WB9DNB Beware
Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 1:11 pm
I placed a "want" for a B&K 747B tube tester on QTH.COM. WB9DNB,Larry Foster of Williams, Indiana responded. He stated he had a "real nice working unit" for sale. We agreed on a price of $225.00 dollars to include shipping and insurance. I sent a money order to Mr. Foster that day.
The tube tester arrived via UPS. The shipping container was in perfect condition, and the tester was well cushioned in wadded newspaper. Upon removal I opened the tube tester and thought the meter was installed upside down. Upon closer inspection I found it was the clear plastic meter face cover that was upside down. (make and model number on top of the meter face and inverted.) I then noticed the meter needle was bent like a pretzel and broken from the movement.
I immediately telephoned Mr. Foster and asked if he had inspected the interior of the tube tester prior to it's shipment. His response was "NO". I explained what I had found and he immediately changed his story. He claims he used the tester the day before he shipped it and it was in perfect condition. During our phone conversation Mr. Foster agreed to my returning the tester to him for a refund. A short while later I received an e-mail from him effectively calling me a liar. He stated that he had decided that I had tried to do something with the meter and broken it, and was now just trying to get my money back.
I called DOUTT ELECTRONICS who service and repair the B&K products. The price for a new meter is $155.00 dollars, and they have no used ones. I again called Mr. Foster and informed him of this. He stated he would only send me $50.00 dollars and I could find my own meter and repair the tester myself. (just what I needed, a tube tester in kit form). Mr. Foster did send me a personal check for $50.00 dollars. I am now only out $175.00 dollars for a worthless tube tester. This assumes the check is good.
I have tried to give Mr. Foster the benefit of the doubt and imagine what UPS could have done to cause this type of damage. The great condition of the shipping container and the cushioning indicate to me that it's very unlikely UPS is responsible. The fact that the plastic meter cover was inverted and securely attached indicates to me that Mr. Foster had an issue with it and saw an opportunity to unload it on a sucker. "ME". No mention was made of contacting UPS, so I doubt the unit was insured.
Mr. Foster must have an extremely pathetic life to sacrifice his reputation and pull this sort of scam for $225.00 dollars. Integrity, honesty, and being good for your word are apparently not in this mans vocabulary. I highly recommend you avoid doing business with this individual.
73 K7ZY/Dale
The tube tester arrived via UPS. The shipping container was in perfect condition, and the tester was well cushioned in wadded newspaper. Upon removal I opened the tube tester and thought the meter was installed upside down. Upon closer inspection I found it was the clear plastic meter face cover that was upside down. (make and model number on top of the meter face and inverted.) I then noticed the meter needle was bent like a pretzel and broken from the movement.
I immediately telephoned Mr. Foster and asked if he had inspected the interior of the tube tester prior to it's shipment. His response was "NO". I explained what I had found and he immediately changed his story. He claims he used the tester the day before he shipped it and it was in perfect condition. During our phone conversation Mr. Foster agreed to my returning the tester to him for a refund. A short while later I received an e-mail from him effectively calling me a liar. He stated that he had decided that I had tried to do something with the meter and broken it, and was now just trying to get my money back.
I called DOUTT ELECTRONICS who service and repair the B&K products. The price for a new meter is $155.00 dollars, and they have no used ones. I again called Mr. Foster and informed him of this. He stated he would only send me $50.00 dollars and I could find my own meter and repair the tester myself. (just what I needed, a tube tester in kit form). Mr. Foster did send me a personal check for $50.00 dollars. I am now only out $175.00 dollars for a worthless tube tester. This assumes the check is good.
I have tried to give Mr. Foster the benefit of the doubt and imagine what UPS could have done to cause this type of damage. The great condition of the shipping container and the cushioning indicate to me that it's very unlikely UPS is responsible. The fact that the plastic meter cover was inverted and securely attached indicates to me that Mr. Foster had an issue with it and saw an opportunity to unload it on a sucker. "ME". No mention was made of contacting UPS, so I doubt the unit was insured.
Mr. Foster must have an extremely pathetic life to sacrifice his reputation and pull this sort of scam for $225.00 dollars. Integrity, honesty, and being good for your word are apparently not in this mans vocabulary. I highly recommend you avoid doing business with this individual.
73 K7ZY/Dale