HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gga@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Gregory Asman)
Subject: Refinancing
Organization: HAC - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Distribution: md
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 18:37:12 GMT


	Hi, 

	Anyone out there know of a good source for mortgage   
	refinancing in the Baltimore Area.  My mortgage company
	is giving me the run around - maybe there is at least a 
	couple banks/mort co that will actually help people without
	all the BS.  If you know of any please E-mail me or post it.

		Thanks,

			Greg Asman
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:14319 pdx.general:942 or.general:476 or.forsale:1418
From: (Eric Youngblood)
Subject: Re: Compressors & Air Tools
Reply-To: Peon w/o Email priv (Eric Youngblood)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Richardson, Tx
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 12:00:03 GMT

In article <6275@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM>, dhuard@tekig6.PEN.TEK.COM (Douglas R Huard) writes:
|> 
|> My two cents worth:
|> 
|> I recently bought the same compressor (Craftsman 3.5 HP 25 gal).  I agree that
|> it is a high quality unit - I've used mine quite a bit since I bought it, and
|> haven't had any problems other than trying to run it off of an extension cord.
|> Yea, that's my fault though, should've known better..
|>
 
What rating did the cord have and how long was it? 120V @ 15A would probably
require at least 12ga and <=25 ft. Maybe even a 10 ga to be sure.

|> Back to my point:  Even though Sears is generally NOT one of my favorite
|> places to shop, they do sell pretty good tools, both hand tools and power
|> tools - I own probably thousands of dollars worth of Craftsman stuff that I
|> seem to beat the hell out of every weekend, and never have had a single problem.
|> I'm not claiming that they are better then Snap-On, etc., but I'm happy with
|> my Craftsman stuff...
|> 

Yeah, I have beat the s*** out of mine and on the occasion that I was able break
a ratchet drive (I used a 16 lb persuader on a 3/8 drive, pretty dumb eh?)
I wasnt even able to start explaining before the salesperson had
handed me a brand new one as replacement. You cant beat that for standing behind
the product. 

$0.02
Ericy
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.auto,rec.autos,mit.bboard
From: wiryaman@riscee.pko.dec.com (Santa Wiryaman)
Subject: Re: the meaningless warranty --> NISSAN
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard MA
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 14:32:34 GMT

I am sorry for the unfortunate incident, but I don't think Nissan warranty and
the extended warranty cover a loss such as that.  They only cover repair or
replacement of defective parts.  I bet somewhere in the warranty book it says
it doesn't cover consequential damages.  So as far as this warranty is concerned
the best they can do is to give you a free fuel line.
Your car should be covered by your comprehensive insurance and the contents by
homeowners/renters insurance.

The only avenue for lawsuit that I can see is if you buy the car in Mass.
(which I assume you do from your address), there is a clause in the purchase
and sale agreement about an implied warranty for merchantability and fitness
of purpose.  So you can claim that for ordinary purposes the car should not
blow up after 15000 miles.  I don't know if this is the dealer's responsibility
or Nissan, though.

This is my opinion, but not a legal advice.  Get a lawyer for specifics.

-- 
Santa Wiryaman

INTERNET : wiryaman@riscee.pko.dec.com
UUCP     : ...!decwrl!riscee.pko.dec.com!wiryaman
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: chrz@tellabs.com (Peter Chrzanowski)
Subject: Re: Sony TV screen goes blank
Organization: Tellabs, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 22:16:22 GMT

In article <1992Jul29.070125.19398@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com>, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
> duncan@ravel.ati.com (Jim Duncan) writes:
> : 
> : In my case, the set's owner got a $180 repair estimate.  She then
> : bought a new set for $300 and gave me this one.  The resistor was $50
> : from Sony, service manual was $20, and it cost $25 to get the set away
> : from the appliance store that had given the estimate.  
> 
> The resistor was $50? Was it gold plated? :-)
> 

These resistors, found in Sony and other televisions, divide the high
voltage to the CRT to an intermediate value (typically ~2kV-5kV) for the
CRT's focus electrode.  These are indeed special resistors, as
ordinary sorts would arc-over at these voltages.  They are encased
in epoxy.

Replacements can usually be bought from the ECG- or SK- series.
$50. is indeed rather expensive (it's a Sony!); $15-$20 is more usual. 


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: wildcat@niwot.scd.ucar.edu (Wes Wildcat)
Subject: Re: PPV Olympics: Oh, so now it's free
Organization: Scientific Computing Divison/NCAR Boulder, CO
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 18:59:34 GMT


	If NBC gives us free PPV preview with the idea that we will order the 
remaining telecasts, then they better show something worth while or I will be
watching the Simpson's instead.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tjoa@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Richard Tjoa)
Subject: Airfares
Followup-To: ba.general
Summary: How do I find something I can actually AFFORD?
Keywords: airfares airlines flying tickets airplanes sex
Organization: 'Dis organization
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 20:32:20 GMT

I posted this in ba.general [I think], but then I discovered this
newsgroup...

In any event, does anyone know where I can find some discounted
airfares?  I called up a couple of the airlines, and it seems that prices
are in the $420-$490 range for a RT ticket between nEWaRk, NJ/LGA (Aug 13)
and OAKland/SFO, CA (return Aug 24).  I was wondering if anyone knows of any
trustworthy places at which I could get tickets for a somewhat reduced price
(in the ~$350 range).  Thanks...


-Richard
They can be restricted like crazy, but as long as they're "legal".
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Pool Chemicals by Mail Order
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 04:50:23 GMT

janick@bcrkd13.bnr.ca (Janick Bergeron) writes:
: 
: For example, I looked at the labels of my "Stabilized Chlorine" and
: "Pool Shock". They're both un granular form and both state to have
: the same content at a concentration of 65% yet the "Pool shock" costs
: more per kg and seems to release more chlorine per volume. What give ?

Look at the active ingredients - I think you will find that they are
different.

Bill
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: barrett@cloudgen1.gatech.edu (James Barrett)
Subject: Re: universal card payments
Organization: Georgia Tech College of Computing
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 05:39:59 GMT

dbw@crash.cts.com (David B. Whiteman) writes:

>In <Jul.21.17.33.37.1992.20357@math.rutgers.edu> kuplinsk@math.rutgers.edu (Julio Kuplinsky) writes:
>>I mailed a payment to ATT's Universal Card on July 1st, which was posted on the
>>13th, so that finance charges were assessed. It is possible (but
>>unlikely) that my letter was 12 days in the mail. 
>This is exactly the reason I cancelled my ATT Universal Card.  I would mail
>payments, and the check will clear, as stamped paid on the check, before
>the due date, but the payment would be posted 5 days later, after the due 

Actually, I've had exactly the opposite situation occur several times.
AT&T will post my check to my card several days before the check clears
the bank.  I usually mail the check 3-5 days before it's due (when I 
don't have the money handy) and even when the due date is on a Saturday,
I can mail it Thursday and have had no probs.  Of course, it's only going
from Atlanta to Columbus, GA, but I've been surprised at how lenient they
are about posting checks which they couldn't have processed until Monday
on Saturday.


---------------------OS/2 v2.0 -- It's heeeeerrrreee!!!!!-----------------------
James C. Barrett (barrett@cc.gatech.edu)| "I'm speechless...               
Georgia Tech College of Computing       |      I am without speech." - George
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: MSG
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 01:27:11 GMT

reg@dptg.att.com (51351[efw]-Regina Mackiewicz(MT4799)1374MT) writes:
: In article <1992Jul29.055658.17576@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com>, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
: > : >
: > : >There is  no clinical evidence to link MSG to any health problem to a
: > : >normal person. Even for those who are allergic to it, the symptoms are
: > : >typically short and mild. Very few had strong reactions, none has died
: > : >The whole thing was blown out of proportion in 60 Minutes.
: > : >
: > :     You are obviously not allergic to the stuff...nor a physician
: > :     who has to deal with people who are.  
: 
: 
: yes i agree, it seems most of the folks going through the mental gymnastics
: of this "thread" on MSG don't write as if they have ever had a reaction
: other than thirst or mild headache.  Take it from someone whose last
: meal from a chinese restaurant, that claimed NO MSG, sent them to the
: hospital.  When your arms and legs go numb, your heart is palpitating,
: and you are about to pass out there is no way you can convince them
: that they are "blowing it out of proportion."  you shouldn't be so judgemental
: about something that you have never experienced.

Just show me research that this occurs, except for the rare individual,
and I will retract my statements. There are many things that could have
caused that reaction. I am not saying that it wasn't MSG, just that the
research does not support any such conclusion.

Bill
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Sony TV screen goes blank
Date: 29 Jul 92 07:01:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: hpcvaac.1992Jul29.070125.19398
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA

duncan@ravel.ati.com (Jim Duncan) writes:
: 
: In my case, the set's owner got a $180 repair estimate.  She then
: bought a new set for $300 and gave me this one.  The resistor was $50
: from Sony, service manual was $20, and it cost $25 to get the set away
: from the appliance store that had given the estimate.  

The resistor was $50? Was it gold plated? :-)

Bill
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: jchen@flash.bellcore.com (Jason Chen)
Subject: Re: Sticky paste in plumbing
Reply-To: jchen@flash.UUCP (Jason Chen)
Organization: Bellcore, Morristown NJ
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 92 16:48:10 GMT

In NJ, solder compounds containing lead are illegal for water supply systems.
That is a GOOD idea.

Lead solder compounds are still available in hardware stores. They are
intended for heating systems. Should you decide to fix yourself, get the
right stuff.


C. Jason Chen 
jchen@flash.bellcore.com
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Costco & Price Club
Date: 29 Jul 92 03:26:47 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA

marks@ssdevo.enet.dec.com (Randy Marks) writes:

: They do this so you don't go to the store with your friend, who is a 
: member, and do cooperative shopping.  Your friend pays for it at
: the store, and you reimburse your friend afterward.

So, why should they care? The annual membership fee is just a small part
of their business profit. Why should they really care who pays for the
merchandise? It certainly would be inconvenient for me to wait for a friend
to take me shopping there. 

Bill
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.taxes
From: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Subject: Re: Wierd CA Sales Tax Law
Reply-To: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Organization: Teknekron Software Systems. Inc.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 16:47:42 GMT

In article <PHR.92Jul29214647@soda.berkeley.edu>, phr@soda.berkeley.edu (Paul Rubin) writes:

|> The idea is you're not supposed to get charged tax on food that you
|> buy to take home and eat later (a "necessity").  However, hot sandwiches,
|> carbonated drinks in open containers, etc. obviously aren't intended
|> to be consumed that way.  There are also a lot of weird exceptions
|> for snack foods, leading to my local chocolate shop now calling its
|> truffles "mousse balls" to avoid the tax.  (Truffles are on a list
|> of snack-taxed items).  My feeling is, it is the CA legislature that
|> eats moose balls...

Oh, I forgot to mention another piece of the insanity.  The Togo's manager
also told me that he has to note whether a cookie has nuts in it or not
because if it has nuts it doesn't get taxed, but if it has no nuts it
gets taxed.  This one makes even less sense.

I understand the rationale between the hot/cold issue, but I don't think
the other people walking out with cold subs were going to take them home
to put in the 'fidge.  Maybe, but I doubt it.  The only thing on my sandwich
that came out of the warmer was the beef.  The turkey was cold, as were the
tomato (or tomatoe if Dan Quayle is reading), lettuce, and the bread.  So,
perhaps I should have demanded that they only charge tax on, oh, maybe
1/3 of my sandwich.  :-)

-- 

	Jim Burke	"Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!"
	Teknekron Software Systems		... burke@tss.com
  	phone:(415) 617-2432			... uunet!tekbspa!burke
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jimh@pacdata.uucp (Jim Harkins)
Subject: Re: Late night infomercials
Organization: Pacific Data Products
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 21:32:44 GMT

In article <1992Jul29.121357.6466@bwdls61.bnr.ca> colette@bwdls46.bnr.ca (Colette George) writes:
>The steak knives are just fine for cutting
>meat, although I wouldn't use them for anything else.  

As the wise man once said: if you need a knife that can cut through cans, then
you're probably not buying a good quality meat :-)

jim

-- 
Lawyers Creed:  What's mine is mine, what's yours is negotiable.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Harkins                         [ucsd|uunet]!pacdata!jim
Pacific Data Products               jim@pacdata.com
--------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: diaz@ms.uky.edu (Christopher S. Diaz)
Subject: Re: radio/tape/CD players
Keywords: junk, garbage,trash, %$#&@
    <84057@netnews.upenn.edu>
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 18:35:52 GMT

crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford) writes:

[stuff deleted]

>That's great that you've had no problem.  I've had nothing but
>problems with my Sony equipment

[stuff deleted]

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one.  I got a D-180K in Jan. of
'90.  It played one song then went dead.  
	- I exchanged it for another one which lasted 4 months (it
	  would stop playing for no apparent reason).
	- I exchanged the 2nd for another one which until March '91
	  then went DEAD.  The service dept. said the motor, laser,
	  and an IC chip all needed replacing - costing $230!
	  Didn't mess with it.
	- Someone got me a D-101 last Christmas.  The next day I
	  noticed that it had trouble tracking some songs on
	  a certain CD.  Within two weeks, it couldn't track
	  nearly every CD of mine.
	- I exchanged that one for another D-101.  This one hasn't been
	  too much of a pain, but it has gotten to the point where
	  the player will not find the tracking information (during
	  startup) on 1/3 of my CDs unless I tilt the player in a
	  certain direction.  Also, last week when I started it,
	  the disk spinned normally but stopped quickly and started
	  spinning in the opposite direction for a second or two
	  before reversing itself into the correct direction!
	  (What could cause this?)  That scared me, because
	  that is what my 3rd one did before it went completely dead.

Now since the player I have now has trouble starting up with some
of my disks, could this mean a problem with the player, or could
the disks be at fault?  (The disks are not damaged and play with no
problems on other CD players).  I was given some CD balancing rings
a long time ago, but haven't tried using them.  Any advice would
be greatly appreciated.

- Chris

-----
Christopher S. Diaz
Dept. of Computer Science
Patterson Office Tower, Rm. 902
Univ. of KY  (Go 'CATS!)
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
(606) 257-6824
diaz@ms.uky.edu    {uunet,etc}!ukma!diaz    diaz@ukma.bitnet
From: srivatsa@karna.Eng.Sun.COM (Chakra Srivatsa)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: advice needed for dealing with dentist/insurance
Date: 24 Jul 1992 15:42:07 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: srivatsa@karna.Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: karna
Keywords: insurance, dentist

I tried mailing, but it bounced.

One thing you could do is to submit the claim yourself.  Just get an itemized
bill from the dentist and mail it in with the claim form.  Technically they are
just doing you a favor by billing the insurance company.

You can also complain to the dentist that his receptionist is impolite.  Maybe
he is not aware of it!

---
The one l lama, he's a priest. 		srivatsa@eng.sun.com
The two l llama, he's a beast.
And I will bet a silk pajama, 
there isn't a three l lllama!		says Ogden Nash
From: crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: radio/tape/CD players
Keywords: junk, garbage,trash, %$#&@
Date: 22 Jul 92 14:21:04 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <1092@ccop1.ocpt.ccur.com> tomm@ccop1.ocpt.ccur.com (Tom Motto) writes:
>I've had virtually no problems with any of my Sony equipment -
>and it has taken a fair share of abuse too. 
>
>As for repair shop owners complaining about "how they weren't
>meant to be repaired" and how the Sony equipment was "cheap junk" -
>take it with a grain of salt. After all - it seems he is fishing
>for excuses to nail you for a lot of money - to change a belt???
>
That's great that you've had no problem.  I've had nothing but
problems with my Sony equipment, and I'm not even hard on the
stuff!  I have a portable CD player that will only play if you
put a very heavy brick on top of it, and a five-CD carousel
player (also Sony -- you think I'd have learned my lesson!) that
frequently gets jammed and won't drop a CD into the chamber to
play.  

I haven't bothered to have either one fixed at this point; I
don't really have the money.  Each component performed just fine
until immediately after the one-year warranty expired.  Then -- BAM.

Other friends of mine have had lots of trouble with the Sony 
portable CD players; I haven't heard anything about the five-
carousel players.  

For what it's worth.

--Lauren


Xref: sparky misc.consumers:14582 misc.consumers.house:9932
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: "Rainbow" Vacuum Cleaner
Date: 29 Jul 92 05:19:54 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA

lke@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (lun.k.eng) writes:
: Hi,
: 
: I need some advice regarding a new "Rainbow" vacuum cleaner, both wet and dry.
: The salesman pithched that it can also be used as an air cleaner and it is good
: for people with allergies. For over $1,000 US dollars, how good and reliable 
: is it?

Well, it would be an awfully noisy and expensive air cleaner.

Whether it would be good for allergies is something that is still being
hotly debated.

I have heard of it being sold for under $800 - the markup it extreme.
Reconditioned units are occasionally available for under $500.

I personally think it is a rip-off - way too much money for what you get.

Bill
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: hkk38381@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Arthur Kwok)
Subject: Re: Car Buying Service in Maryland
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 01:16:40 GMT

dmatthews@uap.umd.edu writes:

>In article <RDONG.92Jul30135954@xterminal.mat.jhu.edu>, rdong@PLAYMATE.MAT.JHU.EDU (Rui - Tao  Dong) writes:
>>
>>	I read from the local newspaper a while ago that there was a car
>>buying service in here Maryland, which would give you at least 5 bids from
>>local car dealers for a fee (about $100). Their price were very good
>...
>Washington Consumers Checkbook, 202-347-7283.  Ask for Car Bargains.  

Is there a same service in Illinois???
From: rjc@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (robert.cook)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Was Compressors and Sears inferior subjects
Date: 23 Jul 92 13:09:16 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

:43762 - ? for help:
From: williamsk@gtephx.UUCP (Kevin W. Williams)
Subject: Re: Compressors & Air Tools
>
> I do not know why you feel Sears products are inferior.

For me, I only by Sears hand tools for the life time warrenty.  I looked at
their compressors and other products, but refuse to purchase anything with so
much plastic on it.  If they go cheap on the belt guard, what else do they go
cheap on, inside?

In response to - 

> I will second a recommendation for Craftsman. Mine is a 5 HP 30 Gallon unit.
> Works great, lasts a long time. I would question a 80 gallon tank, however.
> Your air will last a long time, but take a long time to build pressure as
> well. When you just want to use an impact wrench for 10 seconds, waiting
> a couple minutes for pressure can be frustrating. I would at least consider
> a smaller main tank for fast fill, and an auxilliary for added capacity when
> you really need it.
> Kevin Wayne Williams

Does this suggest that I can use a second tank off my 80?  Not sure that I'd
want to, but I kike the idea of the versitility it might offer.  Basically, 
going from the one a friend of mine has and the useage he gets out of it.  The 
tank will hold and retain both air and pressure when cut off.  If it doesn't  
reach the lower limit during the 10 sec. your useing it, the compressor should 
not turn on.  I don't think.  Since mine is being delivered today, I'll test it 
shortly and let you know. :+)  Once I get my wireing off the fuse box ran. 
Hopefully, tonight. 
 
I ended up going with the Sanborn S51-AT24-something.  The AT says it's an
aluminum head/steel or cast iron sleeves.  I wanted the S51.C22-something.  IT's
the all cast iron, but much more expensive.  Plus I couldn't get it by today or 
Friday. 
 
I bought the following 
 
Die Grinder instead of the cutter.  Motors the same except the die grinder will 
        do 400 rmp more than the cutter.  It takes the adaptors for the cutting 
        wheels, etc. but you can't put the guard on it.  Reasonable trade, I 
        believe, and saved $40. 
 
The best Sharpe Spray gun and tank they had. 
10 micron moisture filter for painting
Orbital Sander 
Gadges, adaptors, etc. That kind of stuff.
Was going to get the better impact gun, but put it back - Was this a mistake?  I
        figured I won't be doing that much type of work.  Can't justify it for
        takeing off lug nuts once a year or so.

Additional opinions welcomed.

TNKS - Robert 18CFM @ 175PSI :+)
From: rro@cs.ColoState.EDU (Rod Oldehoeft)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Rockport shoes.
Date: 30 Jul 92 21:30:50 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University


I've been wearing DressPorts (by Rockport) almost exclusively for some time.
I like them for their light weight, comfort, and I can get a narrow width.

Anyone know a less pricey alternative with all three of these features?
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos.tech,rec.autos