the curse of my $15 Pioneer amp

[danger boy]

Last summer I bought an amp at a yard sale for $15. I guess you get what you pay for, right? Hooked it up to my SDA 2B's and it killed the amp. (I know you can't use dual mono block amp's on SDA's) :o

I take it to two decent repair shops here where I live. One fixes it for all of a week before it dies again. It's leaking from one of the large caps. I take it to another place.. and they lied and said it was working fine. :confused:

Three weeks ago I drive across state and dropped it off at Precision Audio and Video in Seattle. 4.5 hours each way. :eek: I do my research.. and talk to the guy, he lives to repair older stereo gear. The tech who was working on it called me two days later & confirmed it needs new caps.. one is leaking.

Three weeks go by.. I hear nothing. Ok, I need to call them and find out how repairs are going. Ring them up.. and this is what I hear on the recording.
"At this time our store is closed for good, we are not accepting any more electronics for repairs and you can all suck it!" (the suck it part I added for effect) ;)

They have closed their store and anyone who has items there for repair will have to wait till they transfer the items to a 3rd party store.. not their's, someone else bought their remaining inventory apparently.

So now I need to make another trip across state to pick it up. The good news is.. it should be fixed now. I don't know how much the bill will be.. but they quoted me a price of $200+

This dang Pioneer has been nothing but a curse on my good fortune. It's a lovely sounding amp when it works.. but now I'm starting to wonder what else could go wrong as long as I own this particular amp. :eek: :confused:

I swear this amp has brought nothing but bad luck to me. If you run across a Pioneer A-88X, run for your life. :p

[mhardy6647]

So... which Pioneer amp is it?

[Keiko]

When you do get it back...Cover it with chicken bones, hook both thumbs under each arm pit, flap your elbows and cluck while listening to loud reggae music. Works every time for removing curses. :p

[madmax]

If you can't do it yourself forget anyone else being able to deal with it. The overall "knowlege factor" out there is almost zero. There just isn't much option other than throwing stuff away unless you can do the required repairs yourself, no matter how simple.
madmax

[danger boy]

So... which Pioneer amp is it?

here is the cursed beast.. don't look at it's eyes for to long.. :p

Pioneer A-88X integrated.. pre Elite line of amps.

[danger boy]

When you do get it back...Cover it with chicken bones, hook both thumbs under each arm pit, flap your elbows and cluck while listening to loud reggae music. Works every time for removing curses. :p

that was the first thing I tried... no luck yet. ;)

[billbillw]

Do you have any way of contacting the store owners other than the main line? Can you leave a message? You should not have to deal with a 3rd party company or wait for a transfer. I don't see how a 3rd party could "buy out remaining inventory" on items that are in for repair unless they went unclaimed.

Seems like there should be laws against things like that. I'd call your State's office of consumer affairs and see what they have to say. If the repair shop went under, there is also chance that your amp was never repaired. If so, you shouldn't have to pay anything to get it back.

[danger boy]

billbillw,

all good points. I talked to the owner again today... and i was willing to drive 4.5 hours to pick up the amp this weekend. He said that's not possible, as no one will be in the store this weekend.

He also said as you mentioned.. the amp has not be repaired... so it'll only run me the original $65 that I paid up front to look at it and diagnoise the problem. So if I ever see the amp again.. which is doubtful at this point.. there should not be any extra charges on it.

Just thinking out loud.. if I just dropped it off 3 weeks ago.. and the store knew it was going under.. don't you think they would have said to me.. we're not accepting anymore items for repairs? most business don't go from doing ok to going under in three weeks, right?

I am ticked off... because at some point they will no longer be answering their phones or emails.. and I have at this point no idea where they amp is. A 3rd party is suppose to contact me once they have the amp in their posession. The owner of Precision A&V said that could be a couple weeks or a couple months. WTF?

I'm just glad it wasn't something more valuable to me like my Outlaw pre amp or a decent amp. If I never see it again.... I'm only out the original price of $15 + $65 = $80.

I mean I didn't see this as ever happening, ever. Maybe next time I take something in for repairs I should clearly ask, "Hey any chance you'll be going under before you fix my item?" :mad: :mad:

[Face]

Let them keep it, save yourself the gas $. How did you pay for the diagnosis charge? If you charged it, I would put a dispute in with your CC company.

[cfrizz]

Al, if it had been your Outlaw, you would have had it BACK by now all fixed! That's the problem when you decide to dive into stuff that is very old. You should have dumped when it crapped out & gotten something new that would actually work.

Just because it is vintage, doesn't mean that is HAS to be saved. Especially since you can't return it to the manufactorer for repairs.

As much as I love my speakers, they are 18yrs old. Hopefully they will survive when I move. If they don't they go straight to the trash & I get a new pair of speakers. They don't owe me anything since they have been well used for 18yrs.

I'm just glad it wasn't something more valuable to me like my Outlaw pre amp or a decent amp.

[billbillw]

Al, if it had been your Outlaw, you would have had it BACK by now all fixed! That's the problem when you decide to dive into stuff that is very old. You should have dumped when it crapped out & gotten something new that would actually work.

Just because it is vintage, doesn't mean that is HAS to be saved. Especially since you can't return it to the manufactorer for repairs.

As much as I love my speakers, they are 18yrs old. Hopefully they will survive when I move. If they don't they go straight to the trash & I get a new pair of speakers. They don't owe me anything since they have been well used for 18yrs.


I disagree. That Pioneer was/is something special and it deserves to be fixed. If you had asked for advice early on, I would have suggested that you go to the Audiokarma forum and get in touch with one of the guys over there who have the reputation of being excellent vintage restorers. You could have shipped it to them and you would have gotten an honestly priced repair/restore.

The situation your in now is unfortunate and I think you may be screwed. I wouldn't be surprised if that 3rd party company takes everything, fixes it and sells it on Ebay.

BTW, that amp, in good shape, in good working order is worth at least $400 on Ebay.

[tcrossma]

Just because a business goes under does not mean they have the right to steal a product from their customers. If you do not get your amp back, talk to the attorney general.

[WilliamM2]

I agree with Face, if you charged the diagnostic fee, file a dispute.

Cathy, would you really throw away perfectly good speakers if a driver or two were damaged in a move? Easy fix.

[sucks2beme]

The problem is, creditors grab everything. Then you have to prove it's yours.
This stuff happens all the time. I've heard a hundred variatons of this
problem, and it's always ugly. You might have to cut your losses.
A couple trips accress the state in gas, and you're in the hole with no way out.
Local is one thing. Long distance makes this almost impossible.
Get the $65 charge back and move on. This will not end well if you
keep going with it.

[madmax]

Just because it is vintage, doesn't mean that is HAS to be saved.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[danger boy]

Al, if it had been your Outlaw, you would have had it BACK by now all fixed! That's the problem when you decide to dive into stuff that is very old. You should have dumped when it crapped out & gotten something new that would actually work.

Just because it is vintage, doesn't mean that is HAS to be saved. Especially since you can't return it to the manufactorer for repairs.

As much as I love my speakers, they are 18yrs old. Hopefully they will survive when I move. If they don't they go straight to the trash & I get a new pair of speakers. They don't owe me anything since they have been well used for 18yrs.

but, but, but..... ;)

I hear ya.. the thing is.. i have plenty of amps.. I am just a sucker for those sad puppy dog eyes staring back at me when I see one. :p

[danger boy]

I disagree. That Pioneer was/is something special and it deserves to be fixed. If you had asked for advice early on, I would have suggested that you go to the Audiokarma forum and get in touch with one of the guys over there who have the reputation of being excellent vintage restorers. You could have shipped it to them and you would have gotten an honestly priced repair/restore.

The situation your in now is unfortunate and I think you may be screwed. I wouldn't be surprised if that 3rd party company takes everything, fixes it and sells it on Ebay.

BTW, that amp, in good shape, in good working order is worth at least $400 on Ebay.

Damn it!

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I did post something similar on Audiokarma.. and the people over there mentioned a few of their members who repair the older stereo gear.. and this is a thread started.. if you search A-88X it will come up.

You are right though.. I should have shipped it to one of them and I may have it back by now.. REPAIRED. instead of setting in someone's shop gasping for air.

I thought of that too.. i'm going to see my amp show up on EPay hear in a couple months... and there is nothing I can do. It's used.. and I don't have any kind of Identification on it that it even belongs to me. I know, i know.. :(

But yeah.. if anyone sees one on Ebay.. let me know. it'll be missing the side rose wood panels.. I still got those. :rolleyes:

[sucks2beme]

You might be able to sell those wood panels for what you got into that thing!

[amulford]

There's a thought...

[George Grand]

You drove 4.5 hours each way for that freakin' thing? What is the MATTER with you?

[danger boy]

George Grand you can just look the other way. ;)

I call again.. and they have stopped taking calls all together.. you can't even leave a voice mail with Precision A&V. they're dead to me.

But they did give me a cell phone number of one of those I sold it on Ebay places.. and I left a voice mail there. So we'll see. I have my doubts I'll ever have it in my possesion again.

I feel like punching someone.. and i'm not a violent person. But you mess with my stereo equipment.. even if it's a POS, and you better run the other way. :D

[dorokusai]

Cut your losses.

[BaggedLancer]

Just because it is vintage, doesn't mean that is HAS to be saved.

The folks over on audiokarma would do much harm to you for saying that. :p

[ben62670]

I lost two nice pieces of gear years ago when a business went under. I never paid anything for the service(warranty), but I lost over $1100 in gear.
Ben

[danger boy]

I lost two nice pieces of gear years ago when a business went under. I never paid anything for the service(warranty), but I lost over $1100 in gear.
Ben

that bites... sorry.... but mine is just a yard sale find.. but I still like the amp.. and I'm pissing nails that some business owners can't make good and let people have their stuff back before they go under. :mad:

[ben62670]

That was back in 89. It was a $1000 VCR, and a tuner. I am not defending any business with those kinda morels, but when someone is losing their business I think many of these guys just really don't care. This world of use it, and throw it away has killed many repair shops. It just sucks.
Ben

[hockeyboy]

It went the other way for me once. I saw a cool Crate Amp and electric guitar in the window of a small shop. The pair were I think $550 at the time (1985). The guy said if I can put down 1/3 cash I can take it home today and make a payment each month for two months. All he did is write down my name and number. I went back a month later and the place was boarded up so got 2/3 free.

[danger boy]

people have suggested I file a police report and also get the attorney general's office involved. It's unfair business practices for Precision audio and video to not contact people before they closed their store.

[cfrizz]

Yes William I will. I don't have the know how or inclination to start taking speakers apart to fix 18 yr old components.

I'll tell you what though. If they ever do conk out, I will tell everyone here about it. Any Polkie that wants to go to the trouble of repairing them can come & get them FREE!

Then I get to go speaker shopping!:D

I agree with Face, if you charged the diagnostic fee, file a dispute.

Cathy, would you really throw away perfectly good speakers if a driver or two were damaged in a move? Easy fix.

[danger boy]

Ok this time I have some good news.. and I hope things pan out this time.

I located my amp. It's in Tukwila, WA (outside Seattle) sitting in a business there.

After leaving urgent voice mails since last Thursday.. this morning I thought i'd call one more time. This time their voice mail box was full! :eek: That's irked me. I thought crap, maybe they went out of business too. :confused:

Then last last night I decided to send an email. Problem is they have three offices near Seattle, and I didn't know which one had my amp. SO I emailed all three.

Well today around noon I got a call saying they have my amp.. and I can come pick it up any time during regular business hours. :D I was nice and courteous but the person on the other end was less then kind.

Anyhoo, with any luck I'll be driving to Seattle next week to pick it up... despite some people telling me to just forget it, and move on. :confused:
I have a brother and some friends who are willing to pick it up for me.. but they will only release it to me.. so off for 4.5 hour drive across the state.. and then guess where it's going? To another audio store for repairs. (a more reputable one). I have heard NOTHING but good things about Northwest Audio repair near Seattle. :D

I was about ready to take more action actually.. if I didn't hear anything from them. I was prepared to file a police report, file a report with the attorney general's off, and if need be.. contact one of the TV stations' consumer reporters to help me out. ;)

So we'll see how things pan out next Monday when I trek across the Cascade mountains to pick up MY damn amp. :p

[sucks2beme]

Let's see if they really give you the thing after you drive all the way over there.

[danger boy]

Let's see if they really give you the thing after you drive all the way over there.

do you talk to your mom with that potty mouth? :p ;)

of course they will... my charms and good looks will wow them.. and they will give me anything I want. for free! :rolleyes: :p

[amulford]

It's just a matter of pride now, isn't it?:D

[sucks2beme]

And then you'll give the amp to another shop, and the saga continues another couple of months. Cheap entertainment at it's best!

[danger boy]

And then you'll give the amp to another shop, and the saga continues another couple of months. Cheap entertainment at it's best!

cheap entertainment for you... not for me though ;)

and yeah Anthony, it is a matter of pride now.. I got nothing else going on. :p

[Marty913]

cheap entertainment for you... not for me though ;)

and yeah Anthony, it is a matter of pride now.. I got nothing else going on. :p

So let's recap:

560 mile drive at 23mpg = 25 gallons at $4 = $100 plus your time (?) plus $65 = $165 + time. Amp cost = $15. Recaptured pride = Priceless. Correct?

You realize this means PICTURES must be taken and posted.

[Face]

So let's recap:

560 mile drive at 23mpg = 25 gallons at $4 = $100 plus your time (?) plus $65 = $165 + time. Amp cost = $15. Recaptured pride = Priceless. Correct?

You realize this means PICTURES must be taken and posted.

Plus he still has to get it fixed.

[cfrizz]

So let's recap:

Watching the lengths men will go to to preserve their egos & pride = cheap entertainment. Sad but cheap!:eek::confused::p;):D


So let's recap:

560 mile drive at 23mpg = 25 gallons at $4 = $100 plus your time (?) plus $65 = $165 + time. Amp cost = $15. Recaptured pride = Priceless. Correct?

You realize this means PICTURES must be taken and posted.

[billbillw]

Also, I was reading through your thread at AK and it seems that you are forgetting about the repairs you did to this amp back in December (?), $100+ IIRC.

[Face]

Also, I was reading through your thread at AK and it seems that you are forgetting about the repairs you did to this amp back in December (?), $100+ IIRC.
How convenient.

[danger boy]

oh this is getting fun isn't it? ;)

costs of non repairs have been kept to a minimum I think.

Onecall.com actually were pleasant and returned my $ back in Dec. since they could not fix it. :)

Yeah it's a $15 jobber amp.

gas so far and the trip next week will be $$$ :(

I'm glad someone is keeping track of these expenses.. because I've forgotten it all.

and to do you think I can flip it on Ebay and get my money back? or make a profit? :confused: :p

you guys and girls just like flipping me shite don't you? :p

it's been an adventure owning this amp no dobut about that.. but wouldn't you all do something similar if it were a pair of SDA 2.3TL's or your favorite beloved item? :)

No regrets so far. the only regret I'll have is if the amp can't be fixed.. which I don't think is the case.. but you never know with a 20+ yr old amp. ;)

Stay tuned, there is more to add to this wild ass amp adventure.

[sucks2beme]

Will we some day see him homeless and pennyless,wandering around
Spokane with this amp in a shopping cart, looking for a reputable
repair shop?:D

But seriously, good luck with you amp. I've had a couple of projects
get the better of me. I like to think I wouldn't do it again...........I hope.

[danger boy]

Will we some day see him broke and pennyless,wandering around
Spokane with this amp in a shopping cart, looking for a reputable
repair shop?:D

Which could be any day if I keep this up :eek: :p

[cfrizz]

:eek: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!:D:D:D:D

Will we some day see him homeless and pennyless,wandering around
Spokane with this amp in a shopping cart, looking for a reputable
repair shop?

[danger boy]

well I tracked down the amp and picked it up today... then quickly dropped it off at Northwest Audio Service ;) I have my fingers crossed that John can fix it up. :D

I know you're probably all tired of hearing about the AMP, but I just wanted to update you all. ;)