Amazon seller may have sent me a dead NES top loader
It was over $100 so wasn't cheap. The seller claimed that the system is in very good condition, tested, with everything cleaned and working great.
The console does have some cosmetic issues. It doesn't look like it was cleaned very well. There are some blemishes. And a kid wrote "Alex" on the bottom. None of that is a big deal if the console actually works.
The thing is, nothing happens when I flip the power switch. I do mean NOTHING. I can't even get a black screen to come up. Because there is no light on the console, I don't even know if it is powering on at all.
I checked the AC adapter with a multimeter. The adapter is fine. The RF seems to be fine. When I have the switchbox attached to the TV andthe cable for satellite reception attached to the switchbox, the satellite signal comes through , but nothing happens when I turn on the console. Both TV and console are set to channel 3. And it is a tube TV so no issues playing old consoles on it.
I've never had a console just not turn on before. I would rather not have to open it up myself and do repair work. I'd be afraid of wrecking it even further in case I do send it back. The main reason why I bought a top loader was for the convenience of not having to do a bunch of manual repairs. They're supposed to be more reliable. WHY would I be sent a dud anyway? Is it possible that they did recently test it and something happened during shipping? Or they sent me something that they tested ten years ago and it worked great then? The seller has a great overall customer feedback rating so I wasn't expecting this.
I put a return request on Amazon a couple days ago and still no response from seller. How long does it usually take for a seller to respond? What should I try in the mean time? I feel like I've tried everything short of opening it up. Purchasing stuff online is always a gamble, I guess.
The console does have some cosmetic issues. It doesn't look like it was cleaned very well. There are some blemishes. And a kid wrote "Alex" on the bottom. None of that is a big deal if the console actually works.
The thing is, nothing happens when I flip the power switch. I do mean NOTHING. I can't even get a black screen to come up. Because there is no light on the console, I don't even know if it is powering on at all.
I checked the AC adapter with a multimeter. The adapter is fine. The RF seems to be fine. When I have the switchbox attached to the TV andthe cable for satellite reception attached to the switchbox, the satellite signal comes through , but nothing happens when I turn on the console. Both TV and console are set to channel 3. And it is a tube TV so no issues playing old consoles on it.
I've never had a console just not turn on before. I would rather not have to open it up myself and do repair work. I'd be afraid of wrecking it even further in case I do send it back. The main reason why I bought a top loader was for the convenience of not having to do a bunch of manual repairs. They're supposed to be more reliable. WHY would I be sent a dud anyway? Is it possible that they did recently test it and something happened during shipping? Or they sent me something that they tested ten years ago and it worked great then? The seller has a great overall customer feedback rating so I wasn't expecting this.
I put a return request on Amazon a couple days ago and still no response from seller. How long does it usually take for a seller to respond? What should I try in the mean time? I feel like I've tried everything short of opening it up. Purchasing stuff online is always a gamble, I guess.
Comments
If not, then the 7805 voltage regulator is probably broken. You'd have to open the NES and check for voltage before the 7805 and after.
But seriously, don't bother opening it up, troubleshooting, etc. That's my opinion anyways. If you paid a premium price for something that showed up in less than "very good" condition that doesn't even work, it's not worth the hassle. If the seller doesn't respond, open a claim with Amazon.
Here's the link for you, http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=537868
BTW, If you're patient, you can snag a NICE top loader for less than $100.
Just hold tight and complete the return. If the seller doesn't get back to you, file a claim with Amazon. It's kinda like eBay, but you get to buy stuff without seeing pictures of it! Hooray!
But seriously, don't bother opening it up, troubleshooting, etc. That's my opinion anyways. If you paid a premium price for something that showed up in less than "very good" condition that doesn't even work, it's not worth the hassle. If the seller doesn't respond, open a claim with Amazon.
Here's the link for you, http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/cus...
BTW, If you're patient, you can snag a NICE top loader for less than $100.
I'll probably do that.
I wonder what the story is. Did they really clean and test the console? When did they test it? Why would it arrive in such condition that it doesn't turn on? I've never had an old console not even turn on. So many questions.
I'll probably do that.
I wonder what the story is. Did they really clean and test the console? When did they test it? Why would it arrive in such condition that it doesn't turn on? I've never had an old console not even turn on. So many questions.
Well, bud, I hate it for you, I really do. Amazon Marketplace is generally not worth the hassle, I've noticed that a lot of sellers there are pretty unscrupulous. It's not all sellers, but most. My main issue with buying retro games/consoles from AM is that there aren't pictures of the individual item, even with a feedback system it's a crapshoot. I got incredibly lucky ONE TIME (NOS PS1 game advertised as "Like New" at used prices), but for the most part you're getting a lot less than you paid for, condition wise.
I'm sure you'll get a refund from Amazon if the seller doesn't get back in touch with you.
Here's hoping you can find a reasonably priced, WORKING, top loader sooner rather than later.
Things happen, especially with little to no explanation. Hopefully the seller understands.
There's nothing that can be done for any preventative measures against getting a dud, but if anything, it's less hit or miss than you think. This has to be a 1 in a million chance. Most are very reliable, so if you see another console, pick it up.
I mailed back the console on Sept. 11 and hadn't heard anything back from the seller since. I sent a message on Oct. 9 asking what is going on. The seller said that he's sorry and has been out of town, but that he has it there, and that he'll test it and message me this evening. Well it's now the 14th and no message back. Unless the seller is having a horrible personal crisis that is taking all of his time, this is getting annoying.
Its been a month, file that claim bro. Get your money back, and go somewhere other than amazon if youre not buying a DVD or a book.
The refund went through today after the second e-mail I gave to the seller, so everything is cool. I don't usually have any issues ordering from Amazon.
A rule of thumb I use for Amazon is that if an item isnt atleast fulfilled by amazon, I dont buy it.
I dont understand that personally, just file a claim. No big deal.
A rule of thumb I use for Amazon is that if an item isnt atleast fulfilled by amazon, I dont buy it.
I dont understand that personally, just file a claim. No big deal.
I have found the return process to be a lot easier when returning to Amazon as aposed to a 3rd party.
For exampl, I have a problem with an Amazon item, they give me a return label, I send it back to them, and I get a refund once checked in at the fulfilment center.
With a 3rd party, they get it and sit on it for a month like what happened here and you're forced to file a claim.
A rule of thumb I use for Amazon is that if an item isnt atleast fulfilled by amazon, I dont buy it.
I dont understand that personally, just file a claim. No big deal.
I have found the return process to be a lot easier when returning to Amazon as aposed to a 3rd party. For exampl, I have a problem with an Amazon item, they give me a return label, I send it back to them, and I get a refund once checked in at the fulfilment center. With a 3rd party, they get it and sit on it for a month like what happened here and you're forced to file a claim.
File a freaking claim then, its like you've never had to use ebay lol. I contact the seller and give the 24 hours to answer me. Thats it, start that process right away, I normally have my money back to me within the week max. Waiting a month is borderline mental retardation... Get the crap done already haha
Just hold tight and complete the return. If the seller doesn't get back to you, file a claim with Amazon. It's kinda like eBay, but you get to buy stuff without seeing pictures of it! Hooray!
But seriously, don't bother opening it up, troubleshooting, etc. That's my opinion anyways. If you paid a premium price for something that showed up in less than "very good" condition that doesn't even work, it's not worth the hassle. If the seller doesn't respond, open a claim with Amazon.
Here's the link for you, http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=5...
BTW, If you're patient, you can snag a NICE top loader for less than $100.
I'll probably do that.
I wonder what the story is. Did they really clean and test the console? When did they test it? Why would it arrive in such condition that it doesn't turn on? I've never had an old console not even turn on. So many questions.
I once bought a Wii U remote from one of these Amazon resellers, it was advertised as "New" but with a damaged box. When I got it, the box was indeed in bad shape but the controller was so dirty it had food and/or boogers on it, the little holes for the speaker were filled by some weird stuff, it was scratched, so oily it looked like the person who used it before was eating onion rings right out of the fryer... Didn't have any issue returning it and getting all my money back, but the seller had to pay for return shipping and if he took 10 seconds to actually look at the item before shipping everyone would have been happy.
In the end I spent a few more dollars and got a refurbished from Nintendo's website.