rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (02/03/84)
Mail to you fails at the alice!rabbit interface. Yes, I have had extensive experience with Stereo Corp of America, Focus Electronics (camera mags), and Wisconsin Discount Stereo (only one time with Wisconsin). I have always been treated fairly and usually promptly - sometimes amazingly so. This last xmas bought Sony TCFX-555 and, um, (mental block on mfr name) SS-315 equalizer from SCA. Prices are lowest this way. UPS delivery charges are much less than NJ sales tax (6%). Vendors will exchange products received defective. If something goes wrong after item has been used awhile, standard warranty service is available from mfr - which is where most defects go anyway no matter where you buy. Vendors will offer no info on products or advice and so will not lie to you about products (well, they may say they are in stock when they aren't, a small white lie. Do not patronize those vendors who add 5 to 10 % as a handling charge as others are much more reasonable. Having spent several thousand over perhaps five years, I have never been sorry. On the other hand, trying to deal with, say Crazy Eddie types, or Tech HiFi snobs, or... almost always left me sorry I had bothered. Dick Grantges hound!rfg
fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) (02/03/84)
Mail order can indeed be an excellent value. I've been buying my blank
tapes (cassettes, open reels, and T-120's) from an outfit called Tape
World, in Butler, PA. Their prices are the lowest I've seen anywhere,
but their best feature is a $3.50 shipping charge for any size order.
Almost all other mail order tape dealers have a 5% "handling" charge, which
can be substantial. I usually buy tape about $200 worth at a time, by
pooling orders with my friends. In this way, I avoid exhorbitant Illinois
sales tax. They usually ship right away, if you give them a credit card
number, with stuff arriving via UPS in a week or less. They have a TINY
ad in the classified section of Stereo Review every month. They're worth
looking for, but beware of other ads in the same section. Some have lower
prices on some selections, but they all have that 5% handling charge, with
a $3.50 minimum. Tape World's $3.50 flat rate charge is what makes them
a bargain.
--
Bob Fishell
ihnp4!ihu1g!fishtynor@uiucuxc.UUCP (02/05/84)
#R:hound:-40100:uiucuxc:18500016:000:171 uiucuxc!tynor Feb 4 10:03:00 1984 Tape World will also honor any other legitimate price quote... I've been buying from them for three years now... no complaints. Steve Tynor ihnp4!uiucdcs!uiucuxc!tynor