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From: tod4@sphinx.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Reliability of PC Mail-Order Dealers
Message-ID: <1115@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Feb-87 11:36:27 EST
Article-I.D.: sphinx.1115
Posted: Wed Feb  4 11:36:27 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Feb-87 18:51:06 EST
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Organization: U. Chicago Computation Center
Lines: 119





Thanks to all of you who responded to my query about the
reliability of PC mail-order dealers <1058@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP>.
What follows is a summary of comments and experiences relayed to
me by contributors to the net. Any comments not in quotation marks
are my own. I hope some of you find this info as useful as I did.


>>Re: PC Network (T-H-E Computer Products Company), Chicago, IL.<<

1] "PC Network is almost sure death."

2] "I have a PC Network's PC+. I ordered it in June when the
configuration they were selling included 640K standard. Basically,
I am very satisfied with it, although I haven't had it very long.
My major complaint with PC Network is that I ordered and paid for
it (by check) in early July and did not receive it until late
November. All that time they were earning interest on my money."

3] "I am writing to you on my THE PC+ via a Prometheus 1200B modem
here at home.  Since I received my system last September, I have
had no significant incompatibility problems.  The machine seems to
be extremely well built... Unfortunately, even though the system
seems to be a good one, I urge you not to buy anything from PC
Network.  I ordered my system in early May and was encouraged by
the helpful sales rep on their toll-free line.  The gentleman I
spoke to told me that I could expect my system in 4 to 6 weeks.
Within two weeks my monitor and I/O card arrived.  And that was it
for a very long time... My unit finally arrived on September 25...
In summary, AVOID PC NETWORK AT ALL COSTS!!!"

[Reports about PC Network's customer service were uniformly bad.
No major complaints about their hardware were sent to me.]


>>Re: PC Connection, Marlow, NH.<<

1] "Excellent. Very professional bunch. Good prices too."

2] "PC Connection in Marlow, NH has a well-deserved reputation for
honest dealings, fast service, and low prices, extending back to
just after the IBM PC came out... I've placed many personal and
business orders with PC Connection and their Macintosh
counterpart, MacConnection, and have never been dissatisfied with
any transaction."

3] "PC Connection - highest recommendations from myself, publications and
friends. Excellent technical help, they know what they have in stock
and if they're out, they know (and will tell you) when they expect
replacement stock. Fast shipping, low prices."

[Nobody who responded to my query had anything bad to say about
PC Connection.]


>>Logicsoft, Farmingdale, NY.<<

1] "Very good."

2] "Logicsoft:  Very happy with this company.  Low prices, overnight
delivery, good selection.  They did recently have to withdraw
the challenge to beat any price in the magazine that they
were advertised in.  Too bad.  That really made them the best."

3] "Logicsoft - very good. Not as knowledgeable or efficient as PC
Connection, but very reliable."


>>Re: PC's Limited, Austin, TX.<<

1] "I really recommend PC's Limited.  I've dealt with them a
couple of times before, and my stuff has come quickly, and it all
has been high-quality equipment. They have a 90 day 'satisfaction
guaranteed' warranty, but I never have had to return stuff."

2] "PCs Limited: I bought a hard drive from them and had mucho
problems.  Not their fault.  I did get 3 faulty drives, but
I guess I must be a lucky guy.  What I did like was that they
did everything possible to help me out.  When I sent a drive
back, I didn't have to wait too long to get the replacement.
I have heard many good stories obout their clones, too."

3] "I'm working on a PC's Limited AT. I've had it a few months with
no problems."


>>Re: Compuclassics, Reseda, CA.<<

1] "A friend has ordered a bunch of stuff with no problems."

>>Re: CompuAdd, Austin, TX.<<

1] "I bought my 30M hard disk from these folks. Good group. Very
prompt delivery. Good prices."

2] "The equipment was shipped on time, and the prices were VERY
reasonable!"


>>Re: Computer Direct, Austin, TX.<<

1] "I ended up buying from Computer Direct in TX because a) they
offered a 30-day money back guarantee, and b) their phone staff
were courteous and seems knowledgeable. The PC/AT was shipped with
a slip that says it was tested in the listed config before being
shipped."


The responses that I have summarized here are not the result of
a formal survey and should not necessarily be interepreted as
representative. I have no connection with any mail-order dealer
and am posting this info because several net contributors have
requested it. Thanks again to all those who took the time to
respond!

Phillip Todd