Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Non-Tech : Ameritrade -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bruce Dorval who wrote (486)	3/22/1999 9:32:00 AM
From: AugustWest	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 513

bruce, A question for the more inveterate complainers: Why not go to another on line brokerage? Or a full service brokerage? And are you long or short or not invested at all? I DO have another online trading account now that takes about 90% of my money and trading activity away from Ameritrade. Their loss. My gain. I am perfectly happy with my new firm. Also I have a major broker account as well, but at $50/trade, I refuse to use them for all but the longest term holdings. Further, they aren't as accessable as any of the online brokerages. Currently I have no position in AMTD. I have day traded them both long and short. I will continue to maintain an account with them. Everyone should have at least two accounts, one as a fall back in case the other is down(though AMTD has never saved me yet on a back up plan), They have made so many promises oner the past year, unkept promises. I personally haven't seem much of an improvement in their web site. Bottom line, as a trading stock, they make for great opportunity. As a brokerage firm, they still suck.

To: Bruce Dorval who wrote (486)	3/22/1999 9:39:00 AM
From: Diamond Jim	Respond to of 513

"but the system works way better for me than SmithBarney did. For one thing, when the system is down, it is only down briefly now" While the system is down a lot, that is not all that is wrong. How can I sell a stock I don't know for over 1 day that I own? How can I buy $107K worth of a stock when I have NO margin account and the account has $35K in it cash? How? the order was for 100 shares. Why do I get a commission of $23 when I make the limit order trade on line($13). AMTD is much worse than you say, much.

To: Bruce Dorval who wrote (486)	3/22/1999 10:11:00 AM
From: Diamond Jim	Respond to of 513

System problem Mon Mar 22 09:07:15 1999 CST The Secure Trading System is temporarily unavailable. To place a trade, please contact an Ameritrade representative at 1-800-669-3900, option #1. Thank you for your patience. Return to the Internet Trading System Return to Ameritrade's Home -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ameritrade, P.O. Box 2209, Omaha, Nebraska 68103-2209 10825 Harney Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154 800-669-3900 Technical/System Questions

To: Bruce Dorval who wrote (486)	3/22/1999 10:31:00 PM
From: pcyhuang	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 513

Spread trading Hi, Bruce: I use several leading online brokers. The one advantage that Ameritrade has over the others is its option-spread-order-entry system. But I can't see how the company would attract and keep many large scale investors considering the frequency of its system's breakdown. Moreover, I don't think it is fare to compare AMTD with MSFT in its early days. For the online stock trading business, there is really no barrier of new entries -- just count the number of online brokers now and the rate of growth in the past couple of years. The stock at $56 is definitely overvalued. If I were a major shareholder, I would sell my current holding and use the proceeds to fund 100 new online brokers -- and would still have plenty left over for a good life. Agree? best rgds, pcyhuang