The trials and tribulations of equipment repairs

[Deleted User]

I'm sure some here have suffered similar experiences. At the moment I'm trying to get a couple of repairs. One. replacement of a Roksan Kandy CD player laser. I contacted by email two different companies that advertise this specific service. The first asked me to post the item to them inc £20 to cover inspection and they would get back to me, I re contacted to say I would be happy to drop it it off as they were not far away, the second replied that they were looking at the problem and would get back to me within 24 hours. I have heard nothing from either over the last 20 days. The second, I need some minor soldering and check over of a Rogers A75 amp, the chap I spoke to, a Rogers specialist said that it would be no problem as he had all the equipment need to check out valve stuff, scary! What ever happened to your local good guy!

uglymusic

Now, I'm going to show off my ignorance. I'm assuming that the A75 is a solid-state amp?

[Deleted User]

Yes, but why would you know, unlike the chap who claimed to be a Rogers "specialist"

uglymusic

I know everything! 

uglymusic

But, seriously, the 'specialist', at best, only knows tubes. I'll be generous.

[Deleted User]

I respect anyone who prefers not to work outside of their field be it valves or whatever. However I had sent an email prior to our conversation listing the year, model, fault with the offer to loan owners hand book which includes a schematic, he replied that he wouldn't need the H/B as he was quite familiar with Rogers amps. I would have thought he might have worked it out from that information? It is only that I telephoned him to arrange a time for me to drop it off rather than post that the comments were made, otherwise it could well have been winging its way to him.

uglymusic

Sounds about right. The man is demonstrating himself to be what we call in the hi-fi trade, A Complete Wally

[Deleted User]

Funny thing is, I would have had no concerns doing both repairs a few years back. Now in my mid seventies my eyesight not what it was along with shaky hands I didn't want to make a Wally of myself! Just before seeking out someone to do them I purchased one of those desktop/bench magnifiers complete with built in light. I have to say it was a revelation, everything was now crystal clear, including how badly my hands shook!

AntiCrap

ordinaryman said:

Funny thing is, I would have had no concerns doing both repairs a few years back. Now in my mid seventies my eyesight not what it was along with shaky hands I didn't want to make a Wally of myself! Just before seeking out someone to do them I purchased one of those desktop/bench magnifiers complete with built in light. I have to say it was a revelation, everything was now crystal clear, including how badly my hands shook!

Snap

[Deleted User]

Sorry to hear that, scary isn't it when you actually see it magnified? I hate to think how much damage I could cause!

uglymusic

Possibly not as much as I could cause! I've never been good with a soldering iron.

[Deleted User]

I've always found them quite endearing, they always let you know when you touch their "wrong end"

uglymusic

Sounds like my better half 

cj66

That Rogers specialist sounds like a car mechanic when you take a car in for "off" performance.

"Hmmmm, yes, could be the choke or carburetor."

Errr, it's electronic fuel injection!

What is with component prices now? I had an air-con control board and a TV power supply, both boards needing repair.

After examination I looked up the needed bits, between crazy prices and minimum quantity levels both came to about twenty sqiddlies each. I looked up the complete new boards, one at twenty two and the other at twenty five.

No contest! New boards are in and both units ate happy.

uglymusic

It's all blamed on supply chain problems.

Did someone say profiteering, too?