scammed on Broken LS - Can anyone help?

[StalkS]

:(

The below is a private message I am trying to get through to Gray Mole. I know he seems to be AWOL at the moment so I was wondering if there is anyone else would be able to assist or offer advice. Any Help would be greatly appreciated.

NB. I Know the LS is not the greatest of units at the moment but it was a step up from my old XE and it seemed like a reasonable price to get back into phase change cooling.

"Hey Gray Mole,

You have been pretty much been recommended to me by just about everyone on the Scene as well as two of my friends....

I have just been stung on ebay for a bunch of spare parts that supposedly work together to become vapochill LS. In reality the guy sold me a dud for £170 and is refusing to refund my money (Don't even go there I am fuming!)

Basically, the vapochill was advertised as fully functioning but without the exterior casing. I did not mind this as I was thinking about incorporating it into Lian-Li V2000. However when the vapochill turned up it was immediately apparent the evaporator arm had sheared off exposing the capillary tube inside and all the coolant had escaped. (it had even been previously covered with gaffer tape to disguise the fact it was broken. )

It is looking more and more likely that I will not be getting a refund for various reasons...(did not pay through PayPal....He shipped the item via standard parcel instead of the courier I paid for...The guy is a scam artist). So I was wondering if you could maybe help with restoring if not improving the LS into some sort of operational state? To be really honest I am on a real tight budget with this so would really appreciate your input/assessment. That is if you are interested and if not, maybe you could recommend an alternative solution?

I guess my goal is to get the thing re-gassed, operational and into a case.

I hope you do not mind me contacting you about this but as i said you come very highly recommended.


Kind regards


StalkS"

[[XC] 2long4u]

Wow join date is November and this is your first post?
I take it you are in the UK?
You may find an appliance repair shop that would do it. Find one that repairs water coolers as they are small also. Make sure they charge by superheat.

[jimmyz]

Good advice is hard to give without knowing more. can you get some good pictures of the damaged area and some overall shots as well. (these guys can spot things you wouldn't ever notice). A small appliance repair shop is most likely going to be cheapest but a true builder would be far better and worth the extra money. also you have posted on e-bay to let others know right? and did you contact e-bay to alert them? scammers should never be allowed to get away with it.

[teyber]

ya mate where are you located?

[{.bLanK} GoD]

Gray has been recovering from injury's, and is also a very busy man.
He hasn't been on the forums much at all lately, so is either very very busy or still recovering. or both.
But you are right, he is one of, if not "the" best in what he does in the UK.
Sorry to hear you got scammed.
Report him to ebay if you can, tell everybody who he is so we can stay away from him too.

[Pete]

Grays not about at the mo. I talk to him a fair bit and will say about it when i next speak to him too see if he is intrested.

If you PM, mail me i might be intrested.

I presume your in the UK as you've not bothered too say or put it on your profile here, pointless in not bothering personly.

I didn't read all of what ya put as im busy but i will look over as and when i can

[StalkS]

Thank you all the for helpful responses!

Sorry for the lack of information on my location you are right I am based in the UK. I did actually post this request once before with the relevant location information but it was either removed or somehow I deleted it by accident. More then likely my mistake as I'm on Easter Holidays and trying to update this post on my eee-pc connecting through my mobile so apologies if it has taken a while to respond in full.

I am due back at work on Tuesday when I can post a few more images. For the moment you can see a few BLURRED images on my site http://stalkerz.co.uk/photo-album.htm

As I said the evaporator arm has completely sheared exposing the capillary tube inside.

you have posted on e-bay to let others know right? and did you contact e-bay to alert them? scammers should never be allowed to get away with it.

I'm trying to be diplomatic and let the seller do the right thing before giving him negative feedback, a eBay dispute has been raised (He has no other items for sale at the moment so no one can get scammed in the near future). I have quickly put a site together detailing all the correspondence so should he not resolve it amicably I will paste the URL into his negative feedback section to warn other potential buyers away. [/URL]

Once again thank you for your responses & PM's (PhilippF), 'Pete' I will PM you now.

Regards


StalkS

[Pete]

Stalks, just picked up your PM. I'll read it now, the missies is KO'd so i have some tim.

[StalkS]

For those of you interested here are a few images of how the unit was packaged and the damage. All the images can be seen Here! (http://www.stalkerz.co.uk/photo-album.htm)

1. = http://www.stalkerz.co.uk/user/cimage/DSC06201.JPG
2. = http://www.stalkerz.co.uk/user/cimage/DSC06202.JPG
Great use of padding Material!?!? Wonder why that silver Gaffer tape is there?
3.= http://www.stalkerz.co.uk/user/cimage/DSC06206.JPG
That can't be good!?
4= http://www.stalkerz.co.uk/user/cimage/DSC06214.JPG

The above just shows the packaging and the damage. The condition of everything else can be seen Here! (http://www.stalkerz.co.uk/photo-album.htm)

Hopefully you can all see why I was bit annoyed. I would once again like to thank everyone for their comments and support. I have to say I feel quite honored to be part of this community. This is my first post + it was a request for help, the quality & professionalism of the members responses/PM's are second to none!


Thanks again



StalkS

[Pete]

Don't worry Stalks, it'll be working again soon

[StalkS]

Thanks Pete! It's a weight off my shoulders knowing you are on the case!!

[killermiller]

reminded me when I got my recovery machine.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=158502

[kingkenny]

Hi Pete....

Are you contactable... regarding my thread on the forums?
Wondered if you was available and free for a re-gass and maybe a bigger condenser so the guys on the thread have
been telling me?

Kind Regards,

King

[teyber]

he is banned here. hes still at www.benchtec.co.uk

[EvoCarlos]

lol thats what happend to mine 20mins after i unrapped it a box had been dropped on top and frctured the stainless linewas an easy fix i just cut 1" off the cap tube and used a blow torch to remove the flex from the suction line then rebrazed it had it vac'd and regassed cost me £36 for parts and blowtorch
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k262/evocarlos/water%20cooled/vapo/Image006-2.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k262/evocarlos/water%20cooled/vapo/Image015-1.jpg

[StalkS]

Hey EvoCarlos,

Great work! :up: I never did get my LS fixed in the end as was hoping to force the Bloke who sold it to me to cough up after legal threats. At least I know where he lives now! ;)

I did'nt realise that Pete had been banned from the board. I still need to have the LS repaired but don't have the confidence in doing a similar fix as yours.

Is there anyone out there who can help with a basic repair job and a re-gas based in the UK? Seeing as I know have the time and a reasonable amount money to reinvest back into the unit after my wedding.

[EvoCarlos]

Hey EvoCarlos,

Great work! :up: I never did get my LS fixed in the end as was hoping to force the Bloke who sold it to me to cough up after legal threats. At least I know where he lives now! ;)

I did'nt realise that Pete had been banned from the board. I still need to have the LS repaired but don't have the confidence in doing a similar fix as yours.

Is there anyone out there who can help with a basic repair job and a re-gas based in the UK? Seeing as I know have the time and a reasonable amount money to reinvest back into the unit after my wedding.

i knew nout about the vapo's and fridge setups so i was a bit scared @ 1st but after alot of reading i set about fixing it up luckally a mate of mine is in the hvac trade and was ready to vac and gas it for me but he had no knowledge of vapo's but had a go all the same £20 got it gassed the silver solder was £2 a lenth the blow torch was a cheap propane/butane £9 new pipe lagging was £3 off ebay

i would fix it up for u but the 125mile gap is to far for me to travle and i dont have the gas to fill it up i have the stuff to do it just not the gas lol

have a look HERE (http://www.pclincs.co.uk/Forums/showthread.php?t=10109) i found it very helpfun on my quest to fix my vapo