[ARC5] Ebay Transactions - moderately long story

[Bill Cromwell]

On 11/22/2013 09:40 AM, D C _Mac_ Macdonald wrote:
> You can get stung on face-to-face dealings at hamfests, too!  Earlier this month, I bought a 2m rig that was claimed to have an intermittent power on switch.  I figured, what the heck, and handed over the money.  When I got home and checked things out, it became obvious that unfused, reverse polarity voltage had been applied and much of the "Magic Smoke" had escaped!
>   
> * * * * * * * * * * *
> * 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 *
> * (Since 30 Nov 53) *
> * Oklahoma City, OK *
> * USAF, Ret (61-81) *
> * * * * * * * * * * *
>

Hi,

Once upon a time I took a ham friend/co-worker to a hamfest. All the way 
there he carried on about "twins". Collins twins. Heathkit twins. Etc. 
He wanted a set of Twins. About a half hour into the fest I found a set 
of Kenwood Twins with the matching speaker for $250 and of course the 
seller asserted it "works fine business". I called my friend over and he 
bought the set. The next day at work I asked him how his new radio is 
working. Sad news - the receiver seemed to be okay but the T-599 was 
dead on arrival. Moreover, he had told some club members about it and 
one of them offered him a 599D model set with brand new finals for - 
$200! He bought that set. I went to his house and looked at the T-599 - 
with missing parts. "Works FB" indeed. I offered him his $200 back and 
bought the broken set. I insisted on getting the matching speaker, too, 
and he agreed. I had the set the working next day and I still use it as 
my daily driver more than twenty five years later! At the time I 
considered $200 for an easily repairable, hybrid set to be a reasonable 
price.

YMMV.

73,

Bill  KU8H