fdesalvo
Well-known member
Caveat Emptor!
I’m sorry, but I have to relay a story about a very negative experience I’ve had dealing with “Products on Time”, AKA: Vegas Pawn outside of Scottsdale, Arizona.. I tried to keep the lid on this and let them save face, but too much time has gone by and they have ignored and avoided me.
The Skinny:
I found and won a DC10 head that was listed in “Excellent” condition and I had it shipped to Long Beach, where my band practices (and lives). It arrived on a Thursday about 3 days before I was able to physically see it, so I told them that I left good feedback out of faith. They require you to inspect it within 3 days of receipt, so I let them know my situation
On that following Monday, I drove to Long Beach to see it. The box was just torn to hell. When I looked in through the major tear on top, I could see the amp wrapped in a thin layer of plastic wrap with some peanuts gathered on the back and sides of the head. The face and top of the head were not covered with peanuts. After I removed the amp, I saw that the middle slider of the GEQ was twisted a bit, though useable. The tubes are probably original; they are crusty and old.
After plugging in, I noticed the lead channel sounds nowhere near as it should- as I was comparing it to my former DC10. It’s incredibly thin, gutless, and highly microphonic- this is probably due to the old tubes.
The Middle pot on the clean side is very noisy and causes the volume to be very low. It seems like it can barely pass a signal through to the Master. The other pots in general all turn with varying degrees or looseness/tightness.
When I brought all of this up to Products on Time, they said it was probably due to FedEx, which I know could be the case, but I know lousy packing when I see it, and I’m sure that was part of the problem. They said they would have to take up a claim with FedEx.
They asked for pics, which I sent and then they went silent for several days. I sent them several emails and asked them to respond with a game plan and I got no response. I decided that I needed to send it to Mesa, so they can see what’s going on in there, so as they (Mesa) requested, I removed the chassis so I could deliver it.
The first thing I noticed was that the preamp tube retainer was snapped on one side and the power transformer has a dent on the lower cap. After inspecting the circuit board, I saw that the amp had a nickel-sized scorch mark near the power amp’s filter caps and there were some non-mesa resistors soldered above the board. Obviously there was damage or a mod gone wrong.
So I took pics of this and the damaged box, GEQ, and broken preamp tube retainer and sent them to Products on Time. They responded:
“Dear Frank,
Since you have dismantled the item we sent, this will void any obligation by Products On Time for this item.
Thank you,
Products On Time”
I should’ve looked at the machine bolts that hold the chassis into the head cab. I saw the Philips head slots were a little worn, but never bothered to think it was due the chassis being removed a few times.
I’m so very disappointed. Though I got the head for a very nice price, I certainly did not get what I was told I was getting. I can imagine no worse feeling and this is the last time I separate my instincts form my decision making.
I based this off of all of the positive feedback they had accrued over their time on EBay and I still got the shaft. Caveat Emptor. :evil:
I’m sorry, but I have to relay a story about a very negative experience I’ve had dealing with “Products on Time”, AKA: Vegas Pawn outside of Scottsdale, Arizona.. I tried to keep the lid on this and let them save face, but too much time has gone by and they have ignored and avoided me.
The Skinny:
I found and won a DC10 head that was listed in “Excellent” condition and I had it shipped to Long Beach, where my band practices (and lives). It arrived on a Thursday about 3 days before I was able to physically see it, so I told them that I left good feedback out of faith. They require you to inspect it within 3 days of receipt, so I let them know my situation
On that following Monday, I drove to Long Beach to see it. The box was just torn to hell. When I looked in through the major tear on top, I could see the amp wrapped in a thin layer of plastic wrap with some peanuts gathered on the back and sides of the head. The face and top of the head were not covered with peanuts. After I removed the amp, I saw that the middle slider of the GEQ was twisted a bit, though useable. The tubes are probably original; they are crusty and old.
After plugging in, I noticed the lead channel sounds nowhere near as it should- as I was comparing it to my former DC10. It’s incredibly thin, gutless, and highly microphonic- this is probably due to the old tubes.
The Middle pot on the clean side is very noisy and causes the volume to be very low. It seems like it can barely pass a signal through to the Master. The other pots in general all turn with varying degrees or looseness/tightness.
When I brought all of this up to Products on Time, they said it was probably due to FedEx, which I know could be the case, but I know lousy packing when I see it, and I’m sure that was part of the problem. They said they would have to take up a claim with FedEx.
They asked for pics, which I sent and then they went silent for several days. I sent them several emails and asked them to respond with a game plan and I got no response. I decided that I needed to send it to Mesa, so they can see what’s going on in there, so as they (Mesa) requested, I removed the chassis so I could deliver it.
The first thing I noticed was that the preamp tube retainer was snapped on one side and the power transformer has a dent on the lower cap. After inspecting the circuit board, I saw that the amp had a nickel-sized scorch mark near the power amp’s filter caps and there were some non-mesa resistors soldered above the board. Obviously there was damage or a mod gone wrong.
So I took pics of this and the damaged box, GEQ, and broken preamp tube retainer and sent them to Products on Time. They responded:
“Dear Frank,
Since you have dismantled the item we sent, this will void any obligation by Products On Time for this item.
Thank you,
Products On Time”
I should’ve looked at the machine bolts that hold the chassis into the head cab. I saw the Philips head slots were a little worn, but never bothered to think it was due the chassis being removed a few times.
I’m so very disappointed. Though I got the head for a very nice price, I certainly did not get what I was told I was getting. I can imagine no worse feeling and this is the last time I separate my instincts form my decision making.
I based this off of all of the positive feedback they had accrued over their time on EBay and I still got the shaft. Caveat Emptor. :evil:
