Repair Services
I aim to provide the highest quality service possible to ensure your unit as a whole will be reliable, as opposed to just addressing the issue you brought it in for. The above subsections discuss the specifics of various types of work. I am fairly specialized and therefore may decline jobs that are outside my specialization.
Terms and Pricing
- Normally when you tell me what gear you need fixed and what the issue is I can give a rough idea of the cost. If I look into it and find something more complicated I let you know before proceeding. If it turns out to need less than average it will cost a bit less. A lot of jobs are in the $70-150 range. More information is given in subsections specific to different types of gear. Prices given are before HST. I take payment via either cash or etransfer.
- I don’t like to report back with an exact cost estimate for most jobs for a couple reasons. Many jobs can be completed for a predictable price most of the time, so I just quote this price when you tell me what you want serviced and what the issues are. As diagnostics can be most of the work, it is generally not possible to diagnose a complex issue without fixing it for only a basic diagnostics fee. If I get the unit apart on the bench I prefer to finish it in one go when possible, instead of getting it apart then having to set it aside while I contact you. If something will increase the repair costs past the initial rough quote I’ll contact you.
- I generally don’t ask for a deposit upfront, but I may for bigger restoration jobs that have a large parts cost.
- Time estimates are estimates, not promises. When I try to make promises I often can’t keep track of them. So ultimately I get to it when I get to it, but here is a rough idea what timelines you can expect. The turnaround time for general service jobs is usually 1-3 weeks. Full restoration jobs can take 1-3 months. These turnaround time depend on the complexity of the issues, the complexity of the unit its self, what parts I need to get, and other jobs that are on the go. Complex issues can take longer, but I’m persistent. Inconsistent turnaround times are a reality in the business of electronics repair, but I have the best turnaround times in the city. I may or may not be able to accommodate a rush job, depending on the details. It is not only my schedule that is a factor, but there has to be room on the bench. I make a point of promptly replying to update requests even if I can just say I haven’t got to your gear yet.
- Limit 2-3 items per customer per visit. This is so I can manage space well, and distribute priority among all my clients as well as possible. There is some wiggle room in this especially if you have a long drive to get here.
- Pickup within a week is preferred. After two weeks I may charge storage fees, since space is a valuable resource. But I don’t want to do this so please pick up your gear in good time. If you know you will be out of town for a bit when you are dropping off gear or have gear here already please let me know and I can work with that. I will be particularly insistent on prompt pickup when dealing with large speakers.
- This equipment (especially the switches and pots) is happier when in use, so the best time to get your gear serviced is when you are ready to use it.
- Bring me the right component! Especially if you have a more complex system, take basic troubleshooting steps to confirm where the issue is. See the troubleshooting section under the “Resources” tab for more information. This is especially important if you have an intermittent issue that is infrequent.
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Don’t order capacitor/restoration kits from Ebay. These kits have huge markup and are targeted at people who don’t know how find the parts they need directly from the major parts suppliers (Mouser/DigiKey). Parts in these kits are usually of acceptable quality but often the parts I use are better. Tube amp kits might require re-stuffing the original main filter caps and I won’t use that approach as it is a massive pain. I reserve the right to decline to use any parts that you bring me.
I have most capacitors and transistors I need on hand and I regularly order from Mouser and DigiKey.
You can order foam kits for your speakers if you want, just make sure to get the right ones!
You can bring me lamp kits as well if you want. Depending on the unit, this can save your unit sitting here while I order parts. Though I stock a variety of lamps and LEDs as well.
Warranty
I’ve never set exact terms for warranties, but I’m known to be quite lenient, especially for restoration projects, or gear I’ve sold. The vast majority of items that come back for a second pass need only minor adjustments that can be done quickly, and I don’t have to go through the entire unit again. Warranty may not cover an issue if it was beyond the scope of the original repair or caused by user error (like shorting speaker wires). I can’t predict every failure.