Bad MR-8 day :(

[22Fretstick]

I thought I would save some cash and ordered a MR-8 from Musicainsfriend from the scaratch & dent stock and got a DOA recorder. The previous owner had it upgraded to 1.0.5 at least thats what was written on the flash card with a marker.

I unpacked it and plugged it in, turned it on and no power and it smelt like burnt electronics. I wonder if they actually check returns out before they return them to stock?

They told me it must have been damaged in shipping, only the packaging was great and the box was not all banged up.

At first I thought I got a good deal because the only thing missing was the manuel, and I already downloaded that before my purchase....

Now which one of you guys sent that unit back to MF and told them it still worked fine? LOL

[Ed Dixon]

I have generally had very good luck with scratch and dent items from MF. Call them and I bet they send you a new one.

Ed

[22Fretstick]

I did call them and they told me to send it back and they would refund my money, or I could pay the difference and get a new one.
But after I held a non working almost new unit in my hands I question the reliability of the Fostex.
If I do purchase a new one it will have to have the extended warranty.

[billisa]

First of all I'd re-think the extended warranty. If a given unit was bad, it'd most likely show up fairly early on. You very rarely hear of bad MR8's, though obviously it's possible. I'd call MF again, ask to speak with a manager... Tell them how you trusted them to sell you a good piece of gear (that should have been personally inspected by them, and obviously wasn't). Tell them how disappointed you are with what happened. Indicate how shipping couldn't have been the issue, inasmuch as the container was fine. Tell them you expected better service from a company of their caliber, and that you realise all you can do is share your experience on the 'net. If they do not offer to send you a new one at the price you paid for the old one, then walk away and buy one from ZZsounds or 8th Street Music. Then do not buy from MF again.

Back to the MR8, the burning smell to me indicates the previous owner may have done something really amiss to the machine and sent it back...

[22Fretstick]

When I called they said I could pay the differance for a new one, so tomorrow it goes back and I been pricing the ZOOM mrs-4 at music123 and Samash. Im kind of undecided now on which recorder to get.
What sold me on the MR-8 was the ease of use sales pitch and low price.
I been shopping at MF since the Music Emporium days, and over the past 3 years I have had to return maybe 3 out of 10 purchases because I bought some junk.
I bought a ZOOM 506 pedal that quit working 10 minutes after I plugged it in. Maybe it's the nature of digital gear? My Matel hand held football game I had in 3rd grade still worked 10 years later though.
This week I need to buy one of the following:
Fostex MR-8
ZOOM MRS-4
Korg pxr4
Tascam PS5
BOSS ?
I like the idea of a built in rhythm section but can live without it.

[billisa]

Mind you, I own a Fostex VF80, but I don't think the others you mention are in the same league as the MR8. The MR8 offers more tracks and UNCOMPRESSED 16bit recording. Most, perhaps all of the ones you mentioned as alternatives use data compression recording...

[dave in toledo]

i had the same problem, the enter button pushed right into the unit, and after a bit of bitching they sent me a brand new unit...

then they sent me the wrong speaker poles, after a bit of bithcing the sent me the right ones and told me to keep the other ones which i converted into light stands.

lean on them a bit they will come around,

[22Fretstick]

I just noticed that MF is starting to add the AS-IS to the scratch n dent items. Be very carefull and read well before you buy.
I cant imagine buying a $999 studio that didn't work and cant be returned.

[buzzard]

Originally posted by dave in toledo
i had the same problem, the enter button pushed right into the unit, and after a bit of bitching they sent me a brand new unit...

then they sent me the wrong speaker poles, after a bit of bithcing the sent me the right ones and told me to keep the other ones which i converted into light stands.

lean on them a bit they will come around,

I am searching thru and this looks like a common problem now!!

[kdgospel]

I bought some scratch and dent M-Audio monitors. I think it is who you talk to when you call (and you should call about returns). They told me to keep the ones I had (they worked most of the time if you let them warm up for approx. 30 minutes) till I got the new ones and sold me the new ones for the same price as the scratch and dent ones. I can't complain.

[brickboo]

If they read this Forum they are probably gonna want another $300 for an extended warranty.

[cellardweller]

This is not the first time I've heard of MF doing this.

There was a similar post here... somewhere...

Bad luck aside, the MR8 is a good unit, and has come down a bit in price I noticed.

See if full compass carries the MR8 and get your money back. They are almost assuredly cheaper (if they carry them).