Homestead mailing list

[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

In a message dated 1/14/2009 7:36:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
genegerue AT ruralize.com writes:


> >So it could well be a scam.  
> Still, much of their site appears legit.


I wouldn't view it so much as a scam as reflecting the current practice of 
never testing any product but having a generous refund or replacement policy. 
 
When you buy a cell phone, electronic game, and most computers, they have 
never 
been tested beyond powering them up, and often not even that.  The 
manufacturing process is very reliable and if one out of thirty craps out and 
they need 
to replace it, it's far cheaper than  testing them.

For these phone sites they are probably relying on the odds that most numbers 
you submit they can trace, and if not they can make some token effort at 
refunding or crediting your fee.  It would be far cheaper than testing all 
the 
numbers beforehand.


> 
> >To know for sure that number has not been assigned, one would have to  
> call it.
> 

Or happen to know that it is one of the company's test numbers and will never 
be assigned.