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Author Topic: I have frigging had it with Hams!  (Read 2683 times)

K6BSU

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #15 on: April 24, 2022, 11:50:09 AM »

At a swap meet, you have the opportunity for a thorough visual inspection.  If the item appears clean and not butchered, you have a reasonable expectation that any repair you might need can be identified.  So unless you are unable to do troubleshooting and repairs, then swap meets might not be the place for you.
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W9FIB

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #16 on: April 25, 2022, 09:07:38 PM »

Simple rule of thumb on any used equipment purchase...don't spend any more than you are willing to write off. Sooner or later, you find one in your price range and won't feel the burn.
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73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.

K7MEM

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #17 on: April 25, 2022, 11:53:25 PM »

Well, I don't by anything on Ebay and don't use PayPal. But I love ham fests. I don't buy big items, but when I do buy something, I assume it does not work. In fact, I look for things that don't work. Usually they are cheap and I know I can fix it.

I bought a nice MFJ Antenna Tuner once for $15. The seller had burned out the SWR circuit and melted the plastic cup that held the balanced line toroid. A few spare parts and it's working again. I don't use balanced transmission line, so I didn't need the melted core and disconnected it.

I once found two HD-1410 keyers for $10 (for the pair). They were both dirty and didn't work. But a little cleanup, and an hour or work, and they are both still working. I have seen HD-1410s being offered for $100 just recently.

Another good purchase was a SB-650 digital display for my SB-101. I don't remember the price, but it was cheap. I knew it didn't work, but it wasn't a charred mess, so I knew I could fix it. It was worth the price for the Nixie tubes alone.

I could go on and on with what I think are good purchases. But not everyone wants to get their hands dirty fixing things. To me, "used" just means "not working".
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Martin - K7MEM
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KC6RWI

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #18 on: April 29, 2022, 10:49:01 AM »

I Have heard those stories of returning the wrong item on ebay, there was post earlier in this thread that a toaster oven came back in place of an HF rig.
Recently I saw a piece of rohde swartz test equipment listed for $10,995.00, how could someone trust ebay if the policy favors the buyer, I guess I would
just have to say the seller is taking a big risk, maybe not aware of ebay's policy?
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AC2EU

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #19 on: April 29, 2022, 03:39:03 PM »

"Lie to unsuspecting buyers at a Hamfest?"   My first thought was don't give up on amateur radio...stop going to these stupid swampmeets (not a typo).  Then I thought...  Amateur radio is a microcosm of society in general.  If you expected amateur radio to be any different than the cesspool, mosh pit, get everyone before you get got world around you... then you really should step away and find a different hobby.

If you can't test it, assume that it has a problem and price accordingly. That said, don't buy anything you can't fix yourself!
Also, if the deal seems way too sweet, RUN!

G8FXC

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #20 on: April 30, 2022, 02:45:54 AM »

Buy new!

-Mike.

Agreed - unless it is second hand from a reputable dealer who is giving a warranty of at least a couple of months. I have always followed that principle - until a few months ago when I bought a moderately expensive item from a Silent Key sale - I'm still trying to repair it!

Martin (G8FXC)
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W4QG

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #21 on: April 30, 2022, 07:20:57 PM »

You have the following categories of hamfest sellers:
1. High priced, works perfectly, they know it and they want top dollar for it.
2. Works more or less, may have minor issues, generally they are electro-mechanical problems. (price variable, depending on time, mood, etc...)
3. Works perfectly, they want to get rid of it ASAP and will take reasonable or unreasonable offers for it.
4. Complete garbage, they know it, you know it, they still want top dollar for it, you run, not walk away from it.
5. Not working 100%, but not terrible, they know it, you know it, they are honest, you make a deal for gear with issues and its a win-win (my favorite)
6. Lying POS, "It works fine" - Does not work or works with major issues. - May you burn in hell.
7. Has no clue what they are selling. (Can be good or bad)
8. Thinks it has problems and does not - A somewhat rare occurrence, but does happen with some frequency. I've paid next to nothing for
gear that the seller swore was broken (on very rare occasions highly technically competent hams, inexplicable). Well, it works. 
9. Honest estate sellers. "Was my great uncle Elmo's stuff". Price and quality varies widely.
10. Broken, looks fairly good, cheap, seller seems to be okay..... Ugh... My nemesis...  Tens of thousands spent....
11. Works, cheap, clean, good deal. (oh yeah!)
12. Variations and combinations of the above.

Of course you can buy new, I can go to HRO today and buy a Collins 75S-3C... Not...
Some hams don't want new gear all the time. Me personally, I've never bought a new radio ever.
Don't purchase used if you can not fix it, unless it is so cheap that it does not matter.
Your mileage may vary.
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K4GTE

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #22 on: May 06, 2022, 05:31:20 AM »

Be the vehicle and example for change.
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K7JQ

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #23 on: May 22, 2022, 07:49:53 AM »

*IF* I buy anything used, it will be $125 or less and/or not be a very complicated technological item. That way, if it doesn’t work as specified, not a big financial loss.

If a price is too good to be true, it is. I recently saw an Elecraft KPA-1500 amplifier ($6,700 new) in the classifieds for $4,600. Hmmm. And some folks price their used item too close to new retail with a warranty…not worth it. Otherwise, everything is bought new.
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KE0ZU

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #24 on: May 25, 2022, 05:03:57 AM »

If you don't know enough about an item to be able to fix it, don't buy it!!!   But if you just can't resist the urge, simply consider the purchase your overdue "STUPID TAX" payment.
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Regards, Mike
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K7JQ

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #25 on: May 25, 2022, 06:06:48 AM »


If you don't know enough about an item to be able to fix it, don't buy it!!!   But if you just can't resist the urge, simply consider the purchase your overdue "STUPID TAX" payment.

So everyone should have sophisticated test equipment benches, and be able to diagnose and repair/replace miniature surface mount components? Is that realistic? I know plenty of EE’s that send their equipment out for repair.

What about the poor repair centers that would go out of business ;)?
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AC7CW

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #26 on: May 26, 2022, 09:57:50 PM »

Ops that can repair their own stuff rule!!
They have old classic gear.
It always is in good working order.
They don't have problems with shipping to/from repair centers. They don't have problems with repair centers.
They get a lot of satisfaction out of operating.
They don't spend much on equipment if they don't want to.

I'm not active at all but when I was I got a lot of satisfaction out of operating with stuff I bought cheap and refurbished, enhanced, modded, etc...
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Novice 1958, 20WPM Extra now... (and get off my lawn)

WW5F

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #27 on: May 27, 2022, 02:02:40 PM »

For several years now...

This is why I don't buy or sell *anything* USED on line.

This is why I don't buy or sell *anything* USED at ham fests any more.

Sold the last of my tube-type Drake and Heathkit stuff at the last ham fest in Jackson MS.  Now I'm down to a handful of "new in box" modern day solid state transceivers.  Still using a very reliable IC-7410.  It's been going 100% for about 10 years now.  When something goes wrong with it, I'm going to SCRAP IT, and open the box on another brand new IC-7410.  I think I have enough ham gear to last me the rest of my life doing this.

Every time I went to a ham fest and sold used gear, I was 100% honest and asked real prices and it was always an absolute feeding frenzy before I even got everything on the table because everyone was throwing cash at me (literally!) saying, "I'll take it!"  "I'll TAKE IT!"  "Get away from that, I SAW IT FIRST, it's MINE!"  And then I was always driving away with almost nothing left by 9:30AM with cash in my pocket.

And then, almost 100% of the time, they'd put it on their table at the ham fest and ask at least double the price they gave me.  I'm happy, they're happy.  I feel sorry for the mark who buys it from them but there's nothing I can do about it.

When ever I walk into a group of people and can't spot any sheep, I come to the conclusion I'm the sheep in a room full of wolves.  (I'm pretty sure I have "sucker" tattooed on my forehead that I don't see in a mirror, but everyone else sees it!)

For several years now, I've been operating on the assumption that if some ham opened the box from brand new and now wants to sell it, it's broken in some form or fashion and I don't want it at any price higher than 1% of new price.  And I haven't been burned since.  As far as I know, I'm the only one who has ever asked 1% of new price for a broken piece of ham gear and got it. 

To the hams who buy used gear at ham fests and get burned, I'm sorry.  But you'll never buy any of *my* old radios from *anyone* and get burned!  You're welcome!
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N2SR

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #28 on: May 28, 2022, 05:15:29 AM »

For several years now, I've been operating on the assumption that if some ham opened the box from brand new and now wants to sell it, it's broken in some form or fashion and I don't want it at any price higher than 1% of new price. 

Disagree. 

Friend of mine won an Icom 7610 at a hamfest.  Sold it unopened, brand new.  Why?  He's not an "Icom guy." 

Another friend won an HT.  Sold it unopened, brand new.  He's not a "HT guy." 

There are plenty of reasons to sell something brand new, be it unopened or opened.  Of course it depends on who you are buying from. 

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K0UA

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Re: I have frigging had it with Hams!
« Reply #29 on: May 28, 2022, 06:40:50 AM »

At the last hamfest I attended, I sold a brand new in the box HT that I didn't want. I traded for it in a swap from a guy that had just won the HT at the hamfest and didn't want it. I turned it for a profit. And the guy I sold it to was happy as a clam.
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73  James K0UA
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