HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: GM Parts Ripoff
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 00:43:46 GMT

bkottmann@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil (Brett Kottmann) writes:

: >>is starting to leak a little in the rain.  When the parts man told me
: >>the cost, I said "I'm not paying $192 for $5 worth of rubber" and
: >>walked out. Yes, that's $192 for about 15 feet of weatherstripping.
: > 
: > Just a side note, in the future treat all your weatherstripping with
: > Silicon spray about every six months and it will last lots longer.
: 
: 	Vaseline works well, too.

I am not so sure about that. It seems that I recall Vaseline being bad
for the rubber. I believe it causes it to rot.

Bill
From: joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: DISCOVER card
Date: 8 Oct 92 11:51:50 GMT
Reply-To: joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph)
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: usa
Organization: GE Research


In article <1992Sep30.042910.12175@news.acns.nwu.edu>, alasnik@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Adam Lasnik) writes:
>THINKING about?  Geez, I have no annual fee attached to my Discover card, and
>I'm very close to canceling it unless they pay ME to keep darn thing :-)
>Seriously though, it's got an obnoxiously high interest rate, and their
>commercials about their "interest-free" loans are stupid and insulting
>(considering the 2 or 2.5% surcharge for less than a month of a loan -- that
>works out to an actual interest charge of between 24 and 30 per cent!)
>
    I found their cash advance to be a bargain when I needed
cash once in the past.  I rearranged my finances so that I will take the
cash advance immediately after the closing date of a monthly cycle.  If
I take advance of more than $1000 (NOTE: not 1000 dollars, but MORE THAN
1000 dollars), the cash advance fee is 1.5% of the loan amount.  So
my cash advance fee was $15.02 for a loan of $1,001.  When the loan
amount showed up on the monthly statement that arrived a month later,
I still had another 25 days to pay back the money. So I got the use
of the money for about 55 days.  That worked out to be 
(15.02/1001)*(365/55)*100 = 9.96 percent interest rate.
I thought that was a pretty good deal for an unsecured loan.

   Since I don't carry a balance on the credit card, their obnoxiously
high interest rate hasn't hurt me so far.

   james joseph          joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: smoon@strfleet.gsfc.nasa.gov (Sang J. Moon)
Subject: Hechinger power equipment return policy
Organization: NASA GSFC Code 534.3
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 20:14:55 GMT

Hechinger has a very aggravating return policy for large equipment like
lawnmowers.  I suggest avoiding buying power equipment from Hechinger.

I bought a lawnboy lawnmower from Hechingers.  I followed all the
instructions to the letter in assembling it, but I had put in too much
oil.  I thought a little extra oil wasn't going to affect a lawnboy, but
the mower died after mowing an 1/8 of an acre.  I followed all the
trouble-shooting instructions including replacing the spark plug, but
it still didn't start.  I returned the lawnboy to Hechingers the following
day.  They said that I couldn't just return a defunct lawnmower which
made sense, but I had to pay a $25 deposit for them to look at it to
see if the extra oil had killed it or if it was a manufacturering fault.
This was annoying, but I followed their lead.  They said they had to send
the lawnmower out to be repaired to their center which was in a nearby
town and they didn't know exactly when it would be repaired which was
very annoying.  They gave me a round figure of 14 days, but it's now
21 days, and they can't even give me a status of the lawnmower.  I am
considering just returning the lawnmower when they ever get it back to
me and just buy it somewhere else that has better service.  This has
cost me time and money to travel back and forth from Hechingers and to
mow the lawn using other methods.

Sang J. Moon
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17546 alt.politics.elections:15500
From: giand@opencon.com (Deepak S. Gianchandani)
Subject: Re: Cordless phones
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Summary: ATT&T 5500
Keywords: Cordless Phones
Organization: OpenCon Systems, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 19:12:31 GMT

In article <Bvpr0o.DqI@fc.sde.hp.com> jgg@fc.sde.hp.com writes:
>My wife and I are interested in getting a cordless phone to replace the
>model we have now.  We do not need pre-programmed numbers, paging, nor
>intercom capabilities.  More than two channels would be nice, but not
>necessary.  Reliability and dependability would be _very_ nice.  We are
>looking for something in the $80 - $120 range, but I'd like to hear
>about anything, even if it's more than $120.
>
>Please send me Email or respond here--I'll read the group for a while to
>monitor responses.
>
>- Jay Geertsen
>  jgg@fc.sde.hp.com


	Sir, I would recommend the AT&T 5500, it has all the features
that you are NOT looking for.  It has 10 channels. The price on sale
at Caldor's runs around 140 to $150. If you don't want the features the
5500 has go for a lesser model.  I can only recommend the 5500 as that
is what I have.  The 5500 has a very clear voice, even the speaker
phone is great on voice clarity (actually the best that I have seen on
speaker).  One thing I did want is paging -- because if I (or my child) 
ever put's the Handset somewhere -- I can page it and hear where the 
handset is.
	I believe AT&T has models which have the same "internals" but
lesser features, so the price will be a lot less.

	Hope it helps

-- 

Deepak S. Gianchandani
E-mail:giand@opencon.com
From: lederman@taney.uscghq.uscg.mil
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Lead paint tester
Date: 15 Oct 92 12:18:05 EST
Organization: United States Coast Guard

In article <Aer86tK00UhW05gUhS@andrew.cmu.edu>, dg10+@andrew.cmu.edu (David Goldreich) writes:
> 
> Does anybody know of a cheap and/or easy way to test if the paint
> in my apartment are lead based?

    Try Edmund Scientific (phone number for technical information
 609-573-6879 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays Eastern time).  They
 have a kit for $39.95 that tests for lead in paint, soil,
 dinnerwear, imported toys, etc.  I haven't used it, but I've
 found Edmund to be a good supplier in the past.  Other companies
 probably also have the same kit, but this is the only one I know
 of.  Ask for a catalog while you're at it.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.politics.elections
From: dedek@meaddata.com (Mike Dedek)
Subject: Re: buying diamond?
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 13:00:13 GMT

In article <1atbbbINN112@male.EBay.Sun.COM>, nenik@ebseed.EBay.Sun.COM (Neni) writes:
|> 
|> Since people were discussing diamond buying, I'd like
|> to ask a few questions as well....
|> 
|> In general, when is the biggest diamond sale in the year?
|> Thanksgiving? Christmas? Valentine's day? or others? 
|> 
|> Also, any recommendations on good jewelers in the Bay Area?
|> and can a regular consumer buy diamond from the wholesale
|> stores? Any advice will be appreciated!!
|> 
|> Neni

I've heard that January was the best time for diamonds.  This was in an 
article which gave the "best" buying times for several types of goods.
Wish I could remember the rest...

Mike



Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.politics.elections
From: strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight)
Subject: Re: Cable Bill Rip-off
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 18:19:16 GMT


Alan L. Peterman argues that the local broadcasters produce programming
which the cable companies should pay for.

Fine. If the local braodcasters would provide the programming without
advertising attached, and the cable companies could optionally choose
such programming according to their judgement as to viewer interest,
and could add their own advertising, no problem.

But that's not the current situation.
From: ram@watson.bms.com (Gena Ram)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Citishopper..anyone? anyone?
Date: 15 Oct 92 17:55:00 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1

In article <7265@transfer.stratus.com>, savoia@sw.stratus.com (Rick Savoia) writes...
> 
> 
>Citibank keeps calling and bugging me to join this
>neat little feature of theirs.  Apparently you
>are supposed to get some great deals through
>the Citishopper program.  Well, I signed up
>for their $1 30 day trial membership and I haven't
>seen too many great deals.  Does anyone out there
>actually use this and is it worth it?  

If you live anywhere near civilization, this is probably not a good service, 
especially if there is a discount/wholesale store(s) nearby.  Their prices are 
not that good and for what you pay for the service if you buy the yearly fee, 
you need to buy alot of stuff!  I belonged to it for a year, then after my 
brief experience (story follows) asked for my yearly fee back (which they tell 
you they can do) and instead, they wanted to give me another year for free.  I 
didn't want another year, so they gave me a credit for the fee, and an 
additional year for free, plus a $20 credit voucher twords merchandise.  I 
never used it, and when they called me to renew (for a fee) I said, "No, and 
don't try to sell me, the answer is no."  It is a racket as far as I am 
concerned.

>A Sony CPDC-325 5 disc CD player:  
> 
>Lechmere price:  $220.
>Citishopper price:  $209.

I had the expierence of purchasing a CD player and then found it cheaper in a 
shopping mall!  Although they garantee their prices, you have to find it in a 
published adverisement in order to make a claim.

>Now granted, that's with delivery and all, but
>I'm wondering if there are any good deals with 
>this thing?  Is it worth keeping?  

Not in my opinion!


Gena
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: richard@pegasus.com (Richard Foulk)
Subject: Re: waterbed question about heaters
Organization: Pegasus,  Honolulu
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 92 00:52:19 GMT

>
>With my soft-side water bed, I don't even need a water heater.  One didn't 
>come with it, and I've found no need for one, even in cold Ohio winters.
>

Fine.  But you're missing half the fun of a real waterbed.

Waveless, wrapped up, insulated waterbeds are for wimps (and people
who've never tried the real thing).


-- 
Richard Foulk		richard@pegasus.com
From: C058SJLX@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: lasses
Date: 12 Oct 92 13:16:29 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo


   A year and a half ago I got two sets of glasses for $50 at one of
  those stores that have this offer for first-time customers.  I have
  been using my glasses everyday and they are fine, the frame is
  comfortable and the plastic lenses have no scratches ( I am not
  very careful :-) ).  Granted, the styles of the frames are no
  top-of-the line (to say the least), but I do not care.
    You have to be alert, they tried to apply to me this "switching"
   strategy.  They showed me a lot of frames at $100+, when I made
  clear that I was there for the $50 offer they tried to sell me
  various treatements for the lenses.  I am very satisfied with the
  glasses.  I have not used my second pair.
               Eleazar Puente
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.boats
From: davidm@meaddata.com (David Miller)
Subject: Re: Houseboating on Lake Powell
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 11:49:07 GMT
Distribution: na

In article <1992Oct12.185202.8739@dbsun.uucp>, meyer@dbsun.uucp (Don Meyer) writes:
|> I really appreciate the information posted so far on this topic.
|> We have called the houseboat place, and the only one with any
|> available (for the period we desire) is Hite, the northernmost of
|> the marinas.  Assuming we would not be traveling down to
|> the lower portions of the lake (time), is the scenery up north
|> worth it?  I'm asuming there is a reason that Hite books up last.

Hite is simply the most remote of the marinas, measured from So. Cal.....
I thought the lake was wondeful everywhere (but I only made it as far up the
lake as the Escalante...).  Since the lake is a flooded canyon, more of it is
under water down by the dam.  Next summer, we're going out of Bullfrog, and
heading up the lake first.

|> 
|> 
|> Here are the phone numbers of the "Houseboat Marinas":
|>  Advanced reservations (all): (800) 528-6154
|>  Wahweap:         (602) 645-2433
|>  Bullfrog:        (801) 684-2233
|>  Hall's Crossing: (801) 684-2261
|>  Hite:            (801) 684-2278
|> 
|> According to one of the pamplets we recieved, publications may be
|> ordered via the reservation phone number.  A sampling:
|>    Houseboating On Lake Powell by Bob Hirsh (94 pp, $6.95)

This was OK.  Given the cost of the trip, spend the $7.  It has some good tips.
|>    Planning & Enjoying a Lake Powell Houseboat vacation (24 pp, $1.00)
|>    Video: Lake Powell Houseboating (31 min., $19.95)
If this is like most other things, it is all promo. 
|> 
|> Don
|> -- 
|> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> meyer%dbsun.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu        |||     I am at two with nature.
|> Opinions expressed are personal.         |||       -- Woody Allen

-- 
David James Miller                        Architecture&Systems Evolution
Mead Data Central, B6F3                   (513) 865-7441
PO Box 933                                davidm@meaddata.com
Dayton Ohio 45401                         I speak for me, not MDC
From: cjc@nwu.edu (Christopher J. Chen)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Which Cordless Phone?
Date: 13 Oct 92 15:41:40 GMT
Article-I.D.: mac182.cjc-131092104205
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: Northwestern University

In article <1992Oct12.170946.28294@intellistor.com>,
pliuskon@intellistor.com (Saul Pliuskonis) wrote:
> 
> This is probably a FAQ, but since I don't have the FAQ posting.....
> 
> Which cordless phone, in the $100.00 price range, gives the best
> overall performance?

I was following this thread for awhile, and came up with the following
5 models that people recommended:

Panasonic KXT-3000
Panasonic KXT-3720
Panasonic KXT-4000
AT&T 5500
AT&T 5400

These all work in the normal 45-49MHz range that we're all used to:  some
people mentioned the new 900MHz phones which are supposed to have less
distortion and more range, but they're so expensive that hardly anyone's
tried them, though those who have say they like them.

I, personally, was wavering between the Panasonic 3720 and 4000 models:
the 3720 is your standard, 10-channel, sound-enhanced, 7-day model
while the 4000 has a flip-type handset and a keypad and speakerphone on
the base for twice the money.  I decided to go with the 3270 since I
really didn't need all the features of the 4000:  I got mine at a local
Best Buy for $87 + tax.  If you want a speakerphone on the base, there
was a 3730 model that has it.

As for how much I *like* it, well, with the handset's rubber flexible
antenna
fully extended I don't find any bad areas in my apartment, which is
chock-full
of possible interference:  microwave, TV, stereo, fluorescent light, etc.
One of the *nicest* features of the phone to a paranoid like me is that
when
the handset is in the base charging, no cordless calls can be made on my
line.
I find that *very* reassuring:  I can leave it in the base while I'm gone
for the day and not have to worry about spoofed calls.

Overall, I'm very happy with my Panasonic:  the sound quality is
*wonderful*.
I called my parents long distance with my new phone and they didn't know
the
difference.  I'd recommend it to you, especially near the price I bought it
at.

Good luck.


cjc
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: houck@scivax.stsci.edu
Subject: Q's on moving to AUSTRALIA!!!!!
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 16:36:37 GMT




I am interested in moving to Australia. To anyone who has ever done this from 
the U.S., I would appreciate some pros and cons on your experience. As I have
never relocated out of the country before, I have no idea of the first steps
to take. Is it hard, difficult or even practically impossible? What are the 
restrictions and conditions by which residency can be established if one were
to wish a permanent stay? 

I am 29 and will be finishing a masters degree within the year, so I have time
to plan in advance.

Thanks for any help or advice.

Daniel

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: fritz@fc.sde.hp.com (Gary Fritz)
Subject: Re: URGENT -- Info needed on Lifespring
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 19:32:12 GMT

I know several people who went through Lifespring in Denver.  For most
of them it was a positive experience; they were all very shy and are now
much more self-confident and comfortable with themselves.  And they went
through LS about 8-10 years ago, so it seems to have "stuck".

On the other hand, one person I know came practically unglued.  He was,
in my opinion, unstable when he returned.  He ended up quitting his job
to work with LS, and after a year or two of that became disillusioned
and got a "real" job again.

There's no doubt they're a hard-sell.  I think they verge on brainwashing.
But I can't give them a blanket condemnation.  For the folks I mentioned
above, it has meant a real improvement in their lives.

On the other hand, there are much lower-pressure ways to gain that same
self-awareness.  My personal favorite is the Leadership Dynamics class
offered by Espial, the direct-line-marketing company my wife & I work with.
I've seen the same kind of results coming out of that class that I saw in
several of the people I knew who went through LS.

Bottom line:  be very very careful.  LS isn't inherently evil, but I don't
care for many of their methods.  Don't let them pressure you into a $900 class
unless YOU decide YOU want to do it, and YOU have good reasons to do it that 
YOU believe.  YOU decide -- NOT them.

Gary
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: johnson@spectra.com (boyd johnson)
Subject: Anyone ever hear of "National Assn. of Female Execs (NAFE")?
Organization: Spectragraphics Corporation
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 92 04:21:26 GMT


My wife just received a solicitation for membership in the "National
Association for Female Executives" or NAFE based in NY, NY.
 
Does anyone have any information about the organization they could
share with me?  Please send email and I'll post a summary, or you can
post it if you have information you think the rest of the group would
be interested in seeing it.  By emailing me information your consent
to be quoted is implied unless I'm asked not to in your email.
 
It looks like a reputable professional networking group, but we have
reason to be suspicious of it.
It came bulk rate.
They claim to have a "local organization in virtually every major city
-- including the one nearest you", but they are not listed in the San
Diego phone book.
"Fewer than 8% of the women in this country will ever receive the
honor you've been given by our Nominating Committee.", which probably
means they got a mailing list of 8 - 10 million women they're sending
this bulk mailing to.
 
On the plus side, it's only $29 annual dues, refundable if not
satisfied (they say).
They send a bi-monthly magazine plus several booklets and tests "to
help you build your career".
A resume service, an electronic "Head Hunter Service", credit line,
savings on plane tickets, car rentals, hotels, etc., discounted books,
group rates on insurance.
 
Excuse me for rambling on, but I'm trying to give you a feel for what
this organization is all about to see if anyone has had any good or
bad experiences with similar offers.
 
Thanks in advance!
Boyd Johnson
 
-- 
======== Boyd Johnson    nosc!spectra.com!johnson  San Diego, Ca. ========
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: greg@netcom.com (Greg Bullough)
Subject: Re: How do I handle Phone harassment?
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 02:56:48 GMT

In article <1992Oct12.211949.21237@informix.com> neilw@informix.com (Neil Williams) writes:
>In article <1992Oct11.152712.4956@eng.umd.edu> georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
>>In article <cT2gsB5w165w@pcsnode.uucp> bazelmans@pcsnode.uucp (Rudy Bazelmans) writes:
>>>
>>>Simply report them to the phone company.  They will handle it.
>>
>>The phone company in all probability will do nothing. Their department
>>that deals with investigating abusive phone calls is so swamped with
>>work that you will probably get nothing but a busy signal when
>>you try to call them.
>
>My experience backs this up.  My (now) wife had been receiving
>harrassing phone calls for several months before she called the
>phone company.  They told her they couldn't do anything and that
>she had to file a police report. 

My experience with Pacific Bell was exactly the contrary. I was getting
a series of hang-up calls. I called Pac Bell, who asked me to file a
police report, which is required to document the fact that the line
is being monitored for good cause. This could be done both in San Jose
and Santa Clara over the phone. 
 
Ten minutes later, that done, I called the person at Pac Bell back,
and she set up the trap. I was then asked to log the events. Two
events from the same number within two minutes of the time I logged 
would have raised a red flag. I found an answering machine with a
time stamp to be helpful.
 
Now, if I had refused to cooperate by filing a police report (as they
indeed tell you to do) they couldn't have helped me. Was your (now)
wife unwilling to do so?
 
Greg
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17699 alt.politics.elections:16153
From: tzs@stein.u.washington.edu (Tim Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.politics.elections
Subject: Re: Cable Bill Rip-off
Date: 12 Oct 92 03:16:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Oct12.031628.29185
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

In article <adams.718479079@spssig> adams@spss.com (Steve Adams) writes:
>1) Cable companies are REQUIRED to carry the network stations
>
>2) Cable companies are REQUIRED to pay the networks
>
>3) No controls on network charges appear to have been set

I believe that you are confusing two (or possibly three) separate sections
of the Cable Act.  There's a section that covers retransmission of things
other than local broadcast stations, and another section that covers
retransmission of local broadcast stations.

--Tim Smith
From: pcjg7045@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Pramod C. John)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: 3c503 vs wd8013
Date: 15 Oct 92 23:54:58 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.Bw6t3M.GI5
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

Hi,
	I have a 3c503 (8-bit) and a wd8013 (16-bit) (ethernet cards) I am 
wondering why the 8-bit card seems to be faster than the 16 bit card ?

Pramod

-- 
Pramod John, Dept. of ECE at UIUC 
email: Pramod@uiuc.edu
"Blessed are the peacemakers"- Jesus Christ
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: joni@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (joni.dunlap)
Subject: KM vitamins
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 15:16:07 GMT

I have a girlfriend that is selling this vitamine suppliment called KM.
She has been trying to sell me this stuff for about 6 months now. She 
claims that you will instantly start feeling better within a week of using  
the stuff on a daily basis. Well the stuff is expensive and sound like a 
lot of snake oil. Any and all comments about the stuff welcome. 
 
Joni :)