HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jxs18@po.CWRU.Edu (Jerry Sy)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: IKEA MAIL ORDER: YES!!!
Date: 11 Nov 1992 17:58:31 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: jxs18@po.CWRU.Edu (Jerry Sy)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, nyp00@cd.amdahl.com (Nicholas Y. Pang) says:

>Thanks for all the responses regarding IKEA Mail Order. I guess nobody has
>done any mail ordering with IKEA. Their 1993 catalog specifically say that
>IKEA is not a mail oder house. I didn't want to give up. I know that 
>Christine (response to Internet if you are reading this) from IKEA mentioned 
>sometime back that they are starting mail order soon.
>
>I called IKEA Burbank (CA) and they ARE taking mail orders! 
>
>(5) Go for it!
>
>
>                 PLEASE POST EXPERIENCES/UPDATES!!!
>

Although there are some REAL good deals at IKEA, one of which is the
$10 Christmas Pine Tree that you can get your money back when you return
the tree after new Year's, most of  the items are not worth the price,
be it on their high or low price range.

I bought thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from them and I am 
NOT SATISFIED with about 75% of them! (Christine of IKEA, can I get
my money back ?).

example, I bought a high priced table thinking I will be getting a better
quality for some more $$$, but in less than a year, the paint is chipping
off !  I bought a low price sofa bed, and in less than a year, you will
sink all the way to the ground when you sit on it !  

Plus I found that a lot of the items you can find cheaper at stores like
Kmart, Ames, Walmart and the like.

Let the Buyers Beware !!  Don't Go For it as the original poster advised
or you'll be sorry!

jerry
From: murthy+@EDRC.CMU.EDU (Sesh Murthy)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: US to Europe electrical transformers
Date: 7 Nov 92 01:06:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.BxBn2G.GtJ.2
Organization: Carnegie Mellon University

In article <27278@dog.ee.lbl.gov>, julian@baldur.lbl.gov (julian cortella) writes:
|> Hi,
|> 
|> I will be moving to France soon, and I was wondering about the 110 to 220V
|> transformer problem.  So here are a couple of questions:
|> 
|>  o Does anybody know of a good cheap source for such transformers, mail
|>    order or otherwise? What's a decent price?
Yes, you can buy a 1KW tranformer for $75 in most Indian stores.  In NY the
Indian stores are in Jackson heights.  I do not know where they are in LA.
In Paris, the Bazar Hotel de Ville sells transformers in its basement and
they are quite cheap.  You will have to go there anyhow to get the right
plugs and the wire etc.  
|>  o Are there different types of transformers?  What should I look for?
You want a 110-220 volt transformer.  
There are two kinds of voltage converters that I have seen.
1. Your solid 50 lb, 4KW transformer that will work with all kinds of equipment.
A 300 w  tranformer will weigh about 5 lb.  The wattage you need depends on
the kind of appliances you wish to use.  A stereo typically should use
less than 100 w.  A washing machine could use 2KW.  Check at the back
of the appliance.  Decide how many of these you need to operate at one time
and buy a transformer that is rated about 1.5 times what you come up with. 
For example I needed to run a refrigerator and a washing machine. 
I  bought a 4KW transformer.  
2.There are small appliances called voltage converters.  They weigh about 1/4
lb and are about 1 cubic inch.  They work only with appliances that are
resistive, like your iron.  They tend to burn out electronics and sometimes
motors.  I have seen people use hair dryers with them though so some motors
seem to work ok.
|>  o Which appliances and stuff will work in Europe?    What
|>    about a microwave oven?  I assume my cheap coffeemaker and iron will
|>    work.  Anything else?
Take a  good American refrigerator with you.  They cost an arm and a leg 
out there.  They work fine with transformers.  

Almost all electrical appliances work fine as long as they do not depend on frequency.  Europe uses 50 Hz.  Here we use 60 Hz.  The microwave oven 
will work if it is marked as 50/60 HZ.  Same with your stereo. (though you
may have some problems with 50 Hz hum)
|> If anybody has some info on this kind of problem, I'd appreciate
|> any help.  
Send me mail if you have any questions.  I lived there for a year so
I have a good idea.  

Have fun.
Sesh Murthy
From: adams@spss.com (Steve Adams)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Nope again (was Re: Yup, Amway's a scam)
Date: 6 Nov 92 17:51:15 GMT
Organization: SPSS Inc.

fritz@fc.sde.hp.com (Gary Fritz) writes:

>Steve Adams (adams@spss.com) wrote:
>: Bzzzzt.  The 7-11 owner gets products from multiple vendors and sells
>: directly to the public.  He doesn't need to (or try) to sign up other
>: people to run 7-11's that he will supply.  
>
>Those comments all show how 7-11's are different from an Amway business.
>I don't think Lou or anyone else would argue that point.  
Then he shouldn't have drawn the false analogy.

>: In addition, he probably sells
>: Pepsi products, too.  Do you sell competing products?
>
>It seems like the major argument you have against Lou's point (that a
>distributor has an independent business) is that the 7-11 sells products
>from multiple vendors.
>
>Even if "selling competing products" was the determiner, what would that
>say about many other "normal" businesses?  I've never seen a Big Mac
>at a Burger King, or Exxon gas at a Shell station.  Does that make
>Burger King responsible for each franchise?
Yes.  It actually does.  In fact, when I placed a complaint to Amoco about
an independent operator, the resulting pressure from Amoco resovled the
problem.  When I called them, once they determined it was not a "company
store" it simply changed which channels I had to go through.  They
apologized, accepted responsibility and made it right.

 -Steve
--
  The opinions expressed above are those of the author and not SPSS, Inc.
                         -------------------
   adams@spss.com                                  Phone: (312) 329-3522
   Steve Adams        "Space-age cybernomad"       Fax:   (312) 329-3558
From: grund@calypso.som.cwru.edu (Victor Grund)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: AT&T to offer 900Mhz Cordless Phone
Date: 13 Nov 1992 05:15:57 GMT
Organization: International Business Machines, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: calypso.som.cwru.edu
X-Post-Machine: calypso.som.cwru.edu


This evening I asked about 900Mhz cordless phones at my local AT&T
Phone Store.  I learned that AT&T indeed has developed a 900Mhz model
but has delayed introduction due to last minute changes in the FCC
rules for the new frequencies.  Look for an AT&T version in January,
priced at approximately $280.  They also claim a 1-2 mile range.
Yeah, right.  I'd like to see that in writing!  They didn't know if
the AT&T model would be standard analog, like the Panasonic, or
digital, like the VTECH Tropez.

Victor
--
Victor D. Grund        | grund@pyrite.som.cwru.edu 
IBM Cleveland Mktg Ops | grund@vnet.ibm.com        
RISC System/6000 & AIX | DETVMIC6(VGRUND)          
(216) 664-7381         | FAX: (216) 664-7348       
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: clarke@watson.ibm.com (Ed Clarke)
Subject: Re: Can a Microwave's performance deteriorate with time?
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 18:44:41 GMT
Distribution: usa
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In article <1992Nov12.031353.18312@wixer.cactus.org>, guppy@wixer.cactus.org (Jennifer Mery) writes:
|> In article <1992Nov11.153135.13142@tamsun.tamu.edu> tpradeep@cs.tamu.edu (Pradeep K Tapadiya) writes:
|>>now takes about 60 sec. Can the intensity of a microwave radiation
|>>go down with time? Or is something else wrong with my microwave? Can
|> My Amana Radar range slows down when it gets dirty inside, and goes back
|> to normal when we clean it.

There's a magnetron TUBE in there, perhaps it's getting old and needs
replacement.  Probably cost more to replace the tube than to replace the
whole oven. 8-(.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: seto@fraser.sfu.ca (John Seto)
Subject: Juicers - What's the best one ?
Summary: Juicers
Keywords: Juiceman
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 19:36:12 GMT

I'm looking for opinions on juicers. What are the best ones? 
What are the lemons?
Are there any objective reports on juicers by consumer magazines?
Email or post replys.

Thanks

John Seto
Systems Consultant
Office of the Registrar
Simon Fraser University

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jadams@vixen.uucp (22475-adams)
Subject: Re: phone gets locked up
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 15:24:27 GMT
Summary: A possible scenario
Keywords: call waiting

In article <4220@novavax.UUCP>, vaccaro@novavax.UUCP (N. Trafford Vaccaro) writes:
> Did anyone ever have the following problem: you pick
> up the phone and no dial tone.
> 
> This happened to me 3 times. No one could call in and I couldn't call
> out. I noticed today that when my sister called from NY she had
> a call come in while we were talking, so I said bye and she hung up
> and my dial tone went away. I think her call waiting did something
> to my phone line. 

I'm not sure what the circumstances of the other 2 times were, but your sister
dropping you to pick up an incoming call waiting call would indeed.  The central
office equipment (All vendors) utilize suspend timers which are set between 14 and
16 seconds to insure that your hangup signal (called party) is indeed a hangup and
not a switch hook flash.  A side benefit of all of this is that it is possible
when answering a call on an extension which is inconvenient (Assume residence
here), to hang up the inconvenient extension and move quickly (14 seconds is not a
lot of time) to the desired extension and maintain the connection to the calling
party.

Jack (John) Adams	| Bellcore NVC 2Z-220	| - Never trouble trouble
(908) 758-5372 {Voice}	| (908) 758-4389 {FAX}	| till trouble troubles
jadams@vixen.bcr.com	| kahuna@attmail.com	| you - (Fortune cookie)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack (John) Adams			| Bellcore NVC 2Z-220
(908) 758-5372 {Voice}			| (908) 758-4389 {Facsimile}
jadams@vixen.bellcore.com		| kahuna@attmail.com
	-- Illigitimi non carborundum est -- Kris Kristofferson
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: wales@valeria.cs.ucla.edu (Rich Wales)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Encyclopedia Britannica - their obnoxious salesmen
Date: 6 Nov 92 06:22:49 GMT
Reply-To: wales@CS.UCLA.EDU (Rich Wales)
Organization: UCLA CS Department, Los Angeles

A few years ago, I managed to get a price quote on a new Britannica
over the phone, after making it extremely clear to the salesman that
I would not under any conditions consent to have anyone come to my
home unless they told me their prices first.

My recollection was that the least expensive (non-leather-bound) edi-
tion cost something like $1300.  As I said, this was a few years ago,
and the low-end price may well be different now.

I bought a used 1980 Britannica set from a coworker several years ago
for $400, and it has served our purposes quite adequately.

--
Rich Wales <wales@CS.UCLA.EDU> // UCLA Computer Science Department
3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, CA 90024-1596 // +1 (310) 825-5683
From: ask@cbnews.cb.att.com (Arthur S. Kamlet)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How many copiers are there?
Date: 5 Nov 92 20:57:57 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories,  Columbus, Ohio

In article <1992Oct22.200445.1898@ucbeh.san.uc.edu> yuanj@ucbeh.san.uc.edu writes:
>  Please help me with a question:  How many copiers are there in the U.S.A.?  
>Your estimate if no reference is available?
>
>  My estimate is 200,000 units based on a one copier per 100 people assumption. 

In the beginning there were two.

But you know how it is with copiers.
-- 
Art Kamlet  a_s_kamlet@att.com  AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: giand@opencon.com (Deepak S. Gianchandani)
Subject: Re: Kerby Vacuum Cleaners Information
Followup-To: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
Organization: OpenCon Systems, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1992 18:16:54 GMT

In article <NEWMAN.92Nov3080804@astro.schbbs> alan@geg.mot.com (Alan Newman) writes:
>
>From article <199211030335.AA00480@tuna.wang.com>, by MANOJ.MUNJAL@OFFICE.WANG.COM ("Manoj Munjal"):
>> Does any one has experience in using Kerby Vacuum Cleaners?
>> It does a good job but is it worth the price they ask for?
>> The salesman I am dealing with for Kerby Vacuum cleaner is asking
>> for $1275.  How low they go?
>> Are they comparable to Rainbow vacuum?
>> 
>> Thanks for the information.
>> 
>> Manoj Munjal
>
>I bought a used Kirby (sp?) in college.  I paid $25 for a 32 year old
>machine.  Three years later, in a new home with thick shag carpets,
>it didn't work so great.  A door-to-door salesslime (trying to be
>gender neutral :-) showed me how the newer Kirby's were improved to
>handle the thicker carpets (what a difference!).  He wanted $900
>for the new machine plus $250 for all the attachments, and would
>give me $200 trade in allowance for my old machine.
>
>Thirty minutes later in a retail shopping center at a Kirby dealer,
>I bought the exact same brand new Kirby, with attachments, for $300
>(retail was $375).  I got an additional $25 off for trading in my
>old machine (I paid $275+tax).
>
>My new Kirby is now 13 years old and its already on its second
>belt (it comes with three replacement belts)!  In that same period
>of time, my mother is on her fourth Hoover/Eureka/whatever.
>
>The Kirby LOOKS big, heavy, and awkard.  It is really quite
>easy to use, handles like a breeze, and most versatile.  It is
>lighter and more powerful than most other units I have looked at.
>However, in the last few years, much of the competition has
>copied many of its features, while the Kirby is virtually unchanged.
>
>Alan Newman
>
>--
>Discaimer:  The opinion expressed herein is not necessarily
>            that of my employer, but is the same as my wife's.


	Dear Mr. Newman:
	Could you be so kind to include the address and phone number
of the dealer.  I paid, $950.00 for my Generation III kerby,
just a few months ago.  It includes the carpet shampooing, and
all the attachments are included (except the hair cutting and
a power brush). Please note that the Genearation III has a motor
drive, which makes or pushing the Kerby an ease.

	As far as the Kirby is concered, I don't know of a better
VACCUMING machine. And yes they are supposed to last a life time, as
the warrenty states (doen't include parts, just labor).

-- 
____________________   .    .   __         .       | Deepak S. Gianchandani
\___________________|) .____.--"--"---._____       | E-mail:giand@opencon.com
     .      ||       /_____/  NCC_1701  __/ .  . . | 
.       .   ||      /--/--._________.----/   .     | To Boldly Go Where
From: br@cs.cmu.edu (Bill Ross)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Kerby Vacuum Cleaners Information
Date: 6 Nov 92 13:24:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.BxAqKH.34B.2
Reply-To: br@cs.cmu.edu
Organization: CMU Vision and Autonomous Systems Center


    We have a kerby which we bought from a guy who reconditions
    them.  We didn't pay much and it sure seems to work better
    than our old hoover plus it has alot of neat attachments.
    I'm not sure any rug-sucker is worth > $1000 bucks but if you
    can find a nice reconditioned one for $150, go for it.

    Bill
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: chrz@tellabs.com (Peter Chrzanowski)
Subject: Re: Encyclopedia Britannica - their obnoxious salesmen
Organization: Tellabs, Inc.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 23:40:40 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.232450.29869@pony.Ingres.COM>, reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux) writes:
> In article <1992Nov5.174157.14549@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger) writes:
> >>Anyway, what is the price, and why are Encyclopedia Britannica salesman
> >>so reluctant to tell you, even to the point of being obnoxious?
> >
> >Maybe it's there so ashamed of the price that they have to "present" it
> >to you, in the same way that Amway reps are so ashamed of their
> >company that they won't tell you its name, except under controlled
> >conditions.
> 
> I was walking through a mall the  other day when a Britannica salesman
> tried to get  me to see  his wares. "Can  I  show you the encyclopedia
> Britannica?!?"
> 
> My  response of "No thank  you, I can't read." seemed  to shut him  up
> pretty well!   Perhaps I should have asked  for the one with  pictures
> instead of words ;-)

Encyclopedia salespeople ALWAYS go away if you tell 'em you don't have
any kids.  Unless they see tattletale signs ("No, those are MY leggo blocks!").


> 			reb
> 
> -- *-=#= Phydeaux =#=-* reb@ingres.com  or  reb%ingres.com@lll-winken.llnl.GOV
> ICBM:  41.55N 87.40W  h:828 South May Street  Chicago,  IL 60607  312-733-3090
> w:reb Ingres 10255 West Higgins Road Suite 500 Rosemont, IL 60018 708-803-9500
> ==============================================================================
> "You've got  to know when  to code 'em,  know when to load 'em,   know when to 
> emulate,  know when to run.  You never count your money,  when your sittin' at 
> the keyboard: there'll be time enough for countin', when the software's done."
From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: COMPUTERIZED TELEMARKETIN
Date: 5 Nov 92 01:05:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-8298v.32bis
Reply-To: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 

This was really written for a BBS in NYC which carries press releases
but may be of interest here.:
Update of November 4, 1992, They got me again this afternoon using
the 540-4400 number.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
=====================

                Computer Dialers Got You By The Calls?
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

by Raymond B. Normandeau

Normandeau Newswire- No matter where you are from the Nassau border
to the Hudson River you may have gotten a computer dialed call
telling you that you may be eligible for a fabulous prize.

If you have not gotten such a call yet, cheer-up, you probably will.

The recorded message is played to you extremely fast. You may have
won a life-time supply of amphetatmines so that you too may start a
similar business.

Have you gotten computer dialed calls from "Hopping Harry". Maybe
calls mentioning Reno Nevada? Have these calls told you to call a
540-???? number?

Do you think that maybe the recorded messages failed to tell you the
price of the call? Did the recording mention "Five-Four-Oh" several
times? If the recording said "The call is billed at Five-Four-Oh"
they meant that you are billed #5.40. You WERE paying attention
weren't you? Those are the bargain calls, the sky is the limit.

Was an address speed spoke so fast that "slow you" missed it?

If you have multiple phone lines and have been lucky enough to be the
recipient of multiple calls you may like to go pick up your multiple
prizes in person.

You may have been told to call 540-4400, 540-0100, 540-9900 or
another 540-nnnn number.

Now ... back to that address. Sneaky us, taped one of those calls and
played back the address.

Would you like to visit the office where the calls came from?
Are you Hopping Mad?
Here is the address:
Eagleton Group Inc
717 East Jericho Turnpike #213
Huntington Station, NY 11746

If the recording tells you that you must call within "n" minutes and
you want to get more information by phone without paying a hefty fee
for the call, then dial 718-830-8781 which is a Queens tie line to
the Huntington Station address. You will only be charged for a
regular local call.

So now you have it. You can pay them a visit!

You may have to speak to them real slowly like.

They don't hear as fast as they talk.

However, no matter how slowly you tell them that you want no more
calls from them, they won't stop calling you -ever.

                                # # #
From: gordon@sneaky.lonestar.org (Gordon Burditt)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Cellular Phone Questions
Date: 10 Nov 92 17:53:58 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Gordon Burditt

>>(2) Is there any limitation on the cellular phone? For example, 
>>    can it be used on the car as a car phone? Can I dial or 
>>    receive a long distance call (say, to/from other state) 
>>    from a cellular phone?
>
>It acts just like any other phone.  You  can get  calls and make calls
>to anywhere in the world.

You might have to fight for the ability to make international calls.
Some cellular phone companies turn that off to reduce fraud, and
usually they don't tell you until you try to make an international
call and it doesn't work.

					Gordon L. Burditt
					sneaky.lonestar.org!gordon
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: The other side of the coin (Re: Revenge on a Telemarketer - the Sequel (Long Post))
Date: 6 Nov 92 20:53:26 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <l^#@byu.edu> $stephan@sasb (Stephan Fassmann, Software) writes:
>
>I just found this group and went through some of the messages about the 
>telemarketers at random and I saw none stating the telemarketers side. Maybe 
>this will be an interesting side to look at. My wife is a telemarketer, and 
>I will warn her about some the the things people plan to do. But more to the 
>point, she has graduated with an elementary education degree and can't get a 
>job at the moment. She isn't dumb and neither are the people she works 
>with but bills must be paid. After 4 months she lowered her standards to get 
>one of the plentiful telemarketing jobs mainly because we needed the income. 
   
      [The rest of this tale of woe which attempts to justify
      harassing innocent victims has been deleted...]

      Sorry, but if your wife is rude enough to invade my privacy
      and bother me, then I really have a hard time with your
      attitude that YOUR problems are automatically MY problems just
      because that's all she educated herself for.

      I have seen similar tales of woe used to justify a life of
      prostitution, drug dealing, AMWAY selling, burglary, etc.  I could
      care less if someone chooses these professions, JUST AS LONG
      AS THEY DON"T GET THE MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION that this gives them
      any right to bother ME with solicitations, burglaries, etc. 


>In the univercity newspaper there are about 12 advertizements for 
>telemarketing jobs, they are plentiful and even if they pay minimum wage it 
>is certainly better then nothing. 
   
     Do the crime, pay the time.  Your wife chose a highly
     unpopular profession.   Did either of you ever stop to think
     about the innocent victims either of you are harassing with
     this profession?  

     Basically you better expect that I will show you all the
     courtesy you have just shown me when you've awoken me after a
     nights work, interrupted my dinner, etc. etc. etc.

>Please remember telemarketers aren't evil, 
     
     Maybe not, but they sure are annoying.    

>Most have orders to wait for the third no, 
    
      "Befehl ist befehl" huh?


Hurting them will never stop 

>stopped sue the companies, hurting someone who is trying to survive is mean, 
>and un-Christian. Maybe this will cause you to think about the other side of 
>the coin before you do something uncharitible.
>
    Hey, I don't harass or otherwise try to bother pavement
    princesses, but at least they have the decency to NOT harass 
    me either.  Your self-pitying telemarketer lacks the decency of
    a hooker.    

    Why don't YOU look at the other side of the coin before you
    pick up the !@#$!@#$ phone and bother me?
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.fitness,misc.misc,rec.misc