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- | | PPP Presents.. a Bill Smith Phile.. | |
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- | | P H U N W I T H U S R O B O T I C S | |
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- Compiled on December 25, 1989
-
-
- BS: "I got my new USRobotics HST 14400 modem today."
- OT: "How much?"
- BS: "$280, plus $25 for UPS Red Label shipping."
- OT: "No way! Was it used?"
- BS: "No, I scammed it direct from USRobotics, brand new."
- OT: "How?"
-
- So many times I've had this conversation. Well.. Finally, I've decided
- to write a phile explaining how you, too, can benefit from the stupidity of
- USRobotics.
-
- First, make sure you have sufficient funding for the modem. If you dont
- have enough for the modem of your choice (near the end of this phile, there
- is a listing of current prices), develop your own ways to kick the crap out
- of a UPS delivery person. (USRobotics sends all modems on either a C.O.D.,
- or personal check-basis only) Note: This scam can be accomplished legally,
- there is no need to set up any fake names, addresses, etc. No need to bull
- USRobotics with names. OK, now that you have your money (I assume you want
- the 14.4k HST, which is $280 plus $25 Red Label shipping), develop a name 4
- your 'business.' It does not have to be anything fancy, but if you want an
- example, I used "Advanced Communications." If your last name is Smith, :),
- try "Smith's Computers" if you can't think of anything else. Now, if you'd
- like this scam to look even better, rent a post office box near your place,
- and remember its information. Ok, next step is for you to call USRobotics.
- The number to call is 1-800-DIAL-USR (800-342-5877), Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
- Central Std. Time (6am-3pm PST). Usually, some lady answers with something
- like, "Hello, USRobotics." Let her know that your company is interested in
- becoming an authorized USRobotics dealer, and you want to obtain the req'd.
- forms. If she does not know what you mean, restate it and say you need the
- papers to be a reseller. She will then ask for your name, your business's
- name, shipping address (Use either your home or P.O. Box on this, all that
- comes at this point is an envelope about 8.75" by 11.5"). I used the PO on
- this one. OK, now you have this packet a few days later. The one I got had
- a letter, $25 business rebate, "Seven-Minute Sales Seminar" pamphlet, a big
- book on the USRobotics Courier line, this thing called "Campaign '89", and
- a pretty short questionaire on your business. The letter read as follows:
-
- Thank you for your interest in our products. We've enclosed
- the information you requested, along with an overview of our
- entire modem line, one of the broadest in the industry...
- Please contact the distributor nearest you to arrange for
- furthur information or a product evaluation. They can also
- help you with any other USRobotics products you find
- interesting. Should you have any difficulty contacting a
- reseller, please let us know, toll free at 800/DIAL USR
- (342-5877), in Illinois dial 312/982-5001, as soon as
- possible.
-
- (BS Note: All of USRobotics' 312 NPAs were recently changed to 708.) Next
- step is to mail the form back to USRobotics. A few days later, call them &
- ask if your paper has been received yet. Once it has, they should send you
- back another envelope the same dimensions as the first, this time, stating
- how you have been made "...an official USR Authorized Dealer." Ooooo Boy..
- They continue to state what you are now entitled to, which is along these
- lines--direct sales referrals, access to closing deals to Fortune 1000 co.,
- access to the dealer hotline (800-292-2988 U.S, and 800-553-3560 Canada) to
- receive product literature, and continuous updates regarding new USRobotics
- products and enhancements "...before your customers do..."
-
- They send you a copy of the current "Courier" newsletter which has the gold
- you need...the "Authorized Dealer Demo Program" coupon! (OK, the issue that
- they sent me was Volume 2, Number 3, and the coupon was blue. If yours has
- no order form, get ahold of me on a PPP system and I can either fax or mail
- you a copy of one.. USRobotics cares little what the coupon looks like, the
- one I sent them was a copy of my original (so I can order another one later
- as they restrict you to "two modems per location." What that means is, you
- can get up to two modems with these metal plates near the rear of them that
- state, "For demonstration purposes only .. Not for resale." And no, it wont
- just come off without shreading the case. (You can try to be a distributor
- for a month and order a bunch of cases, but it is much easier to live with
- the little plaque.)
-
- OK.. Now, once you have this form, make a copy of it if you want to ever do
- this again (assuming you are ordering one now). At the top, it lists:
-
- Company Name: (Enter the one listed on the letter of acceptance)
- Shipping Address: (Enter your HOME, the box will NOT fit in a PO Box)
- City: State/Province: Zip/Postal Code:
- Phone Number: (Put your real one, not a BBS)
-
- Near the bottom, they show places for your name and title. Write your real
- name, and put ", owner" or similar. Also, you have to sign it. Big deal..
- Put the number of modems you want (up to two total) in the space marked as,
- Quantity, and then mail it back to USR. If you have questions so far, call
- USR and ask for either Jim Summers or the USR dealer programs manager.
-
- In a couple days, call to see if your order has been received. You may have
- to ask for the reseller division, I can't remember. Anyways. Ask how long
- it will be until the order is shipped. If they tell you it could be up to
- two weeks, ask if you can get it any sooner, & keep bugging them every day.
- In the meantime, obtain a cashier's check from your local bank in the am'nt
- needed (my check was for $305.00, $280 plus $25 shipping) and have the bank
- make it out to USROBOTICS.
-
- Keep this check somewhere and let your whole family know where it is, just
- in case you are gone when UPS arrives (you dont really want to drive to the
- UPS place, do you?).
-
- Good luck with your ventures. Here is the list of current dealer prices:
- (All are the newest revisions, non-used, and shrink-wrapped):
-
- HST Dual Standard..................$520
- HST Dual Standard/PC................520
- HST 14.4............................280
- HST/PC 14.4 (internal)..............280
- v.32................................520
- v.32/PC (internal)..................520
- HST/ix (HST 14.4 w/UNIX software)...430
- 2400e...............................130
- 2400/PS w/MNP.......................120
- 2400/PS w/MNP & software............160
- 2400/PC.............................150
- 2400/PC w/software..................180
-
- Shipping:
- UPS ground.........................$13
- UPS blue (2nd day air)..............18
- UPS red (next day air)..............25
-
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- XopyWRONG (X) 1989 Bill Smith and the PPP/NPA 619 Check out these boards:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- CAD #1 - Insidious Infusion...........24mnp..HAX HQs...Doctor Dissector
- CAD #2 - Internal Stack III...........2400...HAX/vms...Dark Helmet
- CAD #3 - The Fourth Dimension.........2400...HAX/vms...Tak/Scan (Amiga)
- CAD #5 - Electric Dreams Underground..14400..HAX beta..Bill Smith
-
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- And like dd says... "thy freeways are thy friends..."