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To: Zeem who wrote (81551)	11/20/1998 2:44:00 PM
From: David Harker	Respond to of 176387

Re: Brown & Co. Here is link to their SI thread, very informative. exchange2000.com If you aren't a SI member, you'll need to use (I think): Subject 19560

To: Zeem who wrote (81551)	11/20/1998 8:37:00 PM
From: Don Martini	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

Hi, Zeem! I left Waterhouse and ML for Brown this spring, have done 200+ trades, here's my report: 1. Not a single trade has been inaccurate, sometimes get instant confirmations. 2. Frequently they better my limit prices. On a 1,500Sh @ 59 5/8 order yesterday executions were: 5/8, 1/2 & 1/4. This happens often. [Then MSPG dropped 7 points, which really got my attention] 3. Paperwork is simpler than other brokers I've used 4. On-line trading screens too complicated, Need re-design for convenience. Example: you should be able to hit a key to go from the quote screen to place an order. Instead you must go thru a menu, key in the stock code again, and when you're placing an order the current bid/ask prices are not on the screen. Dumb. etc, etc. 5. Prices: $5/ market, $10/limit on share trades is fine. I've paid ML $680 for a trade Brown would do for $10 6. Communications: Fine, til this month. They tried new software, messed everything for 10 days or so. Returned to the one that worked, things OK now. 7. There was an explosion on a lower floor of their building in Boston last week and they vacated the premises. Everything closed down that afternoon. I verified it really happened, wasn't just an excuse. 8. Attitude: quite impersonal, sometimes rude. Exclaim that you just made/lost $1,000,000 you get zero response. Last year my son & I visited the local office to open accounts, were treated so coldly that we walked out, didn't come back for 6 months. Someone should teach them smiles are good for business, one size fits all. 9. I like to see people face/face. They have offices in many cities where you can do that, hopefully one near you, Zeem. Summary: Excellent executions & pricing, best over-all broker I've found. Waterhouse was a nightmare, guy in NYC finally told me my trading was "too sophisticated" for them. Once asked WH what my buying power was and he asked "What's that?" Their charges were much higher and they often messed up, for example I was told my trade went thru at one price, then ticked arrived showing I sold for a lower price. I had the feeling that they were in the middle somewhere. FWIW, Zeem, hope this helps. Don