Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP 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)