Summary of responses regarding Jim Joyces Unix Bookstore

[Howard Siegel]

Thanks to all who responded to my posting requesting information about
Jim Joyce's Unix Bookstore.  I got 10 responses with information, 1 request
for their address, and 1 response that my posting did not belong in that
particular newsgroup.  (Maybe I had too high hopes, but I expected a bigger
response.)

The results tended to lean toward the negative.  Some folks had very good
service while others had extremely bad service, both in terms of Jim and
others who work there and in terms of prices, availability, promptness of
delivery, etc.  Some thought Jim was very knowledgeable and helpful while
some had much harsher words.  In general, the good service was just what
one would typically expect while the bad service seemed extremely bad.

My horror story is...  On March 15 '90 based on a review by Jim, and the
10% discount he offered to first time customers, I called his bookstore to
order a book.  I was told that the book was not in stock but the shipment
was due real soon and I could probably expect to have the book in my hands
in about 3 weeks.  On April 17 I called back to find out the status of my
order, expecting that the delay was caused by a late shipment from the
publisher.  Instead I was told that there was no record of my order nor
was there any record of a shipment to me or the city where I live.  Given
that they said the book was now definitely in stock, they would ship one
out that day.  On May 22 I called again and got the same story about not
finding an order and that a copy would be shipped that day.  I also called
the credit card company to confirm that there had not been any charges
posted.  On June 11 I called back and for the first time I talked to Jim
Joyce himself, and guess what, no record of any order or shipment.  Well,
there still was the 10% discount and after a fair amount of flaming, Jim
reduced the shipping charges, so I gave him one more chance.  The book
finally showed up late the following week.

I wasn't in any rush to get the book, but I wasn't prepared to wait for
4 months.  I can understand if the publisher is having problems getting
books out or if the distributer can't keep them in stock, but I want to
be told about it.  What I can not understand is how an order can be lost
3 times.  Jim's story was that he was in the process of reorganizing the
book store because problems like mine were beginning to happen too often
and he was loosing mail order business.

Of course I started asking about this place only after I ordered something
and began having problems.  Given the information I received, I would not
have started with Jim Joyce's in the first place.  Now that I have had some
experience with the place, I'll have to think long and hard about giving
them any more business.

For the brave, here is the address and phone number:

	Jim Joyce's UNIX Bookstore
	139 Noe Street
	San Francisco, CA  94114
	415-626-7581

Alternate sources recommended in some of the responses are:

	Stanford University.

		Special Order desk: 1-800-533-2670
		Large selection (not just UNIX).  Good return policy.
		Will ship same day via Federal Express overnight delivery.

	Computer Literacy

		Sunnyvale CA: 408-730-9555
		San Jose CA:  408-435-1118
		Better prices, better selection (not just UNIX).
		No catalog.

	Cucumber Bookshop

		5611 Kraft Drive
		Rockville MD 20852
		301-881-2722 (voice)
		301-468-2920 (fax)
		Small store front.  Primarily UNIX and C.  No shipping
		charges for prepaid orders.  24 hour ordering via fax.
		Orders shipped within 24 hours.  Seems to have a pretty
		liberal return policy. Catalog available.

	O'Reilly & Associates

		632 Petaluma Avenue
		Sebastopol CA 95472
		1-800-338-6887 (1-800-533-6887 in CA)
		Publisher.  Primarily UNIX and X windows.
		Catalog available.