Date   : Tue, 09 Sep 1986 09:19:58 PDT
From   : Daniel Reigada <IAIPS-DCAS@usc-isif.ARPA>
Subject: Where's my Avatex?

     I read Keith Petersen's message of July 28 on the Avatex 1200 bps modem
and Steve Sanders glowing testimonial, and decided that I could finally break
away from the 300 baud mode.  I ordered the Avatex from The Wholesale Outlet of
Albany, NY, and charged it to my Visa account.
 
     A few days later I received a note from them saying that the modem was on
back order and would be shipped in 30 days.  Well, at $87 I figured I could
wait a bit.
 
     After a little more than 30 days had passed, UPS dropped off a package
which I eagerly opened to find, not an Avatex but, an EasyData 1200D.  A quick
look at the invoice revealed that the price was not $87 but $110.
 
     Has this happened to anyone else on the net?
 
     Is this some kind of "bait-and-switch" scam?
 
     Should I call The Wholesale Outlet and cuss at them or thank them?
 
     Does anyone have any experience using this modem?
 
     This modem is manufactured by a company called GCH Systems of Sunnyvale,
CA.  I quickly tried it out on the DDN and it worked flawlessly at 300 and 1200
bps.  (My old 300 baud modems would be affected by noisy phone lines and would
result in numerous crc errors while downloading).
 
     It seems to do everything the Avatex does and it has a built-in speaker
too.  I realize that $110 is still a great price for a 1200 bps modem but I
can't help feeling a bit uneasy about this unexpected substitution.
 
     Any information on this "EasyData 1200D" modem or on "GCH Systems" or on
"The wholesale Outlet" or just a few soothing words to allay my fears, will be
greatly appreciated.
                                       -Dan-
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    " Nothing is absolute."     Can I rely on that?    ABSOLUTELY!