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What to do about tech rip off?

R

retroJ

Member
Hi all,
Recently, I got a Marantz receiver from ebay. I realized that it would probably have issues, but the price was fair.
It had static and channel issues, so I took it to a tech in my area. He had it for only a couple of days. He finally said that it was a multifunction switch problem, and he would do a "by-pass" since nether of us could find a switch after a search online. Well, I picked it up this past Thursday. (The receiver had some messy, dusty stuff on top, but I could wipe that off)
I immediately found out it had problems but was unable to call Friday because I was out of the area that afternoon.
I call 2 times, but my calls over the weekend were not returned on Monday.
I called today, and his partner said that he was sick and to call back "next week". Sounds like a bunch of BS, since he didnt fix it and I cannot use the head phone jack anymore! It is jammed...
The receiver sounds really bad. Should I just go ahead and reverse the charges on my credit card? Any thoughts? Thanks ahead of time..
 
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I would give the tech a little more time to either fix it properly or refund your money before reversing the charges.

AFAIK another week won't matter to the CC company. By then you should know if it is just bad customer service or a rip off.
 
Umm...I dont want this tech anywhere near this receiver ever again.
So I should just call him and ask for the money back? I very much doubt that he is going to do that.
Anyone else have a similar experience?
Both of those guys were very rude to deal with, at least to start with.
But the stero is behaving much like it did, with a damaged headphone jack, and the tape 1 and 2 dont work for CD playing . He claimed he re-routed it for this!
This is too much!:thumbsdn:
 
I'm old and therefore I've been ripped off many times. Sometimes it's better to just live and learn. Trying to collect from a loser is more frustration than its worth.
 
I would have gathered the unit and left at the first hint of rudeness. They aren't doing you a favor, they are charging you to fix it and part of having a business is customer service. Didn't you test it at the shop before paying?...another no-no.

Don't waste anoher minute wih the goofs. Get the charge back and move on to another tech. You can only be taken advantage of if you let someone do it.

Good luck with fixing it..:)
 
hate to say it, but imo..


it sounds like the kid doesnt know about deoxit and instead chose to "**** up" the receiver for you by "bypassing" switches.


you probably have something that is going to cost even more now to actually fix, depending on just what he means by bypass... (and, that by the sound of it, didnt have a real problem to start with, just needed maintenance)

Hopefully he didnt do anything that cant be reversed

edit: did i say kid? im sorry I meant to say "tech"
 
centsless said:
I would have gathered the unit and left at the first hint of rudeness. They aren't doing you a favor, they are charging you to fix it and part of having a business is customer service. Didn't you test it at the shop before paying?...another no-no.

Don't waste anoher minute wih the goofs. Get the charge back and move on to another tech. You can only be taken advantage of if you let someone do it.

Good luck with fixing it..:)
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++ what he said. Then tell the Better Business bureau. This is more due to the rudeness than anything else. I'd let them try again if they weren't rude. If you want to rub it in once the real problem is fixed send them an FYI with the real reason for the failure. Pretend to be nice. Use email or mail. You will poss them off plenty.:D Don't go back.
 
A dissenting opinion if I may - everyone makes mistakes. A business is entitled an opportunity to make it right. Likewise in my state pretty much any repair is required to be warranted for 30 days. You cancel payment and you are in the wrong. You or someone else touches it and you have no case and have relieved the tech of all liability. He takes you to small claims and you're the one standing in front of Judge Judy with your pud in your hand.
 
elcoholic said:
A dissenting opinion if I may - everyone makes mistakes. A business is entitled an opportunity to make it right. Likewise in my state pretty much any repair is required to be warranted for 30 days. You cancel payment and you are in the wrong. You or someone else touches it and you have no case and have relieved the tech of all liability. He takes you to small claims and you're the one standing in front of Judge Judy with your pud in your hand.
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Maybe. A tech is either knows what he is doing or he does not. A second shot at fixing a problem he could not fix the first time is asking for it. Once fooled is on him, twice fooled is on you.

Reverse the charge and find someone else.
 
Before making a modification that drastic, I ALWAYS contacted the customer and made sure he understood what was being done, why it had to be done, and what he could and could not do after it was done. Without complete understanding, he would be out only the diagnostic fee. With it, work would proceed.

Only one customer ever turned down the modification. He was back two months later because nobody else could fix it. But another diagnostic fee HAD to be charged because the other tech had taken it apart and not put it back together.
 
Sounds like you played by the rules. Customers should also play by the rules. Rules good. Chaos bad.
 
Retroj, where are you from? In the rare rare chance you're anywhere near me, I know a guy if this all doesn't work out.
 
I would give him the chance to make it right. Document all the calls you make, the date and time you take it in and the problems it had/has when you took it in. I might also take a few pics of the outside and inside. If he doesn't fix the problems that you originally paid him for I would then cancel the credit card payment and post here on AK the name of the shop and the name of the tech. That way no others here will suffer the same fate. If he takes you to small claims court then you will have some documentation to help your case.
When I take stuff in I get a paper copy of the work to be done. When I pick it up I get a paper copy of the work that's been preformed and the charges. These should help you also if the courts/credit card company become involved. Cover your butt.
I know you don't want to take it back to him but if it's a reputable business they SHOULD try to make it right. If it's not then the BBB should be notified as well
Just my 2 cents and please keep us updated.
 
bearing in mind i haven't heard the complete story .. being as it isn't fixed you could ask the tech to put it back the way it was and refund you some money . if you knew the risks involved then no chance of that .
sorry only you and the tech know the conversation you had .
 
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