"WORST" stories PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

[MALAKAI(old)]

So I'm sure many of you have already told these- or there's a post i missed somewhere

BUT - per Fatdog's comment about his friend's mom giving away a minty Helix - it reminded me of the few bad experiences in my hunting

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOURS though

*My heartbreaker-
I found the MINTIEST Sharp vz-2500 from UK ebay - won it for $150- then shipping was cheap because the guy ships stuff to L.A. for business - too good to be true right?!

no catch -

except

It arrived SPLIT in half - from shipping
The Fed Ex guy straight admitted to killing my box (I picture Jim Carey in Ace Ventura's opening scene)

so i got the shipping insurance and found another one (not as mint)

but man- that first VZ was pristine -

I may send it to Kittmaster one of these days

I have a dead AIWA 880 to go first though (another horror story - shafted on ebay!)

 

[ahardb0dy]

I bought my Aiwa CS-880 brand new back in 82, I used it as anyone would before even thinking about collecting boxes, it had it's share of falls, broken antenna's, scrapes, etc. We moved to Florida from Long Island back in 96 and I left the 880 in my dad's cedar closet in his basement, it sat down there unmolested until last year when we went up to pick up the rest of my stuff. This was a few weeks before the first boombox meet we had and I had it apart as it needed new belts. I had the back half lying flat on top of my turntable in my shed, the front half was leaning against one of those part storage drawer units, I had just painted the grille and re-assembled the front half, the front was leaning where it was for about 2 weeks with no problems. One day I was in the shed working on something else with my back to the front half, all of a sudden I hear something fall onto the concrete floor, I knew what it was without even looking. the front half had fallen off the bench hit the concrete and broke off both front corners of the plastic!! I was so upset, the 880 survived everyday use as a teenager and sat in 1 piece for over 10 years, than when I finally got it back home and was in the process of making it 100% it falls and breaks, I thought my heart was going to come out of my chest I couldn't believe what had happened. I glued the pieces back together as best I can but the cracks are still visible. that is my worst story.

 

[Johnny]

AHARDBODY - If you ever want me to try and makes the cracks less visible, send photos to vaughn.john@yahoo.com

I have a full paint-mixing room and correct clears (semi-gloss) to make it happen.

later-

 

[ahardb0dy]

I thought I took pics of the damage but couldn't find them so I guess I didn't, will take pics tomorrow.

 

[MALAKAI(old)]

AHHH!
of course!

Sorry to hear about that loss!

JOHNNY - that's SUPER cool that you can handle cracks - can i keep your services in mind for future reference?

 

[redbenjoe]

malakai --
as for your other 'worst story' --- the dead 880
please send me a PM in case you decide to sell it --

i collect WORST STORY boxes --
really

 

[bill]

missing the bus arriving at the second hand shop to see a like new panasonic rx5600 being carried out by someone else.
this was not one of my lucky days............

 

[jaredscottfla]

omg i've got several incl losing a helix at a pawn shop when the creep tried jacking up the price on me by nrly Double!
Also my first bbx back in 84 i bought with money( i got my emerson 8track box for selling candy for little league,did not pay $$$) Aiwa W330 Died in a Fire. I replaced it over 20 yrs later Thankfullly for 10.00 on ebay.

 

[Johnny]

Malakai, I'm not really in the business of restoring these boxes, but do have compassion when you hear a story where the damage has occured to a keepsake that has remained like a family member.

So would I try to help someone out with there sick family member, of course.

I really wouldn't have time for 20 boomboxes being dropped off.

Thanks.

 

[Gluecifer]

On one of the occassions I tried to start collecting ghettoblasters about 5 years ago a local pawn shop had a Disco Lite on their shelves. And I ummed and ahhed. And deliberated. It was in there for a couple of weeks, but at $200 I just couldn't justify it (this was long before the Madonna video by the way too) and it needed a bit of work, which at that stage I had no idea about even where to begin on a radio, so I passed.

Eventually it sold, and I was disappointed I didn't get it to this day.

Flash forward to last year when I saw one go on ebay for AU$2000, I made sure I went into the pawn shop and told the guy thats what they go for now. The look of horror on his face as he realised how much more money he could've made on the one he sold eased my pain slightly.... but it was an awful experience and taught me the lesson: always go with your gut feeling on something like that and hang the expense. You can always get more money.. but you may never a get $200 Disco Lite again.



Rock On.

 

[Patron]

On one of the occassions I tried to start collecting ghettoblasters about 5 years ago a local pawn shop had a Disco Lite on their shelves. And I ummed and ahhed. And deliberated. It was in there for a couple of weeks, but at $200 I just couldn't justify it (this was long before the Madonna video by the way too) and it needed a bit of work, which at that stage I had no idea about even where to begin on a radio, so I passed.

Eventually it sold, and I was disappointed I didn't get it to this day.

Flash forward to last year when I saw one go on ebay for AU$2000, I made sure I went into the pawn shop and told the guy thats what they go for now. The look of horror on his face as he realised how much more money he could've made on the one he sold eased my pain slightly.... but it was an awful experience and taught me the lesson: always go with your gut feeling on something like that and hang the expense. You can always get more money.. but you may never a get $200 Disco Lite again.



Rock On.

GLUECIFER< I FEEL your pain about the Discolight but i found mine for 28 dollars at the flea market, dont worry there is more out there.

My worst story is going really early to the swap meet and find a OK, CONION-C100, and ask the seller how much for the radio?, and him saying ,,,,, its been sold for 25. :annoyed: :annoyed: i kept on thinking about that conion for like 3 weeks. hahaha if i only would have been there 10 minutes earlier>...

 

[ViennaSound]

My very first boombox, a PHILIPS 170.
A friend lent it to me for about 2years.
I liked this unit and want to buy it finally from him, but he wanted it back.
A few weeks later he sold it otherwise for a few lousy bugs... :annoyed:

Years later i found one again on flea (20schilling > 1,5euros).
But in bad condition.
Stickers, batterydoor missing and tape dead.

If i will find any time an good conditioned 170, i would get it. :dog:

 

[petergriffin]

I found a Panasonic RX7700 for sale on craigslist. Offered him 100 for it. he agreed. As I was driving to pick it up. He called and said someone offered him more for it.

I had an M90 as a teen, used and abused it for 10 years. then left it in my ex-girlfriends, friends trailer.

Playing with my GF777z, I stripped the screw holders? using a powerdrill to put the cover back on, duh

 

[MALAKAI(old)]

WOW!

reminds me that everyone has the bad with the good

redbenjoe - i'll keep you in mind about the 880 - it's in mint physical - so it's probably just electronic - it was SO hard to get - and i never heard it bump! :annoyed:

i was gonna send it Kitt's way (if he's down) to try and give it life and/or see if someone with more technical knowledge wanted to trade for one of theirs - because I know it will live again

I'll try and take some pics this week and see what you guys think

let me know your thoughts

ahardb0dy - can't wait to see the pics
i got mine somewhere too - I'll dig em up

Johnny - understand about your talents being a "labor of love" not business- thank you though

Gluecifer - I would've taken it for $200! - but only AFTER the Madonna video

my first box was an M90 - and it was a fortune
only cheap come up I've had was a $30 M50 that sounds amazing

I love how you guys find such good prices for the boxes
even at swap meets I've seen em for three figures

 

[ahardb0dy]

 

[hemiguy2006]

Tony ,
Not so bad .
Those can be blended in with a little bit of work.

 

[ahardb0dy]

maybe one day, right now it's, in muscle car speak, a "survivor"

 

[oldskool69]

Got a "Decent" one for you all...

As everyone knows, I've been on the hunt for a Sansui CP-7...in black. One was on the 'Bay recently. And despite valiant efforts by many I missed it. I have been so busy of late that e-Bay had been an afterthought.

Guess who got it??? Imagine the sinking feeling in my innards knowing it was headed to what amounts to a dump in Houston Texas.

 

[71spud]

Yeah, that was the worst Oldie...... to lose out on a PERSONAL GRAIL...... in MINT CONDITION..... with the BOX and stuff... and knowing where it was GOING TO END UP.

I cannot imagine a worse story. I threw up a little in my throat when I first found out about that.... :'-(

 

[ahardb0dy]

soon as you said "decent" I knew where this story was going