrets on your hd :)  

From what I know the Prodigy contract that you agree to when Loging on
does give them this right. However I dont know if they do do this. I
would not trust them myself, But I am paranoid in some ways. Also for
consumer survays this would be a VERY effective way of runing survays
to sell data on custemers. 
I advise caution.
I dont use prodigy and for this reason alone would not, (well the
censoring of online forums and e-mail annoys me too)

--Zach
  Zachary Kessin  zkessin@cs.brandeis.edu
 real.world: I don't think the news server gets that group!    


From: raj@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Bob Jewett)
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 16:25:08 GMT
Subject: Re: Telescopes?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA