Posted by nydanceflm on 09/27/05 00:53

dasun wrote:
> Here is a link I found to a US online store that has the connector for
> around 10 $US, but I have had no luck finding any in Australia
>
> http://www.markertek.com/Product.asp?baseItem=SVHS%2D7M&cat=CABLESCONN&subcat=VCONNECT&prodClass=7CON&mfg=Hirose+Connectors&search=0&off=



I would be very cautious about buying anything from Markertek. I've
done business with them a number of times in the past, and in almost
every case, their products, service and attitude were quite poor.

For example: once I ordered a patch bay and some short patch cables.
Only the bay arrived. I called them and was told the cables were
backordered and would take at least two weeks to ship. I told them to
cancel that part of the order, and credit my card as I would look
locally in the stores here in NYC for the cables. I found the cables
the next day. The very following day, the cables from Markertek
arrived. Long story short, they refused to take them back. I was stuck
with two sets, one of which I didn't need.

Worse example: I ordered a set of about a dozen or so custom patch
cables -- they would be making them up to their "high standards." When
they arrived, three were missing the spring strain relief on the phone
plug end. Just rushed and sloppy workmanship. They refused to replace
them.

Horrendous example: When I was setting up field production kit in 1996,
I ordered a $1,300 Shure mixer. Actually needed it for a shoot for
which I was leaving on trip in several days. They had a "new" unit in
stock. Had it sent FedEx next day. While using it, noticed that one of
the three channel pots was loose compared to others. Also seemed
strange to me that part of case Velcro was already mounted on mixer.
When I got back from trip, I examined contents of carton (was too
rushed to get on plane earlier), and noticed paperwork between Shure
and Markertek definitively showing this mixer had been repaired by
Shure (apparently dropped by previous owner). When confronted with this
Markertek denied it was a used/repaired unit. I was livid, but couldn't
get them to budge from their position that they sold me new mixer.
Tried to get Shure to take it in, replace knob (and pot, if necessary)
and warrant it as new. They refused, saying I had bought a previously
owned mixer (I suspected Shure might have been in cahoots with
Markertek to sell rehabed equipment as new, and have never bought a
single Shure product again!). What I should have done is brought
Markertek and Shure to court. But I was much too busy working at the
time, and the mixer seemed to work, although that first channel was a
little noisy once in a while (don't have unit any longer).

I found Markertek's customer service to be useless. Could never get
intelligent, responsible person to respond to my complaints. Could
never get name of supervisor, company executives, etc. Once ran into
several of their smart-ass reps at trade show who almost laughed at me
when I told them this story.

Bottom line: I've never done business again with them. I realize their
catalog lists much obscure gear, etc., but if couldn't find it
elsewhere, I'd do without out. If they were the only supply house in
this biz, I'd go raise goats!

Beware of Markertek!

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