KB1LMI - Sold me modified, non-working mic as 'New in Box'
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 12:44 am
The advertisement on QTH read:
NEW NOS ASTATIC D 104 TUG 8 MICROPHONE CRYSTAL ELEMENT HAVE ONLY 2 LEFT NEVER WIRED IN BOXES RARE OPP TO FIND ONE OF THESE NEW IN THE BOX $99.00 photos available
What KB1LMI actually sent me in return for my $99.00 + shipping, was a modified, non-working D-104 and T-UG8 stand. Condition of chrome and paint was nice but D-104 head/stock joint was wobbly and when it wouldn't work, I found that the T-UG8 pre-amplifier tag-board had been re-wired and had a choke added.
An Astatic technician confirmed that this microphone had been re-wired and was not wired as per factory specification (nor did the wiring match the wiring diagram on the base-plate of the microphone). When I re-wired it per the wiring diagram and removed the choke, it worked perfectly!
Modified (presumably used) non-working equipment covered in fingerprints and shoved in some old box with a bunch of crumpled newspapers as packaging is NOT New Old Stock or New in the Box (which is what was advertised) !
A New in the Box Astatic D-104 / T-UG8 should come in an original Astatic-labeled box with head and stand wrapped separately in bubble-wrap and with an instruction sheet and other paperwork.
When I informed KB1LMI that this was obviously not New Old Stock, the response was silence.
*** UPDATE 11/14/04 ***
Since posting this feedback, KB1LMI has offered me a refund including shipping. I have declined his offer as I've expended enough time and effort on this mic. and don't see why he should get the benefit of my fixing it. Yes, I should've complained when I first received it and not fixed it up, but then again, if I'd got what was advertised, then there would have been no need to complain!
NEW NOS ASTATIC D 104 TUG 8 MICROPHONE CRYSTAL ELEMENT HAVE ONLY 2 LEFT NEVER WIRED IN BOXES RARE OPP TO FIND ONE OF THESE NEW IN THE BOX $99.00 photos available
What KB1LMI actually sent me in return for my $99.00 + shipping, was a modified, non-working D-104 and T-UG8 stand. Condition of chrome and paint was nice but D-104 head/stock joint was wobbly and when it wouldn't work, I found that the T-UG8 pre-amplifier tag-board had been re-wired and had a choke added.
An Astatic technician confirmed that this microphone had been re-wired and was not wired as per factory specification (nor did the wiring match the wiring diagram on the base-plate of the microphone). When I re-wired it per the wiring diagram and removed the choke, it worked perfectly!
Modified (presumably used) non-working equipment covered in fingerprints and shoved in some old box with a bunch of crumpled newspapers as packaging is NOT New Old Stock or New in the Box (which is what was advertised) !
A New in the Box Astatic D-104 / T-UG8 should come in an original Astatic-labeled box with head and stand wrapped separately in bubble-wrap and with an instruction sheet and other paperwork.
When I informed KB1LMI that this was obviously not New Old Stock, the response was silence.
*** UPDATE 11/14/04 ***
Since posting this feedback, KB1LMI has offered me a refund including shipping. I have declined his offer as I've expended enough time and effort on this mic. and don't see why he should get the benefit of my fixing it. Yes, I should've complained when I first received it and not fixed it up, but then again, if I'd got what was advertised, then there would have been no need to complain!