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From: kjb@calmasd.Prime.COM (Ken Brucker)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.marketplace,comp.sys.amiga.hardware,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: About to Power Up: Give 'em the money first?
Keywords: Power Up, Buying a Computer, Cash, Delivery Time
Message-ID: <2879@calmasd.Prime.COM>
Date: 25 Jun 91 17:04:45 GMT
References: <6601@trantor.harris-atd.com>
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.marketplace
Organization: Calma - A Division of Prime Computers
Lines: 37

In article <6601@trantor.harris-atd.com> mwills@x102a (wills ms 01309) writes:
>Just as a sanity check... I'm about to "Power Up" from my Amiga 1000
>to an Amiga 3000-25/50 and the dealer wants all the money up front,
>even though he estimates that I won't receive the machine until mid
>July.
>

Don't do it!  I learned the hard way on this when I went to by an Apple //e
back in 82.  Turned out to be a disaster.

The dealer had a "great deal" on Apples but was out of stock.  They would get
one for me if I left them the entire cost and would deliver in 4 weeks.  Being
the young innocent youth that I was, I left them with something like $1200 or
$1500.  And I wasn't alone in this.  Several of my friends were taking
advantage (ha!) of this deal as were many other customers.

About 3 weeks later we learned that the company had filed Chapter 11.  A stop
by their store revealed a padlocked door and a virtually empty interior.
Talk about a scam!  Fortunately Apple Co. bailed us out and allowed us to
purchase an equivelant system directly from them for the difference between
the dealer price and the standard retail.  To provide Apple with incentive
we had to sign over half of any settlements that we may receive from the
dealer in the Chapter 11 proceedings.  I did get my system, at full list price,
about 6 months after the whole thing started.  Then about another 4 to 6 months
later I got a check for around $80. from Apple, my part of the final settlement
with the dealer.

Would I give a merchant full purchase price with delivery to come later?  Not
anymore.  I'd work some other deal, and if they aren't willing to bargain or
will take only check or cash then be very suspicious!  If you can charge it
then at least you can have the charge removed from you card if no merchandise
is delivered.

Ken
-- 
** Ken Brucker -- VMS Systems Programmer/Mangler -- ComputerVision
** kjb@calmasd.Prime.COM