Recently I needed to print some personal WebTv email. Parallel printers are hard to find so against my better judgement, I ordered a rebuilt HP692c from 'High Tech Office', a mom & pop company in East Amherst near Buffalo, N.Y. and prepaid with Mastercard on 9/13/06. They gave me a UPS ground tracking number. UPS has info re the shipping being ordered, but nothing re its being sent. The seller doesn't answer repeated emails and phone calls. Probably the printer was never shipped and I've been suckered.
I will notify Master Card and I would appreciate any other suggestions as what I might do, if anything other than learn my lesson. Also any tips re an old WebTv compatible parallel printer from a reliable source? TIA.
My nearly brand-new HP color laserjet 2550N still has a parallel port. A little expensive for a webtv setup, but it just shows that parallel ports still exist, if not on the low-low-end inkjets.
Be careful buying printers these days; many printers are saving costs by making the computer do all the work; those printers won't work with anything other than Windows. Look for printers that say they're compatible with Linux; these are usually the most all-around compatible. Or call WebTV and ask for their recommendations.
You have lost nothing but a little time. If you dispute any charge from this vendor within 30 day of receiving your statement. They may run the charge again a few times but that will only make your case stronger just dispute it again. The last time a vender tried this he got Discover so confused I ended up 175.00 ahead.
Walt A
PS Try your local Craigslist.org or
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Place a wanted add and you will f>Recently I needed to print some personal WebTv email. Parallel printers
Arch - If you follow he instructions to the "T" given you you by Mastercard to dispute this, you will be OK. I have had to do this before using Mastercard, and although they make it a painful experience to make their vendors stand by their word, they will do it. Again, follow their instructions exactly.
For a much smoother experience, I always buy online with AMEX. As a contractor and a serious shopper, I buy all manner of things on the 'net. Printers, computers, computer parts, extension cords, saw blades, nail guns, you name it.
Twice there have been attempts by unscrupulous computer part vendors to not send merchandise after they got their money. Both times AMEX asked me for a few pieces of information, and in both cases the vendor was responsible to prove the items had been shipped as opposed to having the burden of not receiving it on me by Mastercard. AMEX requires immediate and accurate response by the vendor, as well as making the vendor adhere to any or their posted policies concerning shipping prices, return policies, warranties and satisfaction guarantees.
To make a long story short, AMEX took the money away from the vendors and gave it back to me.
Good luck in the search for your new printer. We have a couple of refurbished/used computer stores here, as well as a Goodwill store that specializes in older electronics. If you could find something like that in your town you could probably score cheap. Just make sure if it is an inkjet that they still make the cartridges!
You are in the driver's seat. Tell your Mastercard issuer to charge it back. They will probably tell you to send a letter but more and more, that is no longer necessary if you explain it over the phone. They may already have an alert on that merchant.
They will have to credit you immediately. Then the vendor has something like a month to prove that you really received the printer and owe the money. If they can't, you will win the dispute. BTW, it makes no difference whether you paid the bill with the charge or not.
Credit card companies do not like merchants with multiple charge backs and will drop them. Then, they pass their company's name around so that other merchant systems avoid them. But, there is a way -- they just reopen under a different name. We can slow them down, though, if we make enough noise.
I canceled my agreement with an internet hosting company but they kept charging me the $7.95/month anyway. After many emails from me which they ignored, I started charging them back. I felt stupid making a federal case over the small amount but it worked.
Good luck and have fun with it. As I said, with credit cards you are in the driver's seat.
A parallel port is common on printers. Up front the printer might be listed as USB but many also have a parallel port as well. You have to check the spec's/details on the web various sites.
I want to thank all of you for your reassurance, info and kind offers. Net friendships sure make up for all the spam, flames, trolls and misunderstood posts we have to ignore or endure in order to enjoy a support group that somehow can remain free and unmoderated.
I should have asked you guys after being told that parallel port printers are hard to find. I am working with MC and will let you know the outcome and thank each of you privately. I may even print out my responses. :)
Arch - I hope you take a minute or two and print your findings, info and correspondnence (at least the Cliff's Notes anyway) here, and let us know how you fared with MC.
Online buying is not just a thing we do, but some of use do it all the time to serve our professional needs as well as our playtime interests. (I just bought $250 worth of green coffee beans to roast for Christmas gifts - fun, good coffee and great gifts).
Inquiring minds would like to know how you are treated by MC as well as how the vendor responded to MC pressure.
As does my Epson C86. I use it from my network with a network adapter that plugs into the parallel port. This lets me print from my laptop using the wireless. Cheap fun ... good for a startled look when I press the enter key in the living room, basement or backyard and the printer in the home office starts to print ... lots of folks I know have only heard that such is possible but have no clue how to make it happen.
I do.
AFAICT nearly all Epson printers work with Linux -- which I have been using for roughly 10 years. At the present moment I am writing this from a laptop running WinXP-Home and I can assure you that the printer drivers from Linux are visibly superior to those available for Windows. Epson is a good printer choice in that they are capable, reasonably priced, darn near ubiquitous (I bought mine at the same store I buy my denture adhesive) and sturdy enough to last perhaps even longer than you want them to. ;-)
I promised to post the outcome of my tale of woe and exercise in stupidity.
After the month of waiting I contacted Master Charge and three days later got an email from mom with a lame explanation from pop that the printer was on its way with assurances that things would be made right. It did finally arrive in its amateurish packing.
As you all said, these old printers are a dime a dozen and if I had done a little homework or asked here I would not have endured this hassle. I found an unused one (hp 912c) in its box with extra inks and cable for $10 at a thrift store. It works perfectly and I haven't even tried the other one (hp 694) yet.
I kept the long lamented printer as a backup. Translation; to avoid packing and sending back. Also as a reminder of good advice that I had forgotten. "When you know nothing about a thing, get some info or competant advice before buying it".
Thanks for your kind offers to help and for your good advice .....and for refraining from 'getting back' at a COC with some well deserved scorn and derision! Guess I didn't learn much from buying that HF independent 4 jaw chuck. :)
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