wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA (Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI) (07/12/88)
Every now and then there is a "where can I get ... " type inquiry on the list, like one a while back for cordless headset-type phones. I just received a catalog in the mail that carries this sort of thing (including just such a phone for $249), telephones, accessories, fax stuff, tools, modems, misc. The company is: Hello Direct, Inc. 2346 Bering Drive San Jose, CA 95131-9749 800-HI-HELLO (Yes, I know - barf :-) - (800-444-3556) (408) 435-1990 (Interestingly, that regular straight non-800 number is shown nowhere in the catalog or order form; it was on the letterhead of the accompanying cover letter. I include it because I recall Canadians on various net lists complaining when people give only an 800 number they cannot use. But why would this firm want local customers in the 408-area to use the 800 number? Surely they have to pay for it if a local call comes through the 800 route, don't they?) Anyway, this is for your info; you may want to get their catalog. I haven't ordered anything from them, so can give no consumer evaluation. Regards, Will Martin
wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA (Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI) (08/03/88)
Re the "LiteSet Cordless" telephone I mentioned in the context of describing the "Hello Direct" catalog a couple weeks ago: I thought the list might be interested to know what the real wholesale price of this toy is. I just got a catalog from a mail-order wholesale house that carries it. This distributor is Santa Fe Distributing, 14400 West 97th Terrace, Lenexa, KS 66215 (800-255-6595 or 913-492-8288 in the Kansas City area). The Hello Direct people wanted $249 for the LiteSet Cordless, qty 1-2. Their price dropped to $243 for 3-4, and $237 for 5+. Big deal. The quantity one wholesale price in Santa Fe's catalog is $119. It is a Plantronics RF100-01. (No mention of quantity discounts.) (I haven't bought from this source in the past, though I have gotten items from similar places. You usually need to deal cash COD and give them some sort of a business name, implying that you will resell the goods. You need to order enough stuff to make that seem likely. For example, the last order I sent to one of these wholesalers was for 200 cassettes, plus then I hung on some one-each radios, headsets, etc., describing them as "samples".) Regards, Will Martin