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Reviews For: Surplus Sales of Nebraska

Category: Electronic Component Suppliers

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Review Summary For : Surplus Sales of Nebraska
Reviews: 42MSRP:
Description:
Sells hard to find and obselete parts. Many Collins parts.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.surplussales.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15423.5
W9AC Rating: 2010-12-14
Always satisfied, A+ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Been dealing with Bob Grinnell since 1990. Recently placed a series of orders. Always prompt and accurate. They are THE source for high-quality commercial-grade components. They've never let me down.
G4HZV Rating: 2010-12-14
Works for me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've bought various bits and pieces from Surplus Sales over the years and never had a problem. Always get helpful response to emails. Everything I've had has been well packed and arrived on time.
W5VIN Rating: 2010-12-12
Fast filling of Order Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi:
I'd like to give Surplus Sales an A++ for the fast service they provided in filling an order for a copy
of a service manual I was in need of. I placed the order, waited a week, called and was told the order was being worked on. In 3 more days my manual arrived. Thanks Surplus Sales as I was able to repair my IFR-A7550 spectrum analyzer.
Charlie W5VIN
K9CTB Rating: 2010-08-13
Avoid - if you can Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Anyone who knows me and my reviews knows that I am thoughtful, and that if I have nothing good to say, I say nothing at all.

I have to say that in that vain, this is a very different review. From these guys I received very different treatment.

Avoid these guys if you can. I said it and I mean it. If this guy is in business to make money, he has absolutely no customer service sense at all. I have no beef with his prices. Sure they're high, but if he has what you need and nobody else does, you know the drill.

As an anecdotal comparison, Mike at Murphy's Surplus Junk in El Cajon, CA has high prices too. But the guy will break his back to find what you need and all it takes is an e-mail. Sometimes, this is all the difference in the world.

Fair Radio Sales in Lima, OH has high prices too. But their sense of customer care and their work ethic are priceless.

I was trying to track down a suitable blower for Bertha, my affectionately-named Henry 2KD-5 amplifier. Henry's shaded-pole OEM blower was getting old and noisy and I wanted a replacement. I saw that Nebraska Surplus Sales had blowers at the time. I called to ask about the suitability and availability of their replacement blowers. "NO!" was the response. "We're moving and I don't have time to look." Okay, I thought. "Give 'em some time, Neil", I was thinking. Heck, a "We're moving" note on their website would be nice. An expected date of return to business would be nice. I double-checked the website. Nothing. Hmmmmm. I would have gladly observed their situation and waited. In fact, that's what I did after my ear cooled down from the telephone.

Two weeks later, I emailed. I asked the status of their move and again asked about the availability of blowers. I even expressed hope that the move had gone smoothly.

Bad move.

I got an "earful" in the reply that I would have like to have saved, but didn't. Please take my word on this. Name-calling, phrases like "I know your type", and other angry content that was very telling of the personality I was dealing with on the other end, is what I received. Somehow he linked my e-mail to my phone call. This indicates a pretty low sales volume to me.

Totally inappropriate.

In spite of this, I dropped a note back to Mr. Grinnell, apologizing and ensuring to him that I meant no harm, but will avoid doing business with them in the future.

I walked away believing that this guy is either psychotic or at the very least, extremely stressed. Such a personality should probably not have contact with the public in any capacity unless he is properly medicated. If his business survives the double-dip recession we are currently enduring, so much the better and even in his condition, I would never deny a man the means to feed his family, so long as I ain't paying. If however, this business fails, this particular amateur would not be surprised in the least.

My story ended happily, with the arrival of the Indianapolis hamfest. I found a suitable blower that fits the 2KD-5 perfectly. With a new filter bank and a new blower but original tubes transformer, etc., Bertha still chugs along happily. All it cost me was a little time.

Bottom line? Perhaps Mr. Grinnell thinks he's the cat's meow on replacement Collins stuff. Maybe he's right. Perhaps the Collins name and mystique is worth fighting with someone like Grinnell to keep the gear running. If you think so, you sir are a better man than I.

I would never even consider darkening this guy's doorstep again. I urge fellow hams who can afford to do so, to do the same.
HB9DFG Rating: 2008-02-12
Works fine... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered two doorknob caps which I received 8 days
later by airmail. Got also a short email when they
sent out the parts to me. Fine service so far.

Regards, Chris, HB9DFG
K6JPA Rating: 2007-06-07
No Problems Here Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've purchased several items from this business at various times in the past and have always been pleased with the products received.
NU5D Rating: 2007-04-18
Relay and Wire - AOK Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I ordered a t/r relay for my Henry 440 KW amp. Ordered, paid using Credit Card, and received the item within a week. Next I ordered a couple of spools of #17 Copper wire for winding coils. - Again I paid and they shipped.

NOW - I see some poor reviews due to their prices, and I don't get it. If you don't like the price, for heavens sake, go somewhere else.

Steve, NU5D, Temple, Texas
AL7B Rating: 2006-11-11
Never A Problem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have made several orders with SSN over the years and never a problem. The product is good and always fast delivery. I recently needed a small quanity of RG-402 and RG-405 for a small project at work. It was not listed on their website. I received a quick response to my e-mail asking if they had any in stock. They gave this order personal service, right down to the packaging.

SSN went out of their way for a very small order. I look forward to doing business with SSN in the future.
NB1U Rating: 2006-07-13
I cancelled my order... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I placed an order for a few small, commonly-found parts. Was told I would be emailed when the parts shipped. Waited 2 weeks and when I telephoned inquiring about the shipping status they could not tell me why it did not ship nor could they give me a time frame. I then cancelled the order. They seem disorganized.
K3SUI Rating: 2006-07-12
disorganized mess Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been dealing with this company for quite a few years. They've a lot of good stuff and, generally, I've had no problems from them. However, this last order ... I ordered $100 worth of wire from them. The order was sent to the wrong address. I had asked that a signature be required and because they didn't have one, I was lucky and UPS refunded my $100 ... but I told them that I really needed the wire ... keep the money and send the wire.

They sent the items of an order that I had ordered a year previous. I returned it and told them they sent me the wrong stuff. They then sent the wire ... but billed me $100!! After months and many tries to get this fixed ... I finally gave up. A $100 loss for me.

Generally, things have been fine ... but if you get off on a wrong foot, the folks who work there have no idea of how to fix problems.

If you really need something, spin the wheel and take a chance ...