Monitor repair service reviewed

joemagiera

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I needed my WG 25K5515 (720 medium res) chassis fixed. I checked out the prices at http://www.arcadecup.com, $135 shipped, which includes a new flyback ($30) versus http://www.allgoodusa.com, $54.95 + shipping, which includes a cap kit installed. I know a lot of people go with Chad, but for the price, I thought I'd try Allgood. Allgood's web site says they don't do certain monitors; XY, WG4600 & WG4900 and Electrohome (G07). That is not true. I called and talked to them about that and the guy said he's been meaning to update the web site They said they had an informal agreement not to do those monitors because of being friends with Eldorado. Now that Eldorado doesn't do monitor repair anymore, they are happy to take on any of those monitors.

I mailed it on 6/28. They received it on 7/1. I got a call on 7/21 saying it was ready, meaning it took them 20 calendar days to complete (which included the July 4 holiday weekend). They reviewed the problems they found and said they ran it several hours as a test, all was good. With shipping, total was $70.95, meaning they charged $16 for shipping, which was a little high, but I've seen worse. They were willing to take credit card, paypal or cash. I didn't ask if they'd take a check. I received it on 7/26, so slightly less than one month, door to door. Item was very well packed. They also returned the old caps (I guess to prove they did it?).

I popped it in my 720 today and only thing I needed to do was adjust the vertical hold. I am completely satisfied and would not hesitate to use Allgood again.

Price (only) comparison to Chad/Arcadecup:
Chad charges $135 shipped for a WG25K5515. A new flyback is included. I don't know if he offers the option not to put a new flyback on or not, but if so, that would reduce the cost to $105 shipped. I don't know if Chad installs a cap kit by default or not.
Allgood charged me $70.95 shipped, which included a cap kit (but no new flyback, which would cost extra).

Service time: Allgood took 29 days door to door, and 20 days from when they got it to when they mailed it out.

Packing: Allgood packed very well.

Allgood is in Orlando Fl. I don't know if they allow pick up's for locals to save shipping.
 
You said they included the old caps they replaced. How many caps was that? Did they replace ALL of the caps or did they test them individually and just replace the ones out of spec?
 
Yeah, if I'm paying for either guy's service, I'd want all caps (except maybe a giant filter) replaced.
 
You said they included the old caps they replaced. How many caps was that? Did they replace ALL of the caps or did they test them individually and just replace the ones out of spec?

I asked them that before I mailed it and they said they replace all the normal caps that are replaced on a cap kit replacement. I got 16 replaced/old caps back. I don't know how many caps are on a WG25K5515. Is that all of them?
 
Yeah, if I'm paying for either guy's service, I'd want all caps (except maybe a giant filter) replaced.

There are plenty of caps that just don't get replaced. Zanen, Bob, and other cap kits don't come with all but the big filter. There are several on each chassis that don't get replaced via those kits.
 
16 is pretty close to all the caps on a K5515. Just wondering. I replace all polarized caps except the filter, whether they need it or not. I know some monitor repair people only replace those that measure bad with an ESR meter...
 
16 is pretty close to all the caps on a K5515. Just wondering. I replace all polarized caps except the filter, whether they need it or not. I know some monitor repair people only replace those that measure bad with an ESR meter...

It's quicker to replace the caps than to test them... time is money :)
 
It's quicker to replace the caps than to test them... time is money :)

True dat. Plus you have less problems in the long run. I don't understand the whole "replaced the ones that tested bad" approach when it comes to caps. Caps are fairly cheap....
 
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