I have tried to modify this FAQ to reflect my new pricing that went into effect on April 1, 2006. It's still being revised (under construction). This message will be removed when all revisions are completed. Please call me if you have any questions. Thanks, Dave
Policies and Terms FAQ
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Q: What is a "set"?
A: A "set" is general term that is used in place of antique radio, antique tv or chassis.
Q:
What is a Restoration?:
A: I define an electronic restoration as
the replacement of all paper + filter capacitors in an antique radio or
tv.
My specialty is electronic restorations. If I need mechanical work done, I have some who does that work for me. So when I refer to a restoration below I am referring to the electronics.
Q: Why must all the paper and filter capacitors be replaced? Can't only the currently defective ones be replaced?
A: All the paper and filter capacitors must be replaced for the radio or tv to operate correctly. Back when these radios and tvs were made capacitors weren't made very well. Even then, the capacitors became defective by taking on moisture. In addition, the paper used wasn't acid treated, so over time, the capacitor would deteriorate. Today's capacitors are made using plastics, which do not suffer from these problems. If only the currently defective capacitors are replaced, the others will become defective after a very short time.
Q: Does this mean that all the capacitors in a radio or tv must be replaced?
A: No, only the paper and electrolytic capacitor types. Mica and ceramic capacitors did not suffer the same fate.
Q: What is a repair? How does that differ from a restoration?
A: The correction of problems that may exist after a restoration, is what I define as a repair. Since all paper and filter capacitors in an Antique Radio are usually inoperative, they may mask any other problems a radio or TV may have. It is practically impossible to tell if a set has other problems before a restoration is done on it.
Q: Is
a repair always necessary after a restoration?
A: No. Most of the time after the restoration, an
antique radio or tv will work fine. If there is a repair, in most
cases, the line cord or light bulb needs replacement. Very seldom
do I get a radio that needs extra bench time. TVs do need a repair more often after a restoration, especially ones from the late 40s and early 50s. In the late 50s, PC (printed circuit) boards started to be used. They weren't very high quality back then, and are sometimes in need of a repair as well.
Q: My radio has a lot of wires where most of the insulation has dried up and has fallen off. Do you charge extra for replacing these wires?
A: I don't charge extra for the wire but I do charge extra labor. It takes the same labor to replace a length of wire as it does to replace a capacitor. So I charge the same labor but I start counting at the 6th capacitor. The first 5 lengths are included in the restoration labor.
Update:4/1/06: Some of my antique electronic restoration services include re-wiring. Please see White Glove radio and White Glove tv extreme below.
Q: My chassis is totally rusty and it looks like mice were inside and chewed up the wiring. Can you fix this?
A: Ordinarily rust on the chassis wont keep the radio from playing and sounding great. It's a cosmetic problem. However if wires or the power transformer wes chewed through by rodents, they will have to be replaced for an additional cost. Completely rewiring a set will add an additional cost as well. If you want the rust removed, depending on the severity of the rust, that will also be an additional cost, above the cost of any of my electronic restorations. If this is a radio chassis, then a White Glove service restoration is necessary. In a tv this is called White Glove extreme restoration service.
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Q: If a set requires extra bench time, do you charge extra for it?
A: If the extra bench time is for replacing parts like a lamp, resistor, or line cord, or other obviously defective part, no. But if the extra bench time requires extensive troubleshooting to find an elusive problem exceeding 5 hours, or if I have to adapt a new speaker to fit a chassis, I do charge $20.00 per hour. Otherwise the cost of the restoration covers it.
Q:
If a set needs an extra part like a resistor or tube or coil, that is
obviously damaged, is there an extra charge for it?
A: Yes there is a charge for the extra part.
Update: 4/1/06: Some of my new antique electonic restoration services include more parts. Please see below under Prices.
Q:
What is the price of an Antique Electronic Restoration?
A: The price of an Antique Electronic Restoration is different for each model of radio, tv or car radio and is calculated as described below.
Q:
How do you calculate the cost of an Antique Electronic Radio restoration?
A: There are now 4 ways to price an Antique Radio Restoration.
1) Labor by the hour:
For Radios with 160 volt filter capacitors, the labor is $65.00 per hour + parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping.
For Radios with higher voltage filter capacitors, the labor is $70.00 per hour + parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping.
There is an additional charge for mechanical work.
2) Labor by capacitor:
For radios with 160 volt filter capacitors, Labor is $8.45 per paper or fiter capacitor.+ parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping).
For radios with filter capacitors higher than 160 volts, Labor is $9.40 per paper or fiter capacitor + parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping. There is an additional charge for mechanical work.
3. Flat Rate:
Flate-rate is a single price that covers the electronic restoration of the radio chassis. In addition to paper and filter capacitors. This also includes, if necessary, other readily available components such as coils, mica capacitors, resistors. Large components such as the power transformer or parts that are special to the radio may be an extra charge. Minor mechanical repairs are included, such as replacement dial cords, repair of cardboard backs. Major mechanical repair is extra.
For radios with 160 volt filter capacitors flat-rate restoration is $10.00 per paper of filter capacitor + sales tax (NY state residents) + return shipping.
For radio with greater than 160volt filter capacitors the flat rate restoration is $15.00 per paper of filter capacitor + sales tax (NY state residents) + return shipping.
4. White-Glove radio service:
This is also a flat-rate service but covers more mechanical problems and rust. I offer everything and anthing to get your radio working well. White-glove service costs $20.00 per paper/filter capacitor. There are some exceptions, such as when a tube costs $200.00, it would have to be extra. White glove service is for radio chassis that are not in very good condition to get them back into shape. The best way for me to tell you what is going to be included is if I see your set and tell you what I can include.
Please Note: Minimum charge is $65.00 for radios with 160 volt filter capacitors and $70.00 for radios with higher voltage filter capacitors.
Q:
What is your current labor rate for Antique Car Radio and TV
restorations?
A: There are now 4 ways to price an Antique Electronic Car Radio or TV Restoration:
1) Labor by the hour:
Labor is $75.00 per hour + parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping, for Antique Car Radios and TVs. There is an additional charge for mechanical work.
2) Labor by capacitor:
Labor is $10.00 per capacitor replaced + parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping. There is an additional charge for mechanical work.
3.White Glove tv service:
White Glove service is a flat rate electronic restoration. A single price that covers the electronic restoration of your tv chassis. In addition to paper and filter capacitors, this also includes, if necessary, other readily available components such as coils, mica capacitors, resistors. Large components such as the power transformer or parts that are special to the tv may be an extra charge. Minor mechanical repairs are included, such as replacement dial cords, repair of cardboard backs, bakelite handles, PC boards. Major mechanical repair is extra. The best way for me to tell you what is going to be included is if I see your set and tell you what I can include.White-glove costs $20.00 per paper/filter capacitor + NY sales tax (NY residents) + return shipping.
4. White Glove tv service Extreme:
This is also a flat-rate service but covers everything White Glove tv service covers plus it includes more mechanical problems and heavy rust. In other words anything and everything to get your TV working well. Some examples are All tubes are missing, or most of the wiring is missing, etc. White-glove tv service extreme service costs $40.00 per paper/filter capacitor + sales tax (NY customers) + return shipping, and is designed for tv chassis in very bad condition. There are some exceptions, such as when all tubes costs exceed $500.00 in a large chassis, it would have to be extra. The best way for me to tell you what is going to be included is if I see your set and tell you what I can include. Some chassis are may be so bad that I may not be able to bring those back to life.
Please note: Minimum charge is $75.00 for all tube type car radio and TV restorations.
Q: I have an Antique Car Radio from the Late 60s or early 70s. It doesn't have tubes, do you restore those too?
A: Most of the time these radios don't need a restoration, but when they do, the low voltage electrolytic capacitors have to be replaced. I have the same 3 ways of pricing this type of restoration:
1) By the hour:
Labor is $65.00 per hour plus parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping.
2) By the capacitor:
Labor costs $8.45 per capacitor replaced plus parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping.
3)Flat-Rate:
A flat rate restoration cost $10.00 per paper/filter capacitor + parts + sales tax (NY State Residents) + return shipping.
4)White-Glove transistor service:
If I need to completely dismantle your solid state car radio to get at the capacitors or other parts to do a repair then it will get White-glove service which costs $20 per electrolytic capacitor + sales tax (NY state residents). Mechanical Repairs are included.
Please note: Minumum charge for all Solid State car radio repairs/restorations is $65.00.
Q: I have a 5 or 6 tube table radio. What does it cost to restore that?
A: I have All American 5 and 6 tube table radio restoration specials. I also have a double-special for small radios with higher numbers of tubes that have FM. The Price of each is a flat rate. Please see my specials page for more details.
Q: Why isn't each restoration the same price?
A: The price of a restoration is based on the number of paper and filter capacitors. The more capacitors to replace, and the more elaborate set, the higher cost of the restoration.
Q: Can you tell me what it will cost to restore my radio before I send it to you?
A: I can give you a pretty good restoration estimate, provided I have a model number and I study the schematic. But I wont know if a repair is necessary until I actually see your set.
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Q: What is the price of an estimate?
A: My estimates are free. No payment is due unless the estimate is approved.
Q: If I approve an estimate, what is my next step?
A: After I complete an estimate, I'll e-mail you an invoice form as an attachment. If you approve the estimate, print out the form, sign, where indicated, and send a payment with your set.
Signing the estimate indicates that you approve the estimate and agree to pay the grand total amount (+ return shipping), when the work is completed.
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Q:What should
the initial payment be?
A: For regular Antique Radios, Car Radios and TV restorations, the initial payment should be any amount from 25% of restoration up to the grand total.
My Restoration Specials require that the full amount be enclosed with your radio. This full payment includes NY State Sales Tax (NY State Residents), and return shipping.
Q:In what form do you accept payments?
A: I accept US Postal Service Postal Money orders. They are available at any US Post Office.
Make the money order payable to "Dave's Antique Radio and TV Restorations".
Please do not leave it blank. USPS Money Orders process instantly at any post office. There is no clearing because it is cash.
I also accept cash but it's not a good idea to send cash through the mail.
Q: Do you accept personal checks, personal money orders, credit cards or PayPal?
A: I will accept another type of money order or Bank Check. Please be aware that these payment instruments take a lot longer to process than a US Postal Service Postal Money order. I do not accept Credit Cards or PayPal or personal checks.
Q: When is
the full payment due?
A: Full payment is due when I notify you that all work is
completed and your set is ready to be shipped back to you. This payment includes the Sales Tax (NY State Residents) and return shipping.
My restoration specials, as mentioned above, require that full payment is enclosed with your radio. If a USPS Money Order is enclosed with a restoration special it is possible to restore it and it back in the mail on the same day due to a USPS Money Order's quick processing time at the Post Office.
Q: Do you have late fees?
A: No, but I do have a storage fee though. As mentioned above, when the approval of the estimate is signed, I will assume that you are serious about having your set restored, and have the amount necessary to pay for the restoration.
Unless a date is agreed upon, if 15 days has elapsed from time I notify you that the work is complete and your set is ready to ship back to you, and I have not received a full payment a storage fee of $1.00 per day may be added to your account.
If a completed set is paid for but no amount for return shipping has been sent or the set has not been picked up, after 30 days, a storage fee of $1.00 per day may be added to your account.
Q: What happens if a set gets left and return shipping is never sent and the set never gets picked up?
A: After 2 years, an abandoned set becomes the property of Dave's Antique Radio & TV Restorations.
Q: What happens if the restoration is completed but extra bench time is required?
A: If extra parts are needed I will notify you of the extra cost, if any, and make sure I have your approval before proceeding.
Q: Do I still have storage fees for extra bench time?
A: No. Storage fees do not accumulate until after all work is completed, as described above.
Q: How many payments should be made?
A: A maximum of two payments should be all that's necessary, an initial payment and a final payment.
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Q: My car
radio has a vibrator in it. Do you charge extra labor to replace it
with a solid state vibrator?
A: As of 4/1/06, there are now 4 ways to price a restoration. For Labor by the hour or labor by capacitor there is a charge for the part, but there is no additional labor charge for installing it. White Glove service includes the vibrator as part of the restoration.
Q: What is this vibrator in my antique car radio, and what does it do?
A: The vibrator creates alternating current from the car battery voltage, which can be stepped up with a transformer, to the proper high voltages needed by the tubes.
Q: What is the difference between the original vibrator and a modern solid state vibrator?
A: An old mechanical vibrator has contacts and springy metal strips, that wear out over time. A solid state vibrator has no moving parts to wear out. So if cared for properly, by operating the radio on the correct voltage and polarity, it will last many times longer than the old mechanical types.
Q: How do I care for a solid state vibrator properly?
A: By making sure to operate your radio on the correct voltage and polarity.
Q:What is the correct polarity?
A:With a mechanical vibrator it has more to do with your car than with your radio. What ever battery terminal is directly connected to the body of your car, determines the car's polarity. So if the positive terminal is attached to the body of the car, this is called "positive ground". If it is the negative terminal, this is called "negative ground. Once a solid state vibrator is installed in your radio, it must then be cared for as described above or the vibrator will be damaged.
Q: How do I ship my radio or TV to you?
A: I prefer that you ship your set using Priority Mail from a US Post Office. However if an item is very large another shipper can be chosen that specializes in larger packages.
Q: How much will return shipping cost?
A: Return shipping should be exactly what you pay to ship to me. This amount will not be on the estimate invoice because it will be unknown until the package is actually shipped.
If your radio is shipped to me for an estimate, then the return shipping amount will appear on the estimate.
Q: What is your shipping address?
A: Dave's Antique Radio and TV Restorations
10068 Carousel Center
Syracuse, NY 13290
(PLEASE NOTE: This address accepts US Mail ONLY. Please call me if you choose another shipper). 315 457-5099
Q: Do you accept work from outside the USA (50 States)?
A: No, however, I will accept work from an address in one of the 50 USA states and ship back to that address. It must be a physical address. There should be someone at that address who I can talk to about the item. I cannot make calls out side the 50 USA states either.
This page was created June 13, 2005
Last Update: April 3, 2006