[Amps] MFJ products

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:15:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: Glen Zook <gzook at yahoo.com>
To: "Roger \(K8RI\)" <k8ri at rogerhalstead.com>, "amps at contesting.com"
<amps at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] MFJ products
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<1347329723.83241.YahooMailNeo at web121706.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
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The main problem with mfj is their quality assurance. ?Way too many products come with missing hardware, extra hardware (probably from the last unit down the line which is missing hardware), poor soldering, no solder on some joints, and so on. ?After these deficiencies in the unit are taken care of, the mfj equipment usually works very well, especially for the cost of the item. ?If one purchases an mfj item with the understanding that it is a "semi-kit" (some final assembly required), then the purchaser should be happy.

Unfortunately, way too many newcomers to amateur radio purchase mfj items who do not have the experience to troubleshoot and repair the unit. ?As such, those persons are usually unhappy or become disillusioned with amateur radio.

Over the years, I have owned several mfj items. ?All but 2 of those came to me not working because of the aforementioned reasons and the owner didn't want to bother with fixing it himself / herself and didn't want to have to pay someone to repair the item. ?I have bought exactly 2 mfj units new. ?One of those was one of their relatively inexpensive keyers (it had some bad soldering and a couple of missing hardware items) and the other was a 24-hour clock. ?Now the clock has worked fine from the start. ?However, the clock was built "off shore" and just the mfj logo was put on it.
?
Glen, K9STH

##  If it doesn’t  work when bought new....just send the damned thing back !     Here’s a better idea.     If you want  MFJ-Ameritron item XXX...then  buy TWO  of em.     Once they arrive, then test em both out.
If one is good and one is a dud, send the dud back for a refund.   If they are both duds, then use parts from one to fix the other..then send the remaining dud back.   If they are both good, then beat on both of em
for a month....and if both still good, then send one back for a refund.  If 2 x good items blow up after a month, then send em both back..and buy something else. 

##  MFJ is saving nothing with their piss poor QC.    They will just spend all their time + $$  fielding endless calls and paying to return item XXX, then  repairing item XXX, then paying to re-ship item XXX again. 
If the repaired item is still a dud, then repeat the entire process  over and over till the end user is satisfied.    The end user is just fooling himself buying this junk in the 1st place.   Once the meager warranty has expired,
the end user is screwed, since it will no doubt bite the dust at some point, and  will then have to pay shipping both ways to MFJ + repair costs. 

##  since joe ham will have to learn how to re-design said junk, and repair it too, then modify it so it actually works,  you may as well put your talents to better use, and   design and build your own amp, etc. 
In the end, quality is cheap. 

Jim   VE7RF