Got taken

[w2ala]

Just got an amplifier thru this site, the seller an amateur radio operator said unit was putting out 1,000 watts, sent him a check, received the unit with no output, now he says he has not fired amp in at least 5 years, the final is an 8873 tube, which only cost about $300.00 is shorted. The seller K3JZU.

[N8CWR]

I want a amp and am eventually going to get one but, Im afraid to buy one and have it shipped to me. Way too many horror stories about broken amps/tubes/you name it. I've had 3 items so far shipped to me from well I wont say just yet but the first item was backed over by the company truck, the other item was lost, and probably some of you might remember me putting a ad on here about wanting a electric scooter. Well I found one brand new still in its boxes up in New Jersey, and purchased it, also used my head this time and insured it for 1,000 dollars. Well the insurance I might as well threw it up in the air, 5 boxs arrived all 5 boxs looked terrible, 4 of the boxs items were busted and bent. I purchased this scooter the last of April and still they have'nt settled up with me. $245.00 damage.

[KM5FL]

Tony did absolutely nothing wrong, except maybe making a bad choice when he chose a grossly outdated SB-230. Telling him that he should have done this and should have done that is, hopefully, just friendly advice and not meant to place the cause of the ripoff on his shoulders..

Tony has been licensed for just a few months, and is still "learning the ropes". K3JZU has been licensed for over ten years.. He knew exactly what he was doing. "I haven't fired it up in 5 years" is completely unacceptable.. He should have "fired it up" and thoroughly checked it BEFORE he even placed the ad!!!!

I find it dispicable that a member or our "fraternity" will scam or, in this case, outright steal from a fellow ham..

James, K3JZU, I'd sure like to hear your side of this story......

KM5FL

[KD7KOY]

Sorry about your deal. Just some advice..
If your going to mess with tube stuff check for availability of the tubes.
And with old gear, make sure you ask for a full discription and working order or a sked..
Anything that old and been sitting is going to need some kind of work, caps etc..don't expect it to work 'off the shelf'..sometimes they do, but more often they don't.
Heathkit made the SB-200 and 201..(I run the 201) and the 572B's are still available..about 500 watts running 100 watts on 110 VAC.
Also, any amp with 811 or 813's is a good choice..
The Heathkit SB-220 runs the 3-500Z and can still be had.
I've run the 201 and 220 and they are real workhorses and easy to work on...never played with a 230 however..
There are conversions I found for the SB-230..but I personally don't know how they work..you may want to give an email and ask.

http://www.nd2x.net/N8GPQ.html

Don't let it get you down. Ask around your area for someone who have tore into one of those. Look at it as a great project..
See if you can get some fire out of that box.
Word of warning..High Voltage (Meaning, when this one bites it can kill.). If your not sure what your doing, don't and ask. Lots of knowledgable people out there who would help...Good luck.

[K3JZU]

I have just read all the controversy about the SB-230 amp that W2ALA bought from me. Tony did e-mail me several times asking why I thought the amp did not fire up. I gave him my best guess, not ever thinking that the final tube was shorted out, as he says. When I listed this amp, there seemed to have been a lot of interest. I told EVERYBODY

[K3JZU]

I have just read all the notes regarding my sale of the SB-230 amp to Tony, W2ALA. After I listed the amp for sale, there seemed to be a fair amount of interest. Just so you know, the manual does say that it produces 1,000 watts P.E.P. (I sent that manual to Tony). I told EVERYBODY that I had not been on the air for ten years and that the last time I operated, the amp was working. I had kept it in a clean, dry place and it appeared to be in very good condition. I never represented that it presently works. (Although I fully expected that it should). I regret that Tony got something that he didn't expect. I have always been intrigued with people who buy old equipment. I know a lot of hams are collectors.

[K3JZU]

If Tony wants his money back. He can have it! Just send me back the amp with the extra $28 dollars for shipping that I paid, and I'll send him the check.

[K3JZU]

I am new to this forum and haven't figured out all the bells and whistles. #Apparently, it doesn't automatically sign my name or call sign. #For the record the previous three messages were from

Jim
K3JZU

[WV4I]

Geez, this thread is amazing! Before you online lawyers and judges call out the SWAT team(s) next time, perhaps the seller should be given a little more time to respond. And, respond he did, in an appropriate manner, by offering a refund. Any piece of gear that's been stored for a while is liable to do strange things at first power up, having worked perfect at last use. You online radio experts do know this, right? Holy cow.

[N7VPI]

I agree, Jim should have been given a little more time to respond. There is a stigma out ther for being ripped off, as we all know, but Jims responses have been pretty good and it does appear that he wants to resolve the problem at hand.

Chris

[K3STX]

A happy ending. Maybe everybody learned something.

paul

[k3sam]

I have read all of the posts on this subject, in particular, those of Matt Beers. I believe he made some excellent points for future reference. Although the outcome will be good, minus making UPS or another carrier a little richer, there should be a better way of trading within the amateur community.

I don't have the answer, however I just made a swap and I think what I did could possibly set some standards in trading or selling items. What I offered in the swap was a 100% guarantee that if they were not happy with the trade, I would return their item and pay all shipping. That might be to an extreme, but it worked.

Further, you really never know what you are getting when buying someone’s equipment. Are they really not using it, or is it bad ? Is the knob just cracked, or was the unit dropped and possible circuit board damage inside ? Good questions.

It would be nice to "REGISTER" a sell or swap with a third party individual. That person could then follow up with both parties to make sure they are both happy with the outcome. If not, about the only recourse would be to publish the outcome here and other possible venues. I don’t know about the legal end, not an attorney.

Anyhow, I'm glad things worked out here. Live and learn.

-Sam

[kc0jcq]

Am I embarassed for you folks who think this little escapade was correct and appropriate. This smells of a lack of integrity on Jim's part. That is defined as doing the right thing when nobody is looking. And you enablers who say it worked out OK should be ashamed. In dealing with other HAMS we have to go the extra mile to make sure every aspect is above board and honest. That didn't happen here. I've added Jim to my list along with all of you who think his actions weren't hamful. 73 Paul Backsqb223@mindpring.com

[KD7PKP]

Wow! I am so glad I did not comment on this series of posts. I could have ended up on the "list".

[w5zzq]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K3JZU @ Sep. 20 2003,17:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">If Tony wants his money back. #He can have it! #Just send me back the amp with the extra $28 dollars for shipping that I paid, and I'll send him the check.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
That is about the best thing I have read about this so far.......

[w5zzq]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K3STX @ Sep. 23 2003,07:07)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">A happy ending. Maybe everybody learned something.

paul[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I hope so-------
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KM5FL]

Doesn't look like a happy ending to me.. Jim managed to take Tony for $28 #&quot;for the shipping&quot;... #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

Jim, don't count on me to answer any of your ads.......



KM5FL