{Collins} Avoiding Scams

[KD2E]

If you checked the company's prices on used equipment, there would be no
situation to begin with.
I checked the used gear price list, laughed, and deleted the URL from my
browser.
...Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Glen Zook" <gzook at yahoo.com>
To: <glowbugs at piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu>; <collins at listserve.com>;
<heath at listserv.tempe.gov>
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2001 10:43 AM
Subject: {Collins} Avoiding Scams


>
> Avoiding scams:
>
> A couple of weeks ago, I was called as an "expert"
> witness in a court case between a local amateur and a
> Texas company (which shall, at this time, remain
> anonymous) purporting to sell, repair, align, restore,
> etc. older amateur radio equipment.
>
> The equipment involved was two Collins "A" Line
> receivers.
>
> The first item was to have the "end" points on the PTO
> aligned and the other was to have the "end" points
> aligned and the chassis mounted filter capacitor
> replaced, no other work was to be done.  Estimated
> cost was $60 to $80 per receiver.  The local amateur
> had furnished a new filter capacitor.  Also, the
> estimated time to align / repair the equipment was two
> weeks.
>
> After thirteen weeks, the local amateur became worried
> about his receivers and went to the business
> establishment to see about them.  No work had been
> done on them.  However, the owner of the company
> claimed that he had put in thirteen hours on one
> receiver and five hours on the other
> "troubleshooting".  In addition, he had ordered
> "mil-spec" parts to replace the "black beauty"
> capacitors, etc.  Those parts were to cost over $250.
> Orange Drop capacitors from Mouser cost less than
> $1.00 each!  The total bill "due" on the receivers was
> over $1100!
>
> After an altercation, the local police department took
> possession of the receivers pending a court case to
> determine if there was anything due on the items.
>
> The owner of the company stated in court that he had
> "troubleshot" both receivers with a total of eighteen
> hours labor at $45 per hour.  Also, he stated that he
> was "attempting" to obtain "mil spec" parts at a cost
> of over $200 to make the repairs.  However, both
> receivers had already had the "black beauty"
> capacitors replaced.  In addition, the receivers still
> had dust (with no fingerprints) from the local
> amateur's shack.
>
> After about two hours of testimony, the judge decided
> in favor of the local amateur and the receivers were
> returned to him and no claimed repair charges were
> allowed.
>
> It seems that this particular company has a record of
> "pulling" such stunts on unwary amateurs, and keeping
> their equipment after claiming unreasonable repair
> fees (the local police department had calls from
> several other amateurs about this) and similar
> situations.  Unfortunately, the local amateur, as well
> as many others, had relied on a "handshake" type of
> arrangement, and had not put anything in writing,
> which, in turn, had led to the court procedure.
>
> Although I am not an attorney, I have been involved in
> the repair business, off and on, for many years.  I
> would never spend a total of eighteen hours on two
> receivers without first contacting their owner and
> explaining the situation.  One hour each would be a
> maximum, and probably less.  Also, I would never
> perform unauthorized repairs to a unit.
>
> The only way to insure that one is not "taken to the
> cleaners" is to put in writing the specific work to be
> done on the equipment.  Also, it must be put in
> writing what the estimated charges are to be. The
> make, model, serial number, and any particular
> identifying marks must be recorded on the estimate.
> In addition, it must be put in writing that these
> estimated charges cannot be exceeded without the
> express permission (in writing) of the owner.  As an
> added protection, the person sending in the equipment
> should also demand that the replaced parts be returned
> with the unit.  Such demands may be considered
> "extreme" by some people in the repair business.  But,
> they can "protect your anatomy" and allow you to
> retain ownership of your equipment.
>
> There are a number of ethical repair businesses
> specializing in the repair of older amateur radio
> equipment.  But, it only takes one, or two, to spoil
> things for everyone.  Frankly, the vast majority of
> amateur radio operators are very trusting souls.  And,
> they don't like to admit that they have been "taken
> advantage of" by another amateur radio operator.  Many
> of them just let their equipment go without much of a
> murmur.  This is not right!
>
> Glen, K9STH
>
>
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