QTH.COM Swap Chat

In May I purchased a used Yaesu FT-950 from W5TWT, Rolando Rodriquez. Upon receipt of the radio I hooked it up in my shack in place of my Yaesu FT-990.
On the VERY FIRST try to key this FT-950 I experienced terrible RFI in my shack, so bad it completely blanked out my computer monitors. In addition the radio
was only putting out 50 watts. I checked all the appropriate menu settings affecting power output, and double checked my antenna connections. I have never
had RFI problems in my shack using my FT-990 and my two antennas. I tried again to key the radio and experienced the same terrible RFI in my shack and only
50 watts output. I contacted W5TWT to report the problem. After several discussions I indicated I wanted to return the radio and receive a refund of the purchase price. He insisted
that the radio was working properly when he shipped it to me. He also inferred that I was possibly trying to scam him by wanting to return a different radio to him or
that I had modified or replaced defective parts in the radio. After going round and round with him he agreed to send me $100 so I could send the radio off for repair.I contacted Yaesu and got the name of a repair facility near me in Tampa, FL. The technician working on the radio found the following: 1. One driver transistor and one final transistor in the PA stage of the radio were bad. 2. Several diodes had to be replaced. 3. After repair of the PA stage he still encountered problems which were traced to the main board, where some number of IC's were damaged. He indicated the main board could not be repaired but would have to be replaced. The cost of the board is $368 plus a lead time of 4-6 weeks since the board is not kept in stock. Total repair cost of the radio at this point is $565 plus shipping back to me. I have tried to further contact W5TWT with no results, he has not responded in any manner. I gave him several options to resolve the
this bad situation but he is evidently ignoring me.
In conclusion, I never modified the radio, never opened the case on the radio, my antennas are resonant and I have been using them for several years with NO RFI in my shack. W5TWT is not responding to subsequent tries to resolve this. I have
never implied he knowingly sold me a bad radio, but he has inferred that I was trying to scam him in some way. BUYER BEWARE when dealing with W5TWT on any purchase from him.

Mr. Gary Young,
I am very sorry things turned out the way they did. I had been using that Yaesu Ft-950 for six months before I shipped it to you. It was a great working radio that I never had a problem with. I sold the radio, a new power supply and a Heil mic, mic cable and heil switch to you for $1000. I paid $80 shipping that brings down the price to $920, I sent you $100 back to you hoping that would help our situation out some. That brings the price to $820 Total. Mr. Young I can promise you that radio was in great working condition. I have no idea what you did to that radio. In this day and time it is difficult to trust anyone. The first time you talked to me on the phone I heard bad words, you called me names that I didn’t appreciate that didn’t help the situation any, never the less I still tried to help with $100 which I didn’t even have to do. I sold you a great working radio. I never expressed any kind of warranty or guarantee on the equipment because I know what people can do to damage equipment. In case you don’t know, yes, even Ham radio people change out or remove parts from perfectly working equipment then return as non-working equipment. Mr. Young I had no reason to sell a bad radio. I have never or will ever sell bad equipment. I told you I would not speak to you again because I do not need you to be calling me bad names or bad words. I hope you feel better now that you made me out as a bad guy who sold you bad equipment. I DID NOT SELL YOU A BAD RADIO… I am sorry things did not turn out good, but I know, I sold you a great radio at a decent price. By the way, to your friend Bill, I am sorry things did not work out sir. My respects to you for helping your friend Mr. Young. I honestly wish things would have turned out positive.

Now to anyone reading this post, place yourself in my shoes. You sell a great working radio, power supply and heil mic, heil cable and heil switch. You absolutely know it is in great working condition. You ship it and the next thing you know is the buyer is on the phone cussing you out wanting to return the radio saying it is not working and turns around and sends you a bill for $500 or $600 dollars on a radio that, keep in mind you knew was working. At this point you had $820 in your pocket after shipping and sending him back $100.

Think about it. Then to top it off he turns around and ruins your reputation in this forum.

I never cussed or called Rolando bad names, that is TOTALLY UNTRUE !! . As you can see from his reply he still seems to think I did something to the radio or I was trying to scam him in some way. Not the case, the only thing I did was a full reset on the radio and checked menu items 111,112, and 113 to insure those settings were set to allow the radio to output 100 watts.

Mr. Rodriquez is being more than untruthful about the way I tried to resolve the problem with him. I never called him names, or cussed at him as he states. BUYER BEWARE when dealing with him.
In the meantime I am sitting here waiting 5-10 weeks on a part from Yaesu to allow the service rep to finish repairing the radio. Total repair bill when all is said and done is going to be close to $750.00 for a radio that
that was supposed to be a "Great working Radio", which is not what I received.

ROLANDO, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THIS SITUATION RIGHT, NOT ME. INSTEAD YOU CONTINUE TO INFER I AM THE BAD BUY IN ALL OF THIS !! IF YOU ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR REPUTATION DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!

K4GZ is telling the truth. I am Bill W4WX and I sent the $1000 to W5TWT for the radio. Since I paid for the radio that should be my qualifier for this comment. I have known Gary for over 25 years. He is a great HAM and I have never heard him cuss at anyone.
Gary called me as soon as he found out the radio wasn't working. Everything he stated above is 100 percent true. W5TWT is not telling the truth and in my opinion he knew the radio was defective when he mailed it to Gary. He has also failed to reply to my emails concerning a refund or pay for repairs. If he is so honorable why didn't he just say "return for full refund"? Isn't that what you would do?
Bill W4WX

Mr. Young,
At this point I do not think the situation could ever be right, because of what you said here in this public forum, I will always be the bad guy to those who read this. That to me is worth much more then the dollar amount you mentioned. I SOLD YOU A GREAT WORKING RADIO. What you did to break that radio once you received it I do not know. I also know you are lying about your language when I did talked to you on the phone. You were very disrespectful and I did not appreciate that. Mr. I sold you a radio that had been working great when I placed it in the box to ship to you. How can I be held responsible for anything after that point. It was well packaged well and boxed to keep it from getting broken by the shipper. I do not know what happen after that. You ended up getting that radio, power supply, heil mic and cable for $820 after in reimbursed you $100 and after paying for the shipping, and you want me to give you another $750 back? Geeeezzzzz........Sir, you have no idea how much damage you have already done to me. I would hope that all Hams reading this forum will realize there are two sides to every story. Mr. Young has his story and I have my side of what happened. Oh, then there is Bill's side.....but well, he was not even there when Mr. Young received and tinkered with the radio. I have expressed the truth in my side of the story and will no longer participate in this silly back and forth public display. I am truly sorry this transaction turned out the way it did Mr. Young.

Enough said. As you inferred again........same old tune, I did not "tinker" with the radio, and I certainly was not disrespectful, call you names, or cuss at you. Your right Rolando you have your story down pat.
Enjoy your ill gotten gains and your sterling reputation.