Complaint with Gateway Electronics, Chaney Electronics, and Electronic Goldmine
Bookmark this page:
 Yahoo!
 Google
 Windows Live
 del.icio.us
 digg
 Netscape
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by Stevo on December 12, 2006, 11:12 am
Please log in for more thread options A while back I purchased an electronic kit from Gateway Electronics. The kit was a Chaney C4530 3 CHANNEL COLOR ORGAN KIT. Electronics Goldmine is Chaney Electronics retail outlet for consumers. The kit came with a transformer with a broken lead. First I went back to Gateway to get the transformer replaced and they only offered to sell me another kit. Then I went to Chaney Electronics and I was told that they only deal with schools, etc and that I should send an email. The email is still unanswered. Then I contacted Electronics Goldmine which is connected with Chaney Electronics and they told me they would replace the transformer for $5.00. But Electronic Goldmine's minimum order is $10.00 PLUS shipping, I was told. They would not give me any other information about the transformer, as well. All this for a cheap little transformer. Well, I guess I will save my money and throw the whole kit out. I hope I will save someone the aggravation I just went through by getting a heads up on these companies customer service practices. | ||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by Homer J Simpson on December 12, 2006, 9:50 pm
Please log in for more thread options Try R P Electronics -- or Radio Shack. | ||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by on December 13, 2006, 4:15 am
Please log in for more thread options
When i ws building color organs, radio shack sold a small transformer that was 8ohm primary and 1k ohm secondary. The transformer only cost like $3. try them. this is what the kits i used to buy used. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?pg=2&parentPage=family&summary=summary&techSpecs=techSpecs¤tTab=techSpecs&cp=2032058.2032230.2032277&custRatings=custRatings&features=features&accessories=accessories&productId=2103254&support=support&tab=features Good Luck -- Eric | ||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by Chris on December 13, 2006, 11:32 am
Please log in for more thread options
Stevo wrote: > A while back I purchased an electronic kit from Gateway Electronics.
> The kit was a Chaney C4530 3 CHANNEL COLOR ORGAN KIT. Electronics > Goldmine is Chaney Electronics retail outlet for consumers. The kit > came with a transformer with a broken lead. First I went back to > Gateway to get the transformer replaced and they only offered to sell > me another kit. Then I went to Chaney Electronics and I was told that > they only deal with schools, etc and that I should send an email. The > email is still unanswered. Then I contacted Electronics Goldmine which > is connected with Chaney Electronics and they told me they would > replace the transformer for $5.00. But Electronic Goldmine's minimum > order is $10.00 PLUS shipping, I was told. They would not give me any > other information about the transformer, as well. All this for a cheap > little transformer. Well, I guess I will save my money and throw the > whole kit out. I hope I will save someone the aggravation I just went > through by getting a heads up on these companies customer service > practices. Hi, Stevo. Sorry for your troubles. There are a number of suppliers of electronics kits, and you always pay for what you get (although, as you can see, you don't always get what you pay for). The distributor (Electronic Goldmine) usually has good customer service. I've dealt with them before. However, they're in a bit of a bind with this, because they actually don't make the kits. I think their solution isn't that unreasonable. Offering to break open another kit and send a replacement for $5 isn't too bad. They're trying. You might want to find out the primary and secondary voltage and the secondary current rating on the transformer. See if you can scrounge a replacement from your junkbox (same or close AC secondary voltage at same or greater secondary current). You also might want to look at the circuit, and just plug in a DC wall wart in place of the transformer. There will be one or two diode drops for the rectifier, but otherwise it will work fine. If you could provide more information on the transformer and rectifier, the group might be able to help there. Low end kits tend to be cobbled together from surplus or seconds, and you'll sometimes just get a plain old busted part. It's kind of assumed that they got you most of the way there, and that's good enough. If I was doing this with one of my kids, it would be. Of course, for a newbie or someone who doesn't scrounge parts (I've got a carboard box of transformers and one of wall warts in the basement) 95% of the trip isn't far enough, and for some, it might be worse than zero percent (a waste of time). If you want a "perfect" kit experience, you'll usually have to pay more. I've found that the Velleman kits are the closest to a "perfect" experience -- all parts always there, 1st quality circuit boards and components throughout, good documentation for newbies. They cost more, but they're worth it. I remember getting an old Heathkit AM radio kit back when dinosaurs ruled the earth. It was a real step forward for me. Everything was there, and the kit included a good description of the circuit as well as easy-to-understand instructions. A great newbie experience. I still keep a Xeroxed copy of their soldering instructions. Possibly you could try again with another kit manufacturer. Take a look at Velleman. Their kits are always first rate. Remember they're primarily a European manufacturer, and some of their line voltage-powered projects are only available in 240VAC. http://www.velleman.de/country.php Good luck Chris | ||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by notbob on December 13, 2006, 11:55 am
Please log in for more thread options
> bind with this, because they actually don't make the kits. I think
> their solution isn't that unreasonable. Offering to break open another > kit and send a replacement for $5 isn't too bad. They're trying. Poppycock! The customer paid money in good faith and should receive goods and services in same. To receive broken goods and then have to pay more is ludicrous. If the vendor can't or won't absorb the loss due to acts of god or shoddy merchandise, they shouldn't be in business. At the very least, the customer should receive a full unconditional refund. nb | ||||||||||||||||
| Similar Threads | Posted |
| Complaint with Gateway Electronics, Chaney Electronics, and Electronic Goldmine | December 12, 2006, 11:12 am |
| Electronic Store Online - Consumer Electronics, Electronic Products Shop | February 29, 2008, 8:52 am |
| buy electronics, sell electronics , auction electronics new, used electronics marketplace oJm | April 2, 2007, 5:07 pm |
| Is there a ZigBee to ethernet gateway? | August 3, 2006, 3:37 pm |
| New to electronics. | May 14, 2005, 12:15 pm |
| REGARDING ELECTRONICS!!!...... | September 19, 2005, 2:46 am |
| Electronics Lab | September 26, 2005, 1:48 pm |
| What's the, um, aim in electronics? | December 9, 2006, 3:24 am |
| New in electronics | January 19, 2007, 2:45 pm |
| electronics | June 8, 2007, 11:44 am |
| Electronics | June 12, 2007, 3:21 am |
| Electronics | June 12, 2007, 3:22 am |
| Electronics | June 12, 2007, 3:22 am |
| Electronics | June 12, 2007, 3:22 am |
| Electronics | June 12, 2007, 3:23 am |
> whole kit out. I hope I will save someone the aggravation I just went
> through by getting a heads up on these companies customer service
> practices.