brake@ari-hq1.ARPA (04/30/85)
I made the mistake last February of thinking that I could
place a mail order for a floppy disk drive and receive
the new drive in a reasonable time. I looked in various
magazines for the best price and finaly placed an order
with P1E for:
1 Mitsubishi 8" disk drive,
1 box of diskettes, and
1 30"/60" cable
After waiting a few weeks for the drive to be stocked, I
received:
1 dual 8" disk drive cabinet w/power supply,
1 30"/30" cable, and
1 invoice that listed correctly my original order
I called P1E and was informed that they would ship me the
correct order only after I returned the incorrect items. On
my original order I included $9.50 for shipping and handling.
When I shipped the incorrect order back to P1E the shipping
cost me $11.50 since the cabinet was heavier than my original
order. When I asked the service people about getting my
money back, they said that I would have to eat the cost for
their mistake.
The final twist of this whole mess is that they have confirmed
that they received my order on 4/9/85 but as of today no
shipment back to me has been made.
One thing that has saved me money on this whole mess is that
you do not have to use the long distance number to get P1E.
I have been able to use the 800 number and have them connect
me to customer service. If it wasn't for that I think my
phone bill would be larger than my original order.
This has been my third order (and last) with P1E and they
are batting 3 for 3. In the future I will pay the higher
east coast prices just to be able to get my hands on
the vendor when things go wrong.
Dennis [BRAKE@ARI-HQ1]
------towson@AMSAA.ARPA (SECAD) (05/01/85)
Buyer beware!
Dave
towson@amsaa.arpa aka info-cpm-request
----- Forwarded message # 1:
Received: from ari-hq1.arpa by AMSAA.ARPA id a000270; 30 Apr 85 17:11 EDT
Date: 30 Apr 85 16:47:00 EST
From: <brake@ari-hq1>
Subject: MAILORDERS
To: info-cpm <info-cpm@amsaa>
Reply-To: <brake@ari-hq1>
I made the mistake last February of thinking that I could
place a mail order for a floppy disk drive and receive
the new drive in a reasonable time. I looked in various
magazines for the best price and finaly placed an order
with P1E for:
1 Mitsubishi 8" disk drive,
1 box of diskettes, and
1 30"/60" cable
After waiting a few weeks for the drive to be stocked, I
received:
1 dual 8" disk drive cabinet w/power supply,
1 30"/30" cable, and
1 invoice that listed correctly my original order
I called P1E and was informed that they would ship me the
correct order only after I returned the incorrect items. On
my original order I included $9.50 for shipping and handling.
When I shipped the incorrect order back to P1E the shipping
cost me $11.50 since the cabinet was heavier than my original
order. When I asked the service people about getting my
money back, they said that I would have to eat the cost for
their mistake.
The final twist of this whole mess is that they have confirmed
that they received my order on 4/9/85 but as of today no
shipment back to me has been made.
One thing that has saved me money on this whole mess is that
you do not have to use the long distance number to get P1E.
I have been able to use the 800 number and have them connect
me to customer service. If it wasn't for that I think my
phone bill would be larger than my original order.
This has been my third order (and last) with P1E and they
are batting 3 for 3. In the future I will pay the higher
east coast prices just to be able to get my hands on
the vendor when things go wrong.
Dennis [BRAKE@ARI-HQ1]
------
----- End of forwarded messageswilhite@usceast.UUCP (Robert Wilhite) (05/02/85)
In article <10307@brl-tgr.ARPA> brake@ari-hq1.ARPA writes: > >I made the mistake last February of thinking that I could >place a mail order for a floppy disk drive and receive >the new drive in a reasonable time. . . . >This has been my third order (and last) with P1E and they >are batting 3 for 3... > >Dennis [BRAKE@ARI-HQ1] >------ Quite agree. I got the same kind of crap from TallTree. I ordered two 1.2meg floppy drives and a controller (for IBMPC). MANY weeks later the package arrives and I find one drive and a Y-connector missing. The invoice listed one drive, but billed for two. (Simple mistake, right?) So I called TTS and asked to have the error corrected. Indeed, their records confirmed the mistake. But instead of "We're sorry.. we'll send the other drive and connector to you right away!" I got.. "We'll send you the 1.2meg drive, but our prices have gone up since then. You'll have to pay the difference." "No, I ORDERED the drives at the old price, and I expect to GET them at that price." "Alright, we'll send you a new drive at no charge, but It'll have to be a 360K drive. You only have to pay for shipping." "You're not listening, are you? I need TWO 1.2meg drives. No shipping." (etc, etc) FINALLY they agreed, but I'm really annoyed at how much it took to get them to make good on the original sale. The point: DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A RELIABLE MAIL-ORDER VENDOR?? --robert -- ------------------------ Robert Wilhite ..decvax ! mcnc ! ncsu ! ncrcae ! usceast ! wilhite ..akgua ! usceast ! wilhite
freak@ihlpa.UUCP (c e malloy) (05/07/85)
> The point: DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A RELIABLE MAIL-ORDER VENDOR?? > --robert I have done business with a company called COMPUTER MAIL ORDER. Every time I order something I get it fast and I get only what I have ordered. Take it for what it's worth. From inside the Tesseract of Clancy Malloy
cem@intelca.UUCP (Chuck McManis) (05/08/85)
> In article <10307@brl-tgr.ARPA> brake@ari-hq1.ARPA writes: > > > >I made the mistake last February of thinking that I could > >place a mail order for a floppy disk drive and receive > >the new drive in a reasonable time. > . . . > >This has been my third order (and last) with P1E and they > >are batting 3 for 3... > > > >Dennis [BRAKE@ARI-HQ1] > >------ > > Quite agree. I got the same kind of crap from TallTree. I > ordered two 1.2meg floppy drives and a controller (for IBMPC). > MANY weeks later the package arrives and I find one drive and > a Y-connector missing. The invoice listed one drive, but billed > for two.... > ... > (etc, etc) FINALLY they agreed, but I'm really annoyed at how > much it took to get them to make good on the original sale. > > The point: DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A RELIABLE MAIL-ORDER VENDOR?? > Robert Wilhite I have dealt with several mail order companies and the best for equipment seems to be Priority-1 electronics. After ordering their Z-150 with the 15Meg Hard disk they called me back and said they were temporarily out of hard disks but would have them within the week. I told them to go ahead and send the rest of the hardware and when the harddisk arrived I would put it in myself. They agreed and sent the system, and enough ram chips to max out the mother board memory (192K -> 320K) for free. Followed exactly one week later by the Hard drive delivered UPS second day air with no postage charge to me. I was quite impressed. So for what its worth, an upbeat note on mailorder places. --Chuck -- - - - D I S C L A I M E R - - - {ihnp4,fortune}!dual\ All opinions expressed herein are my {qantel,idi}-> !intelca!cem own and not those of my employer, my {ucbvax,hao}!hplabs/ friends, or my avocado plant. :-}
jchapman@watcgl.UUCP (john chapman) (05/09/85)
I too have had dealings with Priority-1 (about 2 1/2 years
ago; things may have changed....) that were not so happy.
I ordered some no name bulk diskettes by phone and was
given a delivery date (about 3 weeks as I recall). I specifically
asked at the time if the disks were actually in stock and was
given all sorts of assurances etc. re the availability and
firmness of the delivery date. Well about 3 weeks after the
date they were supposed to have arrived I called P1 to see
where they were and to make a long story short after about
half a dozen long distance (not free from Canada) calls and
another 2-3 weeks of putzing around and getting nowhere I
gave up and cancelled the order. Like I said, maybe things
have changed. I'd like to give a plug to the company that
I finally did get the disks from - Media Distributing (now
called Winchester Distributing in Scotts Valley, CA.). They
had the disks across the border 48hrs after my order. I have
since ordered eqwuipment from them (they basically seem to
sell disk drives and media) and been very pleased. The salesman
I dealt with was Joseph Dow; he was very helpful, always returned
calls, knew what he was talking about or would find out and call
back, etc. etc.
I have also had *very* bad experiences with a company advertising
in byte as Computer Connection. I ordered a modem from them
after being given the assurance that it was in stock and would
be shipped in 4 days. Making another long story short it took
two and a half months and non trivial expense in phone calls
before I got it. Along the way I got all sorts of bizarre
excuses and outright lies ("I just mailed it myself this afternoon..."
- the postmark was three weeks later; I was actually given this
paricular bs twice).
I have no connection with any of the above other having been
a customer.
jchapman@watcgl.UUCP (john chapman) (05/09/85)
Personally I have also had good experiences with California Digital (although they use expensive shipping - at least to Canada - ) and Competitive Edge (was Sluder). My dealings with Seattle Computer and S100 Inc. have been generally good as well. Perhaps it would be a useful thing if a list were to be compiled rating mail order houses. Networks like this are probably one of the only places people can find out about mail order outfits (as opposed to being able to talk to other customers of a physically local outfit). It seems like a list would be a public service? I have no affiliation with any of the above except as a satisfied customer. John Chapman ...!watmath!watcgl!jchapman
ning@ur-univax.UUCP (05/11/85)
Two months ago I ordered a ProModem from CompuMail of Thousand Oaks, CA,
and I am happy with their prices and service.
After doing some research on pricing and shipping of about 25 mail-order
companies for the ProModem, I found that two companies sold it for less
that $300. The first one I called, Direct Connect Devices of San Luis
Obispo, CA, sold it for $289; but they did not have it in stock. Then I
called, CompuMail, which sold it for $299.
When I called, I found the salesman very polite; he answered all of my
questions about methods of payment and shipping. He mentioned the usual
stuff about credit cards, COD, etc., and then about UPS, etc. I finally
chose to pay COD with UPS 2nd day air ($15 to New York). Sure enough,
the day after, UPS delivered it--no waiting for checks to clear or slow
delivery.
John Lam___________________________________________
..!{allegra,seismo,decvax}!rochester!ur-univax!ningdgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady) (05/13/85)
A friend who has had numerous problems with mail order vendors came up
with a satisfactory solution which has worked well for him since:
Always order COD. The small extra charge is worth it because you don't
have to pay until at least a box comes. I'm not sure if the USPS or
UPS will let you open the box before paying, but at least you don't
have to deal with non-shipment.
Many firms refuse to accept COD orders because they are so marginally
capitalized they can't afford the cash-flow problems. Since these are
the very firms with the worst record of filling orders, demanding COD
tends to select out vendors with problems. I suspect relatively few
mail order problems are the result of deliberate malice aforethought,
but rather come from incompentence, desperation of a failing concern, or
both.
--
D Gary Grady
Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC 27706
(919) 684-3695
USENET: {seismo,decvax,ihnp4,akgua,etc.}!mcnc!ecsvax!dgarysteven@garfield.UUCP (Steven D. Brown) (05/16/85)
> > Personally I have also had good experiences with California > Digital (although they use expensive shipping - at least to > Canada - ) and Competitive Edge (was Sluder). My dealings > with Seattle Computer and S100 Inc. have been generally good > as well. > > Perhaps it would be a useful thing if a list were to be > compiled rating mail order houses. Networks like this > are probably one of the only places people can find out > about mail order outfits (as opposed to being able to > talk to other customers of a physically local outfit). > It seems like a list would be a public service? > > I have no affiliation with any of the above except as a > satisfied customer. > > John Chapman > ...!watmath!watcgl!jchapman *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** I whole heartily agree with this people mention only the names of companies which give good service. How about providing addresses so we out here in the boonies can try our luck? steve "The Goofy Newfie"
jchapman@watcgl.UUCP (john chapman) (05/16/85)
> > > > Personally I have also had good experiences with California > > Digital (although they use expensive shipping - at least to > > Canada - ) and Competitive Edge (was Sluder). My dealings > > with Seattle Computer and S100 Inc. have been generally good > > as well. > > > > Perhaps it would be a useful thing if a list were to be > > compiled rating mail order houses. Networks like this > > are probably one of the only places people can find out > > about mail order outfits (as opposed to being able to > > talk to other customers of a physically local outfit). > > It seems like a list would be a public service? > > . . > > I whole heartily agree with this people mention only the names of > companies which give good service. How about providing addresses so > we out here in the boonies can try our luck? > > steve > "The Goofy Newfie" If people would like to mail me the names and addresses of mail order companies and some kind of rating (1-10? 1=bad 10=good) I will be happy to summarize and post to the net. John Chapman ..!watmath!watcgl!jchapman
savage@ssc-vax.UUCP (Lowell Savage) (05/21/85)
> A friend who has had numerous problems with mail order vendors came up > with a satisfactory solution which has worked well for him since: > > Always order COD. The small extra charge is worth it because you don't > have to pay until at least a box comes. I'm not sure if the USPS or > UPS will let you open the box before paying, but at least you don't > have to deal with non-shipment. The trouble is, that at least the USPS will not let you open the box before paying, so if the box is empty--tough. One of the great con games is to send an empty box COD, then move the office...if you pay by check and then stop the check, you will make the US government a victim of crime--do you really think that any agency will allow that to happen when it can help it? (No, don't answer that question.) > Many firms refuse to accept COD orders because they are so marginally > capitalized they can't afford the cash-flow problems. Since these are > the very firms with the worst record of filling orders, demanding COD > tends to select out vendors with problems. I suspect relatively few > mail order problems are the result of deliberate malice aforethought, > but rather come from incompentence, desperation of a failing concern, or > both. The solution is to only deal w/ reputable companies.... There's more than one way to be savage. Lowell Savage