Question about Excal. repair prices

[Tom_in_CA]

For those of you who have sent in an Excaliber for repair, in Las Vegas, what was the price you paid?

I'm thinking of sending one in that is absolutely hosed. I've done my own mickey-mouse hipmount job years ago, I've installed my own 2nd set of headphone in it long ago (so the box has been opened up), I've cut and soldered the cable on my own in the past, so it's only rain-proof, not dive proof, with black tape at that junction. Various knobs are missing. Currently, the threshold drifts up and down and it bongs for no reason. I'm pretty sure the problem is internal, as opposed to a simple frayed chord (which is a common problem for hipmounted units, which tend to stress the cable), because when I set it down motionless, it still quivers and bongs, with no motion to the chords.

So worst case scenario, what does Las Vegas charge for a sickly old machine like this? I tried calling them today, but they are closed for Good Friday and the Holiday weekend.

Next question: The headphone only works in one ear, BUT these are after-market Grey Ghosts that I installed myself years ago. Will Las Vegas work on those, or do they only work on stock-headphone setup? If they won't mess with the Grey Ghosts, then am I to assume they'll install a stock Minelab headphones on them, since the Grey Ghosts are out?

 

[greenmeanie]

I thought you where selling this?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Hi green, I did list it for sale "as is", and got bombarded with emails. Most were lookie-lous, or persons wanting to trade things, or persons who balked at anything over $100, etc.. I still have a few that I may get back to, as the offers are something for me to think about. But I also want to entertain the idea of simply fixing it up, and then selling it as "factory refurbished", because I have a feeling (based on the ongoing popularity of Excalibers) that I could re-coup whatever price paid to Las Vegas, if I fixed it up and THEN sold it. Another reason I didn't end up selling as is, is that one factor I reported in the for-sale ad, turned out was worse than I thought: The headphones, rather than *sometimes* working only in 1 ear, unless you tap on them, NOW only work in one ear, no matter tap or wiggle or whatever. So rather than re-list, or clarify, I figured I'd check into getting repaired.

Closing prices on Ebay are going for in the neighborhood of $500 to $600-ish. So if I accepted $200 (let's just say) for "as is", then you can see it would be more worthwhile to fix it up (assuming the repair costs stayed under $300-ish), and sell as a good working unit.

So I'm just contemplating my options, since a few of the replies had fallen through, on my "as is" option.

 

[JHM]

I doubt they will work on the headphones. I pretty sure their labor is $50 per hour plus parts.

 

[Gulf Hunter]

Tom, I'm sure they will estimate the repairs if you ask them to, before actually performing the work. I'm sure there will be a diagnosis fee. Most of my minor repairs and installations have cost around $75-$100. You will more than likely have more than that, with the severity of issues you described. There will more than likely be no consideration to reinstalling or repairing the Gray Ghost's though. They will more than likely only put everything back to stock and hardwire them back up. Write a very detailed note describing all issues, so they will know where to start and ask for a call on the estimate, before the actual repairs are performed. It is certainly worth at least estimating the repairs, as used units go for around $800 or so, depending on their condition. Let us know how you come out.

 

[Sand Scoop]

I just sent mine in for repair.It had a break in the wire somewhere around the main unit. They gave me an estimate of around $75.00...