Dwight Stewart wrote:

"N2EY" wrote:

Then the contract should be changed because
it's not cost-effective in the long run.

It often costs more to change a contract than it does to simply live with
a minor inefficiency. Nobody is losing that much money. It's just an
irratation to constantly buy new fans.

If the old one was that great, why isn't it still running?

I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect them
to do so! It's part of life in a modern industrialized
society with global trade.

I've been going in circles with Kim over this very subject. People
(consumers) purchase hundreds of items each year. Products constantly
change, meaning ongoing research for each item would be required. Because of
that, consumers simply don't have the time or the informational resources to
even superficially research each of the items they purchase. I certainly
don't do it and I seriously doubt you do either (however, Kim says she
does).

It isn't necessary to research each and every item you buy, Dwight.
I certainly do research before I make big purchases and I make my
decision after weighing a number of factors including quality, where an
item is made and how much it costs. With items like TV's and VCR's, I
only worry about quality and price. There haven't been any of those
devices made in this country in years.

Take amateur radio gear as an example. Did you buy the "plastic fan" of
amateur radio equipment? Was it made in the U.S.? I run Ten-Tec gear
despite price. I get a superior performance from a transceiver made in
the U.S. I could have gotten a cheaper radio made in Japan.

And it doesn't take a degree in economics to know
that if enough people stop going to Ma's Diner and
instead patronize Taco Heaven, that Ma's is going
to go out of business.

Consumers don't act as a single body, Jim. When was the last time you
pondered what other consumers are doing when you went to a restaurant?
Without doing so, there is no way to know other people have stopped going to
Ma's Diner. Instead, you go to Taco Heaven assuming everything is just fine
over at Ma's Diner. Other consumers do the same. Most only discover there's
a problem at Ma's Diner when they see the going out of business sign. The
same pattern plays out in other markets (Wal-Mart versus local stores and so
on).

Then no one who isn't eating at Ma's should wring his hands when it
closes if they've spent their money Taco Heaven. I buy major appliances
from a local fellow. Part of it is good will. Part of it pure
selfishness on my part. When something breaks, the local fellow comes
right out to make repairs. I don't have to schedule a visit by a fellow
40 miles away. I just bought a quarter of beef. The steer was standing
out in a field a few days ago. I paid $2.00/lb and the only middle man
is the fellow who cut, wrapped and froze it.

By the way, we've noticed no BPL rollout here in West, by God, Virginia.

Dave K8MN