Think I'm being ripped off
- Thread starter alanl
- Start date
alanl
Active Member
I do agree with the most recent responses - I'll just have to pay the money. The Aussies who have responded are quite obviously used to the charges here - as stated before, $A100 an hour is pretty standard - more in the motor industry. Timofred is right - I shall certainly ask for some warranty.
I also agree that generally (but not always) you get what you pay for, hence going to a "specialist" rather than some backyard mechanic but believe me, this is the land of professional rip-off artists. I have learned that lesson before and not just with backyarders. The former workshop manager of one major company, now working from home, changed the caps in my excellent Lux amplifier and smoked it by using the wrong ones- the Marantz I now use was his replacement for the Lux,.but it is not in the same class
The next ripoff will be delivery - another $50 probably.
I also agree that generally (but not always) you get what you pay for, hence going to a "specialist" rather than some backyard mechanic but believe me, this is the land of professional rip-off artists. I have learned that lesson before and not just with backyarders. The former workshop manager of one major company, now working from home, changed the caps in my excellent Lux amplifier and smoked it by using the wrong ones- the Marantz I now use was his replacement for the Lux,.but it is not in the same class
The next ripoff will be delivery - another $50 probably.
Superampman
AK Member
So you have your previous examples. The result of not doing your homework. Before you pay this guy, you need to take him to task on his work and have him take the lid off and show you what he did, exactly. Pay close attention to his workmanship.
Sadly, that is the beast of buying vintage gear. You hope its reasonable fit - but the older it gets,
the more the likelihood its going to cost somewhat serious money to perform as it did new.
$625 sounds a bit much - but the only thing I question is, usually, the cost to do an estimate gets "absorbed"
if you chose to get the amp repaired. Its a kind of courtesy - doesn't sound like they granted you that courtesy.
So the shop could have charged you $425AUS - but charged you $525aus -
And frankly, your initial $100 purchase price is there no matter what ...
the more the likelihood its going to cost somewhat serious money to perform as it did new.
$625 sounds a bit much - but the only thing I question is, usually, the cost to do an estimate gets "absorbed"
if you chose to get the amp repaired. Its a kind of courtesy - doesn't sound like they granted you that courtesy.
So the shop could have charged you $425AUS - but charged you $525aus -
And frankly, your initial $100 purchase price is there no matter what ...
So you basically paid $411 usd for the service. If they just replaced a few caps in the power supply than yes that is high. That shouldn’t take 4 hours though. I guess it all depends on what they got done. $100 in parts seems like a full recap maybe?
Dan
Dan
savatage1973
Addicted Member
I agree with most here, that it is customary for the bench fee to be waived/discounted, or at least included in the final quote for the total repair bill. As for the actual repairs done--I'd want a detailed parts list as to what was replaced, and a little baggy of the old parts that were removed.
As for the actual rates--markets vary. As for the actual value of the amp repaired/restored--again, it varies by market. It is pretty much the OP's call as to whether to eat the purchase price and bench fee and move on, or bite the bullet and go all in.
As for the actual rates--markets vary. As for the actual value of the amp repaired/restored--again, it varies by market. It is pretty much the OP's call as to whether to eat the purchase price and bench fee and move on, or bite the bullet and go all in.
RobRoy
It's just stuff - but fun
Answer to question in title: Yes.
That is, unless an Australian dollar is worth 1/10 of an american dollar.
savatage1973
Addicted Member
$900 was a typo clarified earlier in the thread--bench fee was $99 AU, which is a little under $80 US
RobRoy
It's just stuff - but fun
ask for detailed work done, parts replaced, diagnosis (not the play CD, but
square wave response, etc). post here if you want input.
if you do ransom your unit, unbutton the bottom, take pictures of bottom of
boards, search for any soldering different from original (assuming previous
owner did not also have someone else going inside) or post pictures here
and we'll look at it.
You can always tell (conformal coating differences, left-over flux,
too much or too little or different amounts of solder and style, and
differences in the traces, etc)
caps, then resistors then components will be different when replaced.
square wave response, etc). post here if you want input.
if you do ransom your unit, unbutton the bottom, take pictures of bottom of
boards, search for any soldering different from original (assuming previous
owner did not also have someone else going inside) or post pictures here
and we'll look at it.
You can always tell (conformal coating differences, left-over flux,
too much or too little or different amounts of solder and style, and
differences in the traces, etc)
caps, then resistors then components will be different when replaced.
alanl
Active Member
Thanks again.
Re "not doing homework" I cannot agree. Remember I live in a remote area and therefore have to rely on Internet/forum referrals to evaluate potential suppliers. Unfortunately, these usually reflect personal experiences so on balance, you have to decide if the good outweighs the bad. In this case, the supplier got excellent reviews.and even the hourly rate is reasonably competitive for professional work.
I spoke today to the actual technician who satisfied me that the work had been done properly. It seems the unit had been very badly "serviced" before and extensive work was needed and yes, there is a 3 month warranty. I was also wrong in that the original $99 charge WAS applied to the workshop time. It was the overall time that really added up to serious money. They had to change all 30 caps, re-solder many dry joints on top of the usual "service" processes.
About the value, what you get today for $A 450 is generally junk and as for vintage gear, this is somewhat subjective because of all kinds of parameters. I had an interesting discussion recently with an architect friend who redesigned a house for an avid music lover with unlimited funds who paid tens of thousands just for the "music" room and the audio gear.
My own listening space in the main house has stone walls, a "cathedral" roof (see picture) and enough soft furnishings to dampen the reverberation and to my ears has excellent acoustics. I played some Bach organ music for my friend on my Thorens/Marantz/Micro Acoustics setup and I do not think he was flattering me by saying my sound was better than his client's setup
.
Re "not doing homework" I cannot agree. Remember I live in a remote area and therefore have to rely on Internet/forum referrals to evaluate potential suppliers. Unfortunately, these usually reflect personal experiences so on balance, you have to decide if the good outweighs the bad. In this case, the supplier got excellent reviews.and even the hourly rate is reasonably competitive for professional work.
I spoke today to the actual technician who satisfied me that the work had been done properly. It seems the unit had been very badly "serviced" before and extensive work was needed and yes, there is a 3 month warranty. I was also wrong in that the original $99 charge WAS applied to the workshop time. It was the overall time that really added up to serious money. They had to change all 30 caps, re-solder many dry joints on top of the usual "service" processes.
About the value, what you get today for $A 450 is generally junk and as for vintage gear, this is somewhat subjective because of all kinds of parameters. I had an interesting discussion recently with an architect friend who redesigned a house for an avid music lover with unlimited funds who paid tens of thousands just for the "music" room and the audio gear.
My own listening space in the main house has stone walls, a "cathedral" roof (see picture) and enough soft furnishings to dampen the reverberation and to my ears has excellent acoustics. I played some Bach organ music for my friend on my Thorens/Marantz/Micro Acoustics setup and I do not think he was flattering me by saying my sound was better than his client's setup
.
Attachments
I'm late to the party, but based on your last post - the price was not out of line. 30+ caps, diag and repair from previous hack job?
Warranty included... I think it's OK. Have fun with it, give it a good go, if you like it, then it's money well spent.
Warranty included... I think it's OK. Have fun with it, give it a good go, if you like it, then it's money well spent.
alanl
Active Member
Thanks - I have finally arrived at the same conclusion. Initially, the repair price seemed absurd, but now I know what work has been done, It feels more like the right solution. Set up with the Dual 505/Orofon 5E and the Micro Acoustic speakers it should be excellent. After all - it is only money and we all love our toys!!
OMGCat!
Super Member
I'd say for the work done you are in fair territory for the price.
It takes a long time to recap a unit and even longer to go over dry joints as if you do one or 10 you may as well do them all and there's a bunch of time spent. Add in repairing a previous hack job and there's your money.
At least you know you've got a top shape unit that will likely give you a good decade or two of use before needing any further repair.
It takes a long time to recap a unit and even longer to go over dry joints as if you do one or 10 you may as well do them all and there's a bunch of time spent. Add in repairing a previous hack job and there's your money.
At least you know you've got a top shape unit that will likely give you a good decade or two of use before needing any further repair.
bimasta
Addicted Member
A friend was the authorized service agent for NAD in Cape Town (also the distributor for SME). He repaired almost all the 'high-end' gear in Cape Town because he was the best. But NAD was the most lucrative because NAD always need repair. Despite the profits, he relinquished the contract. Said he hated working on NAD, it was made so badly it always made him angry.
He said NAD actually stood for "Nasty and Dangerous".
Note: this was in the late 1980s; NAD may have improved.
savatage1973
Addicted Member
I agree that with the amount of work done, the price was fair.
The bolded part is the most relevant. Techs hate repairing/restoring stuff that has been previously "hacked" It takes as long or longer to figure out the hack and repair it, than it does to do a repair/restoration on an "unmolested" unit.
alanl
Active Member
That is not encouraging! For laughs, I'm on my 7th and 8th Range Rovers. HSE stands for "horribly substandard engineering"