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Author Topic: jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas  (Read 8442 times)

KE0ETZ

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jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas
« on: August 12, 2015, 05:22:13 PM »

This guy blew up at me when I asked him to plug in and test a short wave radio just to see if it powered on.  I didn't ask him to test if it received, I just wanted to know if it powered on.  He called me a loser and told me he was blocking me from ever bidding on his auctions.  I am grateful for this since I might later down the road forget about the interaction and accidentally bid on one of his auctions, although the chance of that would be small.  Now I take comfort in knowing it can't happen. 

I suspect that he sells things he knows are defective listing them as "untested" and "no returns."  It would take this guy 30 seconds to plug into AC power to see if it turns on.  He has items for sale that he has tested that would require more time to test. 

Using loopholes in the eBay auction policy to push defective items is a growing problem on the online auction service.  Just a heads up, keep this in mind when bidding on "untested" and "no returns accepted" items, especially when a basic power test would take only seconds. 

(F) jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas, United States

I googled this guy and found a couple other complaints. 
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KAPT4560

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RE: jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2015, 03:51:31 AM »

 Power-on can be fatal for an old, unrestored radio. You don't give any detail on what you were buying or how old it was. In your case, it may be an 'as-is' only transaction.
Many older receivers for sale have the power cord simply snipped off to prevent them from being plugged in a power up test. It is done for safety and to prevent expensive and possibly irreplaceable component damage. When smoke comes out, it may be too late.
 I have purchased radios that were untested that had sat dormant for 40+ years and I would agree that they shouldn't be powered up without inspection and possible preemptive replacement of electrolytic and waxpaper caps. I knew and accepted that as a condition of purchase. I couldn't wait to get my new project home and get started on it.
 In making the purchase, I did agree with the seller's reasoning and knew I was buying the radio 'as-is'. I had no problem with that.
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AC7CW

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RE: jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2015, 04:24:07 PM »

jbirdhill has 228 x 100% positive feedback rating on ebay...
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Novice 1958, 20WPM Extra now... (and get off my lawn)

WD8T

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RE: jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2015, 11:35:12 AM »

I've been an active eBay member since the beginning and it's changed so much over the years (good and bad) that I only buy new items there , never sell anything and never, never buy used amateur radio gear.  I've only been burned on used ham gear on eBay and never in a private deal, eHam or QRZ.    eBay sellers have some standard verbiage to cover themselves and make it easy to sell off non-working gear.  Saying things like "untested" or "have no way of testing", "worked when taken out of service", etc., etc., etc...all of which make it easy to avoid a PayPal claim down the road when you, the seller,  discover your "Rare and Vintage"  whatnot is DOA. 

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K6RMR

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RE: jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2015, 12:17:19 PM »

You can always assume that UNTESTED means IT Does Not Work.
                 
                      Stan K6RMR
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KJ4RWH

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RE: jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2015, 12:38:37 PM »

You can always assume that UNTESTED means IT Does Not Work.
                 
                      Stan K6RMR

Sometimes it can be worse than "non-tested". Years ago I won a bid on an Epson inkjet printer. The photo clearly showed a Epson self test sheet in the output tray. It arrived in a box twice the needed size with no packing surrounding the printer. Loose plastic pieces fell out and the rail the printhead slides back and forth on was loose from the frame. I called him concerning the damage and he cussed me for 2-3 minutes, ending his rant with, "what did you expect for $10?" You just never know.
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N9LCD

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RE: jbirdhill on eBay - Austin, Texas
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2015, 01:47:40 PM »

"Untested" is a heck of a lot better than some half-a@#$d test with out-of calibration gear conducted by the master of the "golden screwdriver".

As a newly licensed Tech in the early 90's, I was always complimented on the nets for my signal strength.

So, one night, "I'm running a Yaesu 470(?) HT into the stock rubber duckie."

"You're full quieting and got all the lights."

"Yeah, I'm puttin' out 12 watts on 144."

"12 WATTS FROM A HT?"

"Yeah, that's what the guy at the CFMC Fest said."

Turns out that that guy's power meter was WAY OUT of calibration!!!

WHAT GOOD ARE TESTS IN THE INSTRUMENTS ARE NOT ACCURATE AND THE TESTS ARE NOT CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS?

N9LCD

 :-[
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