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Author Topic: Worst Service Ever - Yaesu  (Read 5506 times)

AF4YA

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Worst Service Ever - Yaesu
« on: April 17, 2001, 08:00:05 PM »

       I have a Yaesu FT-8100 I had trouble with. Intermittently it had a problem where it wouldn't transmit a signal and the left VFO would not receive. I sent it in for warranty repair with an extremely detailed message explaining the problem in the box. I waited for over a month while they replaced 2 "spring plates" that were on backorder and did factory upgrades.
       
I received it back and a couple days later it was doing the same exact thing. I called their customer service, explained the problem again and the lady said "Well it seems as if all they did was upgrades". She sent me to a technician who was rude as could be. He told me to send it in and that second repairs got top priority. I sent it in for a second time. This time they were a little quicker about getting it back to me and they replaced a "VCV line".    

       I haven't had the problem with intermittent transmit, but found the rig has high SWR. After changing mounts and antennas, I finally checked my antennas on a SWR Analyzer and they are flat as a pancake. When I check it with the rig hooked up, it gets as high as 3.5:1 and no lower than 2.25:1 throughout the 2 meter band. 70cm is off the scale. The rig also only puts out 40 watts max and 30 watts most of the time on 2 meters.

       I called and spoke with one of their technicians again. Again they were very rude and smart towards me. I asked that they replace the rig since they were having trouble fixing it. Again he was very rude and told me that they will not and do not replace units. My warranty is up in a couple more days and if it fails again I'm without a rig, because I do not have the money to replace it or have it repaired.

       Yaesu seems to be one of those companies that once they've got your money that's all they care about. I couldn't even get to talk to a manager. I liked Yaesu quite a bit until they showed me what there customer service was like, which I'm not sure you'd call it that, more like customer disservice.

       I am not the only person in my area to have such problems. I have a friend the FT-8000 that he received back from repair and the unit was only producing 42 watts out on high. He's still waiting to get that unit back from the second go round.

       In my opinion, if you buy a Yaesu, hope it works for life and hope you never have to send it to them for service or rely on their customer service. I think of myself as a very patient and understanding man, but I've been to my wits end with Yaesu.



Just my warning to all,
Anonymous Nick
73s

P.S. Where's there's lawyers, there's slander lawsuits. Even though I have the proof I've chosen to post anonymous to save myself the trouble.
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WB2WIK

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Worst Service Ever - Yaesu
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2001, 07:33:21 PM »

Nick, you're not that anonymous, since you posted under your callsign AF4YA!  (Oops!)  We all make mistakes.

I read your story and wonder what you mean by "the rig has high SWR?"  This doesn't make much sense.  A rig doesn't have any SWR...SWR is the ratio of a transmission line impedance to its terminating load impedance, and that's all it is -- it's never anything else.  You said you checked your antennas, and they are perfect, but the rig has "high SWR?"  No wonder the technician at Yaesu couldn't help much (although there's no excuse for rudeness or belligerence), he probably had no idea what you were talking about.

Maybe you meant the rig's SWR meter indicated a high SWR, even though in reality your antenna SWR was low.  This would make more sense, and could be caused by a number of issues...none of which are particularly important if the rig still works while the SWR meter is reading improperly.

Let me know what you really meant, I might have a solution for you, whether the rig's in warranty or not.

73 de Steve WB2WIK/6

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Worst Service Ever - Yaesu
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2001, 09:55:46 AM »

I too share your feelings about Yaesu's terrible service and attitude.  In general they make very good radios but I have had similar problems with a VX5-R.

The problem is there are too few manufacturers to choose from these days.  When these Companies know this - they really don't care about customer service anymore.  

I would be willing to bet that Yaesu, Icom, or Kenwood never even bother to read these forums on what their customers really think.  If they did - they would fix the problems with service.  Since they don't respond to the forums - all I can figure is they really don't care.

This is usually the first stages of Companies going extinct.  

Keep giving them hell - you have a right to getting your radio fixed!  

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PE1RLN

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Worst Service Ever - Yaesu
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2001, 08:19:29 AM »

When the output impedance of the rig isn't 50 Ohms, the SWR will never be right. This may happen when PI filter is broken or something.

I have read numerous articles about Yaesu's bad service. Maybe they'll change...

73 and good luck!
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