HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: patter@dasher.cc.bellcore.com (patterson,george r)
Subject: Re: Rechargable Battery Source Needed (and a Query)
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 93 23:11:17 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.223744.5236@pony.Ingres.COM> daveb@lotus (Dave Brower, DBMS hack, [510] 748-3418) writes:
>The cheapest regular sized alkalines and ni-cads I've found are the
>Panasonic's sold through Costco, and presumably other warehouse
>outlets.  The alkalines are particularly cheap ($4-5 for 16 AA cells),
>enough that I don't bother with charging ni-cads anymore.

It is difficult enough to dispose of used batteries in this area (they're
considered a type of hazardous waste) that rechargeables are beginning
to be attractive purely for this reason. We can count on this situation
worsening. I keep some alkys around for emergency, and I don't use
rechargeable ones in the smoke detectors, but everything else I own
uses the Millenium brand rechargeables.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                    |
George Patterson -  | If God had meant for man to fly, he'd have
                    | given him more money.
                    |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: andrew@frip.WV.TEK.COM (Andrew Klossner)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: dill pickle difference discovered
Date: 8 Jan 93 17:40:35 GMT
Reply-To: andrew@frip.wv.tek.com
Organization: Tektronix Color Printers, Wilsonville, Oregon

I found a brand of pickles whose labels are more informative.  Those
"little yellow spheroids" I asked about are pieces of garlic.
According to the label on this brand, "kosher dill pickle" means "dill
pickle with garlic added."

  -=- Andrew Klossner  (andrew@frip.wv.tek.com)
                       (uunet!tektronix!frip.WV.TEK!andrew)
From: tvervaek@col.hp.com (Tom Vervaeke)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Need Recommendations for Riding Mowers
Date: 6 Jan 1993 17:43:00 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division
NNTP-Posting-Host: itchub21.cs.itc.hp.com


I used to own a Sears 18 HP lawn tractor. I owned it for 3 years and had
no problems except on minor steering gear that came loose and had to be
replaced ($18 bucks for the part and put it on myself). 

They make 2 18hp models, one is called the lawn tractor. Very good. 18hp
is enough to mow through anything. We had 1 acre and it was just right.
Our neighbor had the 12hp and if the grass got too tall he had a
problem. We changed the oil several times during the summer when it got
most of it's use. I sharpened the blades twice a summer also. I just
drove the tractor up onto my auto ramps and removed the blades from
underneath, although removing the mower deck was not a real big deal.

I agree that John Deere and others make better units, but they cost a
fortune....


( ___ )------------------------------------------------------------( ___ )
 | / | Tom Vervaeke           Email:tom_vervaeke@hp0800.desk.hp.com | \ |
 | / | Technology Specialist  Snail: 1900 Garden of the Gods Rd.    | \ |
 | / | Hewlett Packard Co.           Colorado Springs, CO 80901     | \ |
 | / | Colorado Springs, CO   Voice    : 719-590-2133               | \ |
 | / | USA                    Fax      : 719-590-2117               | \ |
 | / |--------------------------------------------------------------| \ |
 | / | Quote of the week...                                         | \ |
 |___|           Quote deleted do to lack of creativity !!!         |___|
(_____)------------------------------------------------------------(_____)
   ^                                                                  ^
From: cole@unix.SRI.COM (Susan Cole)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: answering machines -- result
Date: 13 Jan 93 01:09:24 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, California

In response to my request for quick recommendations for answering
machines last week, I got two recommendations, both for AT&T machines.
One wasn't sure of the model (but I suspect it was the 1323, the one I
got) and the other was for the 1339, which uses a chip for both
incoming and outgoing messages.

I ended up getting the 1323, mostly because it was available where I was
shopping (Best) and seemed to have desirable features.  It seems just fine so
far.  I paid $89 and the features include:

	Two outgoing messages
	Remote message retrieval with help menu
	auto cutoff if phone is picked up while machine is answering
	day/time stamp
	personal memo (I doubt I'll use this)
	call recording option
	important call alert that allows your friends to dial a special code
	   that signals you to stop lurking and pick up the damn phone :-)

The mechanical voice IS very mechanical-sounding.  Also, since this is just
an answering machine (no phone) the clarity of my outgoing message isn't as
good as on my previous phone/answering machine where I recorded it by
speaking into the phone.
From: x90shroff@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: WANTED: GRE BOOK AND DISK
Date: 9 Jan 93 15:50:46 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

Hi,
I am looking for a book on GRE and computer disk. If you have them for sale
please email me back with your offer.

Thanks,

Sanjay Shroff
x90shroff@gw.wmich.edu

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: pjulich@su102a.ess.harris.com (Paul M. Julich)
Subject: Central A/C recommendations
Date:  8 Jan 93 19:01:29 GMT
Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne  FL
Keywords: A/C
Summary: Any recommendations for central A/C

I just received word that the A/C at my house is dead.  Does
anyone out there have any advice on brands, horror stories, etc.
I plan to replace with a 2 1/2 ton heat pump unit.  My repair
man recommended a Trane Unit with an SER of 11.15.

pjulich    (No fancy signature)


Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Date: Tue,  5 Jan 1993 20:46:09 -0500 
From: "Joseph S. Mertz" <jm7l+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Remote Control Extender(tm)


Damark is advertising a "REMEX Klone/BC, Remote Control Extender"
which supposedly allows you to extend the control of your TV/VCR
remote to all areas of your house.

Do these work?

Thanks,
  Joe Mertz
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:21527 misc.consumers.house:16312
From: davek@informix.com (David Kosenko)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Washer,Dryer,Fridge & Stove All At Once!
Date: 5 Jan 93 21:01:23 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

jongsma@benzie.si.com writes:
>
>When we were in a similar situation, we found that some manufacturers
>were offering rebates of $50 per unit, when you bought more than
>one unit by the same manufacturer.
>
>The local independent applicance dealer filled us in on that one.


On a similar note, a local Appliance Chain (Tops, for those in NJ) offers
a discount (above their already "discounted" prices) when you buy 2 or more
appliances at the same time.  I imagine you could wield quite a bit of
bargaining power with most any appliance dealer (other than Sears, who I
don't believe allows their salescritters any bargaining leeway) if you are
going to be spending that much dough in one place. It's less likely that
you could do as well going to several different places to get the "best"
price on each item.

Dave
-- 
Disclaimer: These opinions are not those of Informix Software, Inc.
**************************************************************************
"I look back with some satisfaction on what an idiot I was when I was 25,
 but when I do that, I'm assuming I'm no longer an idiot." - Andy Rooney
From: andrew@frip.WV.TEK.COM (Andrew Klossner)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Can a landlord refuse cash?
Date: 7 Jan 93 01:34:36 GMT
Reply-To: andrew@frip.wv.tek.com
Organization: Tektronix Color Printers, Wilsonville, Oregon

[]

	"If the 7-11 doesn't have to accept your $100 bill after dark,
	your landlord is certainly not going to be forced to accept six
	of them, from multiple parties, on the same day."

The 7-11 doesn't have to give you *change* for your $100 bill.  If you
buy $100 worth of goods, they'll take the bill and stuff it into the
safe.

	"You cannot be forced to leave (in most states) unless a judge
	tells you to, and then they have to get a sherrif or officer of
	the court to do the actual forceful eviction if you don't leave
	voluntarily."

All true.  But, if you make the landlord try to evict you, this will be
noted in a database somewhere and it will haunt you for years.

  -=- Andrew Klossner  (andrew@frip.wv.tek.com)
                       (uunet!tektronix!frip.WV.TEK!andrew)
From: cooper@seismo.CSS.GOV (Dale Cooper)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: DISPUTE OVER A BILL WITH SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER!
Date: 8 Jan 93 20:39:16 GMT
Organization: Center for Seismic Studies, Arlington, VA

In article <prk.726482825@polaris> prk@planet.bt.co.uk (Peter Knight) writes:

>I have been reading this thread with incredulity:
>
>More civilised countries, eg the UK, have laws about unsolicited goods,
>ie products you didn't order and so have no contract with the supplier.

Not meant as a flame but I think you missed something.  We, (the US - another
semi-civilised country ;) ) to the best of my knowledge, have similar laws. The 
key thing that I think you are missing here is that this was NOT an unsolicited
offer.

The gentleman received an offer from the paper, he accepted the terms of "the
contract" (an open-ended subscription) and is now arguing that the newspaper 
is requesting payment for something that he did not request, therefore he is
not obligated to pay the balance due.

This is not, in any terms, an unsolicited offer as you have indicated.

The confusion lies in whether or not it is the responsibility of the newspaper 
to _assume_ that the subscriber wishes to end the subscription (terminate the 
contract) for whatever reason simply because he has elected to stop paying 
the balance due.

>Basically, if anyone does send you things you didn't want, then 
>
>1	You don't have to pay for them;
>
>2	You don't have to pay for them to be sent back;
>
>3	You may dispose of them after a reasonable time.

Sounds reasonable to me.

>The only obligation is that, if the supplier does request his goods
>back within a reasonable time, you should make them available to him.

>Peter Knight
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: mja@philabs.philips.com (Michael Amato)
Subject: Re: Washer,Dryer,Fridge & Stove All At Once!
Originator: mja@hercules
Reply-To: mja@philabs.philips.com (Michael Amato)
Organization: Philips Laboratories, Briarcliff, NY 10510
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 20:51:41 GMT


I just finished a total kitchen remodel so I'll tell you what I did.

Range:	GE sealed burner self cleaning converted gas (to propane), analog
	clock, white door with black trim. Stay away from grey burner caps.
	   We were told by salespersons that the sealed burner models would
	   not work well with propane. GE customer service assured us it would
	   and it does work great. Just follow the conversion instructions.

Ref.	Amana side by side, cabinet depth (box 23.5"x 35.75" wide) 20 cuft.,
	ice maker but no dispener.- Only low priced cabinet depth around.

Disp.	Kitchenaid batch garbage disp, 1hp.

Dish.	Maytag (new model). We were going to get a kitchenaid but these new
	   Maytags came out and they are quiet and have an excellent rack design.

Total for all was around $2,400 including tax and delivery. I shopped around
and got everyones best package prices, then went to Tops and they beat
the lowest by $200. I can get model numbers and price breakdown
if anyone is really interested. Don't need a washer or dryer.
-- 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Michael Amato  DoD#0639 | "If pro is the opposite of con,       |
| mja@philabs.philips.com | then what is Congress"? - Will Rogers |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: alasnik@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Adam Lasnik)
Subject: Chase Visa Gold -- your opinion wanted.
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 23:13:48 GMT


Hi folks,

I just got a Chase Visa Gold card for no annual fee, and it almost sounds too
good to be true.  I'm worried that the card may lacking in some area that
could turn out to be important.

In general, I'd be interested in knowing about:
--Chase's customer service record... have you been satisfied?
--Their Chase Bonus Dollar promotion... is it really worth much?
--Their buyer's protection and extended warranty -- has anyone had good or bad
experiences with them... and are they only secondary protection (i.e., do I
have to exhaust my own insurance coverage first?)

I just bought a 14.4 modem with my new Chase card, and I want to be reassured
that Chase will be on MY side if I have any problems.

Also, since this is my first Gold card, I'm not even really sure what I should
demand or expect from Chase.  Though I can't really complain TOO much about a
free card <g>, I would like to know if Chase is truly a good company to stick
with.  In these days with so many different credit card prices, perks, and
levels of service, it's really confusing trying to figure out what's best to
do.  And yes, I do know that there is an excellent credit card FAQ out
there... but of course, it doesn't say anything specifically about Chase.

Thanks in advance for any information you might have.

--ADAM "KEYS" LASNIK from Northwestern University

P.S. -- In case you're interested in obtaining more info on the Chase Visa
Gold, you can either find the ad on Prodigy ([JUMP]: Chase), or you can call
the customer service number listed on the back of my card: 800 441 2753
From: fritz@fc.sde.hp.com (Gary Fritz)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Bread makers: recommendations?
Date: 5 Jan 1993 15:09:47 GMT
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpfcgf.sde.hp.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

John DiMarzio (john@ice.stx.com) wrote:
: I don't personally own one, but, my brother has a Welbilt model 
: that came highly reccommended.

Different strokes, I guess.  I have a low opinion of the DAK/Welbilt machines.
Here's my standard posting on that:


From my observations of several years of DAK-comments on the net, 
including following the entire history of the bread-machine mailing list:
(note, the list is now defunct, so don't bother asking how to subscribe)

  - I don't recall EVER seeing a complaint for Hitachi, Panasonic,
    Zojirushi, et al breadmakers.  I DO recall seeing comments and
    recommendations from *many* happy owners of these machines.

  - Many owners of DAK/Welbilt breadmakers are happy with their machines.

  - MANY owners of DAK/Welbilt breadmakers are NOT happy with their
    machines, myself included.  I have heard many dozens of complaints,
    ranging from "it started making gooey-centered bread" to "it locked up
    while baking, filled my house with smoke, and melted the plastic casing
    before I got home and pulled the plug on it."

  - The people who had problems with DAK/Welbilt machines have had virtually
    NO satisfaction from the DAK and Welbilt "customer service" organizations,
    ranging from "couldn't call the number, I tried for weeks and it was
    always busy" to "They sent me back the same machine with no apparent
    fixes or improvement."

  - Many, many people have sent their machines in for repairs and had it
    replaced, or were so unsatisfied with their machines that they just
    returned them.  My conjecture is that these unsatisfactory machines
    are "buffed up" and sold as "reconditioned" models.  (If they didn't
    fix the damn things when they were repeatedly sent in for repair while
    under warrantee, why would they fix them before reselling them?)

My conclusion from the above, AND the frequent complaints on the net
about DAK's service, products, hype, etc., is that I would definitely
recommend that someone spend the $30 to $100 more to get a *good*
breadmaker.  Get one that you can enjoy, and avoid the ruined loaves,
frustration, returns for repair, etc.  It's WORTH the extra money.

Gary
From: mbuscho@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Michelle Buscho)
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 02:29:48 GMT
Subject: Re: Foreign ATM Fees Re: Dedicated ATM card?
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

I haven't seen this mentioned yet - in California, many of the major chain
grocery stores (Safeway, Lucky, etc.) allow paying for groceries at the
checkstand with an ATM card and getting cash back.  Wells Fargo Bank and Bank
of America don't charge anything for it, although they do charge for using a
foreign ATM.  Your only payment option is to use funds from your checking
account.  The same input devices are used to pay by credit card also.

Some gas stations, like Arco, also offer payment by ATM card (Arco tacks on
a 20 cent transaction fee, but then their gas is usually several cents less
a gallon) and they also offer cash back (I don't know if there's a fee for it).

It's great for getting cash when I'm in a place nowhere near a Wells Fargo
branch, and it feels much safer when I need to get cash at night (rather than
standing at an ATM in the dark).

Michelle
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jennings@ssdt-tempe.sps.mot.com (Tim Jennings)
Subject: Re: 10 CDs for the price of 1: kosher?
Reply-To: jennings@ssdt-tempe.sps.mot.com
Organization: Motorola, Inc.
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 20:00:35 GMT

In article 17534@news.acns.nwu.edu, alasnik@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Adam Lasnik) writes:
$$$In <1iagejINN1s9@athena.sdsu.edu> dunster@sdsu.edu (mark dunster) writes:
$$$Hi Mark,
$$$
$$$I've never heard of the 10-for-1 deal, but I've taken advantage of club
$$$8-for-1 deals... MANY times :-)  Here is how I figure they make their money
$$$off this arrangement:
$$$--People forget to send back the "selection-of-the-month" card, and so
$$$consequently get stuck with the overpriced CD whether they want it or not.
$$$--The clubs STILL charge nearly $2 per disk "shipping and handling" and let me
$$$tell you, it does NOT cost $2 to "ship" or likely even "handle" a CD :-) 
$$$Obviously, this reaps in some dough.
$$$--The clubs get great bulk deals on certain labels, and are therefore able to
$$$undersell stores because they also don't have the overhead.
$$$
$$$I've tried a number of clubs, and my favorite is BMG.  8-for-1, nothing else
$$$to buy.  The selection isn't fabulous, but I never have trouble picking out my
$$$eight CD's... and what's even more fun is that I sign up my parents every
$$$year, so when I return from college, I get another 8-for-1, and then I sign
$$$myself up at college, and so on :-)  Legitimate AND quite a deal...
$$$
$$$Just don't forget to return your selection cards on time!
$$$
$$$--ADAM "KEYS" LASNIK from Northwestern University
$$$
$$$P.S. -- For non-club purchases, I'd highly recommend buying through the mail
$$$order companies CD-DIRECT (for incredible service and selection) and
$$$NOTEWORTHY MUSIC (for on-line ordering and awesome prices)

The BMG deal is the best but you really only get 4 CD's to start. 4 at the start,
1 when you buy a real CD for FULL price, and 2 more CD's when you've been in
the club for a year. 

I haven't been in it for awhile so this might have changed.


---
----------------------
Timothy J. Jennings 			"I Yam What I Yam."
Motorola SSDT Division			--Popeye
email: jennings@ssdt-tempe.sps.mot.com
From: caa@Unify.Com (Chris A. Anderson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Can a landlord refuse cash?
Date: 8 Jan 93 19:19:47 GMT
Reply-To: caa@unify.com (Chris Anderson)
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: Unify Corporation, Sacramento, California

In article <1993Jan7.011147.28902@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU> ash@sumex-aim.stanford.edu (David Ash) writes:
> In article <1iepa2INNnav@sixgun.East.Sun.COM> egreen@east.sun.com writes:
> >Theft attractiveness via holding large amounts of cash on a regular
> >schedule is a legitimate concern.  If the 7-11 doesn't have to accept
> >your $100 bill after dark, your landlord is certainly not going to be
> >forced to accept six of them, from multiple parties, on the same day.
> 
> The difference is that the 7-11 is not obligated to do business with
> you.  The landlord, once he/she has signed the lease, is obligated to
> do business for the duration of the lease.  If the lease specifies
> payment to be made by check or money order then fine, but otherwise it
> seems like cash should be acceptable.

That seems ridiculous.  See that part on the dollar bill where it says
"Legal tender for all debts, public and private"?  I can't see any
circumstances where it would not be acceptable to use cash.

I have had stores that refused to sell to me unless I used a credit
card -- after reading that section to them I have had several of them
backpedal and accept cash.  Others have still refused, and I've refused
to do business with them.

Sigh.

Chris
-- 
+------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Chris Anderson, Unify Corp.                caa@unify.com  |
+------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: timlee@netcom.com (Timothy J. Lee)
Subject: Re: Bank questions and a Discover card questio
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Reply-To: timlee@netcom.com (Timothy J. Lee)
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1993 04:32:40 GMT

egreen@east.sun.com writes:
|
|I fail to understand why anyone who qualifies for membership in a
|Credit Union would bank at a commercial bank.  For all "normal"
|consumer banking needs (checking, savings, CDs, loans, VISA, notarites
|public, ATMs, etc), every credit union I have ever been affiliated with
|offers at least a comparable level of service, and costs FAR less.  In
|fact, THEY PAY YOU!

Not all credit unions are that good.  I compared a credit union for which
I am eligible for with a local S&L.  The S&L was better in most respects
(savings interest rates, financial strength, lower fees, savings minimum
balance, CD rates, CD terms available, checks returned), same in some
others (checking minimum balance), and worse in only one (checking interest
rates).

-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy J. Lee                                        timlee@netcom.com
No warranty of any kind is provided with this message.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers