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From: manager@cai.com
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Prentice Hall can't deliver!
Message-ID: <328.26cc0d0a@cai.com>
Date: 17 Aug 90 15:28:10 GMT
Organization: Computer Associates International
Lines: 44

Got your asbestos suit ready?

I've been battling with Prentice Hall for weeks now trying to get a
copy of Minix. They took my order by phone on July 31st as an
'express' order (five business days for $6.00 extra). On August 13th,
after patiently awaiting the delivery, I called them up to find out
what was going on. The person with whom I spoke was quite helpful and
told me that the order had shipped on the 6th and would be delivered
no later than the next day (14th). Since I received no delivery on the
14th, I called again and found out that if they try once to deliver
and nobody is home, they simply return the package (slowly) to the
sender without leaving a note! Rather shocked, I asked them to send me
another express shipment but this time trying overnight delivery to my
office (we've got a mailroom, so somebody's ALWAYS home :-). Since I
didn't receive the package, I called again today (17th). This time,
they told me that the warehouse informed them that there was no stock
on the Minix distribution and the charge that they issued to my credit
card would be refunded. [At this point, it is appropriate to note my
deranged expression and scarlet coloring.] When I pushed the issue
about the warehouse being out of stock, she recanted and said that the
warehouse was reporting 'limited' stock but that she couldn't tell
whether there really was any or not. Now I'm waiting for a supervisor
to call me back...

The moral of the story? (1) Don't order the express shipment from
Prentice Hall, as you are only wasting your money. (2) Don't order
anything from Prentice Hall, as you are only wasting your money. IMHO,
Prentice Hall is not sufficiently responsible to handle software
distributions, much less book distributions, if they can screw up an
order *three* times in a row.

Would some kind soul please help me get a copy of 1.3 or 1.5 Minix for
the PC so I can get started while I turn grey (and red) waiting for
Prentice Hall to get their *(&^( together?

THANKS!

--  
Todd Aven 
Manager, Mid-range Computer Services 
Computer Associates International

Internet:	manager@cai.com
UUCP:		uupsi!usgcdh!manager