Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:3643 comp.sys.mac.misc:5735 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!ra!emory!hubcap!ncrcae!oiscola!dbarnhar From: dbarnhar@oiscola.Columbia.NCR.COM Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: Buying from someone on the Net? Message-ID: <316@oiscola.Columbia.NCR.COM> Date: 14 Nov 90 18:48:19 GMT References: <1990Nov8.192749.8001@ccu.umanitoba.ca> Reply-To: dbarnhar@oiscola.UUCP (David C. Barnhart II) Organization: NCR/OISD Columbia Lines: 68 In article <1990Nov8.192749.8001@ccu.umanitoba.ca> umcarls9@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Charles Carlson) writes: > > >This is a topic I've never seen discussed on the Net. >I see lots of 'Anyone had any good/bad experiences with ABCXYZ CO.?' > >But I've never seen 'Anyone had any good/bad experiences buying from an >individual on the Net?' > >That is the question I am curious about. Every now and then I see something >advertised on here for a decent price that I wouldn't mind buying. >order, such as $50 off of a hard disk over mail order, I'd go mail order!> > Sometimes mail order is the best bet. Sometimes not. Mail order prices on SIMMs are certainly not that great. (From the major mail-order places that people usually deal with e.g. MacConnection & MacWarehouse.) Sometimes the net prices are terrible. I've seen Mac Pluses advertised for outrageous prices. The net is just another resource to consider when buying (or selling) something. > >But at times there are some decent deals. I'd be interested in hearing >about any experiences. I haven't seen any public flames warning people >about any certain individual so am I to assume that everything generally >goes OK? Or is everybody just afraid to buy from individuals? > The main thing to consider, as always, is caveat emptor. Aside from this, I have purchased a hard disk (a reasonably risky purchase) from an individual on the net. I got an excellent deal, and I'm completely satisfied. Your mileage, of course, may vary. That's the way it works. I've known people that were completely UNsatisfied after visiting their local dealer. > >I guess the main thing that makes me shy is wondering why some of the >people sell over the Net? Most of the stuff seems to be general everyday >popular items that there should be no problem selling by putting up a >bulletin on a board at work or at school, or worse yet, a $5.00 ad in >your local paper. Either of those seems less work than trying to mail >something across the country or around the world. > First, as evidenced by this post, it takes almost no effort to put something on the net. Second, it is often possible to reach the best audience this way. I'm not sure what your Mac community is like in Manitoba, but in South Carolina, it doesn't seem very large, and most of the people in the user groups have machines at WORK or school, not at home. This means that if they buy something, they have to clear it with their boss, and if you are not a major vendor, then FORGET IT! On the net, I can reach a lot more people who would be interested in a piece of Mac Hardware than I can by putting out something locally. Besides, even if there are 2,000,000 personal mac users here in South Carolina, I don't know them, and it would be more difficult to reach them than it would be to reach others by the electronic media. > >Charles Dave Barnhart NCR Cooperative Computing Systems Division 3245 Platt Springs Rd. West Columbia, SC 29169 email: uunet!ncrlnk!ncrcae!oiscola!dbarnhar -- Dave Barnhart NCR Cooperative Computing Systems Division 3245 Platt Springs Rd. West Columbia, SC 29169 email: uunet!ncrlnk!ncrcae!oiscola!dbarnhar