HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: "eliot gelwan" <eliot.gelwan@channel1.com>
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: dak's short-wave
Date: 21 Aug 92 08:27:08 EST
Reply-To: "eliot gelwan" <eliot.gelwan@channel1.com>
Distribution: misc
Organization: Channel 1 Communications

On 08-20-92 C058SJLX wrote:

C|  I have seen a portable short wave radio advertised in the
C| DAK catalogue.  The few technical specifications the ad gives
C| seem to be good, however the price is well below the prices of
C| similar products from other sources.  I am talking about
C| $40  vs  $100+.  I want to buy a radio like this, but the
C| price looks suspicious.

I have used it for the last year and a half. Was inspired to hear
foreign coverage of the Persian Gulf war. Works fine for me, but
it's the only shortwave radio I've ever had, or indeed heard, so
I have no basis for comparison. I bought their "station grabber"
amplified antenna accessory s couple of weeks ago and it does
dramatically improve reception and clarity.

...eliot                                         |
Internet: eliot.gelwan@channel1.com             -*-
    RIME: ->CHANNEL [R/O okay]                   |

---
EZ 1.39 #178 [in Brookline MA 10:18 pm, Thursday 08/20/92]
--
Channel 1 (R)   Cambridge, MA
From: pearl@sw.stratus.com (Dan Pearl)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Terrible Experience With Alamo
Date: 18 Aug 92 20:10:37 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.

Alamo Car Rental turned me into a newt!


P.S.:  I got better.


-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Pearl  **  Stratus Computer, Inc.  **  pearl@spectacle.sw.stratus.com
From: felt@ic.Berkeley.EDU (Eric Felt)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Contact Lens Mail Order Places
Date: 19 Aug 1992 17:43:08 GMT
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: ic.berkeley.edu

These were the responses I received regarding mail order contact lens
places. All of them require that you send in or fax your prescription
before they will send you any lenses (by federal law). I ended up
ordering from Dial-A-Contact-Lens.

			      -Eric Felt
============================================================================
From: smc@hotsc.att.com
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ

Try Dial-A-Contact-Lens.  I don't have their number handy
here at work, but it's probably available through 1-800-555-1212.

Steve Casagrande
smc@hotsc.att.com

============================================================================
From: ENNISJ@tt.com

I by my lenses thru my local discount pharmacy (F & M) who essentially gets
them via a mail order service.  My latest order came from a place called
"Contacts on Call"  and I believe they can be reached at 800-332-5367.  As
before, the cost was $79 for 12 pair of Accuvue disposables.  Previously, my
lenses had been ordered from Contact Lens Supply (216-248-2000), but they no
longer carry Accuvue because of the recently published Clinical article that
documents unacceptable levels of manufacturers defects in the lenses.  I will
be posting to misc.consumers about that article soon.  In the mean time, I will
still be wearing Accuvue at least for the next 6 months.  Good Luck.
Jay.

============================================================================
From: mel@angate.att.com (Melanie S Maher)

I've used Lens Express for Accuvue disposables now for
nearly 3 years and have no complaints. Their number is 
1-800-666-5367.

Melanie Maher

============================================================================
Organization: Corporate Information Technology Integration
From: bdewey@cspa.daytonoh.ncr.com

Try Lens Express 1-800-666-LENS
or  Dial-A-Contact 1-800-233-LENS

Hope this helps.
-- 
Bob Dewey
Corporate Information Technology Integration Services
Bob.Dewey@cspa.Dayton.NCR.COM
...!uunet!ncrlnk!cspa!bdewey

============================================================================
From: noel@slc.unisys.com (Eileen Noel)
Organization: Unisys, Salt Lake City, Utah

I've been happy with Dial-A-Contact Lens 1-800-233-LENS.
(I have no connection with them, I am just a satisfied customer.)

Eileen


============================================================================
From: Dana Lindsay Rinehart <dr18+@andrew.cmu.edu>

Call 1-800-231-LENS and talk with them.  My boyfriend's officemate
orders Acuvue from them and they're half the price of getting them from
the doctor.  If you do buy from them, mention Sanjiv Singh referred you,
and he'll get a small credit on his account.




From: ajeans@hplred.HP.COM (Albert Jeans)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 20:05:53 GMT
Subject: Re: Junk mail warning - "Exposures" catalog
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

I just had a similar experience with Lands End clothiers. When I called them up
they said they would make sure my name wasn't sold to other companies, thus
implying that it was before! So maybe the better companies will keep your name
private if you ask them to.
From: dsmith@dcsc.dla.mil (David Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: phone answering machines again
Date: 13 Aug 92 21:57:49 GMT
Organization: IPCC-ECB, Columbus, Ohio

> can anyone recommend a phone machine that works well
> and that they really *like*?

A year or two ago I bought the all-digital AT&T machine (the one
designed by FrogDesign (sp.)).  Of the four or five answering
machines I've had -- some with more features -- this is by far my
favorite.

Some things are missing and there's a bug in my version, but by now
maybe these have been taken care of:

    Hangs every now and then (maybe once a month) -- perhaps
    intolerant to line current fluctuations -- and can't be reset
    remotely.

    Security could be better.

    No date/time stamp.

    Limited incoming message capacity -- don't remember what --
    maybe fifteen minutes.

    Sound quality nothing to brag about, though adequate.

    No record-conversation feature.

Plusses:

    Instant-gratification remote access since there are no tapes.

    Totally noiseless, unless you count as noise the pin-drop click
    it makes when answering a call.

    Simple function-key layout.  Frequent-use keys -- on/off, play,
    repeat, memo, delete -- are on a single exposed row across the
    top; less-used keys -- volume, ring select, security code set,
    reset -- on sides.

    Tiny footprint.

    Attractive.

Funny thing, though -- I've never seen it mentioned in AT&T ads.
Read about it in a "Business Week" article on design excellence.

-- 
UUCP   ...osu-cis!dsac!dcsc!dsmith
Internet   dsmith@dcsc.dla.mil
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: labiche@crchh561.BNR.CA (Maurice LaBiche)
Subject: Walkman AM/FM query 
Reply-To: labiche@crchh561.BNR.CA (Maurice LaBiche)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 23:14:43 GMT

I'm looking into purchasing a AM/FM walkman. Any suggestions about
a good brand to buy?  Sony? Panasonic? Aiwa? etc?  I'm leaning toward
the Digital tuning ones but have gasped at the price comparision.  
Analog is about $15-20, while digital is $45-50.  Which ones tune-in
better?

help,
undecided 



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maurice LaBiche (Mo.L.)         |   labiche@bnr.ca
Bell Northern Research          |   Part of Northern Telecom 
Richardson, Texas               |   i'm really in Texas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No opinions herein expressed have anything to do with the opinions 
of Bell Northern Research or Northern Telecom or CIA or NSA ...
These statements are mine and mine alone, well i guess my wife 
agrees with some of them?
From: johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us (John R. Levine)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: CDW, was Re: Terrible Experience With Alamo
Date: 18 Aug 92 17:52:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: iecc.9208181352.AA08367
Organization: I.E.C.C.

>By all means do NOT just buy it 'to be sure' ...   you either *have* coverage
>with your credit card/personal policy or you do not.

That's excellent advice.  Some credit card insurance doesn't cover you at
all if you take the CDW.  I've heard of cases where someone took the CDW
"just to be sure," and had an accident of some sort.  The rental car
company weaseled out of paying on the CDW and the credit card said tough,
if you wanted our insurance you shouldn't have taken theirs.

If you're still tempted to take CDW, just turn the contract over and look at
all the situations in which CDW won't pay even if you have an accident.  In
many cases the car company should more correctly call CDW "Free Money for Us."

Regards,
John Levine, johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us, {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan)
Subject: Re: Movie Rental horror stories (was ...wants my credit #)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 19:36:29 GMT


In article <9208122116.AA08196@mailbox.mail.umn.edu> sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu (Dr. Barnhart) writes:
>In article <BsvxBI.ILM@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, berger@atropa.stat.uiuc.edu
>wrote:
>> 
>> On several occasions, I have rented tapes that were defective.  They
>> often ended up right back on the shelves after I returned them, even
>> though I mentioned the problem.
>
>I always complain to the video store when a tape is bad.  I frequently find
>videos that have botched hifi stereo soundtracks that send me to Pro-Logic
>hell.
>When I take the tapes back I always make a point to explain the problem
>to someone working there who's not trying to deal with customers.  They
>always smile and say "OK, we'll credit your account and check the tape."
>Naturally they put the tape into their mono VCR in the store and never
>notice the problem and it ends up back on the shelf.

Here's an excellent solution to the problem: RENT LASERDISCS, NOT TAPES!
;-)

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger)
Subject: Re: AVIS screws us big time
Organization: Summit NJ
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 17:09:15 GMT

>>That's the car rental business, I guess.  They can't care about individual
>>people as much as their bottom line.  Pretty short-sighted, it seems.
>
>     Not at all.  Any business which worked like that (on a holiday
>especially ) would be bankrupt.
>
>  After all, a grace period of an hour of your scheduled "pickup" is more
>than enough.
>
>    Next time, take into consideration that the plane might be late. Thus,
>make your reservation later.  I'm not trying to flame you (and please don't
>flame me), but the rental acency lived up to their end of the deal.

When it comes to car rental though, we mustn't forget that the whole
reservations process is based strictly on customer relations; there is
nothing that resembles a contract.

Let's look at it as though we were running a business.  A person calls
me and asks for a price quote and availability of an item that I sell.
I give the information and the person and I agree on a pick-up time.

Now folks, does a contract exist; remember, I have received NOTHING from
that person?  The bottom line is that anything that I do for that person
is based on the amount of risk I am willing to assume, balanced against
customer relations repercussions if I make the wrong decision regarding
when to assume that the customer is a no-show.

Back to rental cars, even something like a free upgrade is probably more
than they're legally required to do, and it's done just for customer
relations.  I mean, how many of us would routinely do business with a
company that quotes us a great price on the minimum that we need, and
then claims a sell-out, defending itself with the attitude that since
you were not legally obligated to pay them anything if you didn't show
up, they have no legal obligation to you?

Let's face it- what we as consumers are doing is trying to transfer our
risk to someone else.  Because there's no cost of an "option" to us, I'm
sure many of us play games too (like booking with both Alamo and Avis, so
in case Alamo screws us, as described on the net, at least there's the
advance booking price at Avis to fall back on); I'm sure we play the same
games with 6:00 pm hold reservations on hotel rooms (i.e., get into town
early and  see if a better deal is available).

-- 
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
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: aep@icd.ab.com (Alexander E. Pensky)
Subject: Re: Homeowners insurance scam (State Farm)...
Organization: Allen-Bradley Co., Highland Heights, OH
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 17:21:54 GMT

In article <1992Aug19.144644.1603@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil>, 
bkottmann@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil (Brett Kottmann) writes:

> 	State Farm got zapped in Ohio for overcharging.  They made a big deal
> about "giving customers a rebate".  The funny thing is that some long time
> State Farm people actually thought it was neat!  The idea that they had been
> ripped off for years didn't seem to sink in.
> 
> 	State Farm probably overcharges until they get caught.  Interest free
> money until they have to return it.

Are you quite sure about this?  Remember, State Farm is a mutual insurance
company and, as such, pays its policyholders dividends on its profits every
year (except bad years, of course).  Perhaps you know someone who received
their dividend check and assumed it had something to do with a consent
decree.  It doesn't.  People ask about this in misc.consumers[.house] oh,
about every year or so, usually after they receive their check.  There
ought to be a FAQ about this, if there isn't already.

> 	Our Agent (Allstate) terms the replacement value as total cost.  We're
> insured for the approximate purchase price, plus $90k for furnishings.  The
> amount will only go up if our house gets a higher appraised value.  We can use
> the property tax numbers for this.

Are you sure about this too?  I used to have Allstate homeowners' insurance
with replacement cost coverage, and it definitely did include the requirement
that I keep on increasing the amount each year or two, to a new amount chosen
by Allstate.

> 
> 	Now, it's always been my position that you can buy insurance for
> whatever amount you want.  So what if State Farm is saying $100/sf?  Tell 
> them you want $85 or $90 or whatever and they can accept that or lose your 
> business.

I think you'd be wasting your time giving an ultimatum to an agent.  The
agent can't create policies or alter the terms, conditions or prices of the
policies.  All he or she can do is sell you the existing policies at list 
price.  In my experience, "replacement cost coverage" is usually a separate 
rider you may purchase on top of your homeowner's policy.  Either you buy
it or you don't.  If you don't, you cannot insure your house for any more
than its purchase price/appraised value (I'm not sure which, probably varies
according to local laws).  If you do buy replacement cost coverage, you buy
it on the company's terms, which state that you must buy (what they determine
to be) the full amount of coverage.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Alex Pensky    	(aep@icd.ab.com)		         (216)646-5211
 Allen-Bradley Company             747 Alpha Drive, Highland Heights, OH 44143
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: lee@quark2.aero.org
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Movie Rental horror stories (was ...wa
Date: 14 Aug 92 19:54:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: quark2.14AUG199211544350
Reply-To: lee@arecibo.aero.org
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Since we are on the subject of video rental horror stories/credit card
ethics, here's a bad experience I had with Tower Video that I'd like to 
share:

In early July, I rented a video from Tower.  The next day, I returned
it -- I simply dropped the video off in one of those video return bins
they have next to the register.

A month later, a charge for $29 appears on my credit card statement.
Merchant is listed as Tower Video.

I called Tower and asked them what the deal was.  They said that they
can't find the video that I rented, had sent me a letter 2 weeks ago
stating this, and charged my card when they got no response (note: I
never received such a letter).

I go to the store the next day and find the video.  They said that they
would credit my account.

Two days later, I get the letter that they mentioned to me on the phone.
Although it was written up 2 weeks ago, they had only sent it 4 days
ago.

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!
From: sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu (Dr. Barnhart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Movie Rental horror stories (was ...wants my credit #)
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:16:10 GMT
Organization: U of Mn Propoganda Ministry

In article <BsvxBI.ILM@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, berger@atropa.stat.uiuc.edu
wrote:

> 
> On several occasions, I have rented tapes that were defective.  They
> often ended up right back on the shelves after I returned them, even
> though I mentioned the problem.  I don't want to take the chance that
> the store will decide to charge me for replacement sometime on their
> own volition.

I always complain to the video store when a tape is bad.  I frequently find
videos that have botched hifi stereo soundtracks that send me to Pro-Logic
hell.
When I take the tapes back I always make a point to explain the problem
to someone working there who's not trying to deal with customers.  They
always
smile and say "OK, we'll credit your account and check the tape." 
Naturally
they put the tape into their mono VCR in the store and never notice the
problem
and it ends up back on the shelf.  I'd be happy if they'd just stick a
sticker
on the tape indicating that the hifi stereo track is bad.

At a different store I had a hell of a time even getting a refund.  The
store was empty (it was about 11 AM) and the clerk popped the tape in
to check it while I waited.  Naturally the mono soundtrack was fine, and
the clerk refused to give me credit.  I insisted that it was the HI-FI
STEREO
track that was bad, not the mono track.  I had to give a fifteen minute
lecture
on hifi stereo VCR technology before the guy would give me any credit.

Anyone found a video rental place (a chain?) with any technically
comptetant people?  I've found that nearly all the people I've had to deal
with
think that a video tape is just like an audio tape, except it's bigger and
you get a picture with it.


Shawn Barnhart ! sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu
Phenylketonurics:  This product contains phenylalanine.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal,alt.peeves,rec.skiing
From: drac@uumeme.chi.il.us (Bruce Maynard)
Subject: Re: wrong health care, and still having to pay for it
Organization: UUMEME Public Access UNIX
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 06:38:22 GMT
Keywords: misdiagnosis, malpractice, negligence, miscreant doctors

Welp, whjat I'd suggest, is pay the bill (but don't sign ANYTHING!!)...
then sic a good malpractice-type lawyer on 'em. Also, I'd consider talking to a reporter
(but first, thtalk to the lawyer!), mebbe a leedle publicity of this kinder
thing would do a bit of good...

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tash@cbnewse.cb.att.com (Natasha R. Dela Cruz)
Subject: Great Dentist in Vernon Hills, Illinois
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: chi
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 15:38:16 GMT

No, I don't work for this dentist, I'm just a very
satisfied customer.  

His name is Dr. Philip Goduco (pronounced Guh-dook'-oh) 
and his office is at 281 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061.
His office phone number is (708)816-0463.  

He is excellent with children and adults, he's been practicing 
for about 5 years, he has office hours EVERY DAY of the week
(including Saturdays AND Sundays) and accepts emergency phone 
calls at his home.  My family travels an hour to get to his office 
because it is worth it and we've been his patients for 3 years.  
He does dental and orthodontial work and *really* cares about his 
patients.


-- 
Natasha Richardson Dela Cruz	    *******************************
AT&T Bell Laboratories		    *Proud MOM of Alexander Joshua*
att!ihlpm!tash, tash@ihlpm.att.com  *******************************
	All ideas expressed here are mine, Mine, MINE!!!!  :-)
From: davek@informix.com (David Kosenko)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Masking tape residue
Date: 14 Aug 92 18:32:39 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

Ok, so paint me foolish.  When redoing my living room, I covered the
floor with pastic tarp and used masking tape to tape it to the hardwood
floor.  The redo took longer than originally anticipated (so what else
is new ;-).  When I finally finished and pulled up the plastic, the masking
tape stuck to the floor, and left a lot of sticky residue.

My question is: is there anything short of tons of elbow grease and soapy
water that can get this gunk off without destroying the floor's finish?
The floor is stained oak with a light poly coat.

Thanks,
Dave
-- 
Disclaimer: These opinions are not those of Informix Software, Inc.
**************************************************************************
The heart and the mind on a parallel course, never the two shall meet.
						-E. Saliers
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house