Need some opinions

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micharms

micharms

Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2004
Messages
681
Location
Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada.
I recently purchased a Racal Airmate-3 system on eBay. It was in California and I'm up here in Ontario. The description was that it was used but functioned properly. I did get a good deal I thought. Unfortunately the battery does not take and hold a charge. A new battery costs $135 US. I have contacted the company and asked them to work with me to come to a positive resolution to this. They did offer a refund but the return shipping would cost me at a minimum about $50 C. If I return it I'm out the $50 with nothing to show for it. If I keep it and buy a new battery there is a net difference of approx. $85 but I have a good respirator that will last for years.

What would you do?

Thanks
Michael
 
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Ask to return the battery for a replacement and use an international flat rate box to return the battery. A battery that does not hold a charge is not working properly. If they won't replace or at least discount the battery, mention neg feedback
 
If the item did not come as described in the auction, and the company will not bring the item up to the standard set in the auction, you can file a complaint ebay/paypal for a resolution as the item did not arrive as portrayed in the auction. Most sellers would work with you once they receive the formal complaint.
 
Item does not match description. How did you pay? Offering money back and not covering shipping is not acceptable. Work thru Paypal (if that is how you paid) to get satisfaction.
 
micharms said:
I recently purchased a Racal Airmate-3 system on eBay. It was in California and I'm up here in Ontario. The description was that it was used but functioned properly. I did get a good deal I thought. Unfortunately the battery does not take and hold a charge. A new battery costs $135 US. I have contacted the company and asked them to work with me to come to a positive resolution to this. They did offer a refund but the return shipping would cost me at a minimum about $50 C. If I return it I'm out the $50 with nothing to show for it. If I keep it and buy a new battery there is a net difference of approx. $85 but I have a good respirator that will last for years.

What would you do?

Thanks
Michael
Click to expand...

I would keep it and bite the bullet. Dealing with Paypal up here in Canada will be a lost cause. We do not exist above CONUS.

Lin.
 
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"I recently purchased a Racal Airmate-3 system on eBay"


Racal Airmate was bought out by a small firm known as 3M a long time ago. 3M has continued to market the unit under its brand name as AS-400LBC 3M HEPA Airstream System

http://www.airwareamerica.com/3mhepaairstream.aspx

This is probably the best quality air helmet on the market and parts are still available. It is the most expensive. If you watch Bill Grubine videos, you might recognize it.

The 3M brand battery is expensive and probably can be rebuilt - most ni-cad battery units can be rebuilt.

You may have a NOS (New old stock) but it has replacement parts available. NOS would account for the battery problem as NiCad batteries do fail in long term storage.

If you got a right price -- may be worth seeing what you can get, but look at rebuild options as well as other ways to get spare batteries
 
Michael,
I have been using the Racal Airmate 3 for over 20 years. 'Nuff said about what I think of it.
Years ago, I decided that the hassle of wearing the backpack, recharging the batteries, cleaning that itty bitty little filter, etc. was more trouble than I wanted to invest in on a regular basis.
So, I built a wooden box about 16" square, installed a 100 cfm squirrel cage blower in it and put a big automotive air filter on top of it. Then I bought a 12' section of 1 1/4" vacuum cleaner hose and duct taped the hose and the Airmate air hose together.
It gives about 400% more air flow than the backpack blower and you don't have the weight to carry around on your back. Seems like a win-win to me.
Besides, I couldn't help but notice that if a person was a little gassy, the concept of methane injection took on a whole new meaning. Oh boy!! Did it ever.
Here is a couple of photos of my set up.
http://s264.photobucket.com/user/bigsmoke72/media/airboxandhelmet-1.jpg.html

 
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