The risk you run with older radios

[Preacherman]

Well, my first ebay disappointment came today. I thought I was buying an Excaliber SSB that only needed a S-meter to be in perfect operating condition. What I got was a very nice looking radio that all of the frequencies messed up. I think it is/was the two adder chips that are used in conjunction with the pll to give the frequencies.

The good news is that the seller has agreed to refund my money minus shipping. The bad news is that by the time it all settles (if indeed I actually get my money) I will be out about $50 shipping and handling. At least the guy has almost 300 positive ratings and no negatives, so I feel that improves my chances somewhat.

Suddenly, some of these old tube radios don't look so bad compared to the "sophisticate, mulit-band/function" solid state stuff.

Preacherman

[quarrles]

I just bought a DAK IX from ebay, and fortunately got lucky. Wife and I went to the sellers place of business to pick it up and saw it work. Unfortunately we can't always do that of course. You were lucky to have found an honest seller, still out shipping though. I have had that happen on ebay before especially with electronics. It's always a gamble, but hope springs eternal and I just keep going back. Sorry for your shipping loss, it could have been worse though....Best....Quarrles

[**GRUMPY**]

I only had one problem with a radio I bought off of ebay, it was a Navaho TRC-57. It was supposed to be in very good shape. Well the radio did look very good for its age, but it had some issues when it came to working correctly. I contacted the seller and he was really nice about it. He not only gave me all the money back (including shipping) but he also told me just to keep the radio and told me he was very sorry!

You don't find many like that guy, I was lucky. I don't buy much used stuff from ebay, always afraid I will get burnt. I try and buy or trade local from guys around here in my area or from people who know of someone they trust!

I just picked up last week a Cobra 2000 with matching speaker and D104 from a guy Airplane (a forum member here) knows. Radio looks very good and works good also. The radio does need a alignment , but he did tell me that before we made a trade!

[missourimustang]

That has happened to me a few times.I won a Cobra Cam 88 , it came complete with some dead channels.A pair of Robyn SS-747s, dead channels on one , low recieve on the other.I think I bought the owners manual and got the radio free,lol.It is definately "Buyer Beware" on Ebay...

[zman]

I just today got a Realistic TRC 458 and it works GREAT! As im typing, i have it on 38 LSB and the receiver is as clean and clear as a new radio. Last week, i bought an old Lafayette Comstat 23 and i was able to pick it up locally. The gentleman was very nice. However, the other night i had it hooked up and it blew a cap. It was not a big deal since it was a cap i had laying around but considering the rig was 40 years old it was expected. I have gotten a lot of old radios from Ebay and so far ive had very good luck.

[thejerk]

I bought a Uniden Grant on eBay a few years back...paid close to market value for it, and it arrived DOA. Seller was not as forgiving, and I got stuck with a radio that is still dead to this day. I never got any reimbursement or help from eBay either.

From that point on, I decided never to buy anything from eBay that could be "non-working", no matter the claims made by the seller. Private party's with any feedback, are a little safer. I have since left eBay as both a buyer and seller...been over 3 years now.

[cbrown]

Completely dead Grant? Did you check the protection diode?

[thejerk]

It needed more $$ than it cost to repair...it was not the protection diode.

[cbrown]

Sell it for parts, people are always looking for Grant parts.