HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dbw@crash.cts.com (David B. Whiteman)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Lucky Supermarkets copies social security numbers on to checks.
Date: 19 Nov 92 20:27:18 GMT

The California DMV has started to require a social security number when applying
for an initial Calif. drivers license or identification card, or for renewing
them.  This is suppose to be used as an aid for tracking down fathers who skip
out on child support payments (but they require a social security number from
males and females).  The signs all over the DMV clearly state that the social
security number is used internally and will not be printed on the license or ID 
card, which is true.  However all the new licenses and id cards have a magnetic
strip.   Now if you wish to make a purchase at a Lucky's Supermarket and pay by
check the license is passed thru a magnetic card reader -- and the social
security number is read from the card and printed on the back of the check.
Therefore the number which is not suppose to appear on the license is simply
available to any merchant that has access to a card reader.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: gcm@fns-nc1.fns.com (Grover McCoury)
Subject: Re: eyeglasses: want info about anti-reflective coatings
Organization: Fujitsu Network Switching
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 13:09:44 GMT

In article <1992Nov16.172320.11880@acuson.com> marc@acuson.com (Marc Weinshenker) writes:
>I would like to hear about experiences with anti-reflective
>coatings for regular clear eyeglass lenses. I have some idea
>about the advantages as well as the expense, but I would also
>like to know about what the downsides might be.

I have had anti-reflective lenses for over a year and they're great! The only
warning I received when I purchased them was in regard to what to use to clean
the lenses - I only use soap and water and dry with a cloth. I have not had
any problems with mine...

Just $.02 worth from...

/**********************************************************************
  Grover McCoury
  @ Fujitsu Network Switching Of America, Inc.
    4403 Bland Road
    Raleigh,    NC   27609
  audio:      919-790-3111
  electronic: gcm%fns-nc1.fns.com@fai
***********************************************************************/
From: jongsma@esseye.si.com (Ken Jongsma)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: "SOCKS"is *NOT* what I want!
Date: 23 Nov 92 17:55:44 GMT
Reply-To: jongsma@esseye.si.com
Distribution: na
Organization: Smiths Industries

Have you been annoyed by that silly "SOCKS" is Spanish for "That is
what I want!" commercial that seems to be on all the networked radio
programs for the past few months?

Have you noticed that they edited the commercial recently? Now, instead
of saying "Ess Oh See Kay Ess" means "That is what I want!" they
say it means "That is what it is!"

Rather than rewrite and rerecord the commercial, they've just edited in
the one sentence. This of course makes the rest of the commercial somewhat
nonsensical, because the tag line ("So, if learning a language is what
you want...) no longer ties to the main message at all.

I'm not so sure I'd order a language course from a company that can't
even get the advertisement correct either!


-- 
Ken Jongsma                                          
Smiths Industries                               jongsma@esseye.si.com
Grand Rapids, Michigan                      73115.1041@compuserve.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.music.makers,rec.music.classical
From: hnewstrom@hnewstrom.ess.harris.com (Harvey Newstrom)
Subject: Re: Aluminum cookware:  Recipe for disaster?
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 18:27:09 GMT
Organization: Harris Electronic Systems

In article <sbarnhar-171192153648@morril6t-19.micro.umn.edu>, sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu (Dr. Barnhart) writes:


The facts about aluminum and Alzheimer's are not disuputed, but the conclusions are.

1.  Alzheimer's victims have more aluminum in their brain tissues than other persons.
2.  Aluminum poisoning in animals causes Alzheimer's-like symptoms.

Does aluminum cause Alzheimer's?  Dunno.
Can avoiding aluminum prevent Alzheimer's?  Dunno.

I personally avoid aluminum pans at home.  If aluminum is dangerous, I've avoided it.  If
aluminum is harmless, I've not deprived myself of anything by using non-aluminum pans.
__
Harvey Newstrom   (hnewstrom@hnewstrom.ess.harris.com)   Voice: (407)727-5176
Harris Corp., Box 37, MS 15-8874, Melbourne, FL  32902     FAX: (407)727-6611


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: guppy@wixer.cactus.org (Jennifer Mery)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: eyeglasses: want info about anti-reflective coatings
Date: 19 Nov 92 08:38:44 GMT
Organization: Real/Time Communications

>In article <22486@drutx.ATT.COM> bew@druwa.ATT.COM (WeissBE) writes:
>>some reflections although greatly reduced; 2) the most important
>>reason: the coating causes chromatic aberration  (I often see
>>a blue band on one side of an object and a yellow band on the other.

I've never had anti-reflective coatings on my glasses, but I have had
the chromatic abberation. The reason for this was that I had gotten
special lenses made from (okay, here's where I'll sound like an idiot,
because I'm not sure if this is the right name) poly-carbonate (?)
lenses. You know, the ones that aren't glass, aren't plastic and were
developed in the space program? The next pair of glasses I got were
plastic. The lenses are thicker, but no blue bands on everything. I
don't care if I got used to it! :)

jam
-- 
==============================================================================
Jennifer Mery | Please do not quote entire articles or long signatures.
Austin, Texas | guppy@wixer.cactus.org
==============================================================================
From: green@wharton.upenn.edu (SCOTT GREEN)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Stuck Stamps
Date: 19 Nov 92 18:50:08 GMT
Organization: Wharton ATS

In article <1992Nov19.102028.98@taney.uscghq.uscg.mil> lederman@taney.uscghq.uscg.mil writes:

>    I was told at the local post office (which has been quite
> reliable) that they do not exchange stamps.  (Unlike the
> Treasury, which does exchange damanged money).  

Untrue!  I walked in with my stuck booklet.  The clerk made sure of the 
count, marked something on the face of the booklet, and credited me the 
damaged stamps toward a new booklet.  No dirty looks, no hassle, no 
supervisor.  Yes, this was the *US*PS.
From: stanton@haas.berkeley.edu (Richard Stanton)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Can I sue for lost value of car after accident?
Date: 17 Nov 1992 07:16:25 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: haas.berkeley.edu

Some months ago I was hit (while driving) by an uninsured motorist. My
insurance covered this, and they paid a body shop about $8,500 do do repairs
on my 1988 Ford Mustang GT Convertible. Why did I not take the money? Because
I'm an idiot, and because I was assured by the body shop that

a) The car was worth over $10,000 (pre accident)

b) The value after they'd repaired it would be at least as high as before
the accident.

I rather suspect I got screwed. A mechanic who looked at the car recently gave
the workmanship a fair passing grade, and said it would definitely affect the
amount I could get if I sold the car. I'm pretty sure now I wouldn't get
any more than the cost of the repairs if I sold it today. Oh well. I suppose
I should learn something from this.

Assuming I just continue to drive the car until it falls apart, I won't have
suffered any real financial loss. However, if I sell it in the near future,
I'll lose money because of the accident and poor/average body work. I don't
really want to do that, so wonder whether I can sue to collect the difference,
probably in Small Claims Court. The other driver was from Florida, based on a
Navy ship in Alameda. He might not be the best person to go after. 
Alternatively, I feel like I was deliberately misled by the body shop. I'd
have done better to take the cash from the insurance company and sell the 
wreck for a few hundred dollars. 

What should I do in this situation? I'm not normally litigious, but I do
feel that the body shop deliberately gave me false information and promises
to make a profit, and while I don't begrudge them that, I don't feel like
paying for it.

Thanks for any suggestions

Richard Stanton


Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.music.makers,rec.music.classical
From: wb9omc@dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick)
Subject: Re: Yamaha Clavinova as a piano
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Distribution: na
Date: 23 Nov 92 19:20:24 GMT


(stuff about Clavinova deleted for brevity)

Recently my wife (who is taking piano lessons) went out to purchase an
"electrnoic Piano" (to differentiate from the little "synthesizers" that you
can snag for a couple hundred bucks) and looked at a fairly pricey
Clavinova, don't recall the model number.

In a word, both in feel and sound quality, she thought it sucked for the
outrageous price of the thing.  I'm not a player and am more involved with
the "sound" of things, and I thought the output had zippo, nada, zilch
when it came to presence or brilliance.  The Clavinova just had a very 
"flat" sort of sound, like its bandwidth was WAY too narrow.

In the end run, she bought a Roland EP7.  The "Price-vs-Quality" was
WAY better, it seemed better built and had a tremendously better sound
to it.  The dealer gave her a pretty good deal and threw in about an
extra $50 or $75 worth of stuff.

In all, we looked at 2 or 3 different Clavinovas and they all stunk.

Duane

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:19438 misc.kids:29053
From: ben@it3.crl.mei.co.jp (Ben Reaves)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.kids
Subject: Does Acrylic irritate childrens skin?
Date: 23 Nov 92 23:49:25 GMT
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,Ltd.


I saw the cutest outfit for our daughter yesterday, all made of acrylic
fiber.  (The outfit, not the daughter!)  She has some skin trouble, diagnosed
as Atopic Eczema (Atopii), and is often scratching her skin, saying "itchy
itchy", especially in a warm bath.

We were recommended to buy 100% cotton for her, but it seems to me that this
Acrylic Fiber outfit is quite soft, and reasonably warm (good enough for a
Los Angeles Christmas, which is where we'll be).  I've heard that polyester
is in fact less of an irritant than cotton, though not as comfortable. 
What about Acrylic?

--
==== Ben Reaves ============================= ben@it3.crl.mei.co.jp ====
From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: WHERE IS PANASONIC?
Date: 22 Nov 92 19:37:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-8298v.32bis
Reply-To: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 

-> $50. There is no 800 number listed for Panasonic. I would like to get
-> in touch with them and see if there are any other mail order

Ask for Matsushita or whatever the parent company is.
                                                                
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: owens@gargoyle.uchicago.edu (Christopher Owens)
Subject: Re: Walter E Smithe / Experiences ?
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Distribution: chi
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 16:32:41 GMT

In <1992Nov23.151151.1620@midway.uchicago.edu> he5r@quads.uchicago.edu (Steve Herscovici) writes:

> Has anyone ever dealt with Walter E Smithe Furniture, and
> if so, what were your experiences, good or bad. 

We bought a convertible sofa from them about 2 years ago.  My feelings
are that the sofa is good value for the money, that the post-sale
service is absolutely top rate, and that I would confidently buy from
them again.

Although their supplier made some errors in manufacture (fabric nap
mismatch, about which we had warned them in advance that we would be
picky), they absolutely made good on their satisfaction guarantee.
Mark Smithe, one of the owners, came to our house, looked at the sofa,
apologized for the problem, and ordered a complete replacement of the
sofa.   

Recently we were in the store looking for a chair, and the sales rep
(actually, yet another member of the multitudinous Smithe family)
asked how I was liking the sofa.  I responded that I thought the whole
look of the sofa had become a little softer and baggier than I had
expected, but that I didn't think this was any particular defect.  (I
am extremely picky about furniture and am guilty of judging a
perfectly solid commercial sofa against the standard of the items I
admire in museums and top-quality woodworking expositions.)

She immediately said "That sofa shouldn't be showing wear in two
years.  If there's a problem, call this number during the week and
we'll get someone out to look at it and make it right."  I've been too
busy to take them up on the offer, but I have no reason to suspect
they won't be accomodating.




Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: patter@dasher.cc.bellcore.com (patterson,george r)
Subject: Re: Kerby Vacuum Cleaners Information
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 18:06:14 GMT

In article <BxtGyx.8yF@mail.boi.hp.com> ahill@boi.hp.com writes:

>The sales organization is a pyramid, with fairly large markups at each
>level.  Based on guesstimates from an ex-Kirby salesman, I derived an
>approximate pricing chart:

I don't know what the organization actually is, but it is *not* a
pyramid. These have been against Federal law for nearly twenty years.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                    | Keep away from people who try to belittle your
George Patterson -  | ambitions. Small people always do that, but the
                    | really great make you feel that you, too, can
                    | become great.          Samuel Clemens
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: richard@pegasus.com (Richard Foulk)
Subject: Re: Electronics Wholesalers a Rip-Off
Organization: Pegasus,  Honolulu
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 14:23:06 GMT

>>The next day I called my credit card company and told them
>>to stop payment.  
>
>Sorry, you're confused.  You can't "stop payment" on a credit
>card charge.  You can, however, contest the charge, but unless
>you do it in writing, you may be out of luck.
>
> [...]
>
>>There ad in Stereo Review says nothing about a return policy.
>>But once you get the receipt it says 24 hour return policy on
>>unopened items. 
>
>Businesses are allowed to set their own return policies.  You
>didn't ask?
>
>>Any advice?
>
>1.  Read the back of your credit card statement.
>2.  Shop around next time, and listen to the particular model
>    before ordering it by mail.  This just seems like common sense.
>3.  Ask about return policies the next time you mailorder an expensive
>    item.
>

Credit cards do give you a fair amount of protection.  Sending them
written notice of the problem is the `correct' thing to do.  But, they
are usually very responsive to phoned complaints, and if you're being
reasonable then they'll force the vendor to be reasonable.


-- 
Richard Foulk		richard@pegasus.com
From: paul.westley@uttsbbs.uucp (Paul Westley) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: MILLENNIUM RECHARGEABLE B
Date: 20 Nov 92 22:54:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591
Reply-To: paul.westley@uttsbbs.uucp (Paul Westley) 

-> 1. I paid cash at Fry's and don't have receipts any more since I sent
-> the ORIGINAL receipt, for the two free batteries that never arrived.
-> The fine print said it had to be original receipts for free
-> batteries.
-> Will the company still exchange these nonworking batteries for new,
-> hopefully working ones?

If you don't consider this too unethical, why not just buy more
batteries at the same store, then return the damaged ones with that new
receipt, technically it's just the same as getting an exchange under
warranty.
                                                                                                        
From: to@teecs.UUCP (Norman To)
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 16:20:38 GMT
Subject: Water first?  Or, detergent first?
Organization: Litton Systems, Toronto ONT
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

Does it matter whether I put the laundry detergent before or after
the washer is filled with water?  In short, do I need the bubbles?

Same question, but with general purpose cleaner.  Should I put
'Mr. Clean' to a pail of water, or should I put 'Mr. Clean' in the pail
first then add water?

Norman To

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=
=   The grass is always greener on the other side of your sunglasses.    =
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: lpj@col.hp.com (Laura Johnson)
Subject: Re: Kerby Vacuum Cleaners Information
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 23:48:06 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

patter@dasher.cc.bellcore.com (patterson,george r) writes:
> In article <BxtGyx.8yF@mail.boi.hp.com> ahill@boi.hp.com writes:
> 
> >The sales organization is a pyramid, with fairly large markups at each
> >level.  Based on guesstimates from an ex-Kirby salesman, I derived an
> >approximate pricing chart:
> 
> I don't know what the organization actually is, but it is *not* a
> pyramid. These have been against Federal law for nearly twenty years.
> 

I think he meant the organization is pyramid-shaped (multiple levels with
more salespeople as you go down) rather than that it conforms to the
federal definition of an illegal "pyramid" scheme. (As I understand it,
that definition is quite detailed and technical and does *not* just 
refer to a pyramid-shaped organizational structure.)
-- 
Laura Johnson
lpj@hpcsos.col.hp.com
Opinions expressed are my own, but may be licensed for a nominal fee.
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Aluminum cookware:  Recipe for disaster?
Date: 17 Nov 1992 23:12:46 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <sbarnhar-171192153648@morril6t-19.micro.umn.edu>, sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu (Dr. Barnhart) writes:
>The other night as I finished steaming rice in my aluminum cookware, my
>roomie starts telling me about how bad aluminum cookware is.  It's putting
>aluminum oxide in the body, causing all kinds of health problems, the most
>significant of which is the increase in susceptibility to Alzheimer's
>disease.

That hasn't been established.  There IS a significant correlation between
Alzheimer's disease and aluminum deposits in the brain.  I know of no studies
that have tried to check for a correlation between exposure to aluminum and
aluminum deposits in the brain.  Obviously, if you never come in contact with
aluminum, you won't get aluminum deposits.  However, beyond a very small dose,
it's not clear that increasing exposure will affect that amount of deposits at
all.  An alternative explanation of the correlation is that whatever genetic
defect makes one more susceptible to Alzheimer's is responsible for increasing
the amount of aluminum deposited in the brain.  In brief:  Correlation does not
imply causality.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: anthony@lpi.liant.com (Anthony Beissner)
Subject: Re: Advice on a totalled car....
Organization: Liant Software Corp.,  Austin TX
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 16:43:46 GMT

In article <1e1563INN6h5@sixgun.East.Sun.COM> egreen@east.sun.com writes:
>>I got into a wreck this morning on a freeway. I am fine, but my car got  
>>totalled.  The other driver got a citation for failing to control her car. 
>
>>I have documentation for all recent repairs  
>>and upkeeps that went into this car, so is it possible to convince the other  
>>insurance co. that my car was worth more than book value?
>
>Yes, but not without a fight.  Sadly, they will probably offer you some
>lesser amount of money with no hassle.  If you refuse that, they will
>pay the actual value of the car, but you will probably have to hassle
>them for it.
>
>Your loan should be structured such that at no time do you owe more
>than the car's worth.
>

Without a large down payment this is not possible with a new car.  The largest
depreciation occurs as you drive it off of the lot.  It will normally be
many months before the the loan is paid down to a point below the retail price
of the now-used car.

-- 
===============================================================================
Just say no to .signature files.        |             anthony@rmc.liant.com
===============================================================================
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: guppy@wixer.cactus.org (Jennifer Mery)
Subject: Do you think it was really Sears?
Organization: Real/Time Communications
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 11:53:54 GMT

I got a phone call Wednesday (during Seinfeld, grr!). The woman on the
other end asked for me and said that she was from Sears, and that they
wanted me to apply for their credit card. Okay, I think, I wouldn't mind
having a Sears card. 

First she asks if [my address] is my correct address. It is. Next she
asks how old I am. I tell her. Then she asks if I'm a US citizen! I say
yes, but I'm starting to wonder what's going on. She asks how many
dependents I claim on my tax return. I say it's none of her business how
many people I claim on my tax return. She says that I don't have to
answer any questions I don't want to answer. She then asks if I'm
employed. I said "I don't want to talk to you anymore" being fed up with
these ridiculous off base questions. She says "This is the Sears credit
card [blah blah blah]." I told her "I already have a Dicover card and
Visa card and I don't need your card." the end.

Is this for real? I couldn't believe the tax return question. If it is
for real, I'm not even sure if I want to shop at their store. what
weirdos!

jam
-- 
==============================================================================
Jennifer Mery | Please do not quote entire articles or long signatures.
Austin, Texas | guppy@wixer.cactus.org
==============================================================================
From: disaacs@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (david.e.isaacs)
Subject: Re: Millennium rechargeable batteries
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 20:40:59 GMT

>after just abut 8-10 charges!  Even if I charge it for many hours, it
>still barely runs for 1-1.5 hours in my walkman WITHOUT using the
>motor for cassette, just radio.  Seems like a complete ripoff!
>
>Anyone else have a similar experience?
>


I hope you realize that you need to season Ni-Cads before using them 
(fully charge them).  If you don't completly drain and completly 
re-charge them each time they develope a "memory" for holding
a smaller and smaller charge.

David Isaacs		I said it.  So don't blame anyone else.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jyc@leo.Stanford.EDU (Jon Corelis)
Subject: Re: eyeglasses: want info about anti-reflective coatings
Organization: DSO, Stanford University
Distribution: usa
Date: 17 Nov 92 20:09:26 GMT

   I got my first pair of these just last weekend.  I seem to notice a
slight but definite improvement of clear vision.  They also definitely
look clearer to others -- that is, it doesn't look so much like you're
wearing glasses.  I don't see any downside except for the expense.