wsze@aludra.usc.edu (Wai Sze) (10/23/89)
<Hello World> Hi, a little voice in my head keeps telling me that I should throw away my C-64 and replace it with a A2000, and I dunno why... Anyways, at least it has conviced me to buy an A2000, so I made up my mind, and decided to buy one, mail order. (I have a pretty tight budget) Are Mail Order Companies, really good? I mean, have you had bad experiences with any of them? For example, I saw an Ad of a company called, Montgomery Grant, that advertised really cheap prices, so what is the catch? How come Mail Order Companies can afford selling at such low prices? A would be Amigoid. Please send replies by e-mail, I'll summarize if needed be. Internet: wsze@girtab.usc.edu or wsze%girtab@usc.edu
sk2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sun Kun Kim) (10/31/89)
I got my Amiga 2000 from Montgomery Grant.(and I also own a C-64 back
home) I got my computer about 3 months ago and it came in about 2
weeks. Their prices are cheap but I do have some criticisms. First of
all, I wanted to order the 1084S package but they told me that Commodore
discontinued the 1084S's. I ordered a Panasonic 1124 printer(for $329 -
good price!) but they charged me $59 for the cable. I found out later
that A2000's are pin-compatible with IBM's and the cables should have
cost me $15. Also, I called Commodore and they told me that 1084's
weren't discontinued and went out and bought one separately since the
computer itself was cheap!($1429 for A2000) And if they try to offer
any extended warranties, don't buy it.(They told me that A2000 are
really fragile machines and that any little flux in the power line could
melt down the whole system!! - The price was $159 for each hardware.)
Naturally, I didn't buy it. Finally, they tried to con me in buying a
surge protector/power strip using the same lines as above for $89!
Outrageous.
Anyway, the prices they advertise are cheap and worth it, if they have
it.(When I ordered mine, they told me that A2000's were out of stock and
that it wouldn't be in for a month! - I ordered for the hell of it and
surprisingly got it within 2 weeks.) However, don't be afraid to say NO
to their outrageous miscellaneous products.
Sun...
P.S. I read somewhere that Amigas are warranted for only 90 days.
That's strange, because on my Amiga 2000's waraanty card, it said that
my computer was warranted for ONE YEAR!steve@ntmtka.mn.org (Steve Wahl) (10/31/89)
In article <AZH_tfS00Xs18bv0Yz@andrew.cmu.edu> sk2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sun Kun Kim) writes: >I got my Amiga 2000 from Montgomery Grant.(and I also own a C-64 back >home) I got my computer about 3 months ago and it came in about 2 >weeks. Their prices are cheap but I do have some criticisms. ... > Sun... >P.S. I read somewhere that Amigas are warranted for only 90 days. >That's strange, because on my Amiga 2000's waraanty card, it said that >my computer was warranted for ONE YEAR! ^^^^^^^^ I've heard two things: 1) Montgomery Grant is no longer an official Amiga dealer, and must get their computers from other sources than Commodore (other dealerships selling out or reducing inventory, for instance). 2) Amigas get a one year waranty in Canada (as opposed to 90 days in the US). Is it possible that Sun got an Amiga 2000 that Montgomery Grant somehow picked up in Canada? Or am I missing something? I had heard that even though Commodore was honoring a one-year waranty in Canada, the waranty cards still said 90 days. I have yet to read the waranty card on my '2000 very closely... --> steve -- Steve Wahl Northern Telecom, Inc. (612) 932-8079 S-100, 9701 Data Park steve@ntmtka.mn.org Minnetonka, MN 55343 {rosevax,bungia}!ntmtka!steve
rchampe@hubcap.clemson.edu (Richard Champeaux) (11/01/89)
In article <AZH_tfS00Xs18bv0Yz@andrew.cmu.edu>, sk2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sun Kun Kim) writes: > I got my Amiga 2000 from Montgomery Grant.(and I also own a C-64 back > home) I got my computer about 3 months ago and it came in about 2 > weeks. Their prices are cheap but I do have some criticisms. First of > > [ discription of misinformation and high pressure selling/scams of > Montgomery Grant ] > > Anyway, the prices they advertise are cheap and worth it, if they have > it.(When I ordered mine, they told me that A2000's were out of stock and > I've already mentioned this a couple of times, but I guess it's time to say it again. I didn't have a very good experience with Montgomery Grant. They weren't my first choice; after calling the places I'd had experience with and being told every time that they were out of Amiga 2000s, I went through my Amiga World one page at a time untill I came to Montgomery Grant. Not only did they advertise a good price, they had one in stock. They only catch was that they wanted $160 to ship it UPS ground. Thats very outrageous, I had to send it back, and it cost me about $10 including the $1500 of insurance. But, since it was still came out to about what the other places were charging, I ordered one. When I got it, it was obviously used, and it didn't work. The fan was very dirty, the bottom of the case was bent, the mouse ball was dirty, the rollers were dirty, the mouse feet were worn, the mouse cable was dirty, the mouse was an Amiga 500 mouse and didn't even fit into the case! The box said the computer came with kickstart 1.3, but it had 1.2. Not supprising, since the serial number on the box didn't match the serial number on the computer. Also, the box, which was packaged inside a brown shipping box, was all beat up and had had shipping labels cut off it. Last of all, the drive didn't even work. Every disk I tried to boot from gave me a read/write error. All of these disks worked on my 1000, a friend's 1000, and another friend's 2000. I called them up and told about my problem, and they seemed genuinely supprised that I had gotten a used computer. They told me to send it back, and they would send a factory sealed one. I got the guy's name, and wrote a letter explaining what was wrong with the computer, and said that I wanted only a new, factory sealed computer, and if they couldn't send me one, they should call me. I put one copy at the top of the outer shipping box, and one inside the computer box. I received a computer that was in perfect condition and I have had no problem with it. Several people emailed me saying that they had simmilar problems with Montgomery Grant, and thought that they sold grey market stuff. Someone from Commodore posted a message saying Montgomery Grant wasn't a authorized dealer. He may not have been officially representing Commodore, but his email address implied that he had something to do with marketing. When I went home (I'm a college student), I described my experience to one of the salesmen at the Memory Location in Wellsley, MA. He recognized the name and said that Montgomery Grant had called the Memory Location to ask to buy some of their computers. He said the Memory Location refused to sell them anything. He also figured that Montgomery Grant just calls everyone on a list of authorized dealers to get their computers. > > P.S. I read somewhere that Amigas are warranted for only 90 days. > That's strange, because on my Amiga 2000's waraanty card, it said that > my computer was warranted for ONE YEAR! Well, the discussion I heard is that Amigas from the US branch of Commodore have only a 90 day warrenty, while Amigas from the Canadian branch of Commodore have 1 year warrenties. It sounds to me like Montgomery Grant got your computer from a dealer in Canada. Check your warrenty information stuff to see if it has any reference to Canada. Email me what you find out, I'm rather interested in knowing. I can't seem to find my warrenty card. Also, be prepared to send it back to Montgomery Grant for any warrenty service. There was a discussion a while back that Authorized Warrenty Repair Centers may not honor the warrenty on a computer purchased from a grey market dealer. I have no direct proof that Montgomery Grant is a grey market dealer. I only have my own experiences and heresay to back up my claims. Either way, however, I would think twice before ordering from them. Rich Champeaux (rchampe@hubcap.clemson.edu)
swan@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Joel Swan) (11/01/89)
In article <AZH_tfS00Xs18bv0Yz@andrew.cmu.edu> sk2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sun Kun Kim) writes:
:I got my Amiga 2000 from Montgomery Grant.(and I also own a C-64 back
:home) I got my computer about 3 months ago and it came in about 2
:weeks. Their prices are cheap but I do have some criticisms. First of
Uh oh....
[lots of criticisms of MG cut]
:P.S. I read somewhere that Amigas are warranted for only 90 days.
:That's strange, because on my Amiga 2000's waraanty card, it said that
:my computer was warranted for ONE YEAR!
Uh, hope you don't feel too bad, but your computer is actually warranted for
0 months, 0 days.
You see, after Mongomery Grant has been doing wrong to C-A, they were
dumped as official dealers and are in big trouble. Any machines sold
by MG will not have their warranties honored. They have been under-cutting
C-A dealers by selling grey market Amigas (bought from failing dealers, etc)
and selling used machines as new. Dealers have been specifically told NOT
to touch any machines bought from MG. C-A will not touch them either.
Of course, MG won't touch them after they're out the door either.
Is your warranty a Canadian warranty? If it is, you probably won't get it
fixed by a US dealer as well.
The bottom line? STAY AWAY FROM MONTGOMERY GRANT. They are cheating,
thieves that should be run out of business completely.
-------
The above opinions are a collection of data gathered over the last 9 months
from dealers other useres and C-A people.
Joelliberato@drivax.UUCP (Jimmy Liberato) (11/02/89)
sk2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sun Kun Kim) writes: >I got my Amiga 2000 from Montgomery Grant... >P.S. I read somewhere that Amigas are warranted for only 90 days. >That's strange, because on my Amiga 2000's warranty card, it said that >my computer was warranted for ONE YEAR! The return address wouldn't happen to be Canadian, would it? I guess that's OK if you *live* there. Do you? -- Jimmy Liberato ...!amdahl!drivax!liberato
tjf@beta.lanl.gov (Tom J Farish) (11/02/89)
Hi...I recently had a bad experience with M.C.S. (NOT a Montgomery Grant Affiliate ;^) ). I usually use Computability and have had very good results buying software, but they wer out of stock when I tried to order Populous and Sword of Sodan. So I called M.C.S. and checked with them... 'No Problem' said the salesman, 'we'll ship them today and you'll get them in 3-4 days'. Well, after 12 days I called and found the item had been 'back-ordered' and they hadn't been in stock since the AmigaWorld games issue came out, etc, etc. Anyone else have difficulties with M.C.S.? As I said above I've had very good servisce from Computability and would like to have another souce with good service and fair prices.
piaw@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Na Choon Piaw) (11/03/89)
In article <35442@beta.lanl.gov> tjf@beta.lanl.gov (Tom J Farish) writes: > >Hi...I recently had a bad experience with M.C.S. (NOT a Montgomery >Grant Affiliate ;^) ). I usually use Computability and have had >very good results buying software, but they wer out of stock >when I tried to order Populous and Sword of Sodan. So I called >M.C.S. and checked with them... 'No Problem' said the salesman, I had very bad experience with M.C.S. too. Don't touch them if you can help it... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Na Choon Piaw P.O Box, 4067, Berkeley, CA 94704-0067 piaw@cory.berkeley.edu Disclaimer: I'm speaking only for myself! piaw@ocf.berkeley.edu "Still on honeymoon with his Amiga...."
barrett@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Dan Barrett) (11/04/89)
In article <35442@beta.lanl.gov> tjf@beta.lanl.gov (Tom J Farish) writes: >Hi...I recently had a bad experience with M.C.S. (NOT a Montgomery >Grant Affiliate ;^) ).... After reading this newsgroup for almost 4 years, the consensus seems to be: AVOID M.C.S. AVOID MONTGOMERY GRANT The first time I saw an M.C.S. ad, I was suspicious immediately. I mean, what the hell does "2 meg $500, 20 meg $600" mean? (Obviously, the first refers to RAM, and the second to a hard disk, but this is a really stupid way to advertise!) If you want friendly and reliable service, use Safe Harbor. If you want other good companies, I have heard good things about BriWall (great return policy), Go Amigo, and Computer Mart. If you want the CHEAPEST prices, use Abel Supply. They aren't always fast, but their prices are the best. Dan //////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ | Dan Barrett - Systems Administrator, Computer Science Department | | The Johns Hopkins University, 34th and Charles Sts., Baltimore, MD 21218 | | INTERNET: barrett@cs.jhu.edu | UUCP: barrett@jhunix.UUCP | | COMPUSERVE: >internet:barrett@cs.jhu.edu | BITNET: barrett@jhuvms.bitnet | \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/////////////////////////////////////
sjm@sun.acs.udel.edu (Steve Morris) (11/04/89)
I have been reading through several postings about mail order Amigas and have not seen any comments about the new policy so I thought I would give a brief summary. Commodore has just gone through a dealer cleanup. Their contracts for all dealers specify that the initial sale to the customer must be made in a face to face meeting. This is the same sort of policy that IBM, Apple, et al. have with their dealers. The decision was made to ensure that those buying Amiga`s would get real customer support. The gamble is short term volume vs. long term customer satisfaction. A local sysop here in Delaware is also harware purchasing agent for the 2 Computerland stores in the state. He had been trying for some time to get the Amiga line into his stores. Computerland was one of the dealers that got burned when Commodore started selling the C-64 through Toys-R-Us at less than their wholesale cost. The Amiga needs the retail support of major vendors like Computerland and General Computer (who will also be carring Amigas) if it is to ever gain the respect it deserves. The only way dealers like that are going to take on a product is if they are not going to be undercut by mail order houses and discount stores that save money by not providing support for the machines. So in other words: forget mail order. Most if not all magazine adds should no longer be indicating Commodore hardware for sale. If they are, there is a near 100% chance that the goods are Gray market. And you are not going to find anyone who will do warranty repairs on that machine. -Steven
bader+@andrew.cmu.edu (Miles Bader) (11/05/89)
sjm@sun.acs.udel.edu (Steve Morris) writes: > So in other words: forget mail order. Most if not all magazine > adds should no longer be indicating Commodore hardware for sale. If they > are, there is a near 100% chance that the goods are Gray market. And you > are not going to find anyone who will do warranty repairs on that > machine. Well, now, they've just fucked over everyone living in the boondocks. Here in Pittsburgh, which is by some standards a large city, every "amiga dealer" I've seen will carry a 500 and that's about it. Dealing with a good mail order outfit is FAR more pleasant than dealing with these "dealers." -Miles
sjcst2@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Scott J. Corley) (11/05/89)
There is a Amiga dealer in the Pittsburgh area that carries more than the Amiga 500. The name of the dealer is the Pittsburgh Computer Store. They have several dealerships including one in downtown Pittsburgh. I've never been to that one , but their Plesant Hills store even carries the Amiga 2500.
portuesi@tweezers.esd.sgi.com (Michael Portuesi) (11/06/89)
>>>>> On 4 Nov 89 20:27:23 GMT, bader+@andrew.cmu.edu (Miles Bader) said: miles> sjm@sun.acs.udel.edu (Steve Morris) writes: > So in other words: forget mail order. Most if not all magazine > adds should no longer be indicating Commodore hardware for sale. If they > are, there is a near 100% chance that the goods are Gray market. And you > are not going to find anyone who will do warranty repairs on that > machine. miles> Well, now, they've just fucked over everyone living in the boondocks. Here miles> in Pittsburgh, which is by some standards a large city, every "amiga dealer" miles> I've seen will carry a 500 and that's about it. Dealing with a good mail miles> order outfit is FAR more pleasant than dealing with these "dealers." This wouldn't be so much of a problem if Commodore had real dealers in these areas, much as Apple and IBM do. Commodore can't do away with mail order dealers unless they at least have plans to put a real dealer network in its place. --M -- __ \/ Michael Portuesi Silicon Graphics Computer Systems, Inc. portuesi@SGI.COM
todhor@auto-trol.UUCP (Todd Hornsby) (11/08/89)
In article <3182@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> barrett@jhunix.UUCP (Dan Barrett) writes: >In article <35442@beta.lanl.gov> tjf@beta.lanl.gov (Tom J Farish) writes: >>Hi...I recently had a bad experience with M.C.S. (NOT a Montgomery >>Grant Affiliate ;^) ).... > > After reading this newsgroup for almost 4 years, the consensus >seems to be: > > AVOID M.C.S. > AVOID MONTGOMERY GRANT > I agree! I would also add that inorder to protect yourself you should make use of plastic when mail ordering. The 'charge back' system offered by credit cards offers a powerful protection tool for consumers in the case of dispute. I had a problem with the monitor included with my 2000. When I called the company they litterally said 'too bad' so I simply mentioned I was unhappy and was considering a 'charge back'. I also got the name of the person on the other end of the line (always document everything). Later the manager called me up and set everything straight and even gave me an 'extra' refund for my trouble. The charge back system is very powerful and favors the consumer if you do your homework. Consumer Reports also highly recommends using credit cards when mail order for the very reason I mentioned above. Caveat Emptor! Todd Hornsby
okay@tafs.mitre.org (Okay S J) (11/09/89)
>From: sjm%sun.acs.udel.edu%ee.udel.edu%mwunix@mwvm.mitre.org >To: okay@tafs (OKAY at TAFS) >Subject: Re: Mail Order Companies >X-Away: Originally to "amiga-relay@udel.edu" [Grey-Market Hunting stories deleted] > So in other words: forget mail order. Most if not all magazine >adds should no longer be indicating Commodore hardware for sale. If they >are, there is a near 100% chance that the goods are Gray market. And you >are not going to find anyone who will do warranty repairs on that >machine. > -Steven Great!...what does this do for those of us who were stupid enough/too poor to not be able to afford anything BUT mail order? I mean I learned my lesson already, but my machine is still under warranty from before this whole thing blew up. What does Commodore plan to do for those of us who bought their machines legitimately through mail order? I may only have a week or so left on the 90 days, but I'd at least like the comfort of knowing that if my machine is going to do the big firework tonight, I can get it serviced tommorrow. ---Steve ------------- Stephen Okay Smart:OKAY@TAFS.MITRE.ORG Safe:M20836@mwvm.mitre.org Disclaimer:"Mine!.....minemineminemineminemine!"
GORRIEDE@UREGINA1.BITNET (Dennis Robert Gorrie) (11/10/89)
I disagree about the importance of support from Computerland. When they used to carry the Amiga, I visited over 10 of their stores in eastern Canada, and 3 of them in the west. When I would ask questions about the Amiga, almost all of their sales people would try and sell me on a ms-dos machine. Even with changes in shipping and pricing policy, you can definitely count on Computerland NOT supporting the Amiga. Its almost as absurd as asking IBM to put a good word in for Commodore.
jbh@mibte.UUCP (James Harvey) (11/11/89)
In article <1945@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US>, swan@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Joel Swan) writes: > In article <AZH_tfS00Xs18bv0Yz@andrew.cmu.edu> sk2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sun Kun Kim) writes: > :I got my Amiga 2000 from Montgomery Grant.(and I also own a C-64 back > :home) I got my computer about 3 months ago and it came in about 2 > :weeks. Their prices are cheap but I do have some criticisms. First of > > Uh oh.... > > [lots of criticisms of MG cut] > > :P.S. I read somewhere that Amigas are warranted for only 90 days. > :That's strange, because on my Amiga 2000's waraanty card, it said that > :my computer was warranted for ONE YEAR! > > Uh, hope you don't feel too bad, but your computer is actually warranted for > 0 months, 0 days. > > You see, after Mongomery Grant has been doing wrong to C-A, they were > dumped as official dealers and are in big trouble. Any machines sold > by MG will not have their warranties honored. They have been under-cutting > C-A dealers by selling grey market Amigas (bought from failing dealers, etc) > and selling used machines as new. Dealers have been specifically told NOT > to touch any machines bought from MG. C-A will not touch them either. > Of course, MG won't touch them after they're out the door either. > Is your warranty a Canadian warranty? If it is, you probably won't get it > fixed by a US dealer as well. > > The bottom line? STAY AWAY FROM MONTGOMERY GRANT. They are cheating, > thieves that should be run out of business completely. > > Joel MCS in Livonia Mich. is in the same circumstances. -- Jim Harvey | "Ask not for whom the bell Michigan Bell Telephone | tolls and you will only pay 29777 Telegraph | Station-to-Station rates." Southfield, Mich. 48034 | ulysses!gamma!mibte!jbh
bjc@pollux.UUCP (Betty J. Clay) (11/15/89)
Several people have commented that Commodore will not honor the warranties
on Amigas that were bought through mail order. It was easy to get that
impression from some early postings about Commodore's new dealer policies,
but this is not what they meant! They said that dealers were not responsible
for providing warranty service on mail order machines. What they forgot to
add is: you can still get your service, but only through their authorized
Service Centers. You can find a list of these on Compuserve in the CBMSER
forum, or you can write or call Commodore to get a list.
Betty
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Betty Clay
pollux!bjc@smu.edu
Compuserve 76702,337
INTERNET 76702.337@compuserve.com
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