What exactly do I have here?

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milsurp

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Hi, I'm new to this and bought a Radio Shack 2050 off Ebay. It is new, as advertised-
but there is a sticker on the box that someone tried to magic marker out. It reads:
"Modified reciever- For use with GA Airnet only". I also notice that the "Trunk" button
seems not functional. Did I get zonked here? Anyone have any idea what "modified"
might mean, in this case? I haven't been able to get anything in, except for the weather
band. (That may be because I'm surrounded by mountains, I'm using the included
antenna). I'd greatly appreciate any help!
 

elk2370bruce

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Return it if you can. Modifications such as these are for unique user situations. This should have been posted on E-bay as part of "condition". If seller won't cooperate, contact Ebay directly and raise hell. If you have the return address, also start with a certified letter to return the item. Keep a copy for your lawyer and small claims court.
 

milsurp

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elk2370bruce said:
Return it if you can. Modifications such as these are for unique user situations. This should have been posted on E-bay as part of "condition". If seller won't cooperate, contact Ebay directly and raise hell. If you have the return address, also start with a certified letter to return the item. Keep a copy for your lawyer and small claims court.

I had a feeling it was too good to be true. Being that this thing was $49.00 plus
$17.00 shipping, small claims court would probably cost Me more than I might
recover. Could it be un-modified, by Radio shack, for a reasonable amount of $$$?
Failing that, I guess I'll have to harass the seller as much as possible, for a refund.

Thanks for the help!
 

Bill2k

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If small claims court is the route you take, add the court costs to the amount you are trying to reclaim. So instead of sueing for $66, you sue for $1066. This is common practice in small claims court.
 

MacombMonitor

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milsurp said:
I had a feeling it was too good to be true. Being that this thing was $49.00 plus
$17.00 shipping, small claims court would probably cost Me more than I might
recover. Could it be un-modified, by Radio shack, for a reasonable amount of $$$?
Failing that, I guess I'll have to harass the seller as much as possible, for a refund.

Thanks for the help!

Don't "harass" the seller, try contacting him. I found the original auction based on the info you supplied. You can even see the sticker you referred to in the picture on their auction. They are an ebaY Power Seller, and have 99.1% Positive Feedback, with over 3,000 auctions. Chances are they we're not aware of the issue, as it does not look like they go into much on the description of the items they sell. They are an electronics recycler.

Explain to them what happened, and ask if you can send it back for a refund. Also, if you payed with PayPal you're covered under the PayPal Buyer's Protection, which works quite well. Their description does not indicate it is a modified scanner...and it claims it is new, so you have a pretty good chance of getting it resolved quickly.

The ebaY seller is: electronicsseller2003
s.gif
 

milsurp

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MacombMonitor said:
Don't "harass" the seller, try contacting him. I found the original auction based on the info you supplied. You can even see the sticker you referred to in the picture on their auction. They are an ebaY Power Seller, and have 99.1% Positive Feedback, with over 3,000 auctions. Chances are they we're not aware of the issue, as it does not look like they go into much on the description of the items they sell. They are an electronics recycler.

Explain to them what happened, and ask if you can send it back for a refund. Also, if you payed with PayPal you're covered under the PayPal Buyer's Protection, which works quite well. Their description does not indicate it is a modified scanner...and it claims it is new, so you have a pretty good chance of getting it resolved quickly.

The ebaY seller is: electronicsseller2003
s.gif

Actually, "Harass" was a poor choice of words on My part. Sent the seller a polite
email & will see where it goes from there. I appreciate all the info, very much!
 

milsurp

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Recieved email from seller, who agreed to accept return for refund.
I'm grateful for all of Your help, now to try and find a functional scanner...
I'm rather leery of Ebay "deals", now. Is it common to see "modified" scanners
such as this one? I just don't have a lot of disposable income, these days,
wanted a scanner that is 800mhz trunkable. Since the hurricane Katrina flood/
disaster, I believe it is a good idea to have a first hand knowledge of what is
going on around You. Could mean the difference between survival or not.
Also, I'm in a rural area & help is not always a few minutes away. Police/
emergency monitoring is a must.

Thanks again, for the advice.
 

flyingwolf

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I picked up an old Pro-92 for 5 dollars at the local goodwill store.
Trunks 800Mhz, so it would be perfect for you.

Unless of course you need digital then your looking at a minimum of 500 dollars.
 

AZScanner

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Somewhere in this room. Right now, you're very col
flyingwolf said:
I picked up an old Pro-92 for 5 dollars at the local goodwill store.

Wow, NICE FIND!!!

I got an old bearcat 16 channel base scanner for $4 once at a thrift store. The clerk thought it was an answering machine. I didn't say a word. :D

I peruse the electronics section of the local thrift shops all the time. Sometimes you can get a smoking deal - I bought a dell PII-400 from one for about $50, including speakers, monitor keyboard and mouse. It's now the wifes "surf and read email" machine.

-AZ
 

flyingwolf

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At that same store I picked up mint condition BC III, gave it a litlte polish on the chrome and while I dont have any crystals for my area, (not that it matters considering my area is mainly digital).

But its all shined up now and sits as a nice reminder of the old styles that seem to have been lost today.

Oh and the cost for that old girl.
12 bucks as part of a set of 5 other radios, 2 old GE multiband radio (now used in the bathroom and kitchen due to its nearly perfect reception.)

And a couple of old parts radios.
 

cristisphoto

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AZScanner said:
Wow, NICE FIND!!!

I got an old bearcat 16 channel base scanner for $4 once at a thrift store. The clerk thought it was an answering machine. I didn't say a word. :D

I peruse the electronics section of the local thrift shops all the time. Sometimes you can get a smoking deal - I bought a dell PII-400 from one for about $50, including speakers, monitor keyboard and mouse. It's now the wifes "surf and read email" machine.

-AZ

Yeah Goodwiil is cool!:lol:
I found A Pentax K1000 which retails at Adolph Gasser
for around $300. http://www.gassers.com/
(the Japanese version whoms body is steel),
for $20. here in San Francisco....

Furthermore, for any repairs:

http://www.iinc.com/ggcomm/

They MAYBE can hep you....
FYI :
I have not had ANY experience with these people but I have seen them posted on these forums so one would naturally assume they are credible.


Crista
PS I wouldn't personaly shop at Adolf hitler eerggh,
Gaasser they are pretentious and prejudiced. LOL
Ya know richie California rich types only LOL
 

milsurp

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May 15, 2006
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I did a bit more research & sniped a used Pro-94, for $62; apparently this is a easier
radio for beginners, than the Pro-2051. (Looks like it would be difficult to program)
The Pro-94 should suit My needs around here. Would an 800mhz antenna really make
a big difference? Luckily, I've found a "better manual for Pro-94" online. Hope that
makes Trunk programming easier. A handheld scanner would be easier to move
between our house and store here, anyway.
 

kb2vxa

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Hi AZ and all,

You think you got a deal? A neighbor came home yesterday from a thrift shop with an Ionic Breeze for $4.00 because the clerk thought it was a fan that didn't work. Yup, don't forget garage sales, estate sales and others that the seller doesn't know what he has but those flea marketeers are viscious and very knowledgable.

I avoid e-Bay because unlike an in person auction you can't examine the merchandise before bidding begins. A picture may be worth a thousand words but an examination is priceless.
 
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