[comp.sys.zenith] All about the COM1 Bargain Centre

djo7613@hardy.u.washington.edu (Dick O'Connor) (10/16/90)

This info comes straight from the Heath/Zenith User's Group BBS, to help
answer questions some of you have asked:

    **********************************************************************
    ** COM1'S Electronic Bargain Centre Usage And Ordering Information  **
    **********************************************************************

    PURPOSE:
    To offer COM1 Subscribers, electronic products, at unheard-of prices.
    
    WHO CAN ORDER:
    Any CURRENT COM1 Subscriber can order providing he/she has a modem and
    can access this system. NOTE: Only U.S. orders can be shipped.
    Regulations prohibit Canada and Overseas shipments.
    
    WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
    The items placed for sale in the Bargain Centre, usually are customer
    returns, demo units, box damage, etc. These item CANNOT be sold as new.
    Normally each item passes through one of two different service areas,
    and is checked for operation. If the unit is defective, it is usually
    repaired. It is then fowarded to a holding area, and then to us. As you
    can imagine, the testing of these units is minimal, and obscure problems
    can emerge at a later time. Intermittent problems not found by service,
    are usually found by the buyer! The fall-out rate (defective) has
    typically been three to five percent.

    CONDITION OF ITEMS SOLD:
    The condition of each item is defined by a two letter condition
    descriptor. These descriptors are as follows:
    
    NW  -  Factory new with full factory warranty.
    OK  -  New surplus. Assume perfect working order. Gauranteed only by HUG,
           and only upon receipt to be in working order. Usually does not
           include documentation. NO FURTHER WARRANTIES APPLY.
    WK  -  Item is NOT NEW, but assumed working. Electrically complete.
           May or may not have documentation. DOA exchange warranty from
           HUG only.
    AI  -  Condition unknown may or may not work. Electrically complete. May
           or may not have documentation. Repairable if necessary.
           No warranties whatsoever! Absolutely no returns.
    JK  -  Sold only for the parts contents.
    KT  -  In kit condition (HEATHKIT). May or may not be complete. No
           warranties or returns.

    From time to time, other conditions may exist, and will be specified
    on a per item basis.
    
    CONDITIONS OF SALE:
    * VISA, MASTERCARD or AMERICAN EXPRESS only. Orders will ONLY be taken
      by this bulletin board system. Comon folks, know if your card is at the
      limit or not! We are no longer going to hold an order to allow you to
      clear a 'credit problem' charge card. When the order is 'kicked' back
      to us because of that, IT WILL BE CANCELLED. You no longer will be able
      to reserve an item with a full credit card while you find some other
      way to pay for it!!
    * CHECK paid orders will be held for 10 business days, after which the
      item will be returned to stock, and the check returned. Checks should
      be Made out to:  "ZUG", P.O. Box 217, Benton Harbor, MI., 49022. In the
      past, we've been holding orders a bit longer than we should have been.
      This will end. Make every effort to get you checks here ASAP. If this
      priviledge is abused, we will eliminate it, and return to credit card
      only. The worst offenders are those that order by check, NEVER send it,
      and don't even have the courtesy to tell us they're not sending it.
      This, as you can imagine, creates a paper work and inventory control
      nightmare, and deprives serious buyers from obtaining the item.
    * HUG ID numbers will be verified current, and the name must match the
      name on the credit card.
    * INQUIREES regarding sale items WILL NOT, and I repeat WILL NOT be
      answered. Such calls received, will get "DON'T KNOW", for an answer.
      Every effort is made to supply as much information that is known about
      each sale item, here on COM1. For product information, refer to the
      ZDS model break down list in the Bargain Centre, and the file:
      ZDS_PROD.ZIP in the ZDS Specific section of our database.
    * CANCELLATIONS will not be allowed unless there's a DEATH in the
      immediate family. BE SURE OF WHAT YOU'RE BUYING. First, I've gone the
      'extra step' to supply descriptions of each item. Secondly, you have
      every opportunity to abort ordering an item at every prompt during the
      order process (just hit return without typing anything). Finally, when
      you order an item, verify that it's what you think you've ordered. The
      system ALWAYS repeats the line item (for you to look at) when you enter
      the item number. There is absolutely no excuse for "I ordered it by
      mistake".

    ORDERING:
    Only ONE (1) item (quantity of ONE) can be ordered for each ordering
    sequence. The sequence can be gone through as many times as time or
    inventory will allow. After all the data is entered, the item quantity
    left, will be verified, and your order confirmed. Remember though, you
    could be ordering an item at the same time someone else is, so it is
    possible  for an item count to go to zero before your order is confirmed.
    In this case, the faster typist would have gotten the last item.

    BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PHYSICAL ORDER 'PICK-UPS', THE FOLLOWING RULES
    WILL APPLY:

    1. If you wish to pick up (in person), the items you purchased, all the
       items you ordered must be picked up, and paid for at one time. As an
       example, if you ordered a quantity of three ZCM-1390's, you MUST pay
       for, and take all three at one time. DON'T call to pick up an item
       until 1-week AFTER the sale is removed from the board.
    
    2. If an item is being picked up which has been paid for via credit card,
       the credit card charges must have cleared first, before the item is
       released.
    
    3. Orders for a friend can be picked up, providing there are no outstanding
       orders for yourself (you may pick up your orders as well as a friend's
       at the same time).

    4. Pickups will occur only one day per week.. WEDNESDAY. Make arrangements
       by calling our secretary at (616) 982-3463.

    5. QUESTIONS REGARDING ORDERS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO: (616) 982-3463.
       THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED OR RESPONED TO, HERE
       ON COM1.

    SHIPPING: Currently, there is no charge for shipping. That WILL change in
    the near future. Shipping time can take as much as 6-8 weeks. We're severly
    understaffed. That MAY change in the near future. We're human. Sometimes
    we make shipping errors. That WON'T change in the near future.

    Please, if you cannot abide by the conditions outline above, DON'T
    ORDER! 

    GOOD LUCK!
    ***************************************************************************


"Moby" Dick O'Connor                         djo7613@u.washington.edu 
Washington Department of Fisheries           *I brake for salmonids*