Word to the wise. Be careful who you buy from.

[Tithis]

Recently I was looking for a new k7000 chassis for my project since mine is kinda messed up at this point and I just wanted to get the project done soon. I first went to Buffet, but since he didnt have one I ended up going to ebay and buying a rebuilt one there. Big mistake.

Here is the transcript of my interactions with this guy so far.

I just received the k7000 chassis I ordered from you. I have it all hooked up and it has pretty noticeable jailbars on the left side of the screen and faintly even on the right side. I can provide photos if needed.

I know this issue is most often caused by c56 and c57 on these chassis and this one does look like it had been sitting around a bit. They may have also simply been bad from when they were installed as does happen from time to time. However I think either way we can agree something like this should have been noticed during the testing and burn in.

Now I'm not sure if you would just like the chassis returned or if you would be willing to do a partial refund for me to purchase a cap kit for the monitor. I'm open to either.

All units are burned in for eight hours prior to shipping and there were no defects in the picture. I use a pattern generator and a video source from a CGA board and both were perfect. You need to look at your video source. I have been repairing these boards for 20 + years and take extra care before shipping any product. Unit already had caps replaced. You can send some pictures if you like.

Well I took a few photos for you.

First two are from a double axle board, the third is from a neogeo running metal slug.

Besides the jail bars the picture is fine. The little pincushion/vertical linearity board makes a noticeable difference.

Really can't see anything from the pictures that you sent. I assume that what you are calling jail bars are faint white lines across the picture. When you move chassis boards from one tube to another or change the video source you will often see that the picture is too bright or not bright enough. On the flyback there are two adjustment knobs. The top one is for focus and the bottom one is for power. If you turn down the bottom button (counter clockwise) the white lines will disappear. From you pictures it looks like the focus also needs to be adjusted. When you turn down the power the focus will probably improve without any adjustment.

Alright I got another picture and let me just say what I did first. I put a blue test screen on, then turned the brightness/black level and contrast controls to their mid point. The pots of the neck board are completely untouched from how they arrived. I turned the screen adjustment down until the image was completely black and then slowly turned it up until a raster was just visible and took a picture.

I also grabbed a slice of one of the previous photos to show you the focus is pretty spot on.

If you'd like me to mess with the pots on the neck board or set the remote board pots to something different just let me know. You packed the chassis very well so I don't think anything happened during shipping like a solder joint going cold.

I can see from the blue screen that you have some vertical lines on the screen. That has nothing to do with the chassis and is from burn in on the screen of the tube. All of the pots on the remote board were set properly prior to shipment. The only thing you should have had to do was adjust the vertical size or position.  I still can't see what the problem is

All I'm asking is that you stand by the quality of your work. It's not really your business, but the tube was replaced already last year. Heck as you'll see in the attached picture I have a spare tube and yoke, ready and waiting to be swapped in if I need to. However, I think we can both agree going through to process of a tube and yoke swap over what is most likely a couple of faulty capacitors more than a little extreme.

Here is the blue picture in question and probably the one that shows the jailbars the most.


I'm pissed but almost eager to see what he says next. But yeah, be careful who you buy from.

[behrmr]

When buying from what ebay seller?  Just file a claim.

[pbj]

No seller name = didn't happen.

Those caps are 50 cents.  How much refund do you need?

[ark_ader]

Again we see some piss&moan from buying from eBay.   

Nothing to see here. Move on.

 

[Tithis]

So I'd make up an ebay story for what pbj... lulz? Anyways seller was jlwcrest5muj.

I was only asking for $10 for the price of a cap kit -shipping, less than what it will cost him for return shipping. I already ordered the cap kit as the chassis is otherwise in good condition and has a good picture.

Was still a little upset last night, not so much now. I'm chalking it up as a loss and learning experience. This is more just a warning for people to be patient and buy from known people within the community. Thats it

[mimic]

No seller name = didn't happen.

Those caps are 50 cents.  How much refund do you need?

What kind of argument is this? So what it's 50cents? Plus his time to get in a car and drive to a store, gas (or time spent in front of computer searching for the parts). Finding the part on the board, taking soldering iron taking it out, soldering back in... on and on. Lawyers charge what? $400/h? How is his time less valuable? My estimate he lost at least $500!!

[jennifer]

No seller name = didn't happen.

Those caps are 50 cents.  How much refund do you need?

What kind of argument is this? So what it's 50cents? Plus his time to get in a car and drive to a store, gas (or time spent in front of computer searching for the parts). Finding the part on the board, taking soldering iron taking it out, soldering back in... on and on. Lawyers charge what? $400/h? How is his time less valuable? My estimate he lost at least $500!!

You manage to turn a cap kit into a $500.00 project?... You may just saint's been here!

[Le Chuck]

Lawyers charge what? $400/h? How is his time less valuable? My estimate he lost at least $500!!

I forgot about all those arcade techs and tv shop repairmen earning $800,000/yr.  lulz

[Nephasth]

Turns out common sense ain't so common...

[mimic]

No seller name = didn't happen.

Those caps are 50 cents.  How much refund do you need?

What kind of argument is this? So what it's 50cents? Plus his time to get in a car and drive to a store, gas (or time spent in front of computer searching for the parts). Finding the part on the board, taking soldering iron taking it out, soldering back in... on and on. Lawyers charge what? $400/h? How is his time less valuable? My estimate he lost at least $500!!

You manage to turn a cap kit into a $500.00 project?... You may just be an idiot.

saint's edit - yeah, no, don't do that please. Jennifer was out of line, you proceeded to go to a whole different stadium. Rules of decorum please folks.

To the rest of you. Not one of you had anything of value to say, like "check this or that first" or see value in what the op is saying. At the very least you could say when I'm buying something like that off eBay perhaps I should make sure to ask the seller if this and that is has no issue.
I wonder how many of you happily part with your money when you purchase something at Walmart, local grocery store and when it's broken or expired simply says "it's not worth it to return"?
I thought this forum is about helping others, not sitting behind keyboard and "sniping" at people?

[BobA]

Talk about name calling.  Without provocation.  You sir are saint's been here!

[Generic Eric]

Lawyers charge what? $400/h? How is his time less valuable? My estimate he lost at least $500!!

I forgot about all those arcade techs and tv shop repairmen earning $800,000/yr.  lulz

Arcade Cabinet Builder to the Stars!

[pbj]

This thread got really weird quick.

 

[Nephasth]

Mimic, you didn't offer any help either. That makes you a hypocrite.... As well as one of those who drastically over values their own time...

[yotsuya]

This just reaffirms why I won't sell thirty year old arcade stuff on eBay and would rather do it in person. Not that I don't think the OP has an issue, but what might work perfectly fine in my home might not work as well in yours because of many factors.

[Malenko]

This just reaffirms why I post less and hate people.

[yotsuya]

This just reaffirms why I post less and hate people.

I still love you, bro.

[tomstewdevine]

[mimic]

Mimic, you didn't offer any help either. That makes you a hypocrite.... As well as one of those who drastically over values their own time...

I don't see myself as a hypocrite at all. Yes I didn't offer any help either but then again I had no intention of chiming in until pbj commented with 50cent solution. I commented on his useless comment (which makes my comment useless as well). Didn't call him a name though!

[saint]

Rules of decorum please folks - thanks!

[behrmr]

All of the above shenanigans aside ... I am still trying to understand why you wouldn't just file a claim with ebay or paypal.  If the product was sold as working and burned in and you received it and found that it was not working why didn't you file a claim and return it?   Or was it just one of those things where you decided to fix it yourself rather than deal with having to find another one?   My concern for you is that you are going to attempt to repair a "working" chassis.  If it still doesn't work you are stuck with it because the seller will know what you did and that will be his "evidence" against you if you decide to file a claim post-fix. 

[pbj]

Because he wants a refund and to keep the chassis.

[Tithis]

Because he wants a refund and to keep the chassis.

I clearly asked him in my very first message if he would just want me to ship it back to him for a refund. To quote the dude "c'mon, man, I'm not trying to scam anybody here."

All of the above shenanigans aside ... I am still trying to understand why you wouldn't just file a claim with ebay or paypal.  If the product was sold as working and burned in and you received it and found that it was not working why didn't you file a claim and return it?   Or was it just one of those things where you decided to fix it yourself rather than deal with having to find another one?   My concern for you is that you are going to attempt to repair a "working" chassis.  If it still doesn't work you are stuck with it because the seller will know what you did and that will be his "evidence" against you if you decide to file a claim post-fix.

I understand your concern, I'm just getting the point when I don't care. Besides this one issue the chassis is very clean, the caps and flyback are clearly new, it's a well documented issue and there is a surprising lack of WG 'factory mods' as they are so known for. Plus I am seriously impressed by the vertical linearity of this chassis, which was noticeably off on my old chassis.


If this thread is just going to be ugly like this I'd rather is just be removed. I never intended to stir up ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- like this.

[SavannahLion]

Not that it matters much for me but, documented where? I recall reading about it for the nutty Nintendo CRTs but not for the WGs.

I probably had the same bars but never got around to even thinking about it. I think I just assumed it was a bad connection somewhere in the harness I was using or something the "blue spider" was causing.

[Vigo]

To be fair, the seller has been doing a lot of work to try to help troubleshoot, figure out the issue, and use his expertise help you get your monitor working. All in good faith. That is far more than most any eBay sellers I have seen.

I also have to point out he probably isn't making even $10 profit on it. Why would he want to give you $10 hush money only to sell his chassis at a loss? I don't know if you sold on eBay before, but eBay takes a chunk of his money. Paypal takes another. Also, 90% of arcade electronics on ebay are listed as "Was working last time I checked but not tested, as-is, buy at your own risk". Not because sellers are selling faulty products, but that old of equipment can deteriorate simply by shipping it. Consider that he is probably telling the truth that he tested it and it was working fine when it left his hands.

[jennifer]

  OMG!!!...SHAME ON YOU GUYS!!! Since apparently my time is so valuable, you need to pay me for this post!!! All donations can be directed to either this site or the arcade art library....But anyway, back to this monitor, You say its "Very clean and lacks WG mods" Is it even a WG chassis, or a universal? And secondly those bars could be coming from the filters on the power supply, (only noticeable now that you put a new load on it.  IE: nothing wrong with the chassis or tube.

[SavannahLion]

  OMG!!!...SHAME ON YOU GUYS!!! Since apparently my time is so valuable, you need to pay me for this post!!! All donations can be directed to either this site or the arcade art library....But anyway, back to this monitor, You say its "Very clean and lacks WG mods" Is it even a WG chassis, or a universal? And secondly those bars could be coming from the filters on the power supply, (only noticeable now that you put a new load on it.  IE: nothing wrong with the chassis or tube.

Wow.... no illeism today?

[Tithis]

Yes it's a WG, I have a k7000 already so I know what they look like. Last chassis did not have that issue and this one is on the same power supply. I've already resolved the issue with the seller, so if you guys want to stay in here arguing over a strawman be my guest.

[pbj]

How was it resolved?

[Tithis]

Saying $10 wasnt worth arguing over and wishing him a happy easter. 

[pbj]

Good for you.