A TD 125 bites the dust - or how NOT to pack

[hirscwi]

I'm a regular contributor tot he Marantz forum and a sometimes lurker on this one.

I have long wanted to sample the famous Thorens sound. I decided to take the plunge and get a Thorens 125. The plan was to follow the thread on upgrading it and building a new plinth, but alas...

Unfortunately it arrived in many many pieces. The seller wrapped a single layer of bubble wrap and then dumped it in a box that was not quite filled with packing peanuts. As you can see, the dustcover is trashed as is the plinth. I haven't had the heart to completely disassemble to see if anything is salvageable.

One question - the counterweight is detached from the tonearm: is this easily fixed? [Obviously I'm not an SME expert].

Maybe this can be saved with a custom built plinth (I'm a better woodworker than tonearm technician) - if the arm is salvageable.

Words of encouragement and suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[bobins08]

Oh my .... Sorry to see this. :sigh:

There was a recent thread here on fixing the sme tone arm. Try a search.

Really, I would try to return it for your cash back. This is not right.

If you can return it try Barter Town. Buy from an AK member to get honest pricing and shipping experience.

Good luck.

 

[4Play]

I am not a DIYer but from what I can tell, the tonearm is not salvageable. Of course the plinth is trashed, but you must check the internals to see if there are any damage. If there is substantial damage, the table is not worth fixing. However, if you're lucky and there's no damage, the table can be saved. I didn't notice the cartridge, so that will need to be checked. If the stylus is damaged, you can always get another stylus for the cartridge. Without knowing the internals condition, you need a dustcover, tonearm, maybe the stylus and headshell, and the plinth.

I hope for your sake, the table can be saved. If you paid via PayPal or credit card, you can get your money back. I would inform the Seller what happened and see if he will cooperate with you.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

It looks like from the photo that your missing a screw that's for securing the counterweight assembly, that fits snugly into the back of the arm. The screw hole you can see on the back half of the knife edge pivot bearing.

What a shame!

 

[Treker]

This is so sad. My heart just sank when I saw the photos. I would definitely make a claim on that one, especially if you purchased it through that big auction site.

 

[dosmalo]

Just viewing the thumb nail pics were too much for me. I didn't have the guts to even click on them.

 

[ranch 22b]

Me either.

I think I'm done even looking at these "damaged in shipping" threads - too disturbing.

To the OP: 'Really sorry for your loss.

 

[Barncats]

I had a similar experience with a Sony 2251 which, like the TD125, is Very Heavy. It arrived in a large box, the deck in the middle, surrounded by . . . crumpled newspaper! I'm not kidding. Newspapers. The dustcover was smashed and the stylus on a V15V bent backwards. Why are people unable to imagine the kinds of stresses that heavy objects will go through when the boxes are thrown around?! So sorry for your agonizing experience.

 

[Barncats]

I should add, in my case the seller immediately took responsibility and you should ask nothing less from your seller, although of course the poor turntable is now in pieces.

 

[majick47]

Here we go again with another destroyed turntable that the buyer obviously didn't bother to check to see if the seller had a half an ounce of brains to package a turntable. Too late now you have a box of junk that was once a turntable. Contact the seller and tell him/her you want a complete refund including what you payed for shipping, attach the photos, advising that he/she failed to properly package/disassemble the table which caused the damage. If the seller doesn't comply contact Ebay/PayPal and open a case. This is old hat to Ebay/PayPal they have probably seen thousands of cases like yours and you will get a refund. When done leave the seller negative feedback so someone else if they check the feedback wont deal with this fool.

 

[sKiZo]

Not exactly in the same league as the Thorens, but same thing happened here ...

Good chance it was the counterweight bashing about that did in the dustcover. Also a good chance that the arm bearings were trashed along the way. I was able to put it back together, but the thing tracked like a drunken centipede ...

 

[Jon S]

The same thing happened to a Sony PS-8750 I bought off eBay... The turntable was packed in a box with about an inch of space on each side. The seller did not lock down the tonearm nor did he secure the platter. The loose platter broke everything. I had a picture on the site but it got lost over the years...

I bought a few turntables online and none of them survived... I gave up.

 

[shelly_d]

Too late for the OP, but it is from threads like this that I have learned to look through the seller's feedback to see if he/she has shipped turntables before. If I don't see any, I eaither pass on the auction or email the seller with some packing links to see if he/she would follow their advice.

I can't really say how well this works as the ones I did bid on I've been outbid (cause I'm really cheap) but if you really want a turntable off eBay, it is well worth the trouble.

OP: I'm really sorry this happened to you.

Shelly_D

 

[hoff70]

I reckon I got really lucky with my 1st auction TT... I was sweating it because I had never thought about how fragile these devices are and the seller had no experience packing them.

 

[jhtstone]

Send it back. :thumbsdn:

 

[moinau]

First, send it back if you can, if not:

check the motor, if it runs true, you have a good motor, by running true, you check the spindle/shaft to see if it they aren't any wobbling when spinning. If it has, the table is not worth fixing, only good for parts. A motor on ebay will cost you from 450.00$ to 600.00$, if you can find one.

 

[Stanton681EEES]

Oh i know this won't change anything and I've posted before as to my anger at dumbass sellers who sell turntables on ebay and don't have any common sense when it comes to packing a table. i know I'm a turntable guy but, when are theses idiots gonna learn that you can't put a heavy object with lots of movable parts in a flimsy box with out giving it enough insulation from falls and shocks plus leaving platters on and counterweights...........
Plus if your gonna sell tables you need to either buy the proper packing material or try finding it. I've found lots of Styrofoam and boxes which peoples trash they put out at the curb.
It just gets under my skin to see a wonderful table as some one mentioned earlier is now a box of junk plus the seller will have to refund. I'm really sorry this happened to you which doesn't really help you other than to show we care..........

Dam:thumbsdn:

 

[nstereo]

Lots of horror stories of turntables and shipping from e`bay. I`ve learned my lesson too. Best to just ship it back and if the seller drags his feet customer service will take care of it. Lots of pictures help. Good luck..

 

[grottyash]

Send it back .

 

[SoundsAlike]

Someone here posted a packing thread -- I've shipped heavy tables all over the world an only had one small problem with one. If you're buying a table online you should show the seller the turntable packing an shipping thread.