HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

My wife received in the mail today one of those "You have been selected to
definitely receive one of these gifts"!

     (1) Cadillac Coupe Deville (not to exceed $20,000)
     (2) $7500 in cash
     (3) Big Screen Stereo Tv ($2500 market value)
     (4) Diamond Sapphire Tennis Bracelet ($1200 market value)
     (5) $1000 in cash
     (6) Hawaiian vacation (average room cost more than $500)

The letter made a big deal about not being a contest, or a drawing, or a
sweepstakes, or a lottery.  Instead, it claimed that it was a valid premium
incentive offer.  For more details, she was to call Professional Marketing
Inc. in Las Vegas -- which she did.

The girl who answered the call asked my wife for some code that appeared on
the letter.  When my wife gave her the code, the girl informed my wife that
the code on my wife's letter just happened to be the lucky number to qualify
her for a second award from the above list.

So what were they promoting?  Vitamins!

Basically, they want my wife to send them $598 for a 9 month supply of some
new fangled health vitamins!  Her first award would be included with the
first order.  Her second award would be determined 45 to 60 days later -
guarranteed!

Well, has anyone else out there seen this particular thing?  I may be wrong,
but here is how I figure it:

     - Everyone gets the second award.

     - When you look at the list, you figure the worst prize is the vacation.
       These are usually so worthless that one would never use it anyway.
       The restrictions are ridiculous.

     - But this is different!  You are guaranteed 2 of these prizes!  It looks
       to me like the next prize would be the $1000 cash!  Of course, I don't
       mind sending $598 since they will send me a prize that is at least
       worth $1000!

     - WRONG!  With the carefully worded statements, the second prize will
       also be one of those worthless vacations!  After all, nowhere have
       they guarranteed that the second prize has to be different than the
       first one!

     - Finally, I am convinced that if I were to send them the $598, I would
       receive $35 worth of over-the-counter vitamins repackaged and renamed
       with some Yuppie type labels!

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 + Lief Sorensen         lief@hpfclm.fc.hp.com +         --\\\\o___           +
 + Hewlett Packard Co.                         +     --\\\\o___               +
 + Fort Collins, Colorado                      + --\\\\o___      Rev. 14:6-12 +
 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: alan@dragon.acadiau.ca (Alan W. McKay)
Subject: Need US computer prices
Organization: Acadia University
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 13:52:36 GMT

My roommate is going to study in Rhode Island next year and he is 
wondering whether or not he should sell his computer here in Canada
before he goes.  I told him that he could probably buy a new system
in the US for little more than he could sell his here in Canada.

Could someone give me the US price (non-mail-order) of the following:

286-16, 1M ram
2s/2p/1g
40M HD
1.2 and 1.44 FD
VGA card and colour monitor

And maybe a price on the same thing, except 386-25 with 2M ram

Please reply by email as I don't read this group very often.

-- 
--
Alan W. McKay		| (902)542-2201.158	| Wolfville, N.S. Canada
alan@acadiau.ca		| Acadia University	| SUB Box 6008, B0P 1Z1
----------------------------------------- My Canada includes Quebec -----
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins)
Subject: Re: Terrible Experience With Alamo
Organization: None
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 18:59:15 GMT

In article <5696@vp.COM> yms@vp.osc.com (Yuh-Ming Shyy) writes:
>Here is the story of my own terrible experience with Alamo. 
>Personally, I'll NEVER EVER do any business with ALAMO again. 
>
Another gruesome story of the Alamo rent-a-car agency.

>Be aware of Alamo! 

My father had similar experiences and he says 'Remember the Alamo'.

We rented from them some years ago and found they dragged you
to the middle of nowhere (so you can't leave) and put you on huge,
3 hour lines and then stick you with an impossible contract.

We had it better than others because we pre-arranged it. But Alamo's
contract requuired we keep the car X days and wanted to charge us more
when we brought it back early.

Be careful with Alamo......

Joe
joec@morgan.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
Subject: Re: Charles Givens Organization
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 92 18:10:55 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland

There is a newsgroup called misc.invest that periodically discusses CGO.
One of the participants, David Favor, is even employed by CGO.

A friend of mine is a member. He likes it a lot. Since I'm his friend,
he lets me listen to his audio tapes and read his CGO newsletters. They're
OK, but there are other sources where one can get the same information
for only a fraction of the cost.

I recommend you start by reading Charles Givens' two best-selling books,
which you will surely find in the public library. CGO is essentially an
extension of that philosophy.

Becoming a member can be worthwhile, but there are numerous alternatives
that are just as effective, and much less costly.

A lot depends on your purpose, and since you've asked a very general
question, I can only give a very general answer.

One of the benefits of being a CGO member is attending there seminars
throughout the country. You have an opportunity to meet other members.
Since everyone is sharing the common goal of enhancing personal wealth,
this social interaction with others can be motivating.

On the other hand, you could join a local investment club in your
community, which would cost you nothing.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: feeney@tigger.jvnc.net (Michael J. Feeney)
Subject: My Office is Going Copier Shopping!
Originator: feeney@nisc.jvnc.net
Organization: JvNCnet, Princeton University, NJ
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 18:39:25 GMT


As September approaches, we begin to think of the many changes that autumn
brings:  the changing colors of the leaves on the trees, hayrides, warm
woolen sweaters on chilly nights, and of course, copiers.

That's right, my office is going to buy a new copier.  We are taking 
advantage of the "free trial" that the copier companies offer, and now this 
place looks like copier heaven.

Some of the models we are looking at are the Mita DC 3585, and the Lanier 6230.

Dear members of Usenet, are any of you satisfied with your mid-sized copier?

If so, please e-mail me the brand name and model number, and end this plague
that Xerox, god of copiers, has brought upon me.


Thanks in advance!

-Mike
From: yms@vp.osc.com (Yuh-Ming Shyy)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Terrible Experience With Alamo
Date: 10 Aug 92 20:51:05 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Versant Object Technology, Menlo Park, CA

Here is the story of my own terrible experience with Alamo. 
Personally, I'll NEVER EVER do any business with ALAMO again. 

1. I reserved an economic car with Alamo for only $63/week 
   through my travel agent.

2. When I finally arrived at my destination air port, a bus 
   took me to the rental center in the middle of nowhere. 

3. At the counter, the service man first told me that they have 
   my reservation, but the price is $87/week instead of $63/week. 
   He said that is what he had on the computer and there is 
   nothing he can do. Take it or leave...

4. Reluclent to go back to the airport, I agreed the price. He then 
   began to presured me to buy the insurance. I rejected all. 

5. Unhappily, this guy then began to ask me if I want to upgrade 
   the car to a Nissan Sentra. I rejected again. This huy then 
   gave me the key. 

6. I was surprised to find out that what he hgve me was a two-seat 
   convertable! With 4 big luggages, I had no choice but to go 
   back to their office and ask for a larger car. 

7. Being tired and frustrated, I said "OK, give me the Nissan Sentra!". 
   This guy gave me the new bill, when is almost $180/week! This is 
   really outrageous, I know Nissan Senra/E is good, but does it 
   worth $180 a week? 

8. Tired, hungry, in the middle of no where, I had no choice but to 
   accept this car. I will never do any business with this company 
   again. 

Be aware of Alamo! 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.locksmithing
From: Larry Margolis <margoli@watson.ibm.com>
Subject: Re: Rekeying locks
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 16:52:08 GMT
Reply-To: margoli@watson.ibm.com
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: The Village Waterbed

In  <1992Aug20.123359.28270@aber.ac.uk>  ans0@aber.ac.uk (Austin Newton Shackles) writes:
>
> only time i ever did this was to rekey a lock to suit  the keys of my parents
> house. we were putting an extra door on the back porch, and wanted the new
> door to work from the same key as the other 3. That was very easy, just remove
> the cylinder, place it in a vice, (miami vice? :-)) put the key in the
> cylinder and then drop pins in that were too tall and file 'em off.

Make sure that you don't file the top of the plug; that weakens security
(makes it much easier to pick).  Also, if you do a lot of this, you can
buy a reamer/deburrer which has a convex side for cleaning up the pin
chambers and a concave side for smoothing off and adding a chamfer to the
top edge of the pins you filed.

> to make a new key for a re-combinationed lock i'd put a blank
> in to the cylinder and measure how much the pins stood up above the surface of
> the cylinder, then measure the pin positions along the key and cut it
> accordingly. might take 1 or 2 attempts...

You can insert a blank in the uncombinated lock, stick a nail down each
pin chamber, and tap it gently with a hammer to see exactly where you
need to file.  Also, you can buy a key file which has the right slope and
spacing for most pin cylinders.

Larry Margolis, MARGOLI@YKTVMV (Bitnet), margoli@watson.IBM.com (Internet)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: skchang@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu (Shin Chang)
Subject: Re: Boric acid for cockroaches
Keywords: boric acid
Organization: Crop Science Dept., NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 18:16:25 GMT

Dear netters:

I read several news concerning use boric acid as insecticide to 
kill cockroaches. Could someone tell me where can I buy the
boric acid. I am living at Raleigh, NC. Or there are some
commercial products which contain this component.

Thanks in advance. 


Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos.tech
From: joe@modcomp.uucp (Joe Korty)
Subject: Re: Camry A/C problem
Organization: MODCOMP, an AEG company
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 15:17:30 GMT

In <1992Aug15.011848.25562@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> alan@elroy.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Alan S. Mazer) writes:

>I've got a weird air conditioning problem in my Camry and since my mechanic has
>no idea, I'm appealing to the net.

>Lately on really hot days (95-105) when my car's been sitting in the sun for a
>while and I turn on the air conditioning, after about a mile or so it cuts out
>and the blue A/C light starts flashing.  If I turn off the ignition and let the
>car sit for a few minutes the A/C will run again with no problems.

You may have water freezing in the evaporator expansion valve, blocking
it.  If so, have your mechanic evacuate, replace the dryer, and
recharge with clean, dry refrigerant.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: frank@truevision.com (Frank Loffel)
Subject: Where can I get a report on my traffic violations?
Organization: Truevision Inc., Indianapolis, IN
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 23:04:43 GMT

I'm trying to prepare myself for some car insurance shopping. I assume that
car insurance companies will get a "traffic violations report" of a client
before issuing a new policy. So here are my questions:

Where do car insurance companies get traffic violations reports?
Are they inquiring in the state of application or is there a federal bureau?
Where can the consumer (me) get his/her report?

I suspect that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, a State office,  could provide 
such a report, but I've been unable to reach a living being there so far.
(During office hours their line is always busy).


Many thanks for any advice and sorry if this is a FAQ.


-- 
-- Frank Loffel, Truevision, Inc., uunet!epicb!frank frank@truevision.com :-) --
From: briang@bari.Eng.Sun.COM (Brian Gordon)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Movie Rental Place wants my Credit Card #
Date: 12 Aug 1992 23:49:53 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: bari

In article <1992Aug12.084152.2080@merrimack.edu> gemmellj@merrimack.edu writes:
>In article <1992Aug10.150901.12737@meteor.wisc.edu>, moonunit@meteor.wisc.edu (Chris Bovitz) writes:
<< I went to a movie rental store last night (in Madison, WI) to rent a movie.
<< to rent, you need to be a member.  So I ask to sign up.  The guy says that
<< he needs to see 2 forms of ID - driver's license & {credit card | checking
<< account #}.  I asked him "is that legal?" and he said he didn't know.
<< I didn't sign.
<< 
<< My question is still "Is this legal?". I suppose it is, but I don't like
<< giving out my credit card numbers (and especially my checking account 
<< number) like that.
<< 
<< Any comments would be appreciated.
<It is illegal for stores to write your mc/visa/ae account number
<on your check.  They may, ask to see it for a source of id.  hope this helps
<john

Well, it is illegal in CA and, apparantly, MA, but how sure are you that it is
illegal in WI?  With 50 different sets of state laws (plus DC), is it pretty
rare for the same things to be banned under Civil laws in all 51 jurisdictions
...

--
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
| Brian G. Gordon	briang@Sun.COM    briang@netcom.COM		      |
| B.GORDON2 on GENie	70243,3012 on CompuServe	BGordon on AOL	      |
:-:- Hi! I am a .signature virus. Copy me into your .signature to join in! -:-:
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: v148rb5b@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (COLLIN MCCULLEY)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Phone extension light needed
Date: 19 Aug 92 17:55:00 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


	I am looking for a device to hook into a current phone which will
light up when other phones in the house are off the hook.  This will be used
in an effort to know that someone in the house is on the phone so that
calls in progress do not get interrupted, therefore it must light up even 
when the phone to which it is attached is hung up.
	Any responses would be appreciated (so far I've already tried an
AT&T store and radio shack).  Please e-mail and I will post a summary of
useful responses.  Thanks in advance.

----------
Collin McCulley		University at Buffalo 		Mech & Aero Eng.
		***All the .sig that's print to fit***
From: bkwg0457@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Whitlock)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Credit Union Deposit (Share) Interest (Dividend) Calculations
Date: 14 Aug 92 16:46:47 GMT
Reply-To: bwhitlock@uiuc.edu
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

timlee@public.btr.com (Timothy J. Lee) writes:

>Based on the credit union that I just became eligible to use,
>and some information from people using other credit unions, it
>seems that it is much more common among credit unions to use
>tricky or sleazy ways of calculating interest payments.  For
>example:

>	* lowest balance of the month or quarter
>	* deposits after the 10th of the month do not gain
>	  interest until the 1st of the next month
>	* deposits from the 1st to the 10th of the month
>	  gain interest from the 1st of the same month
>	* funds withdrawn before the interest is posted
>	  do not earn interest

>Every other depository institution that I've asked (bank,
>savings & loan, industrial loan company) pays interest based on
>daily balance or average balance of the month or quarter.
>The only real trick that I've seen is that accounts being
>closed do not earn interest for the last month (this appears
>fairly common at banks, less so at other depository institutions).
>I've heard of banks paying 88% of the advertised rate, but that
>doesn't happen in this area.

>Since credit unions are supposed to be run only in the interest
>of their members, why is it that tricky or sleazy interest
>calculations seem to be more common with credit unions?
>Shouldn't members of such credit unions use their voting
>power to change the credit unions' interest policies?

Yes, some credit unions are not very good.  A few are.  I am lucky enough
to be a member of one really good credit union and one pretty good one. The
other two that I have been members of are pretty poor.  The fault is with
the management of the credit unions.  It would be great if you could organize
a members' revolt against the policies of the credit union and get them 
changed.  I would think that it would be easier to volunteer at the credit
union yourself, and work your way up to the Board of Directors where you
could change things.  Good luck.


-- 
    * * * * * * --> DISCLAIMER:  I speak only for myself. <-- * * * * * *
Brent Whitlock		Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology
bwhitlock@uiuc.edu	Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering
			University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
From: joseph@emmax5crd.ge.com (joseph)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Interest Rate Calculations
Date: 17 Aug 92 21:14:48 GMT
Reply-To: joseph@emmax5crd.ge.com (joseph)
Organization: GE Research


ky04@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (KUN YU) writes:
>
>One bank, Bell Savings, showed me their formulae:
>       Daily Rate = Annual Rate/360
>       Annual Yield = (1+Daily Rate)^365 - 1
>
>I think it's up to them to define the year.

   I would think that the federally mandated "truth in lending
   disclosure" where they are required to state the annual
   percentage rate would then have to be different.  My
   understanding is that APR refers to the amount you are
   charged (for a loan) or given (for deposits) if 100
   dollars is borrowed (or deposited) for a period of one
   year.

   If you  borrow 100 dollars from a bank at 10% APR, and if
   you return it after 183 days in a leap year, it would seem
   to me that you will owe exactly 5 dollars in interest.
   However, if they calculate the daily rate using the
   formula you have given, they will charge you a little bit
   more than 5 dollars.

   james joseph          joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: chrz@tellabs.com (Peter Chrzanowski)
Subject: Re: Request: trouble-free car recommendations
Organization: Tellabs, Inc.
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 17:20:59 GMT

In article <cindy.8@berkp.uadv.uci.edu>, cindy@berkp.uadv.uci.edu (Cindy Windham) writes:
> I'm looking for a car that is large enough to seat two adults and two small 
> children (and their carseats) comfortably, enough room to tote a stroller, 
> and other sundry children's paraphernalia, peppy even in automatic, and 
> amazingly trouble-free (having your car break down with two small kids in it 
> is _not_ okay).  Any suggestions?

Any Mercedes Benz except the sports cars and the 190 series (small) should meet
or exceed your requirements.  Did you have a price limit?
From: eric@tfs.com (Eric Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: halogen lamps
Date: 19 Aug 92 08:00:59 GMT
Organization: TFS

In article <9208181802.AA10631@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes:
>But what I really want to know is why people want 1/2 KW bulbs in your house.
>We have some 300 W halogens on the kitchen ceiling and they're so bright I
>never turn them up more than half way.  Other than that the largest bulb
>in the house is 75W and they're perfectly adequate

Because halogens are cheap and nice.  You can adjust it to exactly how
much light you want.  I usually run mine at around 50 watts.  I would
have bought 100W halogens if available cheaper than 500, but they weren't.

One situation where 500 watts comes in handy is when you're looking for
something very tiny you dropped on the floor.  You just flood the whole
room with bright light and the search is much easier.
From: yuanj@ucbeh.san.uc.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Boric Acid--the best roach killer!
Date: 17 Aug 92 20:52:31 EST
Distribution: world
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati

I have found that the Boric Acis roach killer works best after comparison with
all Raid, BlackFlag, JohnsonWax products (in aerosol cans).

Boric acid is much cheaper and less harmful to human beings.  It takes effect
slowly, which may not appeal to some consumers, but is a more effective way to
kill the insects since they will not panic when some of the species dies in
peace.

Any one know how boric acid kills roaches?
From: pjs@euclid.JPL.NASA.GOV (Peter J. Scott)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: A Novel Junk Mail Approach
Keywords: You are about to lose your home!
Date: 17 Aug 92 17:14:57 GMT
Reply-To: pjs@euclid.jpl.nasa.gov
Distribution: usa
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA/Caltech

In article <1992Aug17.012109.13668@cbnewsd.cb.att.com>, jfb200@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (joseph.f.baugher) writes:
> About a month  ago,  Mike  Royko,  writing  in  the  Chicago  Tribune,
> mentioned  that he had encountered a really novel approach to the junk
> mail business.  It seems that one of  his  sources  got  an  official-
> looking letter from an outfit which sounded like it was a bank.  After
> opening up the letter, the person read that there was a  lien  on  his
> house!   Pictures of him being immediately thrown out on the street to
> join the ranks of the homeless flashed through his mind.  After having
> cleaned  out  his  underwear, he looked at the letter again.  What the
> letter actually meant to say was  that  he  had  a  MORTGAGE  (a  safe
> assumption for most people), and that he might be interested in coming
> in to talk about refinancing.  Admittedly, this  was  a  rather  crude
> approach, but the letter certainly DID get his attention :-)
> 
> Has anyone else run into a similar sort of approach?

Who hasn't?  After I bought my condo I received several letters
in official-type envelopes claiming that I was required to take
out some kind of insurance or other from them.  One of them
even included a copy of my grant trust deed before *I* received
it through escrow.

-- 
This is news.  This is your       |    Peter Scott, NASA/JPL/Caltech
brain on news.  Any questions?    |    (pjs@euclid.jpl.nasa.gov)
From: kevin.jessup@mixcom.mixcom.com (kevin.jessup)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Cordless Phones
Date: 15 Aug 92 14:54:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: mixcom.1992Aug15.145443.2727
Distribution: na
Organization: Milwaukee Internet Xchange BBS, Milwaukee, WI U.S.A.

In <2199@devnull.mpd.tandem.com> truman@mpd.tandem.com (Truman Ng) writes:

>I missed the discussion on cordless phones in this newsgroup, I would like to
>know what phones had favorable reviews.  Response by email would be
>appreciated.

Also, what is the state of privacy features (digital encoding?) on the
new cordless phones.  Your conversation certainly is not private.
Same goes for cellular phones.  I can't understand why anyone would
use anything with an antenna on it for private conversations (IMHO).

Don't believe me?  Ask around in alt.radio.scanner!

-- 
Kevin Jessup, bbwwbb@mixcom.mixcom.com
"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."