I'm still undecided whether I am happy with this transaction or not, but Fsal over at GWT did finally come through for me and after some initial anger on both sides everything was resolved.
Here's what happened:
I ordered a Contra Jamma board from GWT around mid-end February. Board took FOUR weeks to arrive. When it did arrive, it looked rather beat, so I pulled out some trusty electronics cleaner (non-conductive) and cleaned it up some on the connectors. After a day and a half to insure all the connections were dry, I plugged it in to try it out and... all it did was flash and create a little fart in my speakers. Game almost came up once, then died. I never got it to the point where I could play it.
So I shot the dude an email, and told him it didn't work. The email reply I got back was basically "board worked fine here. You cleaned it and messed it up."
Needless to say, I was pretty pissed at this point, having paid $80 after s/h for a board I coulda gotten off eBay for $40. So I emailed the dude back, telling him it was cleaned with non-conductive (ie, shouldn't have done any damage) cleaner and that, since he fucked me outta $80, I would make sure to tell everyone about his crappy deal.
This changed his tune rather quickly, and he was suddenly happy to help me, as long as I shipped the board back and paid the return over seas freight for a replacement board. So I returned the board and waited. And waited and waited. Nothing. I emailed him again and he said the board could be a few more weeks, and that I could swap for something else instead. I looked through his list of boards and MVS Carts, but nothing was appealing to me (especially when it would cost an extra $70+ for something else he had in stock)... my older brother really wanted Contra. I waited 3 (I think it was 3 weeks) more weeks and still nothing. I contacted him again, and I had basically decided to trade for a Double Dragon board. He kindly asked for 1 more week. I complied and within a week he emailed me to let me know the board had showed up. I was to pay $28 over seas freight and $7 shipping to my house. He ran the board 24 hrs. to insure it was in working order and then sent it out (even before I had Pay Pal 'ed the money to him. I could have fucked him over and not sent payment, but I am generally an honest person). The board showed up the next day and it works really well.
In the end, Fsal and GWT came through for me, $35 more than I had expected to pay, but they did come through. I plan on purchasing from them at least one more time to give them another try.
Just wanted to share my experience with any would-be buyers. I still have all his emails, if anyone really cares to read them.
Here's what happened:
I ordered a Contra Jamma board from GWT around mid-end February. Board took FOUR weeks to arrive. When it did arrive, it looked rather beat, so I pulled out some trusty electronics cleaner (non-conductive) and cleaned it up some on the connectors. After a day and a half to insure all the connections were dry, I plugged it in to try it out and... all it did was flash and create a little fart in my speakers. Game almost came up once, then died. I never got it to the point where I could play it.
So I shot the dude an email, and told him it didn't work. The email reply I got back was basically "board worked fine here. You cleaned it and messed it up."
Needless to say, I was pretty pissed at this point, having paid $80 after s/h for a board I coulda gotten off eBay for $40. So I emailed the dude back, telling him it was cleaned with non-conductive (ie, shouldn't have done any damage) cleaner and that, since he fucked me outta $80, I would make sure to tell everyone about his crappy deal.
This changed his tune rather quickly, and he was suddenly happy to help me, as long as I shipped the board back and paid the return over seas freight for a replacement board. So I returned the board and waited. And waited and waited. Nothing. I emailed him again and he said the board could be a few more weeks, and that I could swap for something else instead. I looked through his list of boards and MVS Carts, but nothing was appealing to me (especially when it would cost an extra $70+ for something else he had in stock)... my older brother really wanted Contra. I waited 3 (I think it was 3 weeks) more weeks and still nothing. I contacted him again, and I had basically decided to trade for a Double Dragon board. He kindly asked for 1 more week. I complied and within a week he emailed me to let me know the board had showed up. I was to pay $28 over seas freight and $7 shipping to my house. He ran the board 24 hrs. to insure it was in working order and then sent it out (even before I had Pay Pal 'ed the money to him. I could have fucked him over and not sent payment, but I am generally an honest person). The board showed up the next day and it works really well.
In the end, Fsal and GWT came through for me, $35 more than I had expected to pay, but they did come through. I plan on purchasing from them at least one more time to give them another try.
Just wanted to share my experience with any would-be buyers. I still have all his emails, if anyone really cares to read them.
