Xref: utzoo comp.lang.fortran:471 comp.lang.pascal:633 comp.sys.ibm.pc:12438
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!Isaac_K_Rabinovitch
From: Isaac_K_Rabinovitch@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran,comp.lang.pascal,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Pecan Software "steals" $100 from me
Message-ID: <3477@cup.portal.com>
Date: 25 Feb 88 04:29:38 GMT
References: <7432@ncoast.UUCP>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 77
XPortal-User-Id: 1.1001.1472


btb@ncoast.UUCP (Brad Banko) writes:

->(flame on  CCC===<<<<<<<<<<-<<<_<<<<<< )
It's very sad the role model for so many netters is The Human Torch,
a comic book character with no brains and a very short temper.
->
->Several weeks ago, I posted an article about some interesting development
->products from:
->
->		Pecan Software Systems
->
->These include F77, UCSD Pascal, Modula2 & BASIC language systems available
->for a wide variety of machines (Amigas, IBM PC's, Atari ST's,
->PDP's, Macintoshes, and others).
-> I ordered the F77 system for MSDOS to try out.
->	I was a little suspicious about dealing with a company with
->a Brooklyn, NY address, and I should have trusted my instincts.
Right, everybody knows that there are no legitimate businesses of any
sort in Brooklyn.  It's a well-known fact!

->	First mistake, they sent me the UCSD Pascal system instead of F77.
->I thought, "OK, I can play with this to get a feel for their stuff, and then
->send back the Pascal in exchange for F77."
->	It is a pretty nice little environment, but ...
->[discussion of problems with program and curiousity about this
->form of Pascal]
->I called the technical support line, and I got some
->woman who didn't seem to know what I was talking about and neither did
->she care.  [Unhelpfulness from "stupid" tech. support woman.]
->I asked our
->purchasing people to return the package for a refund, but Pecan refused it. 

I take it that it was purchased via P.O. rather than payment in advance.
(Companies big enough to having purchasing departments never pay in advance.)
If it isn't too late you might tell Purchasing not to send the check.
They might also know other ways to recover the money.

->I called up to find out why, and they told me that I had to have a
->"return authorization", so I asked for one on the basis that I didn't like
->the package, and that it wasn't what the advertising had led me to expect,
->and Pecan refused to let me return it.  And so, the origin of this post.

You said before they sent you a product other than what you ordered.
Perhaps they don't believe you and think you're just someone who doesn't
want to pay.  Try sending them a copy of your PO.

->I have learned:
->	- to trust my instincts and avoid businesses located in Brooklyn
Sounds a litte chauvinistic, but then I'm just a Flaky TootiFruit (I must
be, I live in California).
->	- to avoid Pecan Software, and
->	- to stick with "big blue" (i.e., Microsoft)
Yeah, you're gonna love *their* tech. support department.
->
->I don't know if anybody else on the net has had dealings with Pecan, but
->I sure regret mine.  (To the tune of $100.)  But, I'm not giving up. 
->Next stop, the Brooklyn Better Business Bureau (if they have one).
BBBs are voluntary associations with no punitive power.  If you feel you've
been defrauded, and any part of this transation used US Mail, you can file
a complaint with the postal inspector.  You can also sue, but I don't
suppose that's worth the trouble.

Not applicable in this case but worth remembering:  one advantage to buying
mail order stuff with a credit card instead of a check is that you
have more defense if you get ripped off.  If you want to dispute a charge,
because you bought something that wasn't as advertised,
call your bank -- and do it as soon as possible, because their are time
limits and procedures that vary from bank to bank.   *All* banks provide
for witholding of illegitimate charges to your plastic, because Uncle Sam
says they must.
->I am disgusted with Pecan Software.
Really?

Isaac Rabinovitch
Disclaimer:  Just because I think you're wrong, doesn't
             mean I don't think you're a fun person!
:-)