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From: Elefante@RADC-MULTICS.arpa
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Caution with PC Network
Message-ID: <1516@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 20-Jun-86 08:19:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-smok.1516
Posted: Fri Jun 20 08:19:12 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Jun-86 02:42:44 EDT
Sender: news@brl-smoke.ARPA
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I ordered a disk drive from PC Network (Chicago) in mid April.  I was
told the drive was in stock and that I should receive it shortly
(even though the order-taker is obliged to state that delivery time
is 2 - 3 weeks).  After 3 weeks I called and asked about my order and
was told it was cancelled because my credit card balance had not been
sufficient at the time they called the order in (this was a fluke
because of several factors, nonetheless I later found it to be true).
I was unhappy that they would just cancel the order and not even
notify me by mail about the situation.  In any case, I didn't dispute
the cancellation and decided I would order a drive from someone else.

Low and behold, 5 1/2 weeks later I find a package on my doorstep
with a *backorderd* disk drive from PC Network.  Without my
authorization, they went ahead and used my credit card to pay for the
cancelled order.  Mistake or no, this is rotten business practice and
I caution others to be careful about this kind of thing.  *As a rule*
PC Network is also incredibly slow in delivery and you can't even
begin to depend on their projected delivery dates because they will
tell you something is in stock when it isn't.  So if you're in a
hurry, you might consider looking elsewhere.  By the way, PC Network
keeps your credit card number in their computer system (obviously),
even after your membership has lapsed.  I've instructed them to purge
both my credit card number and my membership.

Don Elefante