>Instead of expecting vendors to be anything other than what they are, we'd all
>do better to remember a bit of wisdom that goes a long way:
>Caveat emptor.
In 1979 I bought a J.C.Penney battery for my Sunbird. "Guarenteed for as long
as I own my car". Except that now I have to go to a Firestone dealer in
another town to get replacement (and guess am lucky I still can). I also
have two years to go on the "no questions" warrenty that came with my NCR
3150 notebook. No problem when AT&T bought the company but now that AT&T
is out of the business... (been trying to buy a second removable hard drive
for it so I can mount BSD for some time. No luck. Even a carrier I can put a
drive in would be welcome, *hint*)
This industry is rife with promises that are never met: a year ago I bought
an Epson 1100 printer partly on the promise that a PostScript module would
be available RSN, now am told it will never be available. Am still waiting
for a promised "employee purchase plan" for Iomega ZIP drives & media that
was announced in April - prices, part numbers, and everything - and since
then every month IOMEGA says "next month".
Guess the bottom line is "Get it in writing with a delivery date and penalty
clause". If you cannot get that do not expect anything that is not immediately
delivered & pay accordingly.
And this is from "mainstream vendors", add in "Joe's TV Repair and Firewalls"
and there is a whole different problem. Anytime you have a lot of money looking
for someone to take it, there will be hands outstretched. Do not have a good
answer other than either know what you are buying or buy from someone you
can trust (assuming you can trust anyone). Be careful out there.
Warmly,
Padgett
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