Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!bbn!rochester!udel!mmdf
From: gaspar@almsa-1.arpa (Al Gaspar)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Evils Of Mail Order
Message-ID: <3039@louie.udel.EDU>
Date: 17 Jun 88 14:01:30 GMT
Sender: mmdf@udel.EDU
Lines: 79


>     I have seen many postings about mail-order run through this group.
> 
>     Here's the bottom line:
> 
>     1)  Mail order is cheaper than your local dealer - sometimes
>         substantially so.

    There is also selection to be considered.  Some people may have
    an Amiga dealer near them with hundreds of software titles and
    dozens of third party peripherals and add ons, but I sure don't.
    The only way I can get most packages is to order them by mail.
    Around here anyway the software stores such as Babbages, Software
    to Go, and Egghead Software either no longer carry Amiga
    software or never did (Egghead).  (My wife wonders, what kind of
    computer is this that nobody carries ANYTHING for).  The Amiga
    dealers are more interested in selling hardware than software,
    and their shelves show it.  The same problems exist, though, for
    hardware.  If I want a memory expansion from someone other than
    Commodore or I want a hard disk, I have to go mailorder to get
    any kind of decent selection.  The local dealers tend to only
    carry one brand of any hardware item other than printers; so,
    its luck if they happen to carry the brand and model that I want.
    (This, of course, really isn't the dealers' fault; high volume
    begets selection, and they don't have high volume.)

> 
>     2)  For 1) above, you pay the following price:
> 
> 	a)  Expect to be lied to about:
> 
> 	    1)  Price.
> 	    2)  Availability.
> 	    3)  Time of delivery.

    I just ordered a software package from Go Amigo and had no
    problems with any of the above items.  I realize that other
    people have not been so fortunate, but neither do I think that
    my case is unique.  My dealer did not have the package at all!  

> 	b)  Expect them to screw up your Charge Card billing at least
> 	    once per transaction.

    I don't know about this yet :-).

>        c)  Expect them to be virtually impossible to get to over the
> 	    phone.
 
    I called two companies before placing my order and had no trouble
    getting through.

  
>    Final analysis:
>
>    if( advantages of 1) outweigh disadvantages of 2) )
>      Use Mail Order
>    else
>      GoTo Dealer

    if ((only want games) && (don't care about selection))
	dealer();
    if (you really want a specific product)
	mailorder();

    Seriously, there are times that I would be happy to pay a
    few extra bucks and buy from a dealer.  It is kind of nice
    to look at a package before you buy it (even if all you can
    look at is the cover :-).  However, when they don't even
    carry the product, the point is moot.

Cheers--

Al

-- 
Al Gaspar	<gaspar@almsa-1.arpa>
USAMC CSDA, ATTN:  AMXAL-OW, Box 1578, St. Louis, MO  63188-1578
COMMERCIAL:  (314) 263-5118	AUTOVON:  693-5118
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