Amstrad mega pc montior packageing help

[bart_simpson]

Hi i have a amstrad mega PC montior i need to send away for repair as i don't like messing around with CRT stuff plus these are not easy to find.
What can i use to pack it so i dont get damaged in the post.?

Its only 14''.

[Jamtex]

If you do not have the original box and polystyrene sides then I would use folded cell aire on the screen, wrap in at least one inch of at least 3mm thick cell aire (Polyethylene foam sheeting), cover with medium sized bubble wrap. Get a twin walled corrogated cardboard box that is at least 4 inches wider on each side of the monitor, fill buttom with packing peanuts or some Polyethylene foam, put in monitor and then fill with packing peanuts on each side.

Basically you want to pack it so if it is dropped from 3 feet or tossed at least 2 feet it will not damage the monitor.

[limboy777]

I sold an amiga monitor recently and posted it abroad. I would echo jamtex and say you need loads of packing especially as every courier I know does not insure monitors!

[bart_simpson]

Ok thanks for the tips it's going to cost a lot to get it repaired but will be worth it.

[limboy777]

What have you been quoted just out of interest and is it the flyback transformer?

[Hedgeyourbets]

I once had an imac G3 sent to me in a flimsy cardboard box surrounded by those great big air pocket things, it survived but I wouldn't reccomend it :P

[bart_simpson]

£125 to fix this.
I am unsure of the fault though i will get back to you all once its fixed.

[limboy777]

Hi bart, just sent you a PM.

[retro]

£125?! Ouch!

What's the fault?

[Bad_Ad84]

It needs a replacement monitor and a trip to spain

[retro]

He's sending it to Spain?!

[Bad_Ad84]

No, just joking about the price.

For 125 you can get a replacement monitor and change =/

[retro]

Lol, I see what you mean! I was gonna say I guess return would cost a lot from Spain... lol slow tonight! ;)

Yes, that's a ridiculous price. Even your local TV repairman wouldn't charge that. I know I'd charge a lot less ;)

[Jamtex]

Hmm it does depend on what is wrong with it, a broken LOPT (flybaclk) could be expensive to replace. Anyone trying to replace early Wells Gardner LOPTs will know that a NOS replacement could easily run to $120 posted and that is before anyone has installed it or replaced other parts which have probably died too like the HOT transistor.

I would have go someone to look at it to tell you what the fault was, but I have a feeling that 125 quid (with return postage) is a fair price if it does include parts.

[retro]

I know how much the LOPT is for this, I can get it, and I don't think £125 is a reasonable price.... although I'll admit return shipping would have to come into it.

To be honest, I'd be somewhat nervous shipping it knowing a lot of the delivery drivers around here! :\

[Jamtex]

So how much is a LOPT for this monitor?

[retro]

Well, I'd have to find my service manual to double check but I believe... if I ordered just that LOPT from my trade supplier and sold it for £50, I'd be making a profit. And I can ship a 20kg 50x50x50cm parcel (which should be ample to cover this monitor) for £8 within the UK.

[Jamtex]

Couldnt find the DCF1580 (well I could but only in the states and they wanted about $100 for it...) but a compatable equivilent is the MSH1FCT31, which does seem to be about 30 quid delivered, adding replacement power transistor and recapping the monitor would add another 20 quid to this. Say 15 quid for decent delivery and 2 hours work, would put it up to about the 100 quid mark anyway. As long of course that is what is repaired.

[retro]

Yup... so a fairly good guess at about 75% of the quote... and I'd hope it wouldn't come to that much, even. Shipping does bump it up compared to a local repair, of course. Still, I wouldn't quote a figure out of the air like that without knowing what's wrong with it!