Avoid Arminius repairs

[grover@emunix.emich.edu (Grover Thomas)]

Well, I finally got a working GS again.  I feel that I should share my
experiences with the 'net, just in case some of you get into a similar
situation.

The Story:
As some of you recall, I had been having intermittent problems with my
GS motherboard, which had gotten worse recently. The most common problem
that presented itself was that the GS kept registering the Apple and
Option jeys being pressed quickly and randomly even though I wasn't
touching the keyboard (no, its not the joystick, either).
After tearing all peripherals out, I deduced the problem was somewhere
in the region around the 28.6363MHz crystal. So I pulled out my mother-
board and removed both it and the nearby capacitor with my mini-soldering
iron.  Maybe not the best thing to do.

I made a few calls about trying to find a replacement crystal.  A couple
places were willing to sell old crystals for $30-$40, but after describing
my troubles one place, Arminius Pubs & Prods., Inc, in InCider/A+, said
they could do the replacement for me for around $65 if I sent in my
motherboard.

I thought this was the best deal, so I carefully wrapped the motherboard
as he described and packed it in a box to go out UPS.  Two weeks later,
I got back my box, with $31.78 C.O.D. due, and opened it, wondering why
the charge was so 'small'.  Inside, was my motherboard, in the same
condition, and an invoice that had printed on it:

"Complaint
Delivered missing Xal and Cap. Tested, no repair possible."

I called, and talked to a service technician, who said he remembers my
board having many microfractures, and also said "You don't use a soldering
iron on a multi-layered board."  I personally thought this was strange,
since I thought Apple II's were built like tanks, and I don't recall my
old ROM 01 being 'multi-layered'.  He also said that they didn't do
board replacements, so they just shipped the old board back.

So, I was charged a "Minimum Bench Fee" and (in my own opinion) a ridiculous
shipping charge and C.O.D. just to get my old motherboard back. Maybe I
am crying over spilled milk, but I would have never bothered to ship it
in the first place if I they had just told me all this in the first place.
Harummph!

-- 
Grover Thomas       grover@emunix.emich.edu   (Nifty qutes currently down)