Got this Broken Yamaha CA-2010 off ebay - What would you do

[Mitkraft]

I bought a Yamaha CA-2010 off eBay and finally had a chance to test it on Tuesday. It was listed as "Working Unit Cabinet Shows Wear SEE PHOTOS Due To Age No Warranty Selling as Parts & Repair due to no Warranty". I expected a unit that needed repairs but was working on some level. As it turns out I can not figure out what on this unit can be construed as "working". I was prepared for some repairs but not for a completely dead unit. No lights on the unit work, the meters flick when I turn the power on but go back to zero. I've tested the pre-amp and amp section independently and neither of them work on any level. There is no other signs of life, no activity, and no noise of any kind. See the pictures below to see what I found when I took the cover off. It looks like it has been stored in a pretty rough environment for some time and might have even had moisture exposure due to the rust. It's also completely full of cobwebs.

I paid about $300 with shipping and everything and my question is this: What would you do with this unit? Is it repairable? Can it be fully restored (functionally, cosmetics I can handle) or is it likely to cost as much as a proper working one would have? I anticipate that I would need to recap any of these old units so consider that cost a wash. Other than standard stuff you are going to have to do to any unit (caps, lamps, etc.) what is it likely to cost me to repair this unit? I'm not an expert but I'm hoping that I could stumble through it myself but if extensive board rebuilding is required then maybe I'm in over my head. If a unit in this condition is still a good value at $300 then I don't mind tackling it, but if its too far gone then I'd just as soon file a "not as described" and get my money back. I did attempt to contact the seller but he's sticking with the "no warranty" position. My contention is that putting "working unit" in the ad was misleading and implied that it worked to some degree.

 

[teal'c]

You opened it, you bought it. If you were going to complain about or return it, you shouldn't have opened the unit. I'd still post negative feedback though.

 

[Mitkraft]

I don't think eBay agrees and taking the cover off is hardly invasive so I can't agree with you. I did expect that there would be some that would take a similar position.

I do still appreciate the opinion though. Thanks.

 

[petehall347]

if it was stated as working and doesn't work then file a claim ..if it was say 20 or 30 dollars i would say keep it and fix it .but you paid for a working unit and a price to suit .
p.s i see one burned resistor . i guess there will be more damage .

 

[Bassblaster]

Looks like its been sitting in a shed for the last 30 years

 

[KiM3Ce]

I'd be afraid to bring that thing up on a Variac. I'd be profoundly shocked if the seller tested that and it worked; maybe 25 years ago when he left it in the barn...

In theory it might be working but I'd say the seller covered his butt with that language. Ebay probably won't help you but it can't hurt to try.

IMHO don't waste your time trying to fix it with that much rust. Start at $1 and sell it for the cosmetic parts.

Taking the cover off and looking inside is totally reasonable for "needs work" equipment.

 

[blhagstrom]

Test all the fuses with a meter. One may have finally died of neglect in transport.

Seller said working so you are justified filing not-as-described. eBay will force a return...PERIOD... even if you lie your ass off. They (eBay) doesn't care about what the seller wants or what you did.

$300 is stiff for a DOA unit, BUT, those are really sweet units, completely repairable/restorable and seriously under the radar.

As long as you are OK with the cosmetics and good with the soldering iron and a meter, its up to you what to do.

The seller may not know they are going to lose if you file not-as-described.

Your call, keep it and fix and enjoy the hobby, return and move on, tell seller you will return it unless you get $xxx refund.

 

[captouch]

I'd personally return it. While not abundant, you should still be able to find a working unit that you can use as a stable platform to restore, rather than trying to fix something so broken and restore from there.

 

[blhagstrom]

I'd be afraid to bring that thing up on a Variac. I'd be profoundly shocked if the seller tested that and it worked; maybe 25 years ago when he left it in the barn...

In theory it might be working but I'd say the seller covered his butt with that language. Ebay probably won't help you but it can't hurt to try.

IMHO don't waste your time trying to fix it with that much rust. Start at $1 and sell it for the cosmetic parts.

You ever see my Marantz Apocalyptic Dumpster Zombie? Looks mean nothing as far as electronic condition.

 

[ConradH]

That would be a labor of love to fix and I doubt it would make any economic sense. If it were mine, I'd do it as a challenge just because, but I've got a lot more tech to throw at it than most. I have to wonder if it was in a flood. IMO, you got 'em on "working" as it's way too much money for something in that condition.

 

[onwardjames]

Test all the fuses with a meter. One may have finally died of neglect in transport.

Seller said working so you are justified filing not-as-described. eBay will force a return...PERIOD... even if you lie your ass off. They (eBay) doesn't care about what the seller wants or what you did.

$300 is stiff for a DOA unit, BUT, those are really sweet units, completely repairable/restorable and seriously under the radar.

As long as you are OK with the cosmetics and good with the soldering iron and a meter, its up to you what to do.

The seller may not know they are going to lose if you file not-as-described.

Your call, keep it and fix and enjoy the hobby, return and move on, tell seller you will return it unless you get $xxx refund.

You ever see my Marantz Apocalyptic Dumpster Zombie? Looks mean nothing as far as electronic condition.

My man Blaine. Hell yeah, get it fixed. Those are silly good when up to snuff. If you fear it, send it to one of our resident geniuses, pony up for a real quality piece, and enjoy. Blaine's Marantz was far worse.

Good luck, Mitkraft.

 

[Oerets]

NOT AS ADVERTISED! I found the listing, put a claim in.

At the very least get a big partial refund $$$ back from them. They will have the shipping back to be looking at too!

Worth getting fixed but are you up to spending another couple of hundred?


Barney

 

[CohibaJoe]

I'd personally return it. While not abundant, you should still be able to find a working unit that you can use as a stable platform to restore, rather than trying to fix something so broken and restore from there.

.....Send it back.......

 

[Ghonk]

I don't know anything about repair,but all that rust looks pretty scary.
Since it was sold as working and is not,i personally would return it.

 

[sslade43]

File a claim with eBay. It might be a bit of a pain, but that is not as advertised.

 

[nj pheonix]

For that kind of money, Cosmetics should be better even if DOA. You bought it "as working" . Ebay will side with you. They are nice pieces but, For 300 you're into decent condition working unrestored . If it were really clean. I'd say just fix. I think for that kind of money you can find a better staring point . My 2 C

 

[DRecovery]

I would try to negotiate some money back and then repair it. If you aren't up for a project then return it. Some sellers might not know an integrated amp from an VCR, so the meters bouncing could mean it's "working."

BTW, I never disassemble anything without the seller's consent in a "problem transaction" because I feel like it still belongs to them until the terms of sale are met. Of course they always say, "go ahead" to try and save the hassle of a return, so might be overkill.

 

[nolasally]

Yup if you are honest and say you opened unit up without sellers consent eBay will likely rule in sellers favor. Fwiw buy off Ak in barter town to minimize these kind of chenanigans

 

[Montycat]

Yup if you are honest and say you opened unit up without sellers consent eBay will likely rule in sellers favor. Fwiw buy off Ak in barter town to minimize these kind of chenanigans

In theory I agree with you, but "working" and "rusted to ****" are in contrast with each other. If you say you opened to test fuses I think that's reasonable.

$300 is a lot of dough and shipping back a beast like that can't be cheap. I would ask that the seller refund you most of your money and you keep it and try to repair it. Or eBay can enforce a "not as described" based on the "working" assertion alone. He will then be out all the money

 

[JamVal]

File a return request based on "item not as described". I've been buying and selling on the bay for 14 years. On an "item not as described" case, the buyer usually wins.

If that amp was listed as "working" and it's not - then it qualifies for "item not as described.". In my opinion you got ripped off by a bad seller. That thing is disgusting and based on my experience I would be very surprised if the bay takes the sellers side on this - $300 for a pile of rust? Just include the photos of all the rust in your claim and say "how could this possibly have been working with all that rust and corrosion". Those photos will help your case. You don't have to say that you opened the cover, let them draw their own conclusions. You can attach photos to an "item not as described" case.

Come on guys - "you opened it - you bought it"??? Do you really think the bay will conclude that the reason it's not working is because he opened it up, or because of all that rust and corrosion? (Lesson to us all, when buying electronics, ask the seller for "nude" photos before bidding).

I wouldn't negotiate, demand to return it, with seller paying shipping both ways. Let the seller decide if he wants to make an offer. The bay always suggests that the seller try to "work things out" and they don't look favorably on a seller that stonewalls. I really think you will win this. Oh - and don't threaten negative feedback - the bay frowns on that.

A bunch of you may disagree with me, but really, what has he got to lose?

Sorry for the long response, but sellers like that piss me off.