Uber expensive repair at United Radio

You weren't singled out for a rip off, audio repair is expensive. From first hand experience, I know it takes a lot of time to take things apart to replace a defective component and an untold amount of time to figure out the problem without a schematic or a working copy. On the other hand, I know of places that charge around a hundred dollars to tell you what's wrong. Couple that with another 14 hours to do the work, I would be suspicious. You can't tell me it takes hours to find and repair the problem if you charge an hour's labor minimum to find the problem. That tells me you're experienced enough -- and have the right bench equipment -- to zero in on the problem rather efficiently. Which is probably why they gave you a discount -- you were asking questions in the right direction.

Then again, it takes a mechanic hours to take apart the front end of a car just to change an $80 timing belt, so when you get the bill for $1500 you know it is the labor to get to it that bites you. Same with audio repair.

Don’t forget, electric bills have to be paid,people got get paid,insurance has to be paid.................... 

Good repairs cost money Uber.

yuviarora
Except for when you can't DYI anymore.  
There's that.
Not much love here for complainers.
Playing with expensive stuff is expensive.
It's a given. If you can make used stuff last at half price you are just lucky. Like surviving without a vaccination.

I recently had an amplifier valued at ~2500.00 that needed repair. Bill Thalmann quoted me a repair price of 1500.00. I weighed the options and decided to sell the amp back to the manufacturer for a loss. It was a tough pill to swallow but the amp was 25+ years old and it seemed like the best course. I didn't find fault with Bill's assessment, it seemed fair to me. 

I also had a pair of Canary Audio monoblocks a few years ago and one blew an output transformer. I was quoted a price to fix the one amplifier that approached the resale value of both amps.  Not to mention a round trip from the east to the west coast. I went the same route that time too. Just part of the cost of being in this hobby. Win some, lose some.

Oz