[Elecraft] Parts swappers -- is this a real "thing"

[Dave]

Some rigs are sold as "Tech Special".  The ad indicates there is a 
problem with the rig, but is not specific about that problem, and states 
you will have to fix it.  Now you can't return if it does not work, you 
knew you were buying a dead rig...

What the ad does not say, is the magnitude of the problem...

Some folks will take several, (lets say, 706 MK2 Gs), that all have 
major but different problems, and build one working "Frankenradio" out 
of them, swapping every broken board into one of the dead 706's, that 
706 then gets sold as a "Tech Special".  This gets the Frankenradio 
working, and the "repair man", saves a few bucks by selling off the 
broken items.

The unsuspecting ham that thinks he may get a rig for 20% of new, and be 
able to repair it, finds a radio that has most of the boards dead, and 
the cost of repair is far more than the rig is worth.  Worse yet, the 
radio can't even be used as board replacements for a rig of the same 
ilk, as every board will need to be tested, and most will be bad...

The poor ham that buys the Frankenradio has no idea his radio has been 
pieced together with no regards to board mods, etc., from any number of 
dead rigs of the same ilk...

I am always very careful of buying used rigs...  I don't purchase full 
rigs often, and when I do I assume it will be broken, no matter what 
someone says, so the price had better reflect that...

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 10/29/21 4:42 PM, Julia Tuttle wrote:
> It's someone who buys a fancy piece of equipment (like a radio or a power
> supply), opens it, removes some valuable parts, maybe replaces them with
> inferior substitutes, and returns their purchase.
> 
> On Fri, Oct 29, 2021 at 7:34 PM Bob Liesen <wb0poq at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi,
>>    Sorry to be ignorant, but what exactly is a "parts swapper"?
>>
>> Tnx
>> Bob  WB0POQ
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 29, 2021 at 5:31 PM Michael Gillen via Elecraft <
>> elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I always get a phone number and talk to the person directly. If they
>> won’t
>>> supply a phone number I pass.
>>> If you use PayPal DON’T use “Friends and Family” you will have no
>>> protection. If you need to add 3% to cover the fees no big deal.
>>> I always insist on the ability to return the item.
>>> Just be cautious.
>>>
>>> KK6RWK
>>> Michael
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