Uber expensive repair at United Radio

@dasign - you have options  - take it or leave it. If the market for their service was significant enough, other places would offer it (authorized or not). What about if you had something that you couldn't get parts for and that couldn't be fabricated? Then you could sell it for parts or toss it. It's the risk you take buying something without warranty. You pay less, you take the risk. 

You made the deal, got what you paid for, be happy. We are not here to be therapists. Get over it and enjoy your amp that works now. Hopefully they gave you some warranty on the repair.

OP I can't believe people's responses to you, you've stated the facts and yet others just don't get it. I wish you good fortune and many happy years listening to your repaired amp.

@rsf507 +1

Thank you for your good words. I’m currently listening some music on my system and enjoying what I am listening to. I guess my grudge will be amortized over the next few years of musical enjoyment without any gear failure.

Ok guys, I presented my case and thank you for the discussions. I’m out and will not post any additional comments, since there is nothing new to discuss/debate. I have appreciated the majority of your comments. I just need to enjoy the music now!

$1,900 strikes me as very excessive. Full stop. 

I had an experience with Soundsmith several years back. They wanted $800 just to do “diagnostics” on my preamp that needed a repair, a fee which was not going to be applied to the repair itself if I went ahead with it, as is customary with many vendors. 

I already knew what the problem was: a soldered wire had come loose during my move from NYC to The Hudson Valley. I gave them that information, with the instructions that I simply wanted the wire resoldered. No matter: I still had to pay the $800 diagnostic fee. 

I went to the hardware store, bought a soldering iron, and did it myself. The unit worked fine afterwards.