[Elecraft] OT: MFJ Quality Issues

[Gary D Krause]

I've had issues lately with MFJ as well.  Last year I ordered a Vectronics 
keyer kit.  It works fine but, the cabinet was punched wrong.  The holes 
didn't even match the kit.  I called and was told they would send one.  I 
waited two or three months and called again.  This time I was told that they 
are waiting on aluminum.  It's been almost a year now and I haven't received 
it.  I also bought an antenna analyser a couple of years ago.  It quit working 
after a month and I had to send it back for repair.  It took about three 
months before I got it back and it wasn't even the one that I had sent them. 
 Apparently I must have gotten someone else's.  Over the last 25 years, I have 
had to send at least 90% of there stuff back for repair or repair it myself 
and I have bought quite a bit of equipment from them.  I'm thinking how many 
times do I have to hit my head against the wall before I decide it hurts?  I 
think I have decided now.  It's too bad for them since we are in a depression 
and I don't see how they can really afford this kind of quality at this point.


On Fri, 3 Apr 2009 12:33:44 -0500
  "Rick Shindley" <ricks at izoom.net> wrote:
> I have purchased a couple of new MFJ tuners over the years and I found both
> of them to be of inferior construction.  The last one was a more expensive
> model and it arrived with solder balls rolling around inside its case, a
> cold solder joint and the air variable cap rotor would come in contact with
> its stator plates because the rotor was affixed to its all-to pliable front
> panel and the stator was affixed to the bottom of the case.  A guy could fix
> these issues himself by modifying the case and repairing the connections,
> but it's wrong to sell things like that and expect glowing reports from
> customers.
> 
> The designs MFJ uses are electrically fine, it's just their materials and
> construction practices need improvement.  It's my understanding that some of
> MFJ's products are assembled by prison inmates, God bless 'em.  MFJ's
> manufacturing business plan must look good on paper but quality control is a
> real problem for the company, in my opinion.  
> 
> I am all for helping the down-trodden embark on new careers, and maybe
> buying MFJ stuff is a clear way to help those people, but from my experience
> you have to be prepared to continue to do without once you receive your
> order!  I really wish they could find a way to improve their quality.  
> 
> Rick
> KC0OV
> 
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