First time for this, opinions please.

I can only relate the one experience I have had which seems roughly similar.

I bought a CD transport from a friend in a neighbouring city. Before heading for home 500 miles away, I drove to my brother's house, closer, where I had arranged to stay the night. There, I took the transport (and DAC) out to play for him. It wouldn't read any discs. Yet the unit had worked perfectly during the demo at my friend's place, before I bought it.

This was a big disappointment.

Once I got home, after determining it was still on the fritz, I took the transport to the manufacturer's service centre and informed the seller. He asked me to keep him posted. Turned out the laser assembly had to be replaced. Parts and labour came to just under CDN$200, and my friend and I split it, at his insistence.

I'm glad he did, because there's a possibility I would have felt less friendly if I'd had to pay the whole bill. I had never even gotten to hear the transport in my system, after all. On the other hand, I knew it was working perfectly when I took it away.

I conclude that this transport is very sensitive to being moved. (Funny: a transport you can't transport.) I also conclude that the relationship with me was very important to the seller. As far as I'm concerned, he didn't owe me a cent. But he knew how I felt, without my telling him.

It looks to me as though your buyer's next step is to take the player in for a repair estimate. The tech may be able to determine the cause of the problem. Please keep us posted about how things develop, if you get the chance.

1) Yes, absolutely. Fortunately for you this was a local deal and you demonstrated the pice worked fine before the sale.

2) I would aid him in getting it in for warranty if I was the holder of the warranty and the unit was still covered, but in a case like this, it likely won't be covered by warranty (depends on the company). Otherwise, no. He broke it, he's on the hook for the repair, FWIW you are probably right abouth the fuse/trip circuit in amps, I don't know about CDP's having them though....so it could be more than you think.

Absolutely changing cords with power still on would cause this!!! An unfortunate occurance to be sure, but not your fault, NOR your responsibility. This would be like selling a used car, then taking responsibility for the repairs caused by the new owner putting sugar in the gas tank.

If you can assist by helping the purchaser find a reputable repair shop, then by all means do so, and if you are willing to offer him a ride to and from (assuming he needs that) that would be extremely accomodating. However, paying in any way, shape, or form for a problem so obviously caused by the new owner is simply too generous unless a repair tech can tell you that beyond question the Rega was about to blow (and we both know that is not the case).

I certainly applaud your noble conscience, but this gentleman has made his own bed in this case - there is no need for you to have to lie in it too.

I agree the unit was working fine at your home and admittantly in his home till he changed the cord. He is an owner. Also anyone having audio/video etc equipment should know that if you switch a powercord while the unit is on a arc, spike or just static discharge can occur. Since most of the electronics these days contain a micro-processor of one type or another they are at risk of a static shorting.
I agree with kennyt in that if the warranty is in effect help him otherwise, he's an owner. You have displayed a good level of concience by writing this thread, but I wouldn't invest any guilt in this situation. Sleep well!

If you can help, its the best thing to do.It looks
like the buyer is nice too, by being honest,when
I read some of the DISPUTE here at Agon,some
were not even worth mentioning.But please sleep good.
And enjoy the music.