How about a horror story with a happy ending? I purchased a used Music Reference RM5 III preamp through an online auction. Corresponding before bidding, the owner was well spoken and articulate, offering no overt reason to be wary. When the pre arrived, it was DOA, only a slight line level signal squeaking through. Off it went to Music Reference, where Roger Modjeski quickly repaired an open circuit in the transformer. It comes back, makes glorious music for about two weeks and then goes dead again! I was very frustrated at this point, needless to say. Back it goes again, only to arrive at Roger's shop alive and well. Roger has to play it several day to get it to act up again. When it did, he discovered there was another intermittent open circuit deeper in the windings of the dual voltage stock transformer. He replaced the part with a new single voltage unit, and then shipped it back to me at no charge. I wasn't upset with Roger, as these things do occasionally happen with electronics. All's well now, it's been trouble free, and Music Reference has a loyal customer in the future.
It's October I want to hear horror stories about equipment.
What happens when good equipment goes bad? Are you the kind of person that can't leave well enough alone? Did you hear the one about the wife that shot the McIntosh? My mother sold my original Beatles albums at a garage sale for $1.00!!! Never mind about U.P.S. we all know about those clowns.