HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: C058SJLX@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Have anyone ordered computer stuff from mail order?
Date: 19 Aug 92 15:17:22 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo

In article <1992Aug11.155602.1640@ucbeh.san.uc.edu>
yuanj@ucbeh.san.uc.edu writes:
 
>
>In article <11AUG199215050631@watson.bms.com>, zhang_h@watson.bms.com (HAO ZHANG) writes:
>> In article <199208111434.AA10027@tuna.wang.com>, JULIE.KADASHEVICH@OFFICE.WANG.COM ("Julie Kadashevich") writes...
>>>
>>>Have anyone ordered computer stuff from mail order companies that
>>>advertize in the back of computer magazines?  I recently ordered
>>>some SIMMs and was promissed 2 day UPS delivery.  Now it is several
>>>weeks later and still no SIMMs.  The explanations I get on the phone
>>>vary from "the guy who mails the stuff is sick" to "the guy who
>>>took your order was fired and distroyed a lot of records before he
>>>left".  The prices for the SIMMs were good ($35 per 1M) --  is this
>>>a reap off?  Are these mail order places legitamate?
           I have ordered microcomputer stuff by mail several times,
   the quality and services have been good.  I had to use the warranty
 once and it worked fine.  I think the specific vendor you got has
 problems.  Check alt.computers.forsale  for  comments about
  mail orders.
                     Eleazar Puente
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: berger@atropa (Mike Berger)
Subject: Re: Movie Rental horror stories (was ...wa
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 20:40:33 GMT

lee@quark2.aero.org writes:
>Moral: beware of those video return bins.  they may be convenient, but
>without a receipt, you don't have any real proof that you returned a
>video!
*----
What proof do you have when you return it to a person at the counter?
I've never been given a receipt for returning a video tape.
--
	Mike Berger
	Department of Statistics, University of Illinois
	AT&TNET     217-244-6067
	Internet    berger@atropa.stat.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,seattle.general
From: kevin@milton.u.washington.edu (Kevin Caskey)
Subject: bumper stickers
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 20:48:02 GMT

I'm looking for a couple of bumper stickers

1) for my sister, a New Trek fan, where can I get:
Picard And Riker '92 with "make it so" underneath?

2) for a rabid humanist, where can I get:
the fish symbol with legs and the word 'Darwin' on the inside.

I have no desire for a Jihad, just answer the question, if you can.

Kevin at U dub
From: jsdph@acad3.alaska.edu (Dennis P. Harris)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: DAK's short-wave radio ??
Date: 22 Aug 92 20:51:00 GMT
Organization: University of Alaska - Fairbanks
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41.UAC

In article <Bt8MH2.HAG@acsu.buffalo.edu>, C058SJLX@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu writes...
> 
>  I have seen a portable short wave radio advertised in the
> DAK catalogue.  The few technical specifications the ad gives
> seem to be good, however the price is well below the prices of
> similar products from other sources.  I am talking about
> $40  vs  $100+.  I want to buy a radio like this, but the
> price looks suspicious.

you should be warned that DAK has filed for cahpater 11 bankruptcy protection.
some customers with prepaid unshipped orders may wait quite a long time to 
recover their $$$.  i would be wary of ordering from *any* company in
chapter 11.

================================================================================
dennis p. harris					bitnet: jsdph@alaska.edu

  "The nation that controls magnetism controls the Universe." --- Diet Smith
================================================================================
From: jcao@option.GBA.NYU.EDU (Jingbin Cao)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Mail Order Electronics
Summary: 47th st photo is good
Date: 23 Aug 92 05:56:58 GMT
Organization: NYU Stern School of Business

In article <1992Aug22.200420.17453@highlite.uucp> burgoyne@highlite.uucp (J. Robert Burgoyne) writes:
>ben@yenta.alb.nm.us (Ben Klausner) writes:
>: Does anyone have any favorite (read "reccomended") sources for mail order
>: electronics? I'm specifically looking for a new cordless phone, and the
>: local selection is underwhelming. I already have the numbers for Crutchfield
>: and 47th St (who I won't use), so I'm looking for a few more.
>
>J&R Music World have really low prices on many interesting products.
>Crutchfield gives great service, but they are overpriced compared with
>the New York discount shops.

One poster has had already some good words about 47th st photo, and
I'd second that. Their prices are generally lower than J&R's. I know
this by check catelogs and visiting the stores. (They are just a few
blocks from my school. But not any more since my school's moving. :-(
) I have not done any mail order, but have bought from 47th st photo 2
Nikon lens, 2 Nikon flashs (one returned), 1 aiwa stereo system
(~$350), a B&D duster, a air purifyer (returned), 1 binocular, etc and
numerous films with NO problem. They like to ask you why when
returning stuff, but any excuse will suffice. (J&R only gives credit
when you buy from their store). So I like to visit them first when the
need arises. I also had some films developed there w/ some problems
(They did not follow my instuction or something.) But the sales people
seemed nice. They cater to particular clients, people who know what
they are buying and want to buy from them.

	Btw, they are now in chapter 11, due to over expansion? and
closed two stores. There're still 2 stores, one on 47th st and the
other on 45th st. IMHO, they still provide the same prices and
services. It would be sad to see they go. Real New Yorkers love 47th
st. even former mayor Koch got a lot of stuff from them after he lost
his 4th election.

Standard disclaimers apply. I am not related in any way to any of the
stores mentioned except being their customers.
From: emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Elizabeth Molinaro)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Cherry Furniture Recommendation?
Date: 21 Aug 92 20:19:34 GMT
Reply-To: emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Elizabeth Molinaro)
Organization: Stakeholder Relations, NCR Corp in Dayton,OH

In article <92232.105049RJM@psuvm.psu.edu> RJM@psuvm.psu.edu (Ray Masters)
writes:
>Last February my wife and I ordered a not-inexpensive cherry bedroom set
>(bed + 3 case pieces) in a Shaker style.  After a 5-month wait, we were
>extremely disappointed with the workmanship and quality.  Warped, cupped,
>out-of-square, drawers-wont-close, faked details (non-functional dovetails,
>but the photos looked good!), etc., etc.  We returned the furniture and
>got our money back.  We're still interested in solid cherry, Shaker-style,
>but are somewhat apprehensive about a manufacturer since this last exper-
>ience was supposedly with a "quality" manufacturer.  Can anyone offer any
>recommendations?



        I do not know where you are from.  However, for really
        tremendous, hand-made furniture that can be MAIL ordered
        go find a "house-something" (anything) magazine and look
        for a Thos. Moser ad.

        Then spend $10.00 for the catalog.  Or go to one of their
        showrooms (Philly, Alexandria VA, & I forget, Maine).

        REALLY beautiful.  VERY expensive.  Worth it?  Yep. If you
        don't have cats!!! (And/or you're not military and moving
        all the time.)

        OR check out some of your local "cabinet makers" in the
        Yellow Pages.  Here in Dayton we have two or three local
        people, and others--one well known nation-wide--just a
        half hour away or so.  These local people may be slightly
        more expensive than something from Ethan Allen et al, but
        it's HAND made.  Art.  Well worth it, to me.  

        Let's pay these people what they're worth: and keep them
        in business!

        Just MHO.  Elizabeth
From: joseph@emmax5crd.ge.com (joseph)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Interest Rate Calculations
Keywords: Interest, Daily
Date: 13 Aug 92 14:05:21 GMT
Reply-To: joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph)
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: usa
Organization: GE Research



If I get a loan (say, a car loan or a mortgage) at a
specified interest rate (like 10 percent), does the daily
rate change depending on whether it is a leap year or
a non-leap year ?

Even though 92 is a leap year, both my car-loan and and
my mortgage banker calculates the daily interest rate
as:
   Daily rate = Quoted rate/365

but I think it should be

   If (leap year) then
     Daily rate = Quoted rate/366
   else
     Daily rate = Quoted rate/365
   endif.

The fact that two different banks use 365 for the
calculations leads me to speculate that there may be
some accounting practice or law that allows them to
do this.

Okay, I admit it, I like nit-picking and penny pinching.
Besides, I like giving the banks a hard time if I can.

joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ceng@mdd.comm.mot.com (Curtis Eng)
Subject: Re: Cellular phone recommendations needed
Organization: Motorola, Mobile Data Division - Seattle, WA
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 22:32:48 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.153809@wsl.dec.com>, mtam@wsl.dec.com (Mimi Tam) writes:
|> My friend is thinking of buying a handheld cellular phone for personal
|> use. She needs something small enough to put in the handbag and not too
|> heavy. Any recommendation?
|>  
|> ----
|> Mimi Tam
|> DEC Western Software Laboratory - Palo Alto, CA
|> {uunet,sun,pyramid}!decwrl!mtam		mtam@wsl.dec.com

Motorola PT-500.  About $500.  Very small because it is a flip-phone.
From: timlee@public.btr.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Credit Union Deposit (Share) Interest (Dividend) Calculations
Date: 17 Aug 92 06:31:43 GMT
Reply-To: timlee@btr.com (Timothy J. Lee)
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: usa

acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng) writes:
|>Some other replies have also indicated that it can be difficult to
|>change a credit union's policies.  In practice, how difficult?
|
|Don't mean to be disagreeing, but why bother?  There are more banks
|than fast food places.  I just go do business with another bank I am
|happy with.  There are many other battles to go than to try change a
|set business.  The majority of the members could be very happy with
|those policy.  And I may end up irrating other co-workers in the same
|organization unncessarily.

In other words, you are saying it is probably too difficult to
be worth one's time.  Correct?

The reason I asked is that some people said "just go the meeting
and make your proposals", while others said that credit unions
tend to acquire entrenched bureaucracies that generally make
member initiatives difficult to implement.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy J. Lee                 timlee@btr.com  ...!decwrl!btr!timlee
This message comes with no warranty, not even an implied warranty of
fitness for any particular purpose.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Subject: Re: Cellular phone recommendations needed
Reply-To: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Organization: E 4th St Home For The Overeducated Underemployed - Chicago Div.
Distribution: na
Date: 19 Aug 92 00:05:12 GMT

In article <1992Aug18.223248.13314@mdd.comm.mot.com> ceng@mdd.comm.mot.com (Curtis Eng) writes:
>In article <1992Aug14.153809@wsl.dec.com>, mtam@wsl.dec.com (Mimi Tam) writes:
>|> My friend is thinking of buying a handheld cellular phone for personal
>|> use. She needs something small enough to put in the handbag and not too
>|> heavy. Any recommendation?
>Motorola PT-500.  About $500.  Very small because it is a flip-phone. 

I've got a Motorola Ultra-Classic and I'm looking for a smaller phone.
The main thing I need in a phone is standby and talk time.  My current
phone has 30hr standby/2hr talk with new, freshly charged batteries. I
have not seen anything like this in any of the smaller 'flip' phones.
Any advice?
				reb

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tbigham@shearson.com (Tim Bigham)
Subject: Re: microwave autonomously turning on
Organization: Lehman Brothers, NY
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 19:08:57 GMT

Did you check for signs of Elvis in the microwave? 


--
Timothy J. Bigham			| All opinions expressed above are my own
Lehman Brothers, Inc.			| and should not be construed as those of 
AMEX Tower, World Financial Center	| my employer.
New York, N.Y. 				|
From: johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us (John R. Levine)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: halogen lamps
Date: 18 Aug 92 22:02:26 GMT
Article-I.D.: iecc.9208181802.AA10631
Organization: I.E.C.C.

>On more or less the same subject, can someone tell me exactly why you
>shouldn't touch a halogen bulb?  

Apparently they get so hot that the extra cooling from boiling off your
finger grease and moisture can crack the bulb.

But what I really want to know is why people want 1/2 KW bulbs in your house.
We have some 300 W halogens on the kitchen ceiling and they're so bright I
never turn them up more than half way.  Other than that the largest bulb
in the house is 75W and they're perfectly adequate

-- 
Regards,
John Levine, johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us, {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15159 misc.consumers.house:10804
From: aeenews@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (a.e.eckberg)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
Subject: microwave autonomously turning on
Keywords: safety, microwave oven, electronic-control appliances
Date: 13 Aug 92 21:27:44 GMT
Followup-To: poster
Organization: AT&T


I'm looking for information from anyone who has experienced
an electronic-control appliance "autonomously" turning itself
on or otherwise doing something that it was not explicitly
"commanded" to do by a user.  Also, if anyone has not experienced
this first-hand, but knows of such incidents, I'd like to know.

Here's why I'm looking for this information.

Recently, while we were out of the house, our electronic-control
microwave oven turned itself on.  While this oven has a timer,
it had not been activated, and there was no "logical" reason for
the microwave to turn on.  There had been, however, an electrical
storm in the area that was severe enough to have affected many of
the computer systems where I work (about a mile from our home),
and the only logical explanation for the microwave coming on was
that its microprocessor control had received just the right impulses
from the storm to set it running.   We don't know how long the oven
had been running when we came back, but when we entered the house
the microwave was running and had burned/melted a plastic trim piece
inside, and had filled the house with burned-plastic fumes.

In my opinion, electronic controls for appliances should be designed
with more fail-safe capabilities than seem to be the case here,
and it appears to me that our oven has a fundamental safety design
flaw.  Very likely ALL electronic-control appliances share this
flaw, and there are likely to be severe consequences, although
probably quite rare.  In our case our house would probably have burned
if we had not come back and turned the microwave off.

Because occurrences like this are probably very rare, and maybe even
unbelievable, I'd like to hear from anyone else who could relate
incidents similar to this that could add to the believability of
what happened.

Please send relevant information to me at a.e.eckberg@att.com

Thanks.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: junck@okra.fnal.gov (Kevin Junck)
Subject: Request info on Farmers Insurance
Organization: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 17:01:49 GMT


The subject line pretty much says it all.  My auto and renters
insurance is up for renewal and I'm considering switching from
Allstate to Farmers.  Any comments (both pro/com) would be greatly
appreciated.  I'll post a summary if there is enough interest.

--
Kevin L. Junck     a.k.a. Junck@okra.fnal.gov            708-840-8368
Fermi National Accelerator Lab                 Batavia, Illinois, USA
#include <std.disclaimer.h>                 ** HAIL TO THE VICTORS **
From: lenny@bmerh187.BNR.CA (Len DePalma)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: halogen lamps
Date: 19 Aug 92 16:04:37 GMT
Reply-To: lenny@x400gate.bnr.ca
Organization: BNR Ottawa, Fiber Systems Development


In article <9208181802.AA10631@iecc.cambridge.ma.us>,
johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes:
|> >On more or less the same subject, can someone tell me exactly why you
|> >shouldn't touch a halogen bulb?  
|> 
|> Apparently they get so hot that the extra cooling from boiling off your
|> finger grease and moisture can crack the bulb.

And if you do touch it and it does ruin it, don't try to return it as
'defective'.  The finger prints will be clearly visible since they
are burned onto the bulb.

At least that's what I was told while purchasing a hologen bulb for
my motorcycle recently (I didn't and it didn't... so I can't verify
this, but it made sense at the time).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNET: lenny@bnr.ca                 Any opinions expressed are mine.

"You get the most noise from the emptiest barrels."  (Burton Cummings)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: prange@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Henry Prange)
Subject: Re: Request info on Farmers Insurance
Organization: Indiana University
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 13:06:41 GMT

In article <heflin.714253206@pink1> heflin@rtsg.mot.com (Suzanne Stratton Heflin) writes:
>I've had Farmer's for about 8 months or so now.  They had lower rates,
>so I put both our cars, and my homeowner's insurance with them.  Haven't
>had any complaints with them or my agent, but then again, I haven't had
>any claims, either.  They definitely beat State Farm, whom I had for car
>insurance, and they beat my previous homeowner's also.

Many companies use initial "lowball" rates to attract customers and then,
gradually and sometimes not so gradually, raise their rates back to or above
the market average. I had this experience with State Farm on car insurance.
It might be interesting to call State Farm, now that you have switched, and
pretend you never were a customer or just see what they would do to get you
back. I know they have a discount for former policy holders in some cases.

Perhaps the strategy is to switch insurers every couple of years and beat
them at their own game, if you enjoy the hassle.
.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: bd670@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Russell I. Dyreng)
Subject: Re: Request info on Farmers Insurance
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 20:04:47 GMT


junck@okra.fnal.gov (Kevin Junck) writes:

>The subject line pretty much says it all.  My auto and renters
>insurance is up for renewal and I'm considering switching from
>Allstate to Farmers.  Any comments (both pro/com) would be 
>greatly appreciated.  I'll post a summary if there is enough 
>interest.
>
>--
>Kevin L. Junck     a.k.a. Junck@okra.fnal.gov       708-840-8368
>Fermi National Accelerator Lab            Batavia, Illinois, USA
>#include <std.disclaimer.h>           ** HAIL TO THE VICTORS ** 

You might want to try a visit to an independent insurance agent.
They can comparison shop several companies at once for you and 
help you to pick the lowest price package for the coverage that
you want.  It also makes it easier for you a few years down the
road when you go to change companies due to rate creep.  They
can handle all of the niceties for you 

Russ
bd670@cleveland.freenet.edu
From: egreen@East.Sun.COM (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: CITIBANK CREDIT CARDS
Date: 20 Aug 92 17:50:21 GMT
Reply-To: egreen@East.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, RTP, NC
NNTP-Posting-Host: laser.east.sun.com

In article 7oI@news.cso.uiuc.edu, tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan) writes:
 [waiving credit card fees only if asked]

>If they only waive the fee for
>people who ASK, then people who are unaware that they can have the fee
>waived simply by asking might not think to ask, and will thus pay the
>annual fee. 

ANY major credit card outfit will waive the fees if asked.  My card
waives fees automatically if over $3K was charged on the card the
previous year.  Every year I don't put $3K on the card, I send them a
letter that if they waive the fee, I will continue to enjoy and
recommend the card.  However, there are too many "no annual fee" cards
available for me to justify paying the fee.

I get back a nice letter thanking me for my business, highlighting all
the many many reasons why the card *is* worth the fee, including some
slick brochures, and which finally states, "we are waiving the fee this
time to retain you as a valued customer."

---
Ed Green, former Ninjaite |I was drinking last night with a biker,
  Ed.Green@East.Sun.COM   |and I showed him a picture of you.  I said,
DoD #0111  (919)460-8302  |"Go on, get to know her, you'll like her!"
 (The Grateful Dead) -->  |It seemed like the least I could do...
From: sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu (Dr. Barnhart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: More Video Rental Horror Stories
Date: 18 Aug 92 18:07:08 GMT
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Mn Propoganda Ministry

In article <Aug17.155817.38848@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU>,
peterson@CS.ColoState.EDU (james peterson) wrote:

> One thing I *don't* like about Blockbuster, at least here in
> Fort Collins, Colorado, is that they seem to censor their movie offerings,
> either by offering "cut" versions of movies (they seem less concerned
> with violence than with sex), or by not offering movies someone in the
> organization deems "too controversial."  "The Last Temptation of Christ"
> is not available through Blockbuster here, ofr example, evidently to
> avoid offending the religious right.  If they wanted to avoid offending
> people, it's too late -- I'm deeply offended.
> 
> Does anyone know if this practice extends to Blockbuster oulets nationally?
> 

As far as I know it does.  The Minneapolis Blockbuster I patronized
wouldn't
carry "Last Temptation...".  But they *did* carry Monty Python's religious
parody "Life of Brian", as well as the unedited version of "I Spit On Your
Grave".  The latter has one of the vilest and most explicit gang-rape
scenes
I've ever seen.

I guess Donald Wildmon and his neofascist brownshirt supporters are a
little
myopic when it comes to their censorship positions.

Shawn Barnhart ! sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu
Phenylketonurics:  This product contains phenylalanine.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rossi@gvlf9-q.gvl.unisys.com (Pete Rossi)
Subject: Re: DAK's short-wave radio ??
Organization: Paramax Systems Corp (A Unisys Company), Great Valley Labs, PA
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 19:03:39 GMT

In article <BtAFnM.3ww@fc.sde.hp.com> Gary Fritz <fritz@hpfcbig.sde.hp.com> writes:
>The previous responses verify my General Theory of DAK:  no matter how cheap
>it is, you get (at best) what you paid for.  DAK tends to carry low-grade goods
>dressed up with Drew Kaplan's hyped-up ad copy.  (And, I wish someone would
>throttle the guy until he learns not to start every sentence with "And,"
>and "But,"!!! :-)
>
>I have also heard rumors that DAK has gone, or is going, bankrupt.
>Caveat Emptor.

I can't stand his catalog.   You have to read each ad 20 times to figure 
what exactly the thing costs and what you get.

 " ...  You get this for $$ and if you buy a that for $$$ we will throw in a
   what for only $ extra ... but only on Tuesdays ... and if you also ...   "

Lucky if I look at 'em for about 10 seconds before they go into the trash
these days...  And yes, his latest catalog that showed up a few days ago
did seem like he is having some 'trouble'.  But I only read the first
few lines ....    

=================================================================
Pete Rossi
rossi@gvl.unisys.com
Paramax Systems Corporation - a Unisys Company
Electronic Systems - Valley Forge Labs - Paoli, Pennsylvania
Newsgroups: misc.consumers