TX Auction & the 'ol runaround!!!

[doodude]

So after a couple of months, Curt & the gang finally pick up the Penguin that they couldnt bother to help me with & the Aquanine with the top wood frame cracked in 2 places.
Im assured that all will be handled to my satisfactin & we're so sorry.
I just received emails that, Lawd Have Mussy, they is healed & after a little cleaning theyll be shipped right back to me!
The Aquanine has a little structual damage thats all. Were gonna fix that!
Whadya mean the Penguin dosent work, look...its working great!
Arent you satisfied?
And Curt didnt have the uh...gumption to tell me, he had another dept do it. The Tech Dept.
Lets pass it around & finally he'll just go away!
Ive never had to get my Credit Card co involved in a bad deal. Anyone got any suggestions before I get started?

[JamesM]

DooDude,
I deal with the public, and offer these thoughts:
1) Tell Curt exactly and specificly your needs in a calm manor.
2) As a last resort, politely mention you'd like to avoid a CC card hold.
3) I'd like to think if Curt understood your requirements, He'd act honorably

[DiskDevil]

James is right....

1. Stay Calm...Cool...Collected
2. No verbal threats
3. Mention the Credit Card dispute as the last resort.
4 See number one

I would ask that the aqua nine be replaced not fixed. No matter how they fix it you will always notice the damage(trust me) The only exception would be a deep discount or partial refund. The penguin I would take back if it was repaired and worked 100% The bottom line is if it was structural damage it needs to be replaced. I hope they do the right thing.....

[clau]

I thought I would share my experience with Curt and a few of the machines that I have purchased.

First, I purchased Apollo 13 that had problems, I called for tech support and was asked to return it. Curt sent me back a replacement.

Second, I purchased Alligator. When I received it the ball shooter knob would not turn. I called for tech support and was talked through the process of removing the knob and looking for "match stick remnants". It turned out to be a small chunk of plastic or something that I had to sand off. The machine works fine now. (Incidentally, I was told that this machine was thoroughly tested prior to being shipped to me - however, I'm not sure how this was possible given that the shooter knob would not turn)

Third, I purchased an older Sea Story that the video went out on after playing for less than a minute. I called for tech support and was asked to return it. After a week or two, Curt told me he knew I would never be happy with it and refunded my money(full purchase price w/shipping) - it was on ebay a few days later listed at $10 more than I had purchased it for.

Fourth, I purchased Twin Tales, it was making a horrible squealing noise and the lanterns would not move. I called for tech support and was talked through the process of taking the machine apart to get to the motors. I had to disassemble the motors and lubricate them (old, dirty, hardened grease chunks were preventing the motors from turning). The machine is now working fine.

Fifth, I purchased Fever the King, this game was not paying out balls and the lights did not seem to be working correctly. I called for tech support and was asked to return the machine. I explained to Curt that I really liked this machine and was afraid that he would not repair and return it to me - I didn't want to lose this game! For some reason, the tech was either unable or unwilling to talk me through this issue. To resolve the problem, Curt refunded my entire purchase price (less shipping) and let me keep the machine. It turns out that the light problem was the utility lights, which remained on, due to the ball payout problem. The ball payout problem is a faulty ball counter/payout box - this continues to be a problem, working only occassionally but it really doesn't effect the overall gameplay.

The moral of my story...I believe Curt is well intentioned in customer service but is sometimes driven by greed or circumstances beyond his control. In the case of the Sea Story, he had told me several times that it should have been listed at a much higher price than what I had paid. In the case of the Fever the King, when I made my purchase he had only one more to sell, it was already listed on ebay, and they were selling very well - this was also at the time that they had just completed the buyout of Republic and I think, administratively, the place was in a bit of chaos.

Bottomline: Doodude - state very clearly and calmly to Curt what it is that you want. If you do not want replacements because you do not believe they will be received in acceptable working order tell him this. Let him know you want a full refund.

Good Luck!!

[slotter]

I'd say, after reading the above, that TA is selling crummy, broken machines and hoping for the best? Hey, one machine out of the bunch, I can understand, but you basically had trouble with all of them. That's just crazy! Who needs that aggravation?

[johntofva]

I agree with the others above. I to received a bad machine machine from TA (Not TA's fault, but FedEx.) Curt did put his all into it and resolved the matter better than I could have hoped for. This is why there is a X2 in my signature line. The only thing I regret is: That I did not keep my cool to start with (sorta of the proverbial putting my foot in my mouth)...........Keep the faith doodude and be honest with them. They will do the right thing.

[Tulsa]

You know Clau, Arby and I researched the balls not coming out problem for a few hours on the phone one day and solved the issue. It's a stuck sprocket that simply needs to be reseated. In the middle on the right side of the back of the machine is a white plastic box that needs to be removed and opened to reseat the sprocket. Certainly there is no guarantee this will work for you but it has worked on more than one of this model. I think we might have some pictures around here somewhere on it.

[doodude]

Thanks for the advise, guys.
I wrote Curt an email when I was pissed but cut it way back to just the facts mam!
I stated I just wanted my money & I would call my CC co if I didnt rec it all. Although, a repaired & working Penguin I have no problem with. A repaired Aquanine is a no go.
We'll see what happens...
Thanks.

[doodude]

So I email Curt this am after reading the post here & with a cooler head offer a comprimise.
Ill take the Penguin if its 100 %.
I wont take the aqaunine or a replacement cuz I dont know if I could tell it was a replacement.
While I was writting him he was writting me. He wanted the dates of purchase (?) so he could issue refunds...

[clau]

Tulsa, thanks for the info. I will look around and see what I can find.

I have removed this box, disassembled & reassembled it. It was working for a short period of time and then quit. Last week, I was just walking down the line of pachinkos, giving them all a short workout, and it was paying out. I tried it again a couple days ago and it has quit again. Obviously something isn't seated correctly. I absolutely love the tease of the reels on this game so even though it refuses to behave correctly I have still given it a place of honor on the gameroom wall.

[arbycoffee]

clau sent you PM

[JamesM]

Johntofva,
I always thought Penquin x 2 ment you have two Penguins for some reason

[doodude]

Johntofva,
I always thought Penquin x 2 ment you have two Penguins for some reason

Its dosent???

[johntofva]

Its dosent???

Oh.....it does. The second one they let me keep after sending it back 3 or 4 times. (FedEx has I real problem with sending things to the wrong place.) After the fourth time, Curt said it just wasn't worth it and I could keep it. You can imagine what a pachinko machine looks like after FedEx has it for about 6 weeks. The case was splinters and the plastic was in pieces. A large portion of the wires were cut. But the circuits, playing field and glass (strangely enough) were in perfect condition.

I couldn't leave this poor child like this. So I rebuilt it. And made it better than it was with; sold oak cabinet, fiber optic and LED lights, and a pay out hopper big enough to hold 5000 balls. It sure is a pretty thing. (And I had a lot of fun doing it.)

[doodude]

Id like to see a pic of that...

[doodude]

Well, the conclusion is...

I got my full refund on the AQ9 this am thru Ppal.
This morning I offered to take the Penguin if 100% operational. I did like it!

Last night I received an email from TA's tech that the Penguin had no problems & he would be sending it back.

Today I get an email from Curt that said the Penguin arrived "from the whse" in pieces & he guessed a rebate was in order.
He'll send a check as Ppal wont accept a refund after 60 days.

Ive just found my dealings with TA sort of bizarre.
A sure case of the left hand not knowing what the heck the right hand is doing.

Ill feel better when Ive cashed the check for the Penguin & the security alarm dosent go off but I guess Im free & clear of this mess.
Thanks for everyones words of wisdom...

[arbycoffee]

whey!

[JamesM]

Does the Happy Penguin dance

[doodude]

Does the Happy Penguin dance

Can you just see that one going right over this truckers flat top?

[Tulsa]

Watch for your penguin to be on eBay again, real soon.