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Buyer Beware - VDO Specialties
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Richter12
Newbie
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17. October 2004 @ 19:10 |
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I don't usually make a habit of this, but as this went complete beyond what I'm used to, I wanted to make sure that everyone else who might have occasion to deal with this company knew what they were dealing with. So here's the whole correspondence, in order that you can make a more informed decision about who gets your business.
From: Joshua Cooper
Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 10:24 PM
To: vdospec@vdo-specialties.com
Subject: PS2 v9 Parts
I have a v9 PS2 (50001/N coded 3D) and I was wondering if you had a v9 mainboard available to sell? I had recently purchased a DUO2 SE modchip and was attempting to install it and was halfway through when I realized I had gotten in over my head. I desoldered everything and now the machine will start and show the disk in the drive, but whenever you select it, it returns to the browser window, so I'm guessing that the laser driver chip is blown on the mainboard. Since the system itself doesn't work, there would be no
need, but if you could sell me a v9 motherboard at a reasonable price, then I'd gladly be a return customer of a modchip installation. Please let me know if you can help me out.
From: Customer Support [mailto:vdospec@vdo-specialties.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 10:32 AM
To: 'Joshua Cooper'
Subject: RE: PS2 v9 Parts
You know, I'm really disgusted at your message. People are really unbelievable now.
Re Read what you said to us.
1. You obviously tried on the Internet to fix the Board yourself by searching and searching for a solution.
2. You found out that it is really not repairable, so your last resort is to come to a repair center parts store.
3. You expect us to ell you a Board for a Reasonable cost?? What is that? $50? $60?
4. Do you realize that the board "Is the Machine"? so actually it is worth probably about $250 now cause there are no more Ps2 50001's out there with
the new one coming. so they go up in cost, because they are the only ones you can modify, the new one cannot be yet. WE sell a new modified unit for
$450 now
5. And here's the best part, when we sell you the board, you say you probably will be a return customer for a modchip..???Boy you must think we are stupid. Why would you go all though that kind of shipping cost?, you get the board, put it in, then send the whole thing back to be modified? It makes more sense to send it all in for a repair and Mod for $59.99 and
$49.99, did you read our charges??? Get real....these boards are not made on tress, if we ha a board we would
modify it and sell it as a whole machine, more money...
I'm sorry to sound rude, but you have to look at it though our point of view.
Customer Support
VDO Specialties.com
From: Joshua Cooper
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 10:09 PM
To: vdospec@vdo-specialties.com
Subject: PS2 v9 Parts
I'm sorry that you were offended by my message, but let's view it from my side of it. As I told you, I tried to install a modchip, and now the ps2 does not operate. After examining the possibilities using information that I've gathered from what the machine is doing, my presumption would be that I fried the laser driver chip, which I can order and install from any number of companies for $29, which will PROBABLY fix the problem. I found your company online, and you offer a good deal on your repair services, which are marketed to people who are extremely limited in their expertise regarding electronics. I, on the other hand, am I biomedical technician, and am used to component level repairs. I know that the problem was that I solder-bridged pins 1 and 2 of the laser driver chip together, and the unit didn't boot at all, now I've removed the solder bridge, and the unit boots and detects media, but will not run programs. I know that the chip is bad, but I don't know if anything else is bad. After looking through your site, I can see that you are a group that serves the unique purpose of fixing video game consoles, you probably have less than 15 employees, and most of you are probably between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. I can replace the chip myself for $29 and it would load games, but what problems would I come across down the road because of it? Answer unknown. Your website doesn't address any of the technical aspects of what exactly it is that you do, so I have to take for granted that, reduced to lowest terms, I send in my board, you have a list of symptoms and probable fixes, you run through the machine making the corrections notated on your sheet, maybe replace a chip or two, and if that doesn't fix it, then you send it back as unrepairable. For this service you charge $59 (which is a great price!!) however, as your site says, if you are unable to repair it, then you I pay nothing EXCEPT for a $35 diagnosis fee and return shipping (which with handling charges and whatnot are probably so close to the $59 flat rate that it doesn't matter. You have offered me the chance to pay you $60 for you to either fix it or not, as you decide. Since, as I said before, I suspect you operate on the majority from a symptoms list of things you can fix which covers the majority of typical PS2 problems, like disc read errors, replacing lasers, replacing ribbon cables for controller assemblies, soldering in modchips, and maybe installing the $29 LA laser driver chip mod, I have decided, that it would be worth more to me to install a known-good working motherboard rather than send it to you and pay $60 whether you fix it or not. In all negotiations, any man who stipulates the maximum he would be willing to pay for something in advance is a fool, so I left the price as "a reasonable amount" which you erroneously assumed to be low. To me, a reasonable amount would be anything less than $100, as I realize that the bulk of a PS2 is the mainboard. However, anything over $100 and it would be worth the extra money to not pay shipping and just buy another one from my local electronics store. Essentially, what I am saying is that, as I am positive the problem is located on the mainboard, paying $100 for a new mainboard and the certainty of repair is worth more to me than paying you $60 for the POSSIBILITY that you might be able to figure it out.
However, the question is moot because I just bought a new v9 mainboard from one of your competitors for $51. Thank you for your time,
Joshua Cooper
Besides, do you really want someone doing something intricate and technical to your system when they can't even spell trees or run a spellcheck?
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Richter12
Newbie
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17. October 2004 @ 19:15 |
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And just to point out a couple of quick problems with his argument, Sony is still making the 50001's and compatible ps2's because the psTWO doesn't work with the harddrive, and you can buy an entire new 50001 PS2 at Software Etc, Best Buy and Walmart for $150, which would make selling the mainboard for $250 incredibly stupid.
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Slaser
Newbie
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17. October 2004 @ 19:50 |
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oops double post, sorry
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 17. October 2004 @ 19:51
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Slaser
Newbie
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17. October 2004 @ 19:50 |
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Richter12
Newbie
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18. October 2004 @ 05:44 |
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Yeah, I guess I'll know better next time - for those of you who are interested, the saga continues
-----Original Message-----
From: Customer Support [mailto:vdospec@vdo-specialties.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 10:52 PM
To: 'Joshua Cooper'
Subject: RE: PS2 v9 Parts
Importance: High
You did not buy a board. WE know better, as they are very much non existent. Or you just got ripped off.
Also I will be sure to contact your Employer and inform them of your threats.
I will also inform you ISP of your threatening nature, as this is against almost all ISP's TOS policy's
Hopefully you will retain your job at Crest Services.
Oh, and your wrong about the Ages, there re way to many fly by night Rinky Dink repair places, we are eh original since 1993.
I'm 44, I hold a Law Degree, and an Electronics Engineering Degree. I am a Licensed Private Detective in Wisconsin, I also am a X Air Force Security
Policeman, and also a Current Concealed Carry Firearms Instructor.
I started this business in 1993 as I used to fix TV's VCR's and Computer Monitor's, my whole family is involved now and in law's and even Father -In
law, I have kids your age.
My Son runs the business now.
You have a smart mouth on you and it's going to get you into trouble someday, and if you ever post anything we will find out with no problem as our customers always report who did it, and they know how to extract Message Headers to find out where and who it came from, I logged yours now. I can tell you are using AirBand Communications and are from Plano. My Brother In law worked in Plano..
Anyway, I'm sure Management will not appreciate you threatening me with their email system. And when I inform them of your threats, I expected this
threat from you, as most do it, then I turn them in..
There is no need to threaten people that you try to scam. "Reasonable" is another word for "Cheap"
Have fun buying a new unit. our success rate is 99.9% by the way. WE make more money if we fix it..
Customer Support
VDO Specialties.com
"Your Video Game Repair Source"
From: Joshua Cooper
Sent: Monday, October 18th, 2004 7:28 AM
To: vdospec@vdo-specialties.com
Subject: PS2 v9 Parts
Once again, I apologize that you have read my message the wrong way, there was no threat intended in what I previously wrote, as I'm sure you know that a threat would imply that there was a caveat. I'm not interested in anything that you have anymore, only that as a potential customer you have treated me in a manner which was incredibly rude and I will make sure that other potential customers know about it. I would have completely understood your standpoint if you had replied to my initial query with "I'm sorry, but we don't have any boards available for sale, and have no plans to offer them in the future, as it is not viable from a profitability standpoint." Thus far, the only one who has made any threats is you. Surely with your law degree, you realize that you have no legal leg to stand on, and that in posting your own words verbatim, I am legally free from any claim of slander or fraud. In addition, Texas, my state of residence, is a single-party consent state, and as you have a Law Degree, I'm sure you are aware that means that I am not required to have your permission to record anything you say in a conversation between us. It surprises me that with a law degree, and being a licensed private detective, you choose to repair consumer electronics for a living. In addition, I personally do not use AirBand, although the server on which our e-mail resides does, and neither I, nor my place of employment, are in Plano, Texas. You are welcome to make any effort you see fit to deny my internet and e-mail service, however based on what you've provided so far, I trust it will be much more difficult than you try to make it seem. If you'd like a list of the sites to which I have posted our correspondence, I'll gladly provide you with one. So far, I had only posted it to one, and felt better about it.
Thank you, Sir, for renewing the strength of my convictions.
Joshua Cooper
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SCE
Suspended permanently
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18. October 2004 @ 08:30 |
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Quote:
4. Do you realize that the board "Is the Machine"? so actually it is worth probably about $250 now cause there are no more Ps2 50001's out there with
the new one coming. so they go up in cost, because they are the only ones you can modify, the new one cannot be yet. WE sell a new modified unit for
$450 now
thats funny , i wonder how they do any bizz ...
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SGrundy
Newbie
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20. October 2004 @ 12:14 |
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Never heard of them before. I looked at their eBay profile and some ratings sites. Wow, such horrible reviews. Glad I chose modchipman do do my install.
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rashadow
Suspended permanently
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20. October 2004 @ 14:10 |
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That was a very interesting story. I hate people with that sort of better than you attitude. I think you certainly put him in his place Richter
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Rab!
Junior Member
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22. October 2004 @ 02:44 |
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that is no less than abominable, I've sent emails of the same manner you have and have never encountered such a disgraceful tone of reply.
As you say if anyone it's him that is being threatening / obnoxious, He could have just shut up after your reply, but nay he wants the last word, what a heap of shiz.
Well done on sticking him back in his box and i hope he puts a sock in it :)
Ty for the info, shall steer clear!
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