R&L ELECTRONICS "RIP OFF"

[K9FON]

Ive never ever had any issues with R&L. I sent an item back once because it wasnt what i needed(solid conductor RG 8 and i needed stranded) and they accepted it with no problems.

[AB4BK]

I've always had good experiences with R & L over the past 25 years. I especially enjoy their customer appreciation day in early December each year. I was lucky enough to win a Heil Goldline mic one year. I just stick with purchasing new gear rather than used or display items. The cost isn't that much more. I have not had anything shipped from them lately, but in the past, they would charge you the actual shipping charge from the carrier, not a set fee based on the cost of the order.

[KB8ASO]

I have had excellent luck with R & L on new purchases with some of the best prices around.  I find that their prices on used equipment to be fair.  Overall good people to deal with. 

Randy AB9GO 

[W1QJ]

My friend is Radio Oasis K2ZZ.  He runs a small traveling and internet based ham store.  He sells Jetstream products that are distributed to dealers by R&L.  I bought a small 20A switching power supply from him and after several months it gave out.  It was still under the warranty so K2ZZ told me to mail it back to R&L with the receipt and a description of the problem.  I did, and about a week later I got a new power supply from them, and they paid for the shipping....NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!  Also K2ZZ Radio Oasis has dealt with R&L since he started his business about 6 years ago.  He has NEVER had a single issue of any sort with them.  In fact on occasion he might get a product with a slight defect unknown to them.  He calls them up, tells them about it and they send him a replacement and tell him to keep the slightly defected unit.  Most of the defects are tarnished silver plated PL-259's.  Thanks to R&L I have a few tarnished FREE PL-259's.  Thanks R&L for the new PS and the PL-259's, I can't beat the price 

[KD8IIC]

Sorry for your sour experience om.I've had issues like that but never with R&L.My point being,whenever you return something retail it is pretty much understood universally that you will pay to ship that item bk.
 R&L has consistently been a pleasure to do business with and I do highly recommend them.If I order by 2pm I have it in hand next day.
I'm most certain you will be let down again but this time from a "BigBox" hamstore...Good Luck om.

[N0MLR]

I bought a used TS2000 from them a couple months ago. It had a small problem so I called them. They said send it back that they had just got another used one and they would hold it for me. Well I was shocked because the NEXT DAY after I called and told them the radio was on their receiving dock (ups tracing number) I got the replacement radio, again it was the NEXT Day. That level of customer service is first rate, I don't care who you are.  Would I buy from them again? You Bet.

[W9CW]

I've bought several items from R&L, and each transaction was superlative.  Roger cares about his customers, and delivery is first-rate. 

[KB2VUQ]

Recently, I purchased an MFJ-299 desk microphone (not a major purchase) from RandL. Two days after I placed the internet order, the price was lowered an additional $5 on their website. Much to their credit, the new lowered price was what they invoiced me for and charged my card for. I received the microphone within 5 days of ordering.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the price reduction, as I do not feel most dealers would have done the same. 

Best Regards,
Dennis

[W8AAZ]

I am close enough to drive to R&L but rarely have.  I am one days UPS from both R&L and AES Cleveland.  So it is a tossup and I go maybe more times to HAMilton as they often are the lower price, as shipping etc. is all equal.  No problems with them so far. No real problems with either one except a fancy schmantzy weather station I got frome AES to gift, was a piece of junk.  Made in XXXXX, you can guess where. I guess some hams just hit the "Oh @#$*!"  jackpot from time to time and get the lemon, and some are odd ducks that cannot be satisified easily or expect more than they paid for.  

[EI4GMB]

just an observation ...

I see a recurring theme in all of these 'complaint' posts..

the complainer usually states that "after many emails that went un-replied to"... "I finally called them" and this makes them angry.  Why do people rely so heavily on E-mail?  Do you honestly think e-mail is THAT reliable? That e-mail has to be broken up into possibly thousands of packets, and bounced, router to router, around the internet.. and if any one of those packets get lost, the whole e-mail is gone.   Have you ever tried using the "Read receipt" function so that you get a little note back when they actually READ the e-mail?

or better yet.. when the first e-mail goes unreplied to after a reasonable period (2-3 days is about right) why not go straight to the phone?  save yourself some bother.. if they didn't answer the first e-mail, why do you think they're going to answer the second, third, fourth?

Legally, it is best to put things in writing and keep a draft for yourself. Otherwise, you find you haven't a leg to stand on. R&L should have the decency to reply to the e-mail unless of course they have something to hide. Often forums like e-ham are the only recourse for Hams, especially when they are mistreated and ignored by disreputable companies.

Fred EI4GMB

[K9MHZ]

KC8OYE....you make some great points (copied in Fred's post above).  Coincidentally, I was in R&L not too long ago, and the poor guy who was the store manager had to deal with several people on the phone......all with ridiculous demands. 

One guy didn't get his UPS shipment when he thought he should, even after R&L sent them the UPS tracking info. The guy never got on the UPS website to have a look at where his package was at that moment.  But, it was R&L's fault, and this guy was screaming so loud that I could hear him from across the counter.  This manager was doing a brilliant job of staying calm and trying to explain where this toad could get some tracking info.

Another guy came into the store with his new "Yazoo" that he couldn't get to work.  "Damn thing's broke, and I want a refund!" he yelled to the manager.  The manager asked him if he tried transmitting into a dummy load and reading what kind of power he was getting.  "Huh?  How am I supposed to know.....I ain't got one of them!"  "I want a refund!"  The manager calmly set it up on their test bench and it worked perfectly.  Here's the real kicker.....the guy didn't believe it and still demanded a refund.

Back to this thread though.....I've only been to R&L's store maybe 5-6 times, but I've always found them to be very decent people.  They have LOTS of antennas for high freqs, which I personally appreciate.  I can't imagine that they would purposely deceive somebody into buying something that was known to be defective.  Adding to what KC9OYE wrote, I think so many of these "ABC Electronics is a bunch of crooks" type of posts on here results from people being less than diplomatic with the store personnel, and then firing off a post here to trash their reputations.  Suppliers are fellow hams in those stores, operating on very thin profit margins, and they take a tremendous amount of crap for their effort.  You'd never convince me to get into that line of work.

Lighten up, people.  Enjoy the hobby, and each other.

Best,
Brad, K9MHZ
 
 

[W9CW]

The manager asked him if he tried transmitting into a dummy load and reading what kind of power he was getting.  "Huh?  How am I supposed to know.....I ain't got one of them!"  "I want a refund!"

Unless you own a good dummy load, know what it is, what it's for, and how to use it, you're not a real ham!

[WV4I]

My every experience with R&L has been 100% positive. Purchased several pieces of high dollar gear from them over the years, as well as countless accessories, etc. I recall buying a new MFJ-998 auto tuner from them that simply did not work. While it could have been my operating conditions, but do/did not think so, they promptly issued a refund, without discussion.

Link
WV4I

[K3EY]

Purchased several higher end HF radios from R&L with zero issues.

The title --Rip Off-- is obviously an overly emotional "I'll get em on the internet".

Some people are impossible to please and why anyone dealing with the public should have a medallion hanging on their neck for dealing with malcontents.

[KD8IWZ]

I was in R&L Saturday past (10-22) to pick up a few items. 1 item I wanted was out of stock, they offered to call me when it arrives, I agreed and offered to prepay, they said just wait till it comes in and they notify me. I have always gotten FB service from them, they have earned my business

73  Dale