HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dipace@bu.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Thermostats
Date: 13 Apr 92 18:12:53 GMT

In article <ku8pufINN3m9@spim.mips.com> mpolen@gelato.mips.com (Michael Polen)
writes:
>In misc.consumers, monty%roscom@think.com (Monty Solomon) writes:
>
>>A HVAC installer recommended powering the thermostat via a different  
>>transformer from the one in the furnace.  He claims that transients and
surges  
>>could occur when the motor comes on and would have a detrimental effect on
the  
>>thermostat.
>>    Is there any validity to his claim?
>
>Your HVAC installer probably got his training at Sears.  Most thermostats do
not get their
>poser from the furnace transformer.  The lines coming to the thermostats are
control
>lines.  Mechanical thermostats are switches, and they switch HVAC power.  It
would be like
>saying your light switch could get power from somewhere other than the lights
power.  This
>is also like stringing you hammock between two imaginary trees.
>
>Electronic thermostats are battery powered.  They also switch HVAC power.  The
two
>functions are seperate.
>
>I would report the guy to the BBB.
>
>Mike Polen
>MIPS Computer Systems (today)
>

No, No, no the installer WAS correct. All electronic therostats that I have
seen take their power FROM THE 'CONTROL LINES'. They use such a small trickle
current that they do not trip the furance relay(until they want to, of course).
The trick is they depend on the furnace having a relay so that a current will
flow, through the relay coil, even when the relay is not tripped. When the
circuit from the furance doesn't use a relay than a separate transformer/relay
is required. The battery is there for power failures only and is usually of the
rechargable type. If the therostat always says it is in backup or power fail
mode then you need the separate transformer/replay, but you still 'run' the
thermostat from its control lines.
There are a few thermostats that are battery power only but they usually take
three or more AA batteries.

Ones I know that are powered 'through' the heating system are: Honeywell,
White-rodgers(same as Sears) Dayton, and digistat.

On the lighter side--- I use the same transformer for the doorbells and the
thermostats. Never had any problem until one day the furnace would come on. I
took every thing apart, of course. When I finially traced it down to the
transformer and disconnected it, my son told me the door bell rang once? SUre
enough when I checked the doorbell button there was a snowshovel leaning
against it!!! Everything worked fine once the shovel was removed.

Frank


From: ehill@hprpcd.rose.hp.com (Eric Hill)
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 19:04:08 GMT
Subject: Re: To Repair or Replace a TV
Organization: HP Roseville Site
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

You can buy a new one for that price...Sounds like the picture tube is going.
From: andrew@frip.WV.TEK.COM (Andrew Klossner)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Thermostats
Date: 11 Apr 92 00:14:34 GMT
Reply-To: andrew@frip.wv.tek.com
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville, Oregon

[]

	"... those modern furnaces which don't have a continuous pilot
	flame.  These use a spark coil to start a small flame ..."

The two furnaces that I just installed in the house I'm building ignite
the gas with a "glow plate."  A piece of metal gets red-hot, like the
burner on an electric stove.  No sparks.

  -=- Andrew Klossner  (andrew@frip.wv.tek.com)
                       (uunet!tektronix!frip.WV.TEK!andrew)
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:10240 rec.autos:10979
From: jfarran@cuba.acs.uci.edu (Joseph Farran)
Subject: Re: Attempted cheating by Sears Auto
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 8 Apr 92 23:30:11 GMT
Distribution: na

In article  bphdarcy@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (SJ Roc D'Arcy, MBP) writes:

>Really.  I got a Craftsman drill for x-mas and the second time I used
>it, it failed.  Sears gave me one hell of a hassle trying to return it.  I
>told my wife not to by from them in the future.  Snap-on may cost more but
>they DO stand behind what they sell.

 I guess it all depends on the Sears store.  The Sears store in our city 
 has always been fantastic (for me) at refunding or exchanging an item. 
 As a matter of fact, withing a couple of months, I returned a Sega game, 
 a Super Nintendo game, a regular Nintendo game and 2 phones.   Most of
 these failed after some years and Sears was good at exchanging them for
 another, or refunding my money.

 In the case of the Super Nintendo which we bought during Christmas, it 
 failed.  We took it back and they gave us a new one and with some money 
 back because it was cheaper now than during December 8-)

 Come to think of it, I think Sears has lost money with me :-).

 Joseph
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.activism
From: matth@progress.COM (Matthew J. Harper)
Subject: Re: Discrimination at Mitsubishi
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 18:26:47 GMT

  I agree that the dealership treated you badly.  Just about everyone on the
net does.

  However, this is a huge file.  You have now posted it at least 3 times.

  Why not spend your energy nailing the dealership instead of repeated 
postings to the net?

-Matth
--
          Matthew J. Harper ! Progress Software Corp. ! {disclaimer.i}         
   God created heaven and earth to grow barley and hops. Now he homebrews !-)
From: rinehart@aramis.rutgers.edu (Mark J. Rinehart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: ***WARNING: BE CAREFUL WHEN DEALING WITH ALLSTATE INSURANCE!***
Date: 9 Apr 92 16:45:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: aramis.Apr.9.12.45.53.1992.4606
Distribution: usa
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

In article <7V9S=ZG9Y@linac.fnal.gov> junck@okra.fnal.gov (Kevin Junck) writes:

> 	It sounds like our situations are very similar, with the
> companies reversed.  When my wife and I (both over 25 and no tickets
> or accidents) recently purchased a 1991 Honda CRX, AAA wouldn't insure
> us but Allstate would.  I agree with the previous poster who said the
> best route to take is file under your own insurance and let them duke
> it out with the other insurance company.  What I'm wondering is how
> much of this is company policy and how much is due to one particular
> agent/claims adjuster...

I bet alot of it is company policy. In a similar circumstance, I
called the insurance company of the guy who hit my car, and before I
said anything about the accident, or even gave the guy my name, he
told me I was 20% at fault for being there. I then knew I was dealing
with an asshole, and treated him accordingly.

In the end, the accident was paid for 100% by the offending guys
insurance company. After all of it was straightened out, I called the
insurance guy mentioned here again, and gave him a piece of my mind.
He had no sense of humor about it 8^). I also spoke to his boss, who
was equally braindead. 

Overall, any dealings with any insurance companies must be classified
as dealing with complete and utter idiots. There is absolutely no
doubt in my mind as to why insurance companies in NJ are crying
poverty. It has everything to do with their own stupidity and
mismanagement. 



Mark
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:10174 rec.autos:10873
From: commisso@kodak.com (Susanne Commisso)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos
Subject: Re: Attempted cheating by Sears Auto
Date: 7 Apr 92 20:26:18 GMT
Reply-To: commisso@kodak.com (Susanne Commisso)
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: na
Organization: Image Processing Algorithms Laboratory, Eastman Kodak Co.

Well, unfortunately, I did not read the original article but if it
was about automotive work done by Sear's, I would not take my car there.

I took my car in for a brake job and they replaced the whole brake
system (they must have seen this woman coming).  For 3 months, I kept
bringing my car back because the brakes were still not working properly
then they discovered that the power booster was the problem but they
couldn't do the work because they don't do power boosters.  After they
looked at my car this last time, they broke the emissions tube and 
had all my vacuum hose off or hooked up wrong.  Now, I thought they
were checking brakes!!!  Well, after having the dealer get my car back
to working order, I went to Sear's and asked for my money back because
they did work that really didn't need to be done but of course, unless
you have the original parts you won't get anything back.  So, the moral
of this story is either get all parts relplaced or do the smart things 
and go somewhere else !!!

susan

"Problems of a woman and her car"
From: RJM@psuvm.psu.edu (Ray Masters)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: need advice on wedding
Date: 10 Apr 92 19:13:05 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

I missed the start of this thread, so I apologize if I'm repeating
information provided by others.  In any case, look into a Quaker
Marriage License.  They're an alternate to the conventional clergy
or J.P. oriented license and readily available in Pennsylvania (and
all other states, with varying degrees of access).  Pick it up at
the county courthouse, return it with the signatures of two witnesses
and you're married!  My wife and I enjoyed a simple but beautiful
wedding this way.
BTW--you don't have to be Quaker; your ceremony can be anything you
wish, religious or not.  A simple, one-sentence promise will suffice.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: andy@access.digex.com (Andrew M Cohn)
Subject: Tip: Improving answering machine message quality
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 12:30:08 GMT

 
You can substantially improve the voice quality of your telephone
answering machine's OUTGOING announcement . Most machines have
a built-in electret condenser microphone for recording your
announcement; however, many have the capability for recording and
changing your announcement from a remote telephone. This is the
preferred method for insuring a good quality message. Even if you
have to use a neighbor's phone, or drive to the nearest phone booth,
the quality will be dramatically improved over the built-in mike.
Check your manual to see if your machine has this feature. When
using another telephone to record, be sure there are no ambient
noises, and talk across the handset's microphone, rather than
directly into it. Personally, I've owned a variety of answering
machines over the years in my never-ending quest to avoid
telemarketers, and I have always enjoyed a 100% increase in outgoing
message quality using this method.
 

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mma@thumper.bellcore.com (Mary Ma)
Subject: Need FAQ list for No Annual Fee Visa
Reply-To: mma@thumper.bellcore.com (Mary Ma)
Organization: Bellcore MRE
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 92 12:53:24 GMT

Hi -- Can anyone please send me the list of banks that offers the above?
Thanks in advance,
Mary Lau
mma@aries.bellcore.com
"Of all the things that I have lost, I missed my mind the most......"

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jennie+@cs.cmu.edu (Jennifer Kay)
Subject: Re: Audio Books ??
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 92 16:49:21 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Distribution: na

The US government has a program for people who have a physical
handicap that prevents them from reading normal books (not just
for the blind). They'll send you free tapes and even a tape player.
Contact any blind persons association and they'll be able to give you
info about it.

Of course if you can read normal books and just want to listen to 
tapes in the car or something this isn't any help, but I thought
it might be of interest to the group anyway.

-- Jennie
From: quodling@torn8o.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Discrimination at Mitsubishi
Date: 17 Apr 92 15:45:47 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: PC/PCI Appl Group

In article <1992Apr13.202933.21913@linus.mitre.org>, rajiv@hilltop.mitre.org (Rajiv Kohli) writes:
> 
> 	This is the text of a series of conversations I had
> 	with Nashua Mitsubishi's Manager, Avery Beland, in Nashua,NH.

Some points of concern with Mr Rajiv's posting.

1. Please refrain from Profanity on the network (even in transcribing the
comments of another).

2. Mr Rajiv has showed disrespect to the fellow members of the net community by
dragging them into the issue. While some may think that it may suit their cause
to advise the individual that they are having difficulty with, that they are
notifying their associates at work etc, not to do business with him, All this
serves to do is a a. alienate the "techno-world" from the general business
community. The charter of the internet is not as a vehicle for personal
litigation support. Too much of such activity, and we will see tighter and
tighter constraints as to the use of the net. Could you imagine all of your
communications hardware being subpeona'd in an action for slander or libel on
the network (not necessarily this issue...)

3. In a couple of places early in the conversations, Mr Rajiv takes a rather
aggressive stance in the interaction. While some of the reactions are
objectionable, some also give the indication of being deliberately provoked.
The fact that the entire lengthy conversation was recorded, either via tape, or
detailed written notes, sounds remarkably like a premediated grudge was held.

4. The fact that Mr Rajiv, got such an instantaneous negative reaction in his
attempts to get service, tends to make one think that there was some prior
interchange which was not related in full. After all, as the Mitsu rep points
out, inter-dealership servicing is the norm rather than the exception (IN the
last 15 years, I only recall twice taking a car back to the original dealership
for service.)

In closing, may I suggest a little generic net-etiquette. Dont post massive
transcripts  of your business problems to the net. Dont malign corporate
entities based on difficulties you encounter with one of their employees. At
least give them the opportunity to solve the issue through their customer
satisfaction organization.

-- 
Peter Quodling		         Internet:     quodling@creatv.enet.dec.com
System Management Group          UUCP: ...!decwrl!creatv.enet!quodling
PC/PCI Applications              Phone: (508) 486 6177          _--_|\
Digital Equipment Corporation                                  /Aussie\
LTN2-1/109                                                     \_.--._/
                                 I Said it, not them                 v
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:10399 alt.privacy:1017
From: niebuhr@bnlux1.bnl.gov (david niebuhr)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.privacy
Subject: Re: capturing caller id data
Date: 11 Apr 92 11:40:50 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973

In article <1992Apr8.164111.2591@linus.mitre.org> jon@cyclone.MITRE.org (J. E. Shum) writes:
>
>In article <1992Apr04.040917.14098@disk.uucp>, tony@disk.uucp (tony) writes:
>> Well, it may not be universally known, but you can prevent folks 
>> with Caller ID devices from getting your number.  Just precede 

[discussion about dealing with collection agencies by using Caller-ID
   deleted]

All the collection agency would have to do would be to install an 800
number then they would have yours via the monthly statements provided
by the telco.  Even if it was on a hunt group, the caller could be
traced.

Caller-ID in this sense is not going to work.  Do the right thing and
'fess-up'; it'll be easier in the end and you might not get your credit
report blemished.

Dave

-- 

Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: hemant@cbnewse.cb.att.com (hemant.b.bhatt)
Subject: MCI
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 02:43:33 GMT
Keywords: cheaper?

    There is lots of discussion about AT&T/MCI/SPRINT telemarketing. I got
call from MCI and SPRINT within last three months. I usually don't place a
call to India. But I made 4 calls to India in January when my wife went to
India. In February, I recieved material in mail for special calling plans
from sprint and/or mci.  

   Then last month I got call from MCI for F&F plan. One of my relatives
signed up for the F&F plan and he gave names of ~15 people :-(. I talked to
people who signup for MCI or SPRINT special plans do not have any idea 
about the cost per minute. They fall for BIG 20% 30% upto 50% savings ! Also
usually do not know the terms for the saving, they compare special plan
prices with AT&T's regular prices, and they KNOW that since AT&T is big 
corporation so it automatically costs more. I told NO TO SWITCH before 
telemarketer even starts. Also BIG SAVERS that I know save pennies on long 
distance calls but spend hundreds every month on things they don't really 
need or can afford. Hay it makes them feel good to be penny wise ......
From: stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: ***WARNING: BE CAREFUL WHEN DEALING WITH ALLSTATE INSURANCE!***
Date: 9 Apr 92 19:28:25 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Summit NJ

Clint Fleckenstein writes:

>I had a similar situation with Allstate.  Their insured backed into my
>legally parked vehicle and dented the door.  I went to two loca body 
>shops for my estimate to have the door skin replaced, as the dent was
>quite deep and I've only owned the car for a short time.  I then went
>to the Claims Office as directed by a phone call from their reginal 
>office.
>
>I gave my estimates to the adjuster and told him that I wished to have
>the body panel replaced, as the dent was a deep one and the body shop
>manager had agreed that it was a prudent decision.  The adjuster would
>hear none of it, and flatly told me that he would pay to have the door
>pounded and puttied, giving me a big speech about how he used to work
>in a body shop, and it'd be undetectable, etc. I told him we had nothing
>more to talk about (based on his flat refusal to deal with me) and left.
>
>I wrote a letter to the adjuster stating that the responsibility of his
>company is to restore my vehicle to its condition before the claim.....

This is a perfect example of my posting a few days ago as to why auto
insurance rates are so high. Cosmetic damage was done to the car, a low
cost reasonable restoration was available, but the car owner wanted
more.  The fact is that when we take our cars on the road, or leave
them on the streets or public parking areas, we are taking a risk; we
can't be so naive as to assume that damage won't be done to our cars,
nor can we believe that we're entitled for perfect restoration as 
opposed to fully functional restoration (and as I implied earlier,
for less damage, such as a "ding" when a car door is opened into 
another car, it's a jar of touch-up paint).

Finally, to keep to the title of this posting, the "word" on Allstate
as far back as I remember (late 1950's) was that "God help the person
whose car was hit by someone insured by Allstate".  The Consumer Reports
surveys confirm this.
-- 
Stan Krieger                     All opinions, advice, or suggestions, even
AT&T UNIX System Laboratories    if related to my employment, are my own.
Summit, NJ
smk@usl.com
From: mpolen@gelato.mips.com (Michael Polen)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Sales Tax on Mail Orders
Date: 14 Apr 1992 23:43:50 GMT
Organization: MIPS Computer Systems, Inc.
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: gelato.mips.com

In article <1992Apr14.221500.27976@morrow.stanford.edu>, barry@playfair.Stanford.EDU (Barrett P. Eynon) writes:
|> 
|> I just ordered a computer from Dell in Texas and was charged sales
|> tax.  I live in California.  I have heard several opinions(wife,
|> friends, colleagues) about the legality of this. (My accountant,
|> presumably the most likely of these personal sources, didn't know).
|> 
|> Does anyone on the net have an *authoritative* source of information
|> on this?   
|> 
I don't know specifically for Dell, but if Dell has any offices or outlets
in california, they must charge sales tax on any sales into the state from
any of their outlets.  I am almost positive that this is true of sales into
any state that has a sales tax.
From: bkottmann@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil (Brett Kottmann)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Re: Congress, was Re: Free medical care
Date: 9 Apr 92 11:09:38 EST
Organization: Logicon Technical Services, Inc.

In article <805@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>, emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Elizabeth Molinaro) writes:
> <1992Apr2.133757.1172@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil>
> Reply-To: emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Elizabeth Molinaro)
> Distribution: na
> Organization: Stakeholder Relations, NCR Corp in Dayton,OH
> Keywords: Military, Michigan
> 
> In article <1992Apr2.133757.1172@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil>
> bkottmann@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil (Brett Kottmann) writes:
>>
>>    They also have to pay state income taxes to their "home"
>>>    state..even though they haven't been there in years.
>>> 
>>       Which is why almost all of them list their "home" state as FL, TX, &
>>other states that have no state income tax.
>>
>>==Brett=======================================================================
> 
> Sorry, Brett, call S.A. Molinaro, AFOSI, or Capt. Carroll, WPAFB Finance, to
> find two military folks who list Michigan as their home state.  Anyone who
> lists a bogus "home of record" for tax purposes, without having lived in the
> state according to IRS determined guidelines, is guilty of fraud.
> 
	No kidding.

	Military personnel are allowed to do this.  Since they get shifted
around (and out of the country).  My brother in law has been listed as a Fla
resident since he entered the Air Force, as are most of his coworkers.

> We're not all weenies.  Just like you civilians: some of us are, some of us
> aren't.
> 
> I do have to agree with you that we should not treat the people with the
> weapons with any sort of special favor: that's why CONGRESS, who controls the
> weapons (remember it takes an act of Congress to declare ware), should give up
> the perks that cost the taxpayer (that's all of us) money.

	Congress may be able to declare war, but that won't do them a bit of
good when the local National Guard unit shows up with their M-16's and M-60's.

:)                 

Brett---------------------------------------------------------------------------
____________The best thing about morning________________________________________
__________________________________is that it's over by noon.____________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: misc.consumers