HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: I'm about to do a C.O.D. transaction. Any caveats?
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 17:58:26 GMT


In article <103700@netnews.upenn.edu>, isler@gradient.cis.upenn.edu (Sylvia Isler) writes:
>
>Hello,
>I'm about to sell a computer to a stranger via COD. That is, I send
>the computer and he gives UPS a money order for the amount that I 
>specified.
>
>I've never done this sort of thing before. It seems like a pretty
>straight forward transaction. But if anyone has any
>warnings or advice, I'd greatly appreciate it.

My brother had the unfortunate experience of cheated by a crook who
cancelled the money order.  That is right, if the crook's bank goes
along with it, even a cashier's check can be cancelled.  (*oh, I
lost my check.  It was stolen.*)  The bank of my brother could not
believe that but after they searched through some banking code, yep,
the other bank could cancel a money order.

I don't know what to suggest.  Maybe the UPS guy should demand cash?
From: aem@symbiosis.ahp.com (a.e.mossberg)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: When is a dill pickle Kosher?
Date: 6 Jan 1993 13:15:38 -0500
Organization: Symbiosis Corporation, Miami, Florida  (305) 597-4000
Distribution: na
Reply-To: aem@symbiosis.ahp.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: symbi1.symbiosis.ahp.com

CPLS13@email.mot.com (Steven_Cohn) writes:

[...]

>2) All meat must come from kosher animals (defined as having split hooves
>and chewing their cud), and the animals must be slaughtered in a certain
>way (sharp knife slit through the neck - quickest, least painful method of
>slaghtering).

 					  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That is biased opinion, not fact.


aem, a believer in the most humane treatment of animals - NOT EATING THEM
-- 
andrew mossberg           systems specialist           symbiosis corporation
(305) 597-4110            fax (305) 597-4002           miami, florida 33166-6202
aem@symbiosis.ahp.com     uunet!symbi1!aem             SPAN: UMIGW::AEM
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:21627 misc.consumers.house:16387
From: andrew@frip.WV.TEK.COM (Andrew Klossner)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Washer,Dryer,Fridge & Stove All At Once!
Date: 7 Jan 93 01:27:13 GMT
Reply-To: andrew@frip.wv.tek.com
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: Tektronix Color Printers, Wilsonville, Oregon

[]

	"a local Appliance Chain ... offers a discount ... when you buy
	2 or more appliances at the same time.  I imagine you could
	wield quite a bit of bargaining power with most any appliance
	dealer ... if you are going to be spending that much dough" 

Indeed.  I just finished acting as general contractor in building my
new house.  All the appliance stores were willing to bid to sell me a
package of appliances (cooktop, dishwasher, oven, downdraft vent, 2
microwaves).  I'm told that even Sears will do this.  I didn't have to
seek out a special "builders" store.

The lowest bid was from the snottiest store in town.  (BASCO, Portland,
Oregon -- don't go in wearing a T-shirt or you'll get attitude.)  I
FAXed it to the store that I wanted to do business with, and they
matched the bid.

(I didn't include a refrigerator because all the built-in refrigerators
looked to me like ripoffs.  After moving in, I ordered two standard
Amanas, which stand next to each other and pretend to be a single
40-cubic-foot side-by-side unit.  Both together for 1/3 the price of a
Subzero with less volume.)

  -=- Andrew Klossner  (andrew@frip.wv.tek.com)
                       (uunet!tektronix!frip.WV.TEK!andrew)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: janick@bnr.ca (Janick Bergeron)
Subject: Source for Duralex (tm) dishes wanted
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd, Ottawa, Canada
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 19:31:40 GMT

Made in France of tempered glass. Like car windows, does not
break easily (and breaks in small rounded pieces when it does).

My mother has tons of Duralex which are still going strong (no chipping,
no scratching) after 20+ years.

My mother-in-law just gave us her own set which I would like to augment.
Does anyone know of a source for these dishes ?

Thanks
-- 
Janick Bergeron    Bell-Northern Research, Ltd       Ph.: (613) 763-5457
System Timing   P.O. Box 3511, Station C, Stop 049   Fax: (613) 763-7241
Verification     Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1Y 4H7  email:  janick@bnr.ca 
library quote; use quote.funny;                  use std.disclaimer.all;
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kenk@sdc.com (Ken Konecki)
Subject: Re: Dances With Wolves Promotion
Organization: Systems Development Corporation
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 14:40:36 GMT

In article <1993Jan8.225301.14577@pony.Ingres.COM> daveb@lotus (Dave Brower, DBMS hack, [510] 748-3418) writes:
>Let me get this straight.  You paid a whopping 8 bucks and are
>complaining about the quality?

Quality and price are unrelated.  All products come with a
warranty of merchantability which assures that goods sold for a
particular purpose will serve that purpose, NO MATTER HOW LARGE
OR SMALL THE PURCHASE PRICE.  The complaint about the poor
quality of the tape is indeed a valid one.

Cheers,
    -Ken K
-- 
Ken Konecki
e-mail:kenk@sdc.com    -or-    ...!uunet!tellab5!sdc!kenk
"Getting an inch of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery"
From: neilw@informix.com (Neil Williams)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Bread makers: recommendations?
Date: 8 Jan 93 22:56:23 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

In article <1ihf1mINNmbr@symbi1.symbiosis.ahp.com> aem@symbiosis.ahp.com writes:
>lyson@mpr.ca (Angela Lyson) writes:
>
>>	Our machine doesn't take up two square feet of counter space,
>
>Mine takes up roughly a square foot, but you need room around it for
>working space, ventilation, and room to vibrate should it feel suicidal
>and aim for the edge.

Huh?  Your machine vibrates and moves around?  Our Zojirushi
just makes a rumbling noise and doesn't move at all.

It has about the same footprint as yours though, definitely 
nowhere close to 2 sq. ft.

--Neil

-- 
Neil Williams: neilw@informix.com

Seen on my last trip on United: "If you are seated in an exit row 
and can not (sic) read this card... please notify a crew member."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.audio
From: garyp@rmtc.paramax.com (Gary Palangian [RMTC/ISP])
Subject: Re: Info on Powermid Remote Control Extender?
Organization: Paramax Systems
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 19:00:10 GMT



In article <7839@dove.nist.gov>, glenn@sloth.ncsl.nist.gov writes:
|> 
|> 
|> 
|> I saw an add in the Complete Crutchfield catalog for the Powermid
|> Remote Control Extender.  It is a two piece device that converts
|> IR remote control commands to radio and transmits to a receiver
|> that converts the radio back to IR and sends to the unit being
|> controlled.  It lists for $49.95 for the set and $29.95 for each
|> additional piece.  This seems alot cheaper than the Onkyo and Pioneer
|> solution for multi-room remotes.  Alot easier to install also
|> since there are no cables to run.  Does anyone know anything about
|> this?  Is this one of those new-fangled gadgets that is more a 
|> pipe-dream than reality?
|> 
|> Thanks in advance
|> 
|> Rob G.
|> glenn@osi.ncsl.nist.gov


It is real.  It works very well.  Like any weak radio transmission, it works
better the closer the receiver and transmitter are.  In my test
run in my home, I put the transmitter about 40 feet from the receiver.  THe
receiver was around a corner and in another room.  The kitchen and my
cordless phone separate the units.  I turned on the microwave, made a phone
call, and tried it out.  worked fine.  Small units.  quite inconspicuous
although a white case would have been a better choice.  Plastic, not the
most wonderful finish or seams.  Made by the X10 folks.  Also, you
can get an extender that plugs into the trasmitter and can be
placed inside an audio cabinet.  (It costs $20 and is available from
Home Automation Labs).  J&R has the base set and separate trasmitter and
receiver for cheaper than Crutchfield.  Heck, at $50, buy a set and play around.
If you really hate them, ship them back and spend $10 for shipping.`

Party On...

Gary P.
From: savoia@sw.stratus.com (Rick Savoia)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Discmans for walking? (was: Re: Sony Car Discmans?)
Date: 11 Jan 1993 20:50:54 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: watts.sqa.stratus.com

In article <1993Jan11.195128.26557@freenet.carleton.ca>, aa526@Freenet.carleton.ca (Christopher Bright) writes:
> 
> Look into Sony's MD.  It is smaller than the CD and will never skip.  You
> can record on it as well!
> 
> The wave of the future?


I forget who it was who said it, Pete Townsend maybe, but
he was right: "It seems that the record companies continue
to find ways for the consumers to buy the same thing over
and over again".  I'll wait until the MD comes down to
the price of the CD  and then I'll start checking into 
it.  Until then, I can't see myself going out and replacing
my CD collection with MD or for a $600 Walkman.  

78's -> 45 -> 33 1/2 -> 8 track -> Cassette -> CD -> MD.

Or something to that effect.  It may be the wave of the 
future, but I wish that it was backwardly compatible. :)

-- 
==========================================================
Rick Savoia                     | "I'm just very selective
savoia@watts.sqa.stratus.com    | about the reality 
Rick_Savoia@vos.stratus.com     | I accept" - Calvin
==========================================================
From: fritz@fc.sde.hp.com (Gary Fritz)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Bread makers: recommendations?
Date: 8 Jan 93 16:24:34 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpfcgf.sde.hp.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Patt Bromberger (patth@panix.com) wrote:
: Seems I was also criticized by Gary at that time when he said
: something like well, you are one of the few satisfied Welbilt
: customers, everyone else is furious at them or some such comment.

Well, Patt, sorry if I came across as browbeating you for liking
your machine!  :-)

What I *intended* to say was:  many people like their R2D2's.
MANY people (an unacceptably large percentage in my opinion) do not.
If you already own an R2D2 and are happy with it, that's wonderful.
But that does NOT necessarily mean that someone buying an R2D2
will repeat your happy experience.  The statistics I have seen
would indicate otherwise.  If you're *considering* buying a machine,
it would seem to make sense to go with the brands that haven't
gotten so much bad press (and NOT just from me :-) on the net.

Gary
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: judiths%eliot@uunet.uu.net (Judith Speck)
Subject: Cost of living info wanted
Originator: judiths@usisun
Organization: UNITECH Software, Inc., Reston, VA
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 14:25:51 GMT

  I need to get a book or some sort of in print analysis of the
cost of living for various cities and areas around the U.S.  I
remember once seeing a chart of various cities and what a dollar
was worth there.  Does anyone know specifically what title would
have this sort of collected information and where I could get it?

Thanks in advance,
Judith

internet hop: judiths%eliot@uunet.uu.net
uucp: uunet!eliot!judiths
From: joe@sybase.com (Joseph Weinstein)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Canadian proof that taxation lowers cigarette consumption
Date: 8 Jan 93 18:46:12 GMT
Organization: Sybase, Inc.

Dean Edell on KGO revealed some data about canadian tobacco consumption, where
taxation raised the cost of cigarettes to about $3 a pack. The data show that
prior to the tax increase, per capita consumption was equal to the U.S. In the
few years since the taxation the consumption rate has dropped by 30%.

--
Joe Weinstein   joe@sybase.com   Sybase 1650 65th st.  Emeryville Ca 94608

NOT A DISCLAIMER!   THIS IS THE OFFICIAL OPINION OF AN IMPORTANT CORPORATE
                    ENTITY (NOT SYBASE).     FOR COMPLETE DETAILS SEND $10
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John F Nielsen)
Subject: Re: Getting rich -- this is no joke!
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 19:19:04 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.005849.19983@osf.org> kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup) writes:
>In article <1016@rc1.vub.ac.be> rdictus@vnet3.vub.ac.be (Roy Dictus) writes:
>
>...it doesn't matter- we shouldn't send a dime to someone named "Dict-us"....
>
>	-Kenny
>

It looks like his account got disabled. I guess the sysadmin's there
noticed the problem.

john


-- 
John Nielsen   MAGNUS Consultant            ______   ______   __  __	
jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu         /\  __ \ /\  ___\ /\ \/\ \
                                           \ \ \/\ \\ \___  \\ \ \_\ \
  Back off man, I'm a Scientist!            \ \_____\\/\_____\\ \_____\
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: ATTN: RENTERS
Date: 8 Jan 93 00:20:19 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corporation

In article <1993Jan7.214846.18538@samba.oit.unc.edu> Michael.Bohl@launchpad.unc.edu (Michael Bohl) writes:
>
>Fellow home or apartment renters,
>
>	While $1/month is not alot to each individual, when multiplied by
>millions of people it becomes a substantial sum of money.  I will wager
>that most renters are paying the phone company an additional $1/month
>unecessarily.  Check you bill. 
>
>	However, as a renter, you do not own the lines and hold NO
>respnsibility to carry this 'insurance'.  Do you carry 'insurance' which
>will pay for the repair of the electrical wiring inside the walls?  No, of
>course not.  
>
   Actually I can offer counter facts.  I am a renter.  I did not
   buy the extra "wiring maintenance" charge.  

   When I moved in, I discovered that there was a fault in the
   internal wiring.  

   The telephone company agreed to fix it or I could use a private
   contractor, or fix it myself.  I contacted the leasing office and
   they pointed out a paragraph in the lease....although they might
   own the property, very few rentals in Calif include free
   maintenance of telco wiring.   So although you don't "own" the
   lines, if you want telephone service you'll have to pay for
   repairs yourself...or buy the insurance.  And in most rental
   properties you might just be forbidden from crawling around in
   the walls or opening the covers of the demarc.   

   So I'd ignore this posting for the first month.  Pay the extra
   wiring maintenance charge for the FIRST month until you are
   certain the wiring is in good condition.  Then you just call the
   phone company and cancel the service..which they will politely
   do.

   And lest you suspect the phone company's motives, that advice
   came FROM the phone company.   They noted very correctly that
   rarely does wiring fail as long as it remains in service...
   [They still charged me the $75 bucks, though...]




>	I called the company a few years ago and the clerk who answered the
>phone INSISTED that I was responsible for the wiring in the walls, even as
>a renter.  Of course, that makes no sense at all as I related in the
>previous analogy.  Think for a moment how many MILLIONS of dollars are
>collected each year for which NO service is ever rendered.  
>
   The clerk was correct but for the wrong reason....
From: kurdzo@gdc.com (Jim Kurdzo)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Price Club Info Sought
Date: 5 Jan 93 13:38:55 GMT
Organization: General DataComm Ind. Inc., Middlebury, CT 06762
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Michelle Buscho (mbuscho@hpcc01.corp.hp.com) wrote:
> 
> Cons:
> 
> - payment is cash or by check written on an account specifically linked to that
>   card; no credit cards accepted


Here in Connecticut, Price club accepts Discover Card on purchases over $70.


--

Jim Kurdzo   N1KKA
General DataComm
Middlebury, CT  06762-1299
(203) 758-1811 x7550
kurdzo@gdc.com

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.motorcycles
From: parr@acs.ucalgary.ca (Charles Parr)
Subject: Re: DOES AMERICA SAY YES TO JAPAN? - Off track!!
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 93 21:27:37 GMT
Organization: The University of Calgary, Alberta

In article <1993Jan5.224453.125@sdc.com> kenk@sdc.com (Ken Konecki) writes:
>I knew this would eventually happen:
>
>In article <thomasd.59.726252693@tps.COM> thomasd@tps.COM (Thomas W. Day) writes:
>| In article <1993Jan4.201248.4828@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:
>| 
>| >Ever hear of Harley-Davidson? It's conveniently located (at least, 
>| >corporate headquarters) right there in "the formerly strong midwest of this 
>| >country".
>| 
>| I really don't think using Harley as evidence that U.S. companies are 
>| capable of competing is valid.  Harley sells a marginal quality, specific 
>| market motorcycle to people who have more money than sense.  In no area is 
>| Harley able to field a motorcycle that can compete with the Japanese 
>| majors.  Harley exists for its value as a keepsake, not as a motorcycle.  
>| For instance, Harley makes a bike that is matched in performance and 
>| function by all of the Japanese manufacturers, but Harley doesn't make a 
>| sport touring bike, a dirt bike, or a multi-purpose bike.  Harley isn't 
>| even the lowest cost, highest quality producer in their small niche.  In 
>| effect, they are making the same bike they have been making for 50 years 
>| with minor "improvements."  They are in the same status vehicle group as 
>| Rolls Royce.  
>| 
>| Because they have been successful in finding a small niche of 
>| the motorcycle market to participate in and are the sole American 
>| manufacturer in that market, they are a popular benchmark for American 
>| manufacturing success.  They are less of a success than is popularly 
>| believed.  

You know, I agree with everything this guy has said. He is 
incontrovertably right. But right after I get my Bimota Db2,
and my RC30, I want a softail springer.

And a guy like this will never understand why.

Charles Parr
DoD 0.001
Rz350
-- 
Within the span of the last few weeks I have heard elements of
separate threads which, in that they have been conjoined in time,
struck together to form a new chord within my hollow and echoing
gourd. --Unknown net.person
From: fritz@fc.sde.hp.com (Gary Fritz)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Bread makers: recommendations?
Date: 5 Jan 1993 16:43:09 GMT
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpfcgf.sde.hp.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

John DiMarzio (john@ice.stx.com) wrote:
: Welbilt products are not made exclusively for DAK and are not available
: exclusively through DAK.  DAK often markets remanufactured products.  
: Sometimes without even labelling them as such.  My brother's Breadmaker
: did not come from DAK and has performed well since he got it.

I understand that.  My Welbilt also did not come from DAK.  I bought it
from a local discount store.  It has performed erratically for the past
two years.  I got disgusted with the Welbilt customer service department,
and after fighting with them for 4 months gave up.  Now I just don't use
the machine very often because it doesn't work very well.  One of these
days I will replace it with another brand -- personal experience has
convinced me they work much better.

I lumped the DAK and Welbilt machines together because 1) they are
virtually identical (the original DAK machine and the Welbilt "R2D2" model
had only minor cosmetic differences), 2) as a result they both tend to have
the same sorts of problems, 3) many people on the net have expressed
displeasure with both the DAK and Welbilt customer service departments, and 
4) overall the level of unhappiness with the two machines was roughly the same.

If your brother is happy with his Welbilt, more power to him.  Some people
were lucky and had no problems with their machines.  HOWEVER, an unacceptably
large percentage of DAK and Welbilt owners I know of were unhappy with
their purchases.  I never heard of anyone who was unhappy with Panasonic,
Hitachi, Zojirushi, etc.  Therefore it would make sense to me to avoid
DAK and Welbilt, since your chances of getting a lemon are much higher.

Gary
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: waldnerm@rtsg.mot.com (Matthew R. Waldner)
Subject: Re: Bread makers: recommendations?
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 15:29:37 GMT

I have had a Hitachi HB101 for about a year.
I make about 2 loaves a week for a family of
2. I try a lot of different kinds of breads and
have never had a failure because of the machine.
My parents and in-laws like it as well, we never
go to either parents house without it.
This model has a metal bucket for the ingredients,
so I'm not locked into putting the ingredientd into
it by the bread maker.
It also has rubber pads on its feet - very nice for
when the machine is on a hard surface.
I have been very satisfied.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,soc.men,soc.motss,ba.motss
From: root@candle.uucp (Bruce Momjian)
Subject: Re: Levi Strauss DEFUNDS Boy Scouts
Organization: a consultant's basement
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 18:02:13 GMT
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

W. David Rohwer (rohwerwd@netcom.com) wrote:
  -  quoted text deleted -
: 
:      Put me on record for supporting Levi Strauss' action of defunding the
: Boy Scouts.  I will continue to purchase Levi's jeans.

Well, I don't know about you folks, but I was just dying to find out
how Dave would vote.  I can relax now :->
-- 
Bruce Momjian                          |  830 Blythe Avenue
root%candle.uucp@bts.com               |  Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026 
  +  If your life is a hard drive,     |  (215) 353-9879(w) 
  +  Christ can be your backup.        |  (215) 853-3000(h)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kieran@world.std.com (Aaron L Dickey)
Subject: Re: 10 CDs for the price of 1: kosher?
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 06:33:28 GMT

dunster@sdsu.edu (mark dunster) writes:

>This is my biggest concern. If they do manufacture their own CDs,
>are they of an inferior quality?  For those of you who have joined
>these CD clubs, do they send you CDs made by the original recording
>companies?  Have you had any quality problems?

I'd be surprised if this were true.  As far as I can tell, most of the CDs
sold by the clubs are manufactured at the same plants that manua\facture
the CDs you buy in the store.  For example, Sony owns the CD-pressing
plant, and most of Columbia House.  So what would be the point of
remastering a disk at lower quality, especially when they get so much more
money by selling it direct to the consumer that they do by selling it
wholesale to record store chains?

--Aaron
From: shk@cs.utexas.edu (Sanjay Hemkant Kaluskar)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Help in Getting Refund on Car Insurance Premiums
Date: 8 Jan 1993 12:38:07 -0600
Organization: U Texas Dept of Computer Sciences, Austin TX
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: paducah.cs.utexas.edu
Keywords: Refund, Insurance

This is for a friend. Please reply to arun@falcon.natinst.com by e-mail.

        My friend bought his car insurance On Sept.1991  from Guaranty 
County Mutual (A policy for one year).  He turned 25 in June 1992.  So
his premium dropped.  But by that time he had already paid all his premiums
(Premiums were payable in monthly instalments, and entire payments were to be
made by June).  He talked to his agent about it, and the agent told him that
he will get a refund check after June (when he turns 25).

        But till today, he has not received any refund.  He has called his 
agent hundreds of times, but he never calls back.  My friend tried to contact
the Guaranty Mutual CO, but they told him to deal through the agent.

        The amout involved is about $180.  Please advise what resort my friend 
can have now.

(Meanwhile in Sept he renewed his policy through Farmers Insurance)

 Please reply to : arun@falcon.natinst.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.audio