I've been cheated several times since 1986. Most notably, on devices by Visioneer, iOmega, various S/W and screwed by MacMall. I no longer do business with any of these folk.
Up to now, my best Vendors are Mac Zone and Mac Connection. In Texas, there is no Sales Tax from Mac Zone so there's an automatic 8% discount. I also avoid any company in New Jersey (Mafia Land).
I was disappointed in seeing Cassidy and Greene (the makers of Conflict Catcher) close their doors. An honest company with good products and great people. Too bad.
Epson inkjets eat Ink cartridges like they are red hots. I've found 123 Inkjets to be my best buy on these. My HP Laser printer (Since 1997) has convinced me, "The initial outlay for a good Laser, is repaid rapidly by the savings in ink cartridges." My HP laser toner refill is $69. but the one that came with it is just now on it's last legs. I figure 7 years a pretty good cartridge life. My Epson C80 is down now, needing one of the color cartridges. @#$%%&
At this point, since OS 9.1 handles my needs to a "T", and there's OSX on the eMac ... I've finally taken the advice of my #2 son, a retired SW Bell Programer, "Never Upgrade". In Engineering terms, "I've frozen the design for manufacturing purposes."
Oh, All the wasted hours running Conflict Catcher on Jicko S/W.
RHB
I've given up on catching up. Now, I'm just culling and throwing away. One becomes owned by their possessions.
************ On Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at 07:56 PM, Chuck Stinnett wrote:
I was really intrigued, but being unfamiliar with this retailer, ran a Better Business Bureau check on it.
http://www.bbbsilicon.org/commonreport.html?compid=212384
(if that doesn't work, go to http://www.bbb.org and click on "Business" or,
go straight to:
http://search.bbb.org/search.html
And type in "Surplus Computers" (w/o quotes)
And click on the report for the specific retailer:
SURPLUS COMPUTERS 1600 Duane Ave SANTA CLARA, CA
(as identified at their web site, at the bottom of this page: http://www.softwareandstuff.com/ssaboutus.html)
Anyway, BBB sez:
"Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the
Bureau. Specifically, our records show a pattern of non-response to consumer
complaints brought to its attention by the Bureau.
The company's size, volume of business, and number of transactions may have
a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints
filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints,
and how the company handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment
on the validity of complaints filed.
The following data concerns complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's
file was opened or over the last 36 months, whichever is less. Surplus
Computers has had 49 complaints. 14 were closed as Resolved. 7 were closed
as Assumed Resolved. 12 were closed as Resolution Delayed. 1 was closed as
Unresolved. 15 were closed as No Response. Of these complaints: 4 were
concerning Selling Practices. 7 were concerning Service Issues. 3 were
concerning Credit or Billing. 8 were concerning Delivery Issues. 6 were
concerning Refund Practices. 12 were concerning Product Quality. 6 were
concerning Guarantee or Warranty. 3 were concerning Repair Issues."
Take it for what it's worth. Some of the prices on some of the stuff look
awesome. And as BBB sez, the number of complaints may be a function of many,
many orders. But it's how a company HANDLES complaints that's key. I just
did a search for CDW of Vernon Hills, IL (which bought MacWarehouse); it got
a satisfactory rating. It had complaints, but resolved them, or in every
case "made good faith effort to Resolve."
Hope this helps. Robert H., let us know if this order goes down okay.
Peace,
-- Chuck
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