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My birthday is tomorrow, and I need help...

Silentnet said:
Yes. I was living in a very small town at the time.
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Don't buy from eBay ever again. Try Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You'll be able to take a look at what you're looking for in person, then decide if you want it or not. If you want a piece of technology, don't buy it if the seller doesn't have any speakers to test it with. You could be pulled a fast one like I realized when I bought the first receiver and it didn't work.

eBay is a hellhole. The shipping costs can be ridiculous, you can be scammed, or receive the item damaged. Don't trust eBay anymore.
 
Step 1. Bring back the unit to the lady as soon as she gets back and request that she take it back and refund your money. If she refuses, not much you can do unless she gave you a warranty. I am assuming you paid cash, so you don’t have much to go on. If you gave her a check, you could put a stoppage on the check.

Step 2. Assuming you can’t return it check out getting it fixed. Then sell it after it’s fixed.

Step 3. If repairing is not possible, keep it stored away as a possible parts backup for the one you have.
 
I have been very “lucky” on there. But I do my due diligence. Only buy from very high positive feed backs, look what they have sold before, ask a butt ton of questions and see what answers I get. I have purchased a few great cars, bows, amplifiers (ST-70, great score).
 
GChief said:
I have been very “lucky” on there. But I do my due diligence. Only buy from very high positive feed backs, look what they have sold before, ask a butt ton of questions and see what answers I get. I have purchased a few great cars, bows, amplifiers (ST-70, great score).
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Ah, yes. That's one thing I should check before buying anything from Craigslist. Thanks!
 
Romeo Wolf said:
Ah, yes. That's one thing I should check before buying anything from Craigslist. Thanks!
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Nope, I was talking about eBay. Only place I have almost been burned was CL. Went to buy speakers but had everything with me to check them out, dude wasn’t expecting that. I just walked away.
 
Romeo Wolf said:
Don't buy from eBay ever again. Try Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You'll be able to take a look at what you're looking for in person, then decide if you want it or not. If you want a piece of technology, don't buy it if the seller doesn't have any speakers to test it with. You could be pulled a fast one like I realized when I bought the first receiver and it didn't work.

eBay is a hellhole. The shipping costs can be ridiculous, you can be scammed, or receive the item damaged. Don't trust eBay anymore.
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The experience I described happened 20 years ago. I'm 33 and no longer need your advice, solid though it may be.

Ebay itself is fine, you just have to protect yourself and ask lots of questions, as others have said.
 
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Romeo Wolf said:
Don't buy from eBay ever again. Try Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You'll be able to take a look at what you're looking for in person, then decide if you want it or not. If you want a piece of technology, don't buy it if the seller doesn't have any speakers to test it with. You could be pulled a fast one like I realized when I bought the first receiver and it didn't work.

eBay is a hellhole. The shipping costs can be ridiculous, you can be scammed, or receive the item damaged. Don't trust eBay anymore.
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You're young so you don't know.

I've purchased hundreds of items on eBay without a hitch, turntables too. eBay's buyer protection plan covers you completely, you would have no problem getting your money back if you had purchased there. Plus with its huge marketplace your buying options are greater.
 
I love old receivers but I don't recommend them to people new to this hobby anymore. I spent a couple years acquiring nice working units, cleaning them up, then passing them on to friends and family for what I paid. Everyone was happy. Fast forward a couple years and now I have a steady stream of disappointed friends bringing their receivers back because one thing or another needs repair, or they outright died. It's a bit of a mess.

These days I recommend total newbies pick up a cheap new Yamaha receiver like the R-S202BL which has bluetooth built in, subwoofer out, and remote control for $150. And while it may not last 40 years, it will indeed last the next 10, which is more than I can say for most unrestored vintage units these days. For those looking for more grunt/better sound quality (albeit less features) I recommend the Lepai/Dayton chip amps. A solid 50 wpc that will shame some much bigger vintage receivers with tough loads. These can be had for about $75, all with a warranty, all can be purchased from the comfort of their home and shipped to their door.

I guess I'm saying that vintage receivers are fun for someone truly dedicated to the hobby of vintage audio. Good for nostalgia, collecting, and tinkering. But if someone is just looking for a way to enjoy high quality sound on a budget and doesn't want any hassle, I steer them clear.
 
darkblue94 said:
Romeo Wolf, I was in the Audio Specialties store earlier today and saw that Doug had loads of great vintage equipment (always does) on his shelves. Doug is an honest,
respectable businessman and has run his shop for a long, long time. Take a ride over to his shop and look around, I highly recommend it. He doesn't sell anything that isn't
working properly and in good to excellent cosmetic condition and he guarantees his products. Can't hardly beat that. :cool:
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Ayyy, I know I'm extremely late (or whatever, lol) but I wonder to know if you live in Portland? Because now that I'm reading these ancient threads, catching your eye. I live a 15 minute (or so) Minute drive from Portland. Juuust across the Bridge from PDX.
 
Romeo Wolf said:
Ayyy, I know I'm extremely late (or whatever, lol) but I wonder to know if you live in Portland? Because now that I'm reading these ancient threads, catching your eye. I live a 15 minute (or so) Minute drive from Portland. Juuust across the Bridge from PDX.
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Did that Craig's list lady ever return you money?
 
shelly_d said:
Did that Craig's list lady ever return you money?
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Nope. She literally spent all of our $175 while out of town. She also never texted us back and so we're stuck with a crappy old receiver that still faintly reeks of cigarettes to this day.

At least she had a nice Black cat in her apartment.
 
Romeo Wolf said:
Ayyy, I know I'm extremely late (or whatever, lol) but I wonder to know if you live in Portland? Because now that I'm reading these ancient threads, catching your eye. I live a 15 minute (or so) Minute drive from Portland. Juuust across the Bridge from PDX.
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Yes.
 
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