I can chime in regarding Hi-Tronics business model;
Strictly the facts.
I collect vintage stereos.
In March 2018 a guy from Aylmer brought me pre+power set
to trade, SAE XXX + SAE XXXIB.
The controls needed cleaning (Deoxit, as usual) and one channel had hum, according to him and Hi-Tronics written estimate.
(I have that Hi-Tronics paperwork in front of me)
Hi-Tronics charged him $100 for the estimate, inlcuding a Realistic receiver rental for the time estimate was to me made
and in a short time gave the set back to him, without fixing anything, after estimate was refused as being too high.
The guy said he never powered SAE set after he brought it back from Hi-Tronics.
I tested SAE set when we traded, all hooked up correctly.
The front panel of power amp was loose/rattling, had to tighten up the screws;
Hi-Tronics technician was busy, did not have time to tighten them.
One channel worked; another channel had no hum whatsoever, it was completely dead, no sound.
I triple checked eveything, just to be sure.
So, after bringing his nice sounding vintage SAE set to Hi-tronics
the SAE owner was out of $100 and had his amp in worst condition (unusable)
than before visiting Hi-Tronics. read more