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Think I'm being ripped off

alanl

alanl

Active Member
I recently purchased an NAD 3140 amp that has some nasty noises associated with the selector switch. Sent it to a "specialist" service provider in Sydney who charged $99 just to evaluate it. Told me the power supply was "dangerous" and it needed new caps, fixing several dry solder joints and the usual cleanup of pots etc. Estimate was $100 in parts plus up to 4 hours labor to "bring it back to original spec".

It has now been "fixed" and they want $425 ON TOP OF THE $99 ALREADY PAID. That seems to be totally excessive

The dilemma is therefore to cop the service charge that effectively turns the NAD into a $600 amp OR write off the $200 already spent and try again. I can buy a different used "serviced" vintage amp for anything from $200 upwards here but I live in a remote location so can never hear the unit prior to purchase and run the risk of buying another problem.

Comments welcome
 
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I am so sorry this happened to you. Yes, I do believe you are being taken advantage of. :( I hope you meant $90 instead of $900 to evaluate it. Even at that, it would be excessive. The question really is, how much do you value this classic piece? Personally, I am not a huge NAD fan, so for me, I don't think I would have fixed it. This being said, however, if it is now in near mint condition, it may well be worth the $425. After all, you are talking $225 more than your original investment. What would you be able to get for $225? This is also the reason my husband and I keep having our old "just in case" truck fixed although it is 25 years old this year. It is cheaper to fix it than to buy an equivalent vehicle (unless something major breaks like the transmission or motor).

Welcome to AK BTW!! :)
 
Just to be sure I understand, you got an estimate and gave the "OK" to do the work based on the estimate, yes?

Knowing the estimate was about $100 in parts and around 4 hours labor, how much is that compared to the final bill $425?

(bearing in mind I presume the price is Australian dollars ($100 AUD = $79 USD)
 
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Hey mate. I'm in the Aussie country too. You need opinions from locals. Our market is different to US etc. Find the AU stereo site StereoNET. Com.

Personally I only see a couple of problems. $900 that I hope is a typo and I don't know what 'specialist ' would be.
I've got two NAD 3240s. They are aging now and were built to a budget. If I costed a full rebuild at local commercial rates your quoted cost would be no surprise.
 
It was obviously a typo, either it was $90 or $99 as he mentioned "on top of the $99 already paid".

If I am cipherin' correctly, he paid $99 bench fee (which many places would put towards the total repair bill)+ $100 parts.
Total appears to be $524 - $100 parts = $424 labor...4 hours quoted + diagnosis lets say 5 or 6 hours total = either $85 or $71/hr.

Not clear if it was a total recap or just replacing "bad" caps.

OP did not mention the $100 purchase price in the initial post.

It would seem he is in the middle of nowhere, gear may be scarce, repair shops even scarcer.
But it does seem like a lot of money for what it is.

Places I've dealt with will put the diagnostic charge TOWARDS the total bill if choosing to have them do the work, otherwise they keep it as a diagnostic fee should you not have them do the work.
 
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Sorry that was a typo - evaluation was $99 Hourly rates vary a bit for various industries, but between $80 and $100 per hour is common. That means the bas%#ards pocketed the original $99. The price they now want means $100 for parts and about 3.5 hours of service time

You are right E-Man - the numbers do work here in OZ. However, it does not mean the charges are reasonable

I have had no previous experience of NAD but did check many reviews before buying. It is/was for my office, coupled with a Dual 505 turntable/Ortofon cartridge and 5E stylus, driving a pair of wonderful 1975 MIcro Acoustic speakers that I have had since new.

For interest, the "main" system in the house is a Thorens deck, Special Edition Marantz amp and a pair of Aaron speakers - superb sound for the classical. chamber and opera music I play
 
MarZutra said:
Hard to say if you're being taken. Perhaps you might ask around to see if there are any current or retired military technicians living fairly handy. Many like to take on side job fixing gear for some extra bob.
Given that there is currently one of your NAD amps on the Gumtree in Aussie for $150.00, I'd have to think twice...however if you've already sunken your money into this NAD, and it is in fully serviced/restored, condition you might as well bite the bullet.... Hard call...
Click to expand...

I would agree with the "bite the bullet", but he also said that he has no experience with NAD. To me, NAD has a unique sound that you either love or hate. If you love it, I think a restored piece for $425 is well worth it. Then again, he is out at least $200 either way. So yes, I would definitely spend the extra and get it done (provided it will be done right) thinking about things. ;) If all fails, I think it could well be sold, perhaps re-cooping much of the total cost considering it should be in now stellar condition.
 
Natasha - no, the $425 is in addition to the $100 original purchase price and the $99 evaluation charge - that is why it is now a $625 unit!
 
alanl said:
Natasha - no, the $425 is in addition to the $100 original purchase price and the $99 evaluation charge - that is why it is now a $625 unit!
Click to expand...
Ohhh, I misread what you said. Yes, I would be weary of that investment! Then again, if you love the way it sounds and plan to keep it for a long time, it may not be a bad deal. I have a Yamaha A-1020, that an acquaintance went through completely. I just had to buy the parts, and he basically did the rest. I know it took him probably 6-7 hours minimum. I wish you the very best of luck regardless of how you decide. :)
 
Reluctantly agree that I am now so far into this unit financially, I may as well go the extra distance since it will deliver "near new" performance, even if it is $625 all up. This is one (of the only) disadvantages of living in the remote bush - it is a 7+ hour round trip by car to Sydney and not much less to Canberra, with the latter to be avoided due to the danger of being poisoned by politicians

Re the previous Jenifer Aniston comment, the model in MarZutra' avatar would do nicely too
 
Specialists cost,
do you want to give it to a "handyman" , who might butcher it ?
I wouldn't !
If he's good, he'll give a 3/6 month warranty.
If it's back to spec, or improved, I would pay,
that's a good amp.
 
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alanl said:
I recently purchased an NAD 3140 amp that has some nasty noises associated with the selector switch. Sent it to a "specialist" service provider in Sydney who charged $900 just to evaluate it. Told me the power supply was "dangerous" and it needed new caps, fixing several dry solder joints and the usual cleanup of pots etc. Estimate was $100 in parts plus up to 4 hours labor to "bring it back to original spec".

It has now been "fixed" and they want $425 ON TOP OF THE $99 ALREADY PAID. That seems to be totally excessive

The dilemma is therefore to cop the service charge that effectively turns the NAD into a $600 amp OR write off the $200 already spent and try again. I can buy a different used "serviced" vintage amp for anything from $200 upwards here but I live in a remote location so can never hear the unit prior to purchase and run the risk of buying another problem.

Comments welcome
Click to expand...

JMO---they did you dirty on the bench fee.
I realize this was done long distance but did you ask them what their hourly fee was when they gave you the repair quote?
Once you said do it you were committed.
Now it's pay up or tell them to keep it.
Tough lesson and based on what you have said (who knows, maybe they found more problems once they got into the unit) I would not do business with them again.
 
timofred said:
Specialists cost,
do you want to give it to a "handyman" , who might butcher it ?
I wouldn't
Click to expand...

Isn't that the truth! ;) Unfortunately, there are only a very few that can actually do a good job fixing these classic components. I'm not sure how it is in Australia, but that is the way it is here at least. I so wish Alani good luck with the amp, and would be very interested how he likes it when he gets it back.
 
Unfortunately, if one can't do the work and/or doesn't have a buddy that works at reduced rate, repairs/reconditioning is expensive at retail.

The only real questionable thing that stands out to me is the point of the initial bench fee as has already been mentioned by someone.
 
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Take into consideration the exchange rate. Right now a US dollar is worth 1.27 AU. So there goes 25%
 
That's way too much. The worst part is that you know it'll probably work for a week and then blow up again.
 
Sounds like they may have gone at least a little deep on you by adding on the bench fee, but other than that, I'd say that's the chance one takes when buying vintage gear. Now, if he did a good job and everything works correctly, I'd also say you have a really good-sounding amp ready to go more years. That was my favorite NAD integrated in that series.
 
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