Have I bought a lemon

[zaph]

I bought a Clarke mig 90en from ebay to do up a car. To get the welder delivered I had to start a case in Paypal, and I think I know why. The orange light on the power switch is permanently on, and the welder is completely dead.

Does this mean the thermal overload has triggered? Would the wire feed work without any work, just by pressing the trigger? I ask, because I am cover by buyer protection from paypal, and if it is faulty I want to get my money back.

Frankly I wish I had bought new, ebay is simply not worth the hassle.

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome to the forum.

The amber light does mean the overload has triggered and this will shut down the welding current and wire feed.

It could be just that a wire has come off the overload trip.

Unplug the unit from the mains and take the cover off, the overload device will be a small button-like object with two wires connected to it. It will be fastened to the heatsink, a chunk of aluminium with the rectifiers fixed to it.

 

[ibrooks]

I'd be wary of pulling the cover off. If it was mine that I had been using for a while then yes sure I'd pull the lid off and check to see if it could be fixed but on something I'd just bought as working then if it didn't work as described straight out of the box then I'd just bounce it. If you pull the cover off then you are laying yourself open to claims from the other party that you've damaged it and it was fine when they sent it. Just be wary of then stinging you for return postage - it's fairly common for them to offer a refund once you have sent it back but they only refund what you paid them in the first place which doesn't cover what you've had to shell out to send it back (which in the case of a welder is going to be a fair amount as they aren't know for being light).

Whereabouts are you? (town rather than just Yorkshire). There might be someone local who is willing to come and cast an eye over it to make sure it's not just something with the setup that's wrong.

Iain

 

[zardoz]

If its second hand off ebay, then it might be worth having a look see at the overload switch/device. It may well be something simple.

If it were new then yes I'd just bounce it back via registered post.

Only you can make the decision as to wether or not its worth it.

 

[rtbcomp]

If it was bought new from a dealer the dealer has to pay return postage for faulty goods

http://www.out-law.com/page-430#Refunds

If it was bought privately then you're stuffed; unless you can show a dealer was masquerading as a private seller, which will open a whole new can of worms!

 

[zzr1200]

I'd get my money back if I were you.....new or try before you buy is always the best way...

Although I would trust a well respected member on here selling a welder un-seen.

 

[zaph]

Thank for the replies and it is going back. Even if I lose some money, the seller isn't going to profit. Thankfully I used paypal, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Next time I am definitely buying new, too many con artists about.

 

[Marc.]

I hope you get it sorted. I use parcelbroker.co.uk for my parcels, they are competitively priced and collect from your home and deliver within 24 hours usually.... unlike hermes etc where you dont see your parcel for months.....

 

[Robotstar5]

I hope you get it sorted. I use parcelbroker.co.uk for my parcels, they are competitively priced and collect from your home and deliver within 24 hours usually.... unlike hermes etc where you dont see your parcel for months.....

Do they give a collection time/slot? my usual carriers now want me to wait in from 0700 to 1700! no good as I work shifts.

 

[the snooper]

If it was bought new from a dealer the dealer has to pay return postage for faulty goods


If it was bought privately then you're stuffed; unless you can show a dealer was masquerading as a private seller, which will open a whole new can of worms!

not on ebay, if it was described as working but it doesnt then he can start a case stating the good are not as described, and ebay will sort out a refund with the seller and return at the sellers expence

 

[ibrooks]

not on ebay, if it was described as working but it doesnt then he can start a case stating the good are not as described, and ebay will sort out a refund with the seller and return at the sellers expence

That's the idea but it's not unusual for sellers to get you to send it back at your own cost and then only refund the original Paypal payment leaving you out of pocket by one set of postage. Ebay simply see that the payment has been refunded and assume that everything is fine.

Hold out for the seller to arrange the pickup so they pay for it from the start if you can.

Iain

 

[zaph]

Thanks for all the replies. Anyway I won my case, but I have to pay for postage. At this point I am past caring, I just want shot of the thing.

This time I am going to buy new, and think of it as an investment. I have always wanted to learn, plus I have got my triumph dolomite going. So it needs to be welded.