Skippy B. Coyote Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) I wasn't sure exactly where to post this, so the moderators can feel free to move it to a different forum section if it would be more appropriate there, but I did feel that I should share the experience I recently had with Video61 ( http://members.tcq.net/video61/main.html) for the benefit of others in the Atari community who may be considering ordering from them. Here's what happened...Back in December I placed an order from Video61 for a brand new composite video modified Atari 7800 system. It arrived just as advertised and worked great, however some unforeseen financial circumstances at the time lead me to have to sell the system shortly after getting it so earlier this month I decided to order another one along with what was supposed to be a brand new Atari XG-1 Light Gun. However, what I received in the mail yesterday was not "brand new" by a long shot. The system's housing is thoroughly scuffed and scratched up, the chrome strip on top is scratched all over and dented in, the cartridge port is filled with dirt and gunk, and the hole cut for the composite video modification is definitely not professional looking. The light gun is equally covered in dirt and scratches and the front sight post is pretty banged up too. Attached below are pictures of the system and light gun for reference: I emailed Lance (the owner of Video61) about this and was quite polite about the whole thing, showing him the pictures that I just posted above and requesting that I please be allowed to return the system for a replacement or a refund, and here's the reply I got: Oh really? He never said they were new? Let's see here... And how about Video61's website? Suffice it to say Lance isn't the only one who is pissed. I do not appreciate being lied to then berated and guilt tripped for calling a seller out on peddling used, beat up equipment when they're advertising it as brand new and selling it for premium brand new prices. I will be sending the system and light gun back for a refund tomorrow and after this I will never do business with Video61 again. Edited March 22, 2017 by Jin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjameslv Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Yep that guy is a piece of shit. He plainly states "new" in his message to you not "used" and then tries to tell you his bullshit sob story. Thank you for letting us know so we can save others from having to deal with that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulletino Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Looks like he did those mods with one arm too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+groundtrooper Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I am not trying to defend V61. But I was looking through the site this week and noticed this Message on the Front Page. There is a WHOLE bunch of stuff on the site that is labeled as NEW. I think I would take the term "NEW" with a grain of salt after seeing this bad experience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I wasn't sure exactly where to post this, so the moderators can feel free to move it to a different forum section if it would be more appropriate there, but I did feel that I should share the experience I recently had with Video61 ( http://members.tcq.net/video61/main.html) for the benefit of others in the Atari community who may be considering ordering from them. Here's what happened... Back in December I placed an order from Video61 for a brand new composite video modified Atari 7800 system. It arrived just as advertised and worked great, however some unforeseen financial circumstances at the time lead me to have to sell the system shortly after getting it so earlier this month I decided to order another one along with what was supposed to be a brand new Atari XG-1 Light Gun. However, what I received in the mail yesterday was not "brand new" by a long shot. The system's housing is thoroughly scuffed and scratched up, the chrome strip on top is scratched all over and dented in, the cartridge port is filled with dirt and gunk, and the hole cut for the composite video modification is definitely not professional looking. The light gun is equally covered in dirt and scratches and the front sight post is pretty banged up too. Attached below are pictures of the system and light gun for reference: I emailed Lance (the owner of Video61) about this and was quite polite about the whole thing, showing him the pictures that I just posted above and requesting that I please be allowed to return the system for a replacement or a refund, and here's the reply I got: Oh really? He never said they were new? Let's see here... And how about Video61's website? Suffice it to say Lance isn't the only one who is pissed. I do not appreciate being lied to then berated and guilt tripped for calling a seller out on peddling used, beat up equipment when they're advertising it as brand new and selling it for premium brand new prices. I will be sending the system and light gun back for a refund tomorrow and after this I will never do business with Video61 again. i told you repeatedly it would be a rebuilt unit, not a new one. if you wanted a new one, you should have kept the one i sent to you earlier. instead you pissed your wife off buying something she did not approve of, and you had to sell it. also, atari never made a light gun for the 7800, they pulled the light guns out of the XEGS's, and sold them bare, or in a plastic bag. they sent to me 1000's of new light guns, in shipping boxes without any packaging. so go find a new in the box light gun that was made for the atari 7800. then of course i told you i will take them back, and refund your money. instead of screwing you over like you did my son. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 also, atari never made a light gun for the 7800, they pulled the light guns out of the XEGS's, and sold them bare, or in a plastic bag. they sent to me 1000's of new light guns, in shipping boxes without any packaging. so go find a new in the box light gun that was made for the atari 7800. Yes they did sell them new in the box marketed for the 2600\7800. I've owned a few of them over the years. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I wasn't sure exactly where to post this, so the moderators can feel free to move it to a different forum section if it would be more appropriate there, but I did feel that I should share the experience I recently had with Video61 ( http://members.tcq.net/video61/main.html) for the benefit of others in the Atari community who may be considering ordering from them. Here's what happened... Back in December I placed an order from Video61 for a brand new composite video modified Atari 7800 system. It arrived just as advertised and worked great, however some unforeseen financial circumstances at the time lead me to have to sell the system shortly after getting it so earlier this month I decided to order another one along with what was supposed to be a brand new Atari XG-1 Light Gun. However, what I received in the mail yesterday was not "brand new" by a long shot. The system's housing is thoroughly scuffed and scratched up, the chrome strip on top is scratched all over and dented in, the cartridge port is filled with dirt and gunk, and the hole cut for the composite video modification is definitely not professional looking. The light gun is equally covered in dirt and scratches and the front sight post is pretty banged up too. Attached below are pictures of the system and light gun for reference: I emailed Lance (the owner of Video61) about this and was quite polite about the whole thing, showing him the pictures that I just posted above and requesting that I please be allowed to return the system for a replacement or a refund, and here's the reply I got: Oh really? He never said they were new? Let's see here... And how about Video61's website? Suffice it to say Lance isn't the only one who is pissed. I do not appreciate being lied to then berated and guilt tripped for calling a seller out on peddling used, beat up equipment when they're advertising it as brand new and selling it for premium brand new prices. I will be sending the system and light gun back for a refund tomorrow and after this I will never do business with Video61 again. and of course you are using a old e-mail from your original purchase, not this purchase. here is your e-mail to me from this purcahse, this is the first e-mail inquiring about another system, and my response. hi Matt, On Feb 25, 2017, at 3:47 PM, Matt Beard wrote: Hello again Lance! I hope you've been recovering well from your accident and that business has been good for you, I know I referred a couple people on the AtariAge.com forum your way recently. thanks for the kind words, i was told recovery might last 9-11 months more, but it might not be a full recovery, so you never know. thanks for sending people my way. To get down to business though, I'm contacting you because I would like to purchase another composite video modified Atari 7800 system if you still have any left (fingers crossed on that one) boy, i think they are gone for now, and i cannot solder right now. i will ask my son if he is up to it. he has spent his whole life working on computers, now he gets pad for it. but he works full time, plus he helps me by working the warehouse, so he might not have much for time. i wil let you know, otherwise they are gone for now. and an Atari Light Gun as well. i have them. I'm also looking to buy an Atari Jaguar system with composite video cables too, but I didn't see any listed as available on your website so I'm guessing you're out of stock of them. i might have some loose ones, i will have my son check on that. they were new, just never boxed. i have a s-video/composite combo cable. its awesome. Still, I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask and if you do happen to have any reconditioned Jaguar systems left in stock it would be great if I could get a price quote on one in addition to the Atari 7800 system and Atari Light Gun. no problems asking, that is what i am here for. My shipping address is the same as last time, which for reference is: Matthew Beard ok. Thank you again and I'll be looking forward to hearing back from you! Best regards - Matt as soon as i get a answer, i will let you know. thanks, lance www.atarisales.com so where does it say i have a new 7800? where. in fact, i said i was out of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Yes they did sell them new in the box marketed for the 2600\7800. I've owned a few of them over the years. but it says works with bug hunt. a XE game. so where are they available now, in fact, they were hardly ever available period. there were blue boxed XE ones though, with bug hunt. do any of the surviving atari dealers have that unit, or even ever had that unit, doubtful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Yes they did sell them new in the box marketed for the 2600\7800. I've owned a few of them over the years. you better tell atariage that they are wrong also. https://atariage.com/controller_page.php?SystemID=7800&ControllerID=25 Controllers - XE Light Gun System: Atari 7800 Model Number: XG-1 The XE Light Gun is compatible with both the XE Game System and the 7800 ProSystem. The 7800 never had a light gun made for it exclusively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Yes they did sell them new in the box marketed for the 2600\7800. I've owned a few of them over the years. ah, you never said it was a european release. thought so. i have been in the atari business since 1983. in all that time, and from 1989 on wards when i bought directly from atari, i never saw one of those period in the u.s.a.. it was always pulled guns from the XEGS. so if he wants a new 7800 light gun painted red, he better go to europe for one. meanwhile, in the u.s.a., almost everyone gets a ATARI XE one, most likely pulled from a existing machine, or the blue boxed XE version. which i have one new one left in my own collection. or get a best electronics one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I am not trying to defend V61. But I was looking through the site this week and noticed this Message on the Front Page. There is a WHOLE bunch of stuff on the site that is labeled as NEW. I think I would take the term "NEW" with a grain of salt after seeing this bad experience. so, tell me what is not new. here, try this page, tell me what is not new, except for the 2600 machine. http://members.tcq.net/video61/2600new.html i was buying this stuff new since 1983. when i quite distribution in the early 1990's, i had well over 100,000 pieces of software left for the atari platforms i advertise. that number does not include hardware. most new hardware is now gone. today i have a estimated 30,000 plus pieces of software left, covering all of the machines i advertise for. perhaps the largest, most diverse inventory of atari software left in the world. so go ahead, tell me which one of those 2600 games is not knew. here is my distribution agreement with atari, i knew the owners, used to talk to jack from time to time. http://members.tcq.net/video61/dis.html used to know people at activision, they called me every week. avalon hill, used to know many there. suncom, yep, knew them. williams, yep knew them, plus just about every third party company that made stuff for atari. now go ahead, tell me which one of those 2600 games is not new? ever see the 2600 Taiwanese knockoffs? i have tons of them to. atari used to seize them off the docks, and send them to me free, new in the box. might have hundreds, perhaps thousands of them left to. you have no idea what you are talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy B. Coyote Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 i told you repeatedly it would be a rebuilt unit, not a new one. if you wanted a new one, you should have kept the one i sent to you earlier. No actually, you didn't. I took a picture of that earlier email because the only time you ever mentioned the condition of the systems you sell was in that previous email. So you sold me a brand new condition Atari 7800 system once and then when I asked to buy another you sent me a scratched, beat up used system without ever mentioning anything about the condition of it being any different from the previous one you sold me. Not only that but you also charged me the same price for the used system that you charged me for the brand new one, again without ever saying that it's condition would be anything other than brand new like the first system I bought. Doesn't that seem a little shady to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schizophretard Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Is the chrome strip scratched or does it have the original plastic over it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy B. Coyote Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) Is the chrome strip scratched or does it have the original plastic over it? Both. It does have the plastic covering on it but most of the scratches are deep enough that they go through the covering. It's also quite dented in several places as well. Edited March 22, 2017 by Jin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schizophretard Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Both. It does have the plastic covering on it but most of the scratches are deep enough that the go through it. It's also quite dented in several places as well. I was just curious because even if it lacked all those other issues I wouldn't consider it new with the plastic removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy B. Coyote Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) I was just curious because even if it lacked all those other issues I wouldn't consider it new with the plastic removed. Same here, though the system still isn't new by any stretch of the imagination. I wish I could get a better picture of the inside of the cartridge port because it is totally caked with years of dirt and gunk down in there. Edited March 22, 2017 by Jin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dauber Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Wow. I just purchased from video61 a couple of weeks ago and had nothing but a pleasant experience from start to finish, including communications, product received, and promptness. Just sayin'. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schizophretard Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Same here, though the system still isn't new by any stretch of the imagination. I wish I could get a better picture of the inside of the cartridge port because it is totally caked with years of dirt and gunk down in there. Understood. For future reference I would recommend not looking for new with retro consoles but instead looking for the best condition ones you can find with pictures then clean them up to the best of your ability. To use this one as an example, I can tell it would look much better if the case was took off and cleaned, some scrubbing with a tooth brush, maybe some rubbing alcohol on the board with a long drying, Magic Eraser used on the white scuff marks, and the plastic peeled off the chrome strip. That is the kind of cleaning I do with my consoles. As a side note to that, I don't get why dealers don't do that kind of cleaning before selling them. I get how someone just finding a retro console in their attic with little knowledge about it putting it on eBay as is but dealers should be cleaning them up. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Really sad to see when stuff like this happens. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 No actually, you didn't. I took a picture of that earlier email because the only time you ever mentioned the condition of the systems you sell was in that previous email. So you sold me a brand new condition Atari 7800 system once and then when I asked to buy another you sent me a scratched, beat up used system without ever mentioning anything about the condition of it being any different from the previous one you sold me. Not only that but you also charged me the same price for the used system that you charged me for the brand new one, again without ever saying that it's condition would be anything other than brand new like the first system I bought. Doesn't that seem a little shady to you? no, you are using information from a prior sale sale, not this sale, and i said i doubt i had any, and i will see what my son can come up with. he came up with that unit that i thought would make you happy with your sob story about trust issue your wife has with you. it took my son away from his family for three straight weekends to help you out. do we work for free, no, can i charge what i want under capitalism for my stuff, yes. so quite moaning and groaning and send it back. i said i would refund you the money. instead your whining over this in public shows me why your wife made you sell the new one in the first place, and why she does not trust you. geesh, if your wife did not have trust issues with you, you could have kept the first one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Wow. I just purchased from video61 a couple of weeks ago and had nothing but a pleasant experience from start to finish, including communications, product received, and promptness. Just sayin'. thank you very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Is the chrome strip scratched or does it have the original plastic over it? it has the original plastic over the plate. it was the best unit my son could find. we were doing him a favor. if you read the sob story he told me why he had to sell the new one he bought from me a while back, perhaps months ago, you would understand why we thought we were doing him a favor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video61atarisales Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Understood. For future reference I would recommend not looking for new with retro consoles but instead looking for the best condition ones you can find with pictures then clean them up to the best of your ability. To use this one as an example, I can tell it would look much better if the case was took off and cleaned, some scrubbing with a tooth brush, maybe some rubbing alcohol on the board with a long drying, Magic Eraser used on the white scuff marks, and the plastic peeled off the chrome strip. That is the kind of cleaning I do with my consoles. As a side note to that, I don't get why dealers don't do that kind of cleaning before selling them. I get how someone just finding a retro console in their attic with little knowledge about it putting it on eBay as is but dealers should be cleaning them up. since we were pushed into this from his sob story, and he kept changing the order as we went along, telling me how pissed his wife was at him for spending the money in the first place, and since i warned him i was not able to do this because of a accident i was in, i would say we did fine for him. the unit was the best we could do on his short notice. if you want to run a business, go ahead, do it your way. but don't tell me how to run mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy B. Coyote Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 no, you are using information from a prior sale sale, not this sale, and i said i doubt i had any, and i will see what my son can come up with. he came up with that unit that i thought would make you happy with your sob story about trust issue your wife has with you. it took my son away from his family for three straight weekends to help you out. do we work for free, no, can i charge what i want under capitalism for my stuff, yes. so quite moaning and groaning and send it back. i said i would refund you the money. instead your whining over this in public shows me why your wife made you sell the new one in the first place, and why she does not trust you. geesh, if your wife did not have trust issues with you, you could have kept the first one. The USPS tracking number for the package is 940550369930 0009006569 and it will arrive tomorrow. The simple fact that you would lie to me about the condition of the items you sell and then start spouting off assumptions about my marriage when you're called out on your deception speaks volumes about the quality of your character. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Gemintronic Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Assumptions seemed to be made on both sides (not spiteful assumptions mind you). He offered a refund. Sounds like the best possible outcome given the circumstances. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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