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WHAT WOULD YOU DO? advice please

Started by Midnight Sun, 12/12/2003 05:07AM
Posted 12/12/2003 05:07AM Opening Post
Just thought I would run this pass you to see if I could get a consensus of un-bias oppinion..
A few weeks back while perusing the Astro-Mart ads, I came across in the Misc.& Other section a Cam Corder for sale. $100. shipped. I responded and set up transaction. I mailed a Postal MO to the Seller. He let me know when he received it. Sent Out Camera quickly. I recieved it, well packaged, no outward sign of droppage or tears on box. Got the Cam Cord. up and running, inserted VHS tape and started taping the family & things around the house.. everything seemed to be working great up until the time it came to re-play the tape.. the image would not stablize so as to view.. was flipping like the older TV sets with the Horz. hold out of wack. there was nothing I could do to rectify the problem, I purchased a tape cartridge for $15.95 to try to clean the heads. Still no help. Called a camera repair shop was advised it would be $50. to check out the problem.(which would be applied to the repair bill. I told shop I paid $100. they advised I just buy a new Super 8 for $199. instead of investing more $$. I then called the gentleman who I purchased the Cam. from, he told me he didn't know what it could be, that it was working fine the days before he shipped it out... I told him I would be willing to cut my losses and split 50/50 with him..in other words I would return the Cam to him and he could mail me $50. At first he did not want the Cam back, after a few e-mails back & forth he said to go ahead and return entire box. (he even enclosed a nice book on Cam Corders) He said he had purchased the Cam 2nd hand. So I expected it to have a few miles on the Odometer.. He said he was going to take the Cam to a "reputable" repair shop for a diagnoses of the problem..he would then determine I guess who or what was at fault?? There was no written or oral guarantee associated with our deal, just a gentleman's agreement. *The Post Office cited there was no damage to the box in shipping and that indeed the item was well packaged.. so no insurance claim was involved, in fact there was no documentation on the package when I took delivery of it from my carrier. The seller told me he had requested insurance but the Postal employee failed to insure as per request. He was refunded his $19.00 postage he told me. I paid $20. + $3. to insure it on its return, just in case a forklift was to drive over it. So now I am waiting for the autopsy report from the repair shop. Would appreciate any of your views or similar sour grapes you my have delt with .right now I am out $139.00 and minus a camera. JM

Posted 12/12/2003 05:35AM #1
John,

I suggest you cut your losses. Electronic equipment can work perfectly and then suddenly go on the fritz without warning. I had a PC checked out by a technician before I sold it for a nominal amount. Sure enough, the fan went out within a few months after the buyer took possession of it. Another experience I had related to a tape recorder I lent a friend. It was working fine when I delivered it. Then, something went wrong with the unit within a month. Never did find out what happened but it did put a strain on the friendship.

Perhaps the seller will get it fixed and send it back to you or give you a partial refund. If he does, then you are fortunate.

Guess the moral to the story is to buy electronic items with the understanding that there are very real risks involved since the remaining life of the item is a HUGE unknown.

Clear Skies,
Darlene
Posted 12/12/2003 08:57AM #2
Hi John,

I have bought a laptop over the internet, and also an 8mm VCR. Both of them had "issues" that needed repairs to get them functional. The total cost to get these items fixed was slightly higher then if I had simply bought the used items from a known dealer of used equipment that had somekind of limited warranty. Your experience with the seller has gone better then mine.

I would say electronics purchases without some kind of DOA or functional warranty should be approached with caution. Telescopes seem to be a bit hardier in that respect, they seldom "wear out".

David Simons
Posted 12/19/2003 03:35AM #3



Hi John,
taking the stand that you or the seller are not at fault and shipping is always risky I think you were as others have stated were more than fair to suggest a 50-50 split.I just sold a very good vcr on our site.I find my feedback invaluable on this site and would not risk blemishing it along with wanting my buyers to be satisfied with what they get.I would return your payment in full.


Dave