CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:32 pm Post subject:

Wow, thanks for that. So Dan, had I known you had mouse issues in the 800, I would have never accepted any boards out of the 800 for repair, or would have insisted you bring the whole set up for repair or diagnosis.

As for those of you that don't like this thread, please just ignore it. I personally (especially now in light of said mouse issues) think that this is an interesting study of customer relations.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I remember Mac having a an issue with something and couldn't figure it out. So he decided to take the entire piece of equipment apart and found mouse pee in an area you couldnt see unless you did take it all apart. he cleaned it up, fixed the corroded trace and the piece worked fine. Mouse pee is almost impossible to diagnose . Wink

Nashou

416ray4538 · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 517 Location: near Toronto Ont

dkap · Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 109

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 4:02 pm Post subject:

Give it a rest Dan. You've done what you think was right, so have I. 'Set and forget' with a CRT? Clearly you haven't spent any time here on the forum, or done any research about CRTs, at least you admit that.

We'll see how it plays out with Paypal. I'll post the results here either way. I've also linked them to this thread.

dkap · Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 109

Found it in my Jan 8th email to you: "I'm hoping from the [good] condition of the tubes that it isn't very highly used, just grungy from sitting around for years and having a mouse in there... Is there anything else I should send in, in addition to the 800's power supply and the 708's control board?"

If you didn't know about the mouse, then chalk that up as something else you didn't read closely enough.

Dan

Tinman · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:57 pm Post subject:

I don't mean to attack anyone personally, but this is beginning to sound like someone was hoping for a quick and cheap fix to possibly flip some projectors for profit. Unfortunately 7" and 8" sets are basically worthless now, and the endeavor didn't pan out as desired. So now the person is pissed that he spent money and has to spend MORE money on something to fix it for a negative return.

This isn't going along with expectations, so now the attempt to reclaim all funds is under way. Paypal is a perfect vehicle to hide behind for this purpose as they tend to favor the buyer these days.

But I could be totally wrong.

I have worked retail and met people like this. They use the system and extended warranties to perpetually get new items without paying for them. They are ALWAYS right, and I think they honestly believe that they are doing nothing wrong.

These people I avoid like the plague, because no matter WHAT you do... other than providing free service for life, nothing is satisfactory.

Yes, I have had those. It is also the reason I completely stopped supporting CRT projectors. The loss is NOT mine.

The best thing to do is to drop these type of people from your life, even if a refund is necessary. They are always right and toxic to those they do business with. Ultimately I simply blacklist those customers. This works great for the customer since they now got free service, UNTIL they find that no one else can or WILL do any work for them.

But whatever.

I don't know if this is what's in fact going on here, but it sure reads like it, especially with only 97 posts in 5 years.

Forgive me if I'm totally mistaken. I am only making an observation based on these threads and my own similar experiences.

dkap · Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 109

No offense taken, Tinman. I understand the type of person you're describing, but I don't think that's me. This was purely a communication issue, and I've highlighted several areas where Curt had lapses in that regard. Anyway, let me attempt to clarify a few things with more of the history. I believe Curt knows all or most of this, although some of it goes back a ways and may have been forgotten.

I bought the Barco 708s in '02 or '03. It was built in '98. That was my first CRT projector and the reputation for CRT's at the time was years of trouble-free operation. Thus my "set it and forget it" comment a couple posts back. After six years, the power supply blew. I contacted Curt at the time about a repair, but I put it off for two reasons:

1) I couldn't find a box big enough for the odd-sized tray that needed to be sent in.

2) Honestly, I was terrified about trying to reassemble it. This turned out to be a complete non-issue. I didn't know at the time that a few of the cables attached to the tray could be disconnected behind/under the control boards, allowing the tray to pull out all the way. As it were, I could barely reach the tiny connectors to remove them, and I figured there's no way I would ever be able to get them back in place.

Because of #2, I left the 708s sitting for some four years until finally getting the itch (I recently found a box the perfect size, not that I was actively looking all that time) to do something about it. I found the Barco 800 and decided to look into it as an alternative. I was undecided if I would keep one or both, but I hoped to get them both working (the 800 was thought to be working when I went to look at it) and see which fit best with the system. A friend had expressed interest in one of the units, so it would have been more a matter of doing someone a favor than flipping it for a profit. Anyway, I specifically asked Curt which of the Barcos he thought I would be happiest. When he told me how short the expected lifespan of both was at this point (after I had already sent the parts in for repair), I commented that perhaps I should keep them both as insurance.

This was not a get rich quick scheme. I was simply paying the man for his services to get the projectors repaired, and then go from there.

In case my character needs any further defending, which it probably does after this thread, back in November I notified Curt that I had found the problem with this forum's notifications being marked as spam. Curt forwarded it to Kal, as the site's webmaster. Kal and I exchanged a few emails, and he was appreciative of the help, as it had been driving him crazy for some time. I know Curt knows this because Kal cc'd him on at least one of the replies. I never got (or asked for) a thank you from Curt. Now, don't go thinking this left me bitter in any way toward Curt and the subsequent Barco repairs. It's just an illustration that I was well-meaning in all of this.

Dan

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

The plot thickens Wink

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject:

So it appears that Dan charged back his credit card, meaning I'm out the total cost of the repairs plus the return shipping charges. Nothing that Paypal can do for me.

So, beware anyone doing business with Dan Kaplan of Salem, Oegon.

FYI.

flipdog · Joined: 22 Dec 2011 Posts: 156

I know there have been comments on here before about how the people of the US are sue happy but this is a perfect example as to why. We are sick and tired of getting shafted by others for no valid reason. And then when a company can just take the money back without any knowledge of the circumstances, just the word of their own customer.

If this were me I would be suing Paypal, the credit card company and Mr. Dan and let the court sort it out who owes who. Sure it would cost a little up front and some of my time for a not very large amount but sometimes it's the principal of the issue.

All I know is I just got pissed off over this.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:36 pm Post subject:

Well I am going to see if I can file in small claims court in Wa. state. A big hassle for me, but I know I'd win, and Dan would have to come up from Oregon. Will check that out next week.

A couple of the techs here PMed me about this. It's customers like this that make us want to get the hell out of the industry. In the big scheme of things, $200, and time spent and postage doesn't affect me whatsoever. It's simply the fact that Dan thinks he did the right thing is what has me steamed.

dkap · Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 109

I haven't been notified of any resolution yet. If that is indeed how things have turned out, keep in mind I did make several attempts to find a middle ground prior to going the chargeback route. That was the last option because you gave me no reasonable alternatives. Had you even acknowledged a communication lapse, I probably would have let it go with a mere apology...

It's funny that you would mention the courts, Curt. I'm far from a litigious person, but you should really give strong consideration to whether you want to "out" a customer like you have here. If anyone loyal to you as their tech lifeline were to somehow follow up on this matter, it would very directly point back to you. I assume this is a more mature crowd than that, but you've opened yourself and your business up to some very big liability issues.

Dan

flipdog · Joined: 22 Dec 2011 Posts: 156

dkap · Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 109

flipdog · Joined: 22 Dec 2011 Posts: 156

flipdog · Joined: 22 Dec 2011 Posts: 156

flipdog · Joined: 22 Dec 2011 Posts: 156

dkap · Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 109

flipdog · Joined: 22 Dec 2011 Posts: 156