Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!mcdphx!mcdchg!ddsw1!ddsw1!karl
From: karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: 386 experiences!!
Message-ID: <25b72f12:8200.2comp.ibmpc;1@ddsw1.MCS.COM>
Date: 19 Jan 90 16:00:12 GMT
References: <4935@hydra.gatech.EDU> <40970032@hpindda.HP.COM>
Lines: 39

(Lotsd on paying "too much" for your computer deleted)

Remember one thing though -- you do (much of the time) get what you pay for.

Perhaps that "cheap" system mentioned in the Fry's ads (or anyone else's)
will work just fine.  But perhaps it won't.

That is the time you appreciated (or curse) the quality of the dealer that
is behind it.  The places that buy cheapest also skimp to some degree on the
quality of their products.  We've had lots of examples...... from serial
ports to motherboards to power supplies, there is nothing that you can't
make a little cheaper and sell for less -- if you're willing to give up some
of the quality.

For some people the risk is worth it.  For others it's not.  We're one of
those who think it's a bad trade-off.  If you have a cheapie, and it fails,
you're out the system for (n) days/weeks/months getting it fixed.  If the
company you bought it from goes away, your warranty is likely worthless --
and you will get to pay for the repairs yourself!

One motherboard failure will wipe out your savings and then some.

Think before you buy, and make sure you're comfortable with the answers you
get to the questions you should be asking before purchase (ie: warranty for
how long, how do you handle warranty repairs, how long have you been selling
systems, etc).

Yes, we sell systems.  We're >not< the low-price leader.  This is
deliberate; we sell only high-quality components in our systems, and back it
up with an excellent track record and warranty policy.  Sure, we make a buck
on our systems -- but the customer gets something for that buck.

Be careful out there -- a couple of thousand on a bad system purchase is an
awful lot of money to waste!

--
Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)
Public Access Data Line: [+1 708 566-8911], Voice: [+1 708 566-8910]
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.  "Quality Solutions at a Fair Price"