From: agate!spool.mu.edu!caen!destroyer!cs.ubc.ca!cascade.cs.ubc.ca!not-for-mail@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU  (Marc Romanycia)
Subject: Re: seeking the whereabouts...
Organization: Computer Science, University of B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Distribution: fj
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 18:37:29 GMT
Return-Path: <apollo-list-errors@srvr1.engin.umich.edu>

In article <1aedbcINN192@charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu> lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu
 (Lars Plum ) writes:
>In article <1ae5anINNk6q@cascade.cs.ubc.ca> roman@cs.ubc.ca (Marc Romanycia) writes:
>>Hello,
>>  I am trying to locate a fellow by the name of Lars Plum
>>(lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu) who responded to an ad I posted to this
>>newsgroup a month ago.  I sent Lars Plum components from a DN3500 which I
>
>Please ignore this posting.  He send me defective parts.
>  I did not discover this until I had send him my money.  
>
>Thanks lars


An open letter to Lars Plum,

  I am sorry to hear that the parts I sent were defective.  It is
unfortunate that you have taken so long to inform me about this, and do
so only in response to my last resort post, and not to me directly.  In
your last e-mail message to me of Sept. 17th (appended below) you said
you would get back to me after the weekend of the 19th and 20th.  I have
heard nothing further from you even though I have posted several
queries.  Repeated telephone calls to your home have yielded many
inconsistent stories about your not being available.  When I finger your
unix account I can see that my messages are being received and read.  So
what gives?  Why the silence?

  I have nothing to hide and have managed this business in an honourable
fashion according to my nature.  If you did send me a check and the
merchandise was defective, then you can rest assured that I would not
have cashed it.  Furthermore, stop-payments can always be placed on
checks.  There is simply no excuse for silence.  You had both my e-mail
address and my home telephone number, either of which you could have
used to communicate with me and clear this up.  You had originally made
a bid for $75 for an "as is" motherboard (e-mail appended), but when I
found a complete motherboard and case for you and your offer climbed to
$230 for all the components plus shipping, I offered a partial
guarantee whereby, if the components were defective, then you could
return the goods and I would return the bulk of your money.  All the
relevant e-mail is appended.

  As for your response:
>Please ignore this posting.  He send me defective parts.  I did not discover
>this until I had send him my money.
  Ignoring problem situations is not a solution.
  First, no money has been received.  Second, there was never any
intention on my part to send defective parts.  The UBC surplus people I
got the parts from told me they believed they were working but gave no
guarantees.  I had mentioned in my original ad to this newsgroup
(appended below) that I did not know if the parts worked.  And third, we
had thoroughly discussed what to do if the parts would be defective,
which was agreed to be a real possibility, since I had no way of testing
them.  All the bases had been covered, so it was simply up to you to
inform me of whether they worked or not and we could proceed from there.
You failed to do so and you have not even had the courtesy to respond to
my repeated queries to this effect.

  To bring this matter to as happy a conclusion as is now possible, it
would be best for you to place a stop payment on the check which you say
you mailed and simply return the goods by ground UPS.  It is that
simple.  There is no cause for silence or harsh words.

Marc Romanycia

For those interested in further details, here is a subset of relevant
e-mail exchange between Lars and myself.
================ My original ad to this newsgroup ======/============
<1992Sep2.081225.17179@cs.ubc.ca>
>  I'd like to clear out the following pieces, which are of no use to me.
>Hopefully they are to someone.
>
>For Sale as a package:
>
>  One Apollo 3500 motherboard, minus its 68030-25 CPU and 68882 coprocessor.
>  One Token Ring card (I think) that came with the above motherboard.
>  One Monochrome TTL video card that came with the above motherboard.
>
>  All of these are believed to be in good working condition, but I have
>no way of testing them.  I can sell them as is, or with a guarantee, but
>the price will reflect this.  I'll consider all offers over $20(US) or
>$30 (Cdn) and decide by the weekend.
>  Marc Romanycia (roman@cs.ubc.ca)
================== Lars' original offer =================
From:        Lars Plum <lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu>
To:          <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
Subject:     Re: For Sale: Parts from DN3500

>Newsgroups: comp.sys.apollo
>Organization: California State University, Chico

I will take the motherboard as is for US $75

thanks lars.
================== Revised offer for other components acquired from UBC surplus
From:        Lars Plum <lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu>
To:          <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
Subject:     Re: For Sale: Parts from DN3500

>X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]

> 
> Hi Lars,
>   Thank you for your interest.  I have recorded your offer for $75 (US).
> You are currently the high bid, but give me a day or two to collect other
> bids.  It turns out that I may be able to get another DN3500 motherboard,
> complete with the 68030 and 68882. Would you want to bid a bit
> more for that board?  I don't know what the
> owner wants for it, but I'd bet $100 would take it.  Maybe you could
> buy both boards and the extras for a little more.  Did you want to put
> in any offers, no matter how low, for the video card or LAN card?
>   Talk to you soon,
> Marc
> 
I would much rather be interested in that board.  I would pay US$150 for it.


Let me know 
lars
=================== Numerous queries and replies later:
=================== Initial discussion of what to do if equipment defective
From:        Marc Romanycia <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
To:          Lars Plum <lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu>
Subject:     Re: For Sale: Parts from DN3500

Hi Lars,
  Ok, I opened one up and took down the essential numbers, I hope.
  The motherboard has the following written on it:
    Apollo Comp. Inc. 1987 015653 Rev 0.
  The CPU chip is an XC68030RC25B.
  The coprocessor is an MC68882RC25A
  The main clock chip is 50Mhz, so I suspect the machine is 25Mhz.
  If your offer of $150 (US) still stands, I will go forward and buy the thing.
I have to buy a whole box, case, CPU, power supply, keyboard, and mouse.
Do you need any of those?  I will ask $50 for all those extras, since shipping
and packaging will be a bother.  If you just want the motherboard, I can 
absorb the shipping.  Now, as for payment, are you comfortable with prepayment?
I am honourable.  If you'd prefer some other arrangement, that is fine, but
I'd prefer not shipping the thing out without at least $75 here.  I am not 
sure if COD can be worked across borders.
  Oh, yes, I am told by the university surplus people that the machines are
working fine.  However, if the board turns out to be bad, I would be agreeable
to refunding you most of your money, say $130.  The $20 would be to cover 
my trouble and efforts.  That seems fair to me.  Of course, I could always 
try swapping a bad board with one of the others available.  Did I mention that
there are two other CPU units available?
  So, tell me what you think about these arrangements.
  Regards,
Marc
====================== More e-mail
Message  inbox:411 - Read
From:        Lars Plum <lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu>
To:          <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
Subject:     Re: For Sale: Parts from DN3500

>X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]

I would be interested in the box/powersupply too.

Would you happen to be able to get a hold of some RAM for the DN3500 too.
I would of course pay for that too.

What i currently have is a DN3000 which runs to slowly for me.  I want to upgrade it to a 3500.  This can be done by swapping the mother board, power supply and ram.  alll other things will still work on the 3500.  I have a 340 meg hard drive.

let me know and tell me what would be the easiest way for payment.

lars.
===================== More e-mail and clarification of contract
From:        Marc Romanycia <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
To:          Lars Plum <lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu>
Subject:     Re: For Sale: Parts from DN3500

Hi Lars,
  Ok, I will pick up a box and powersupply too.  I didn't notice any memory
boards or what looked like memory chips.  I take that is what would fit in
the four special (non AT format) slots.  But I will ask around.  How many 
memory boards did you need and how much are you willing to pay for them?
Describe exactly how much memory you need, so that when I get ahold of the
(hard to get ahold of) person that knows, I will be able to ask all the
questions once and hopefully get all the answers.  What I did discover
was that the surplus department had many (20?) such DN3500s, and they
sold the majority to one individual, so if I can find that one individual,
he may be willing to sell the memory.  
  Keep in touch, things are looking good for your upgrade.
  Regards,
Marc
ps.  So, to be clear, we are currently looking at one case, powersupply,
working DN3500 motherboard for a total of $200 (US).  That includes shipping
and I agree to return $130 if the motherboard does not work, whereupon you
agree to return the motherboard.  If I can get ahold of memory, we will
adjust the above agreement a little, depending on my costs.  I am not being
greedy.  I just want some compensation for my time.  Thanks.
===================== After several postings describing the shipping
===================== Acknowledgment of receipt on Sept., 17th
Message  inbox:396 - Read
From:        Lars Plum <lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu>
To:          <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
              92 2:37 am
Subject:     Re: For Sale: Parts from DN3500

>X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]

I got the machine last night.  This weekend i am going down to the bay
area, to install the ram and all the other stuff, so i will know after
this weekend if it works or not.  Then i will have a check in the mail
for you.

Lars

P.S.  I have been busy studying for an exam, that is why i haven't responded.
==================== Query on Monday, September 21st
Message  inbox:437 - Sent
From:        Marc Romanycia <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
To:          Lars Plum <lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu>
Subject:     Re: For Sale: Parts from DN3500

Hi Lars,
  How did the tests work out?  The other fellow's system is working 
perfectly, I am pleased to discover and report.  I would like to 
settle things soon, so please get back to me soon.  Thanks.
Marc
==================== Query on Friday, September 25th
From:        Marc Romanycia <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
To:          Lars Plum <lbplum@ecst.csuchico.edu>
Subject:     Re: For Sale: Parts from DN3500

Hi Lars,

  Well, again, no check from you in this morning's mail.

  I reviewed our long trail of e-mail conversations and it just seems
impossible to me that you would be the type of person to scam anybody.
Please realize that your silence is rather unnerving.  I have sent you
the Apollo.  The agreement was that you would send me $230. You said you
would test the unit last weekend and pending the results either get back
to me or send me a check.  I posted on Monday asking for the results,
but I haven't heard a word.  So what gives?  Did you post a message to
me, because I didn't receive anything.  Our e-mail connections here at
UBC have been stable.

  The other fellow who bought an Apollo from me also resides in
California.  His system works fine and he, or a friend of his, is now
approaching me to buy a second system. If you don't want to buy the
system I sent you, perhaps we could arrange for a direct pickup by this
other fellow.

  Please get back to me on this matter.  Thanks.

Marc
==================== The other fellow I sent one of the surplus DN3500s
                     to is Russell Shanks (russell@pmarlowe.cts.com) of
                     Ramona, CA.
==================== Query on Sept
Lars,
  I have e-mailed you several messages this past week and have not 
received any responses.  Please get back to me on our transaction.
I am expecting payment of $230 US on the DN3500 I sent you two weeks ago
in good faith.  If the DN3500 has proved defective, then our agreed plan
was for you to return the unit.
Please, let us settle this matter quickly.  Thank you.
  Regards,
Marc Romanycia
==================== Final posting on Sept.
From:    Marc Romanycia <roman@cs.ubc.ca>
To:      <lbplum@cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu>
Subject: DN3500 Parts

Lars,
  You have repeatedly ignored my postings.  I am taking this up with
the authorities.  I have been more than patient.
Marc
Newsgroups: fj.mail-lists.apollo