Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!public!valentin
From: valentin@public.BTR.COM (Valentin Pepelea)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Re: Repost - warranty servicing question
Message-ID: <2597@public.BTR.COM>
Date: 28 Apr 91 09:20:53 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: BTR Communications, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 74

In article <11926@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> rolee@jarthur.Claremont.EDU
(Profess'nal Agitator) writes:
>
>System Diagnostic
>Problem Tracing

Fine.

>Configure Dual SCSI Drives
>Hard Disk Configuration
>Hard Disk Prep
>Low-Level Format Drive #1 under KS 2.0
>Low-Level Format Drive #2 under KS 2.0
>Configure Terminal Resistors
>Prepare Correct Matrix Tables
>Add/Update File System under KS 2.0
>Partition All Drives under KS 2.0

This is total nonesense. He had no business reformatting your hard drives in
order to fix your problem. If the "problem tracking" step above had been done
correctly, he would have know quite quickly that simply setting one of the
drives' reselect bit to off would have done the trick.

>Set Drive Reselect #1 to "Off"
>Set Drive Reselect #2 to "On"

This is fine too. But it appears that he made a long list of tasks accomplished
merely to justify his extravagant bill.

>With the exception of "Problem Tracing," which he claims to have taken up
>the main brunt of the twenty hours, the rest of the work sounds as if it
>could be done in under two hours.

More like half an hour. And the installation software does all that for him.

>Several of you have said that the "Matrix Tables" are a red herring.  He
>claims that these tables need to be reset on each SCSI device whenever a new
>one is added to a chain, which sounds like a load of bull to me also.

You can use this as proof of his incompetence.

I suggest that you take the following steps in order to recuperate your A3000:

1. Offer him in person, $100 for his services. If he refuses,

2. Write him (or the manager) a letter, describing what happened, and what your
   offer is, as well as your rationale behind it. Be brief and concise. Do not
   go over one page. Include a photocopy of the service bill in the appendix.
   Do not make any threats, particularly not of a suit. You do not want to
   appear too eager to drag the %$#@! in court. Allow 2 weeks for a response.
   If the response is unfavorable,

3. Write a letter reminding him of your first letter. Just mention the subject
   and dates of the previous letter. Add that if you do not receive an adequate
   response, you will have to take further action. Again, do not mention legal
   action. You do not want to give the impression that all you are interested
   in is grag the %$#@! into court. (Sorry for the re-emphasizing) If still no
   satisfactory response after two weeks

4. Take him to court. Ask for the A3000 back, in working order, plus a
   compensation for loss of useage of your computer, minus the $100 for the
   repair bill.

I'm no a lawyer, so don't take the above as legal advice. The guy has no
chance of winning, since he promised not to go over $100. Besides, with the
cost of an HD controller at $150-200, his bill is so outragous, that the judge
migh just leap over the bench to slap him.

Valentin
-- 
"An operating system without virtual memory      Name:      Valentin Pepelea
 is an operating system without virtue."         Phone:     (408) 985-1700
                                                 Usenet:    mips!btr!valentin
                     - Ancient Inca Proverb      Internet:  valentin@btr.com