CQ VHF Contest 1st Day Report

[N1API]

I got screwed by the ham who sold me the MD-100 on eBay. A ham from MA.

The microphone arrived yesterday and I saw problems right when I took it out of the box. The microphone head itself is cracked. There are two cracks both that are all the way through the housing. One runs almost all the way from into the switch well to the jack on the back of the mic. The other runs from the switch well to about 1 1/2" back and looks like it is joining the other crack. The saddle where that the microphone sits in is cracked on both sides. It did not work when I got it. I thought the mic was wired for another type radio but found out the switch was suck on transmit. Cycling the switch on the microphone head a couple of times released it, (indicating that the mic may have been dropped or hit hard). When I put it on the monitor it had an audio noise on key down where all I should have heard was room noise. Talking into the microphone I could hear audio over the noise. The position of the switches on the bottom did not stop or change the audio noise. I am unable to determine if the noise is from the head or base without further tests.

I emailed the seller who right away said that the mic was perfect when it left, he said to take it to the PO for a claim but the packaging was perfect and not damaged. With no indication of packing damage the PO will not accept or grant a claim damage. Even if they did it was not insured for full value. The pictures were deceptive as he photographed the microphone with it sitting in the saddle with the switch and damage down rather than the normal position of up. To make a long(er) story short(er) after an exchange of about 10 emails through eBay I've filed a claim for Buyer's Protection. I've also done photos to show the damage and the packaging.

I should know never to buy "used" from anyone on eBay. Lesson learned by new in original packaging only! Or buy at a flea market where you can at least see what you brought, but you still take a chance that it won't work.

Al - N1API