Adcom GFA-565 (or how not to do business)

Texas42

Well, I FINALLY received my Adcom GFA-565 amp from a fellow board member. I hate to blast someone publicly so I won't list his name. To say this was an ordeal would be a gross understatement. He was communicative up to the point where I paid him (which occurred on Sept 8th). After that, I had to send repeated emails to get any response (as to whether he received payment, approximate shipping date, etc). He wouldn't provide a phone number so I couldn't discuss with him direct. He promised in his only two replies he would ship 'that day' (on Sept 10 and 15th) but never did anything til I had to lodge a complaint with Paypal. He finally shipped on 9/20/07 and I received it today on 9/22, He stated the amp 'was in great condition'. I asked him to ship it securely with reinforced bubble wrap around the corners for protection.

So what did I receive? Basically, an amp thrown in a box with packing peanuts....NO bubble wrap, no padding of any kind anywhere. I have syrofoam particles all over the outside (an inside of the amp) as he didn't even wrap the amp in plastic. On top of that, there were what I am assuming are coke stains on the top (and running down the front, see pic) of the amp.

I guess I expect too much from others (or maybe I go too far out of my way when I ship to others). I always provide my name, phone number a date it will be shipped by, a tracking number as soon as I send it out (always with 1-2 days of payment) and I even follow up when I know the buyer has received it. Needless to say I go out of my way (and expense as necessary) to ensure it will arrive in the same condition I described it in. I wouldn't have even minded it if he couldn't ship it for a month as long as he could have told me that up front (I'm too busy this week, I'm on a trip ,etc....).

Sorry to vent but possibly this will help others remember to clarify all parameters of the deal up front (ex, when will it be shipped? How will you pack it? etc..) instead of just assuming the person knows what they are doing.

Hope others have smoother deals than I did (on this occasion). I've bought and sold literally 100s of pieces online over the past 10 years but this was the worst. Best of luck to everyone on their next deal...

heiney9

Absolutely horrible. You should have the opportunity to return for a full refund postage paid both ways. Normally the flea market is a great place to do business. This is certainly disappointing .

H9

Ricardo

First step would be to contact seller to privately solve any problem. If at the end this does not work, then there's always the negative feedback option.

george daniel

Damn,, thats sad,,,I hope the seller makes it right,,, whatever that may be,,,good luck.

BaggedLancer

Whoa looks like someone spilled a dunkin donuts all over that. What a shame.

Looks like it was from a member less than a year with under 70 posts......

Not to mention the picture provided was VERY dark, did you ask for other pictures?

dudeinaroom

wow that's crappy. make sure you pm shack with feed back.

hearingimpared

There is no way that I would ever purchase a piece of gear that didn't have the original box and packing. I feel for you. You need to make this public if the person doesn't make good.

BaggedLancer

hearingimpared wrote: »

There is no way that I would ever purchase a piece of gear that didn't have the original box and packing. I feel for you. You need to make this public if the person doesn't make good.

It already is public, just go to the flea market page 2.

hearingimpared

If you are referring to the ad by Ben62670 that is not the one. I'm helping Ben with those items.

BaggedLancer

I lied, page 3, midway down.

Ben is selling a 555 not 565.

Come on HI, put your detective skills to use.

Texas42

I'll spend a while this weekend cleaning it up (inside and out) before firing it up. Through pure luck it arrived without any dented heat sinks or obvious physical damage. Although I was a bit concerned when the FEDEX lady just literally dropped it (with a corresponding loud 'thud') on my cement front porch before ringing the doorbell. Hopefully, these are as bulletproof as I remembered having owned a pair previously. Time will tell. There would be no benefit to trying to contact the seller at this point as his disinterest and lack of response would merely serve to infuriate me further. No, I'll just live and learn on this one. If it doesn't work I'll just send it out and have it modded with newer caps and parts.

hearingimpared

Texas42 wrote: »

I'll spend a while this weekend cleaning it up (inside and out) before firing it up. Through pure luck it arrived without any dented heat sinks or obvious physical damage. Although I was a bit concerned when the FEDEX lady just literally dropped it (with a corresponding loud 'thud') on my cement front porch before ringing the doorbell. Hopefully, these are as bulletproof as I remembered having owned a pair previously. Time will tell. There would be no benefit to trying to contact the seller at this point as his disinterest and lack of response would merely serve to infuriate me further. No, I'll just live and learn on this one. If it doesn't work I'll just send it out and have it modded with newer caps and parts.

Mine have the Musical Concepts upgrades and power cords. They sound very nice. Good luck and sorry to hear of your plight. You should PM Shack and make the necessary negative feedback.

hearingimpared

I just tried to PM him. His PM box is full. . . I'm not surprised. I'm emailing him now.

This is what I've sent to him;

This is ridiculous! You should make good on this item as your description of "great shape" doesn't apply here!

The Polk forum and flea market are for good honest people.

beardog03

I detected as soon as I read this post earlier..

warning has been heeded..


good luck with you new amp...sounds like your a stand up guy....not to worry, it will all come out in the wash

Music Joe

A pox on him.

Systems

As said on the old Pace Pecante commercials:


"That really chaps my hide"


"Get a rope"

McLoki

Any word from bdaley6509 on how his came out? Might be worth a quick PM to ask if he had any similar issues. (packing, lack of communication, etc) I am guessing not since he still had one to sell when he got rid of the first two.....

Best of luck in the clean-up and let us know how it goes... If we can help with any tips or advice, please let us know.

Michael

Upon further research - his first posts were crap and all posts after 25 were in trying to sell something (speakers, amps, subs, pre, etc......) sorry we didn't catch it before you got burned.

Sounds like maybe we should up the required post count to 100 before you are allowed to start a thread in the flea market. (let them post messages in the flea market and PM's after 25 like now though) Can someone suggest this??? (to someone who can actually make it happen I mean...)

hearingimpared

Silverti wrote: »

As said on the old Pace Pecante commercials:


"That really chaps my hide"


"Get a rope"

Ha ha ha, we finally agree on something!

dorokusai

hearingimpared wrote: »

There is no way that I would ever purchase a piece of gear that didn't have the original box and packing. I feel for you. You need to make this public if the person doesn't make good.

HI - If that's your mantra, in regards to purchases, you're an amatuer.

Texas - It sucks but its buyer beware in this business, period. You win some, you lose some and its the nature of the beast.

The CP FM is one of the better resale venues and this is very unfortunate to read about. PM me in regards to the member and perhaps we can get some solid dialogue going via more formal information.

Mark

read-alot

McLoki wrote: »

Upon further research - his first posts were crap and all posts after 25 were in trying to sell something (speakers, amps, subs, pre, etc......) sorry we didn't catch it before you got burned.
)

It's happening in the flea market right now.

I'm all for your idea of changing the requirements to sell there.

Texas42

Thanks for all the support guys. I'm a relative newbie on this board myself, although I've been on the AudioKarma and Klipsch board for years and have been on audio asylum and before that on the old Unanet boards rec.audio.high-end and rec.audio.marketplace where I met lots of great guys over the years either just chatting or buying/selling. I've found that most in the hobby to be extremely honest and easy to deal with. Just as I am sure most here are. I guess I'd still rather be trusting than suspicious but just have to temper that with a bit more caution.

hearingimpared

dorokusai wrote: »

HI - If that's your mantra, in regards to purchases, you're an amatuer.

That makes no sense!

Systems

Hey, was this the one with 3 Adcom's? That guy also posted them up on AVS forums.

danger boy

I don't know who the seller of the amp was.. but they clearly misstated the condition of the amp.

this should not keep people from participating in the for sale part of Club Polk. Every once in a while.. a transaction goes wrong.. most sellers are very willing to make thing right with the buyer... but once in a while.. a bad sale takes place.

I'm not speaking for the seller of this amp or anyone else.. I have gotten nothing but 100% accurate descriptions of what I have purchased in the for sale forum.

Sorry this happen.. hopefully it can be resolved using emails or private messages.

I would think everyone who has something to sell in here would at least be honest about the condition of the item for sale and at least clean it up or any dust or debris.

good luck.

dorokusai

hearingimpared wrote: »

That makes no sense!

You know how much high quality gear can be found, and I have found for example, sans packaging? I'm a lover of packaging just like you but I certainly don't pass something up because I have to carry it in my hands.

I'm with you Joe, no doubt, original packaging is top priority for me as well....just not a deal breaker.

WilliamM2

I would think everyone who has something to sell in here would at least be honest about the condition of the item for sale and at least clean it up or any dust or debris.

The last two deals I bought here in the FM, have both arrived poorly packed, misrepresented condition, and dirty. The last was an amp, in a flimsy box less than an inch bigger than the amp itself, with a few peanuts, not even filled. Luckily the face was okay, but I had to have a friend who works in a body shop straighten out the cover and repaint it.

And these were both from long time members. I am going back to buying new only I think.

shadowofnight

Required should be pics of all sides including the serial number...if the said serial numbered exact same condition item does not show up...banned immediately as well as BASIC ( First name and city residing in only...to protect from lawsuits but still give enough information to let the buyer decide if he wants to take a chance ) information posted

Items I sold on here to regularly posting forum members could have been dropped from the truck as it passed by at speed and they would have been fine

I also had the misfortune of somebody packing an amplifier and preamp together in a box with nothing more then peanuts in the box...LUCKILY both survived ...preamp had a bowed top cover...easily fixed by me....the amp was FULL of peanuts..entered through the intake vents as well as the fan exhaust...luckily after a half hours work both were perfect...I paid 1,800 for my first pair ...this mis-packaged pair off of craigslist was only 150 bucks Needless to say I was still extremely happy....but shipping like that shows no respect.

Systems

Chances are they just take the unit to like a UPS shipping center and ask them to box it. The Clerks use peanuts. But you can tell them do pack it a lot better (for extra charges). It’s really not hard to do and you can always charge the seller for the better packing. There’s no reason for a person to ship crappy other than to maximize their buck.

F1nut

Cursed1 wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with the amps in any way shape or form.

That's BS! I've got no problem calling out the seller, Cursed1. You need to make this right, refund all the money including shipping charges both ways and never try to sell here again.

beardog03

Go Jesse, Go...!!

george daniel

:eek: Carl,, I think that the time is right to,,,,,:eek: