Message-ID: <794@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Dec-84 09:01:30 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.794
Posted: Fri Dec 21 09:01:30 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Dec-84 08:11:46 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 58

Earlier this year I ordered a RamTeckmemory expansion module for my
VIC-20 from protecto. This was advertised as having 32K with an
expansion slot and switches to enable/disable write protection as
well as enabling/disabling the various blocks of memory. I called
protecto and ordered it COD. About 4 days later, it arrived. I wasn't
at home so my wife acceoted delivery and paid for it. When I got home,
I found that it wasn't what I had ordered at all. It was a memory
expansion unit all right, but it didn't have the write protect features,
it didn't have the ability to address the lowest 3K, and worst of all,
it didn't have the expansion slot! Included with the Ram was a chess game
on tape (which was 'free'). I don't have a tape drive! I looked up the ram
expander in the protecto catalog and found out that it sold for $15.00
LESS than what I had paid. Needless to say I was pissed!

I call them up the next day, and was informed that they were out of the
model I had ordered, and if I wanted, I could get my money back. When I
informed them that they sent me something that was $15.00 cheaper, they
stated that that is why they gave me the chess game. I told them that I
wanted what I had ordered. There was no disclaimer that the quantities
were limited, and that if it was impossible to send me the exact item,
they had to give me something equivilant (such as a seperate expansion
chasis plus the menory expansion). They said that I had to put it
in writing. So I did, and mailed it to them that day.

A month goes by, and no answer. I write them again, informing them that
I was going to bring them up on "Bait and Switch" charges. I also sent
a copy to the Better Business Bureau and Compute Magazine. A few
days later I received a call from the president of the company. He
informed me that they were a "Christian" company, and would never
purposly try to deceive anyone. He was going to call up RamTech and
see if he could get one more unit. He then called back about a week
later and informed me that he had obtained one of the units, and
was sending it to me. He wanted me to return the one they had sent
me. I informed him that I would send the old one back as soon as
I had received the new one.

The correct one arrived by next day air. I was what I had ordered.
I sent the old one back (freight collect), and informed the BBB and
problem had been resolved.


The moral of the story:

Use a credit card when dealing with ANY mail order house.
Verify that they have EXACTLY what you ordered in stock.
Inform them that you are not interested in substitutes.
Don't hesitate to call the BBB, the U.S. Poastal Service, your state's
  Attorny General, or even your lawyer when you have problems.
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Dave Lowrey

"GORT...Klatu borada niktow"

                               ...{amd,hplabs,ihnp4,nsc}!amdahl!dwl10

[ The opinions expressed  be those of the author and not necessarily
  those of his most eminent employer. ]

Message-ID: <6858@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 31-Dec-84 09:35:41 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.6858
Posted: Mon Dec 31 09:35:41 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 1-Jan-85 06:05:05 EST
References: <794@amdahl.UUCP>
Reply-To: geoffs@brl-tgr.ARPA (Geoffrey Sauerborn (TANK) )
Distribution: net
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 9
Summary: 


	I had ordered an 80-col. card for the 64 and a monitor from
Protecto. The 80-col. display wasn't what I was hoping for as far as
readability. So 12 days after receiving the stuff, I sent it back
saying so. A few (less than 3) weeks later I got back the full purchase
price, no questions asked, no problems.

					Geoff Sauerborn