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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!amd!eager
From: eager@amd.UUCP (Mike Eager)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: info wanted on buying clubs
Message-ID: <387@amd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Oct-84 15:52:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: amd.387
Posted: Fri Oct  5 15:52:09 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Oct-84 05:07:49 EDT
References: <1065@druut.UUCP>
Organization: AMD, Santa Clara, CA
Lines: 27

Sad to say, I bought in to one of these clubs when I was young and naive.

It sounded like a good deal, with a refund if I found an item at a cheaper
price than they had it.  They also had a snazzy document attesting to a 
bond posted with the state to insure their performance.

I did buy some things thru them, at fair price.  There was about the same
delay that one expects from a mail order company.  Perhaps similar prices
as well.

There were items which they could order (China in a specific pattern) but
only if the order amounted to $200+.  Other items they could not get.  I did
once get a $10 refund (after some difficulty) when they quoted me a price on
curtains that was higher than the place I purchased them at.

Then they went out of business.  That bond?  $1000 to the state to insure
performance amounted to perhaps 10 cents per member.  The cost was about
$300, the savings was perhaps $20-30.  If I had bought furniture I might
have done better.  

Moral is:  If they can find the best price, so can you.  Look in catalog
houses and mail order.  If you save 5% on each purchase, you have to 
spend $2000 for each $100 of membership fee.  Put the fee in a money 
market account at 10%, and whenever you buy something withdraw the 5%.

-- Mike Eager		(amd!eager)