varchar value comparisons not working?

Hello,

I'm doing a quick comparison between a couple tables, trying to cleanup
some inconsistencies, and what should be a simple check between 2 tables
doesn't seem to be working.  psql is 8.3.7 and server is 8.2.13.

I run the following:

select sfd.lid as sflid,sd.lid as slid,sfd.serial from sfd,shawns_data
sd where sfd.serial = sd.serial_number order by sfd.lid; 

the lid columns in both tables should be identical, but as you see in
this sample, they do differ:
sflid | slid  |  serial  
-------+-------+----------14056 | 14056 | 961458314057 |       | 961498414058 | 14058 | 961473714059 | 14059 |
961457914060|       | 961482714061 | 14061 | 961472614062 | 14062 | 961496614063 | 14063 | 9615079
 

So running this query:

select count(*) from sfd,shawns_data sd where sfd.serial = sd.serial_number and sfd.lid != sd.lid; 

I should show some rows that do not match, at least 2 (there are more than shown).  

But instead I get this:
count 
-------    0
(1 row)


What am I doing wrong?


-- 
Sincerely,

Shawn Tayler
Radio Network Administrator
Washoe County Regional Communications System
Telecommunications Division
Technology Services Department
County of Washoe
State of Nevada
Ofc  (775)858-5952
Cell (775)771-4241
FAX  (775)858-5960