Technics 1200MK5 slight damage on delivery

[Embryos]

This is a very durable turntable with easy to get parts. You may still find the $250 to be light once you pay for a quality tech to clean everything up.

in the end, this is a personal call as you will be using this table. I am sure that a table as durable this one will get back in fighting shape quickly -- you just need to be be comfortable with your deck (I have seen 1200s beaten to crap only to be cleaned up into decent tables -- it does not sound like you are going to have that long of a road should you hold onto this one).

 

[Embryos]

I think its going to be fine.. I probably wont replace the tone arm as the damage is minimal...I have high hopes for this thing, I think you are correct regarding the road ahead...Any idea on average how much it may cost to have the tonearm professionally replaced?

 

[Embryos]

It'd be nice if we could put the right-fighting aside and help the OP determine everything that'll need repaired so they may make an informed decision in accordance with what they feel the right thing to do is.

Yes I think it would help! I haven't posted because I took the pics with and old digital camera, and I cant find the cable that connects to my latop for uploads..but I will try my best this afternoon. Like I said in my OP, the damage seems minimal and doesn't SEEM to be effecting the operation, other than of course the stylus rubbing on the bare platter with the rubber mat and slip mat on top of it, im sure was not good for the stylus.....! and the loose dustcover on top of the tone arm/weight...

 

[Embryos]

Between Ebay and other sights I'v bought an easy thousand items and out of that number there were probably less than five that weren't "professionally" packaged and appropriate for the item but none of the five or less came close to what the OP described as to how his 1200Mk5 was packaged. I'v also shipped hundreds of items with never a complaint that anything was damaged. As for leaving feedback he should be truthful and say that the packaging was totally inadequate, not conforming to accepted standards which caused the turntable to be damaged. The purpose of leaving truthful feedback is both to warn other buyers who might bid/buy on a fragile item like electronics and let the seller know she has to learn how to package these items so another potential buyer doesn't end up with something smashed. Is that being spiteful?

I have also purchased many things online, mainly books, cds, records, and running shoes through out the years. I cant really ever remember anything being so poorly executed...and items had always been in proper and new packing materials. True irony for this expensive, heavy, oddly shaped item to be sent in this manner! Even without damage, the seller should have to learn a bit of a lesson based on principle alone I believe. Luckily for the seller and I, we have both been very cooperative... so I think she will learn from the situation! however, maybe she should pay me a schooling/educational as fee as well! haha

 

[mprince]

I think its going to be fine.. I probably wont replace the tone arm as the damage is minimal...I have high hopes for this thing, I think you are correct regarding the road ahead...Any idea on average how much it may cost to have the tonearm professionally replaced?

Not sure where you live, but you can get a brand new tonearm assembly for far less than the refund the seller is offering. Replacing it yourself is not tremendously hard, but you need to know how to solder. If you put your location in your profile you may even get an AK'er to help you out (I would if you were local to me) if you buy the arm, it is literally a 30 minute job once you know what you are doing.

 

[Embryos]

Hello,
I purchased an MK5 on ebay, in pretty immaculate condition, ($479) rubbermat, slip cover, dust cover, numark CC1 cartridge included. Well long story short, the seller shipped the TT in a crappy box, filled with popcorn foam and airbags, 90 percent of which were popped or uninflated and when I opened the box the dust cover was askew, rubber mat, slip mat were both on top of the cartridge/tone arm, which had become unhooked from the holder and was in the center of the platter along with the tone arm. The dust cover was actually on top of the back of the tonearm, and the auxiliary sub weight on the very end was bent at a 45* angle. The rear ens of the tone arm is also bent or sagging to a much less degree, not sure if the table was like that originally or if damaged in shipping. I took photos and immediately contacted the seller, to which she offered $250 refund to cover the cost of a new tone arm, cartridge stylus and inconvenience. The problem is, I now realize the bent subwieght doesnt seem to be a big deal, as it seems to bend easily, the stylus still works, although I know the thing bouncing and scraping on the platter didnt help it. Also, the slight bend in the back of the tone arm doesnt seem to be effecting operation as far as I can tell.
Do you think a $250 refund is reasonable/fair?
Is it too much in my benefit?
Should I be concerned that there may be a future issue as a result of the slight damage?
Should she give me more $$?
I just want to keep a fair Karmic balance in the world, but I dont know whats fair! She packed the TT like a peice of S-H-I-T, and she should have expected this I think... Any comments or advice is appreciated!

It would save a lot of arguments if the OP would post the pictures of the damage.

llh

 

[illini]

My weekend has just been marred by those pics; what an awful fate for that Technics.

 

[welcomdmat]

have the threads for the aux weight been damaged inside the tonearm? I may have missed that. You only need that weight with some cartridges, and it shouldn't be hard to get another one. Check for play in the arm.

If you replace the arm, there are a number of wiring options -- different wires inside the arm, different ways to run through to the RCAs, different voltage regulators. Read around a little bit. You may find that you don't want to do an exact match. You may find that you can work with what you have if you want to save up for something beyond repairing everything to stock/ original.

Unless you are scratching, I would replace the platter mat.

For the dust cover, many recommend taking it off for listening purposes as it can easily pick up vibrations from the music. There are mods that can be done -- I think there are even Technics pieces -- so that you can use the dust cover to protect everything and have it as a removable piece. It really doesn't look to be in that bad of shape.

If your stylus came through without damage, that is a miracle. I would count on replacing the stylus. Hopefully the cartridge body made it through alright -- that will certainly save you a couple of dollars.

Aux weight/ platter mat/ stylus. None of these will require man hours from a tech. That is my first thought based on pictures, but there could be troubles lurking in the deep.

 

[mprince]

I would unscrew the aux weight and see if its threaded stud has bent. If not, then that piece threads into a thin spring steel piece inside the end stub which has bent. That piece can be removed and bent into proper shape, but you will have to remove the arm from the base to do so. It appears the actual end stub was not bent, which is a good sign.

I may have a spare insert from an old arm here if needed, more than willing to mail it to the OP.

 

[JP]

The stub looks bent to me.

 

[Stanton681EEES]

Only an IDIOT would pack a table as badly as that one was and i would ask for a complete refund and leave negative feedback. There is zero excuse for that. There are ways of finding out how to pack a table for safe shipping.................

 

[savatage1973]

OP you may be satisfied but I have a feeling your going to be on the loosing end of this deal, like buying a car that was totaled with a bent frame, goes down the road sideways. Why I and others suggested an Ebay cliam for a total refund was to wash your hands of this cursed turntable and also leave negative feedback so this same seller wont be able to sell another turntable to another buyer/bidder if they bother to check her feedback. You probably didn't read any of the many previous AK threads re how a turntable should be packaged and checking with the seller to see if they would comply with the instructions. There's an option on Ebay for local pickup only for those who feel they are not up to packaging something like a turntable.

Only an IDIOT would pack a table as badly as that one was and i would ask for a complete refund and leave negative feedback. There is zero excuse for that. There are ways of finding out how to pack a table for safe shipping.................

To me (at least) these posts are "mean spirited" and vindictive. Yes, the seller made a mistake--one that can be recovered from. The seller has already offered more than adequate compensation to repair the damages--with no argument or debate--IMO, an act of "good faith". Not everyone knows how to pack a TT, and this is probably the only one she has ever shipped. The OP is getting the table at a better than fair price (after the refund, even with the damages), so there is no reason to go out on ebay and trash the seller. IMO, an adequate resolution is on the table--there is no reason to "punish" a co-operative seller. Escalating this to a dispute on ebay is a "lose-lose" situation--the only ones that win are ebay, paypal and the shipping companies. As it sits--the seller gives up a sufficient refund, the buyer gets the product they want, and no one else has to be involved, bleeding more money off of the transaction.

Remind me never to sell either of you ANYTHING!!!

 

[Mister Pig]

People learn from their mistakes. How many of you have not made a "stupid" mistake in your life yet? If you can raise your hand, then you can cast that first stone. Seller is going to lose a good chunk of money on this, I would think she will have paid enough of a penance. Responses sure reveal a lot about a persons character in this thread...

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[Stanton681EEES]

To me (at least) these posts are "mean spirited" and vindictive. Yes, the seller made a mistake--one that can be recovered from. The seller has already offered more than adequate compensation to repair the damages--with no argument or debate--IMO, an act of "good faith". Not everyone knows how to pack a TT, and this is probably the only one she has ever shipped. The OP is getting the table at a better than fair price (after the refund, even with the damages), so there is no reason to go out on ebay and trash the seller. IMO, an adequate resolution is on the table--there is no reason to "punish" a co-operative seller. Escalating this to a dispute on ebay is a "lose-lose" situation--the only ones that win are ebay, paypal and the shipping companies. As it sits--the seller gives up a sufficient refund, the buyer gets the product they want, and no one else has to be involved, bleeding more money off of the transaction.

Remind me never to sell either of you ANYTHING!!!

How are they mean spirited So we as buyers on ebay according to you and others should just suck it up and recover as you say. Would you be so understanding if it was say a new car you bought on line and when received it was damaged.
Well sorry i disagree with you as I've stated before if your gonna sell a turntable or other delicate audio gear for god sake learn how to pack it......... I wouldn't buy from you if you did as bad a job of packing as she did........ So don't worry there pal I won't be buying from you or ebay as well. Oh and it's not mean spirited it's why ebay has the feedback system so we as buyers can see problems buying certain things from sellers like her...........

 

[Stanton681EEES]

People learn from their mistakes. How many of you have not made a "stupid" mistake in your life yet? If you can raise your hand, then you can cast that first stone. Seller is going to lose a good chunk of money on this, I would think she will have paid enough of a penance. Responses sure reveal a lot about a persons character in this thread...

Regards
Mister Pig

Hey piggie can you see my hand............... Well you'll never change my mind and you make think of me a childish which you are entitled to do. But I still think she is an idiot and shouldn't be selling turntables on ebay. And yes I'm a terrible person and I'm going straight to hell.

 

[mprince]

If I was in OP's shoes I would take the refund offer, and buy a new tonearm and bearing (for peace of mind) from KAB, and have enough left over to buy a serviceable soldering iron to DIY the tonearm. The bearing fix is an easy DIY swap out.

The seller is making up for the poor packaging with the refund and should not be further penalized IMO.

To the OP - have you plugged the TT in and confirmed everything works as it should (platter spins true, all controls work and speed is accurate)?

 

[ranf1970]

If I was in OP's shoes I would take the refund offer, and buy a new tonearm and bearing (for peace of mind) from KAB, and have enough left over to buy a serviceable soldering iron to DIY the tonearm. The bearing fix is an easy DIY swap out.

The seller is making up for the poor packaging with the refund and should not be further penalized IMO.

To the OP - have you plugged the TT in and confirmed everything works as it should (platter spins true, all controls work and speed is accurate)?

It looks like the TT is up and running and s/he's looking for s cart. Not sure if it running perfectly, though:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....ge-do-ya-recon-yet-again.723084/#post-9753267

 

[majick47]

I'v given up on some of you AK members who fear being considered judgmental and allow yourselves and encourage others to be dumped on. I'll be more than happy to package a piece of audio equipment any of you nonjudgmental AK members should ever buy from me just like that Ebay seller did. By all appearances the OP is a newbee and I doubt changing tonearms is on his skill level. Since he's keeping this wounded battered bleeped up 1200Mk5 I highly recommend he send it to KAB for a full inspection and estimate of repair. Aside from the obvious exterior damage I'd be suspect of internal damage, possibly cracked boards, due to the box being dropped/thrown from a good height. Maybe he'll be lucky, Kevin is fair/honest, and the cost will be covered by the $250 refund but if you consider shipping both ways you'v already spent about $100.

 

[grottyash]

To me (at least) these posts are "mean spirited" and vindictive. Yes, the seller made a mistake--one that can be recovered from. The seller has already offered more than adequate compensation to repair the damages--with no argument or debate--IMO, an act of "good faith". Not everyone knows how to pack a TT, and this is probably the only one she has ever shipped. The OP is getting the table at a better than fair price (after the refund, even with the damages), so there is no reason to go out on ebay and trash the seller. IMO, an adequate resolution is on the table--there is no reason to "punish" a co-operative seller. Escalating this to a dispute on ebay is a "lose-lose" situation--the only ones that win are ebay, paypal and the shipping companies. As it sits--the seller gives up a sufficient refund, the buyer gets the product they want, and no one else has to be involved, bleeding more money off of the transaction.

Remind me never to sell either of you ANYTHING!!!

Precisely. The seller has done everything possible to redress the situation, but stil the knives are out. Hardly an example of good karma.

 

[savatage1973]

So don't worry there pal I won't be buying from you or ebay as well. Oh and it's not mean spirited it's why ebay has the feedback system so we as buyers can see problems buying certain things from sellers like her...........

Then shut up and quit your whining! The OP received a very generous offer from the seller with apologies, and the option of a total return/refund is still there, but it is a total dick move to trash a seller based on inexperience on one occasion.

Hey piggie can you see my hand............... Well you'll never change my mind and you make think of me a childish which you are entitled to do. But I still think she is an idiot and shouldn't be selling turntables on ebay. And yes I'm a terrible person and I'm going straight to hell.

Yes, you are "childish"--who peed in your sandbox this morning? Like Mr. Pig said--who hasn't made an "idiot" mistake in their lifetime (I know I have)--you do what you can to fix it and move on--apparently your parents didn't realize this--you are here.