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From: jdalin@devildog.att.com (Jimmy Dalin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Gateway 2000 Query
Keywords: problems, purchasing
Message-ID: <1991Jun28.144701.17724@devildog.att.com>
Date: 28 Jun 91 14:47:01 GMT
References: <2781@cruzio.santa-cruz.ca.us>
Reply-To: jdalin@devildog.att.com (Jimmy Dalin)
Organization: AT&T IMS - Piscataway, NJ (USA)
Lines: 26

There was an active Gateway thread several months ago.  The letters were
running about 3-1 or 4-1 negative to positive.  There was a common feeling
that Gateway's quality had slipped somewhat in recent months.  A friend and
colleague recently bought a 486-25, about 2 months ago.  He came within a
day of asking for a return authorization and shipping it back within the 30
day trial period for a refund.  He experienced major problems getting access
to his floppy drives from within Windows.  Gateway finally shipped him
separate controller boards for his IDE drive and for his floppies.  But not
until he went through 29 days of hellish problems.  While Gateway advertises
on-site service, it's at their discretion.  If they feel like it, they'll
mail you a new board and tell you to plug it in yourself.

He waited 7 or 8 weeks for the machine to arrive; first the tower case was
out of stock, then the case came in but they were missing a "bezel."  They
gave him a couple of blank tapes for the tape back up as partial
compensation for his wait.  And to be fair, they didn't charge him until the
system actually shipped.  

Another friend recently bought a system from Swan; he was as delighted with
it as my other friend was upset.  Swan's a little more expensive, but might
just be worth it.
-- 
Jim Dalin            "No Salga Afuera"  
AT&T                    N.Y.C.T.A.
ATTMail id: !jdalin            
Compuserve: 72260,1573