From: wwolf@zooid.guild.org (White Wolf)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.video
Subject: Re: VCR Repairman Problem
Date: 24 Jul 92 15:15:28 GMT

From: roger@odie.cs.mun.ca (Roger White)
>I own an RCA VCR model # VMT295, this is a stereo VCR. We sent it in for
>repairs around a 1.5 months ago (Tape wouldn't eject, turn on VCR immediately
>turns off by itself). We recieved it back and noticed a "little" problem,
>the first tape we played had a snowy screen. This problem rectified itself
>after 10 minutes through... we thought nothing of it. 
>
>A few days later we noticed it again, this time it stayed snowy longer...
>we phoned the VCR clinic, they said dirty heads; bring it in whenever you
>can for a free cleaning. The problem went away again so we forgot about
>getting the heads cleaned.
>
>The third time this happened we phoned him again, they said dirty heads...
>we brought the machine down and they cleaned the heads but the problem wasn't
>fixed. They could temporarily fix it by touching an IC so they concluded the IC
>was at fault and they would repair it (Free of charge since their original
>work had a 6 month guarantee).
>
>Now it has been two weeks since it has been put in and they claim that it will
>cost $75 for the "new" IC. They have to order it from RCA, who has to order it
>from Hitachi, and the final cost will be well over $100... so he says that he
>doesn't think this repair is worth the cost. He claims the IC is one of the
>main IC's for the VCR and there is no other fix except to get a new one, it
>only seemed to me like a loose connection... is it possible that the IC is
>"going bad" (to quote him directly)?
>
>Some added comments, he said that this problem developed after they fixed the
>machine first... therefore they won't cover it under the guarantee. Since he
>said it will be fixed free of charge (I have a witness but nothing in writing)
>do I have any right to request it be fixed free? He will take a trade in on 
>the VCR (for the amount of the first fix) and put it toward the price of a
>new VCR. I just want my VCR fixed, or my money refunded from the first "fix".
>
>Do I have any course of action? I haven't spoken with him face to face about
>it yet, so I don't know if I will have problems... I just want some advice
>just in case some problems arise.
>
     Don't know what your legal standing would be but I thought you might be
interested to hear that I have a similar tale. I own an RCA VPT395 that had
developed a sluggish/sometimes-non-fuctional eject problem (sound familiar?)
 
     On one occasion, my machine started to eat a tape so, I decided to have
it repaired. Got the machine back a week later. Worked fine for the first
couple days. Then after playing two movies back-to-back, the original eject
problem occurred. I called up the repair service to find out exactly what they
had done to correct the problem. They claimed thay had replaced the belts and
such.
 
     I brought the unit back in telling them that whatever they had done, they
had not corrected the original problem. That was two weeks ago. I called them
up a couple days ago to find out its status. They said that yes, they had been
able to reproduce the undesirable symptom but only occassionally. They said
that they'd contact RCA directly to see if this was something they knew about.
 
     From your description, I conclude that we may have similar cases here. My
advantage is that I happen to own a video store that deals with this repair
service so I don't think they'll be foolish enough to shaft me. But I do have
some concerns as, in the interim while waiting for the machine, I find that my
second vcr, an RCA VMT295 has developed a problem in that it will fast forward
and rewind but won't play any tapes...
 
     I'd be very interested in hearing the outcome of your case. 
 
     As a person who deals from the retail side of repairs, I'd suggest that
you hold on to any cop of a receipt you got when you originally submitted the
vcr. It should have a description of the original problem and mention the
particulars of the repair warranty. Common sense indicates that if the IC was
working when you brought the unit in, the damage occurred while in their
possession. I'd be especially leery of getting repairs done at a place where
they sell VCRs as it's in their best interests to sell you another one.
 
     Also, though I honestly don't know exact pricing on this particular part,
I do know that in the majority of repairs, up to 90% of the charge is for
labour. Propriety parts such as the IC do cost considerably more though.
 
     Talk at me later,
 
                       White Wolf
                       (Toronto)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics