Would like some input :)

Hi guys, im not sure where to start so ill just make a rant . I wont name names, so ill keep them undiclosed unless they wish to name themselves in the thread - no sherlock holmes people neither please .

Ok so basically, i sent off a dragon viper 125mW to be tested, checked, cleaned up and if necessary repaired if the price was right. The laser was putting out around 80-110mW from my eye perspective. I advertised it on here and had a fair few PMs from people wanting to repair it for me (One was Daguin, who told me to get a local person to do it to save time and shipping costs - UK), some even wanted to buy it.

*One member said that some gunk may be altering the power output by sliding on the lens as the laser heats up and cools etc...which is why i wanted it cleaning up. It output stronger after it was warmed alittle than straight off the bat.*

I was offered $150 for it, by one member, IF it was up to spec after he did the cleanup. He is in the USA so i thought, if he wanted to buy it aswell as clean it up, then it would save alot of time and hassle. I sent the laser over to him.

When he received it, he told me it was just putting out over 5mW, so i told him to heat it up alittle. He tried it to no avail, which i find very strange, as i have pics of its beam.

After 8 MONTHS! of PMs, chit chat (putting it back together), ive lost this (Button), ive lost that (Gold ring) etc i decided to finally have the laser shipped back to me.

When i receive it, the laser doesnt even work, the button doesnt click down when its pressed, the lens fitting just falls out due to it not being screwed back in properly, the host is squashed and re-shaped *LAUGHS...* and the endcap only just goes back on and did i mention it doesnt even work???

I asked him wtf is going on and nothing is really happening. I asked him for some sort of compensation and he asked me what i would like, so i asked him 3 times to make me a list of what he could offer in replacement. I mean i dont want to skint the guy, or get ripped off, so merely asking for offers on what he can give me...no reply to the third pm. I sent him one this morning UK time asking if he would maybe consider 2 lenses (Lens mounted in Brass "No Spring" Lens assembly - $56.95 prepaid in the continental U.S.) as compensation and he replies with this:

"Ok, Please try be reasonable. I don't have much money and honestly, I don't think a broken 80mW greenie is worth anything near that amount."

as to which i replied:

"I am being reasonable. A manufactured rating of 125mW from dragon

lasers (Online order price now at Price:US$299.99), which i said

LOOKED over 80mW just from my perspective even when under

performing. You yourself "valued it" unseen to be $150 (only

AFTER it being fixed / cleaned up as i requested) and then

destroyed it, not just the insides, but the host aswell... I

believe $100 is pretty reasonable, dont you? Like i have asked

three times, what do you have to offer?

John"

I said unseen, but meant untested, he had seen the pics of the beam.

He replied:

When it reached me it was putting out 5mW at most. I would not have destroyed an 80mW laser.

and i replied:

"So because it was 5mW you destroyed it?
You have seen the images of the beam, they were taken a few days before i sent it to you. Even if it only ouput 1mW, does that mean you can destroy my property and fob me off? im still waiting for the list

John"

The pms are still going on as im typing this. Id just like to get some "third person" views on this. Am i wrong in expecting something worth around $100 for the destruction of my viper 125mW?

Thanks for reading! Ill update with any info etc.
Edited to add pics:



















John

The only thing I could add is not all the members that will offer to build/fix
lasers on the Forum are "professional" builders... (some are)
I have no clue who you're taking about... and I don't want to know...

Jerry

if he has already payed you for the laser.. do not refund the money.. like any buisness if the goods are not returned in the same condition as they are recieved no refund is given! if you payed him to clean it.. but it only "put out 5mW" and that angered him/her cause he/she wanted to buy it.. then ofcorse they should compensate you for the destruction of the laser!

The way to way to deal with people in this situation is to be polite but stright to the point.. if you feel he owes you money send him an invoice and ask him to pay it.. i have had first hand experience with people in the industry before (not from LPF) and this was the only way go get the job done fast and efficiently...

no offence to anyone involved.. but i feel 8 month is way to long for a dispute such as this to linger on for! so be polite but assertive and tell him to pay up!

hope that helped! -Adrian

If he destroyed it he owes you what he offered you for it. As soon as he saw it was not going to be up to spec, he should have returned it and/or made another offer for it and/or sent it off to someone competent (or at least honest).

Why are you protecting him (and placing the rest of the forum at risk)? Do you think that if you are "nice" he will suddenly grow a set and become a man?

Tell him what he owes you. Give him a VERY definite and short time to satisfy the debt. Then name him so others can avoid doing business with him.

Are you reasonably sure that the mangled host you got back is actually the laser you sent him? It sounds like a pretty straight up rip off to me.

Peace,
dave

^THAT'S what needs to happen.. Well said!

Thanks guys, i have directed him to this thread and he says he will take the advice onboard (before any replies were made). Im sure the host is the one i sent, it has a slight mark in the exact same spot.
Thanks again guys, keep your input coming, ill sort something out with him

John

I agree 110% with post #4 you should follow this advice to the letter, I sure would !!! if a person can not do what they say they have no business saying it !!!

Hes pissing me around, so here he is:

Potatorage - named and shamed thread:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f63/named-shamed-massive-info-thread-43753.html#post578866

John

^ I bought a pen style blu-ray kit from him once. I was a noob and thought it was a steal. The diode was totally destroyed and one of the pins broke off as i was unpacking it. Ever since i have avoided doing buisness with him.

It sounds to me like you got played for a sucker. Sorry to say that. Live and learn.

Guys, don't ever send anything without getting paid first. And don't send stuff to people that claim to know what they are doing unless they can prove it and have references. In one instance, I heard of a guy sending his laser scanner to a high schooler to have it repaired because he thought the guy knew what he was doing. Then he complained when the high schooler didn't act professionally. How stupid is that?!?!