Back in December I found a Promax J-1 being sold out of Arizona. The initial asking price was $300. And although the box had some issues (I'll explain later) I thought it was a good deal and figured for sure someone would snatch it up quick. But a month went by and it didn't sell. He then reposted it for $250. Another month went by and it still didn't sell. So then at the beginning of February he posted it for $200. I thought to myself, I'd have to be a fool not to attempt to get it. So I contacted the seller and didn't hear back from him for about a week. We emailed back and forth and I told him I was a serious buyer but since I was in California, I wanted to know if he could send me more pictures and maybe a video of it working. I just didn't want to make an 10 round trip and find out it was just a parts box.
By this time, 3 weeks had passed and I was frustrated because this guy was the worst communicator I've ever dealt with. You know the kind that you gotta email 2 to 3 times before he gets back to you and when he does its 5 days later. To say this deal was frustrating me is not saying enough. On March 1st I thought we had a deal and I was going to make the 10 hour round trip drive to get it the next day but when I woke up I had an email from him saying that he wasn't home and all of a sudden went out of town. I emailed him and asked him to shoot me straight and told him again that I also wanted to know if he could send me those pictures of the box and possibly a video showing me that it worked like his description stated. This was his response:
"Will not post any more photos or make a video.Have not the time or need. Dont wast any more of yours or my time.You will come all this way and may not like the box so I will not sale it to you. It is just a boombox and I do not need the cash to spend this much time on it."
So at that point I was really bummed and couldn't see a way to get this good deal. Then I got an idea that I knew was a long shot but it was my "Hail Mary" attempt at getting the deal done. I noticed that one of the members (mancardo) that said he was coming to the Venice Beach Meet, was coming from Arizona. And although I had never communicated with him on boomboxery, I took a shot and PM'd him asking for his help in brokering this deal. To my surprise mancardo, aka Manny, was more then willing to help me. Luckily he works less then a mile away from the address that the guy had posted on Craigslist. He went to the guy's house and verified everything I wanted to know. Manny told me the guy was an older man that works in apartment maintenance and a tenant was behind on the rent and left the J-1 as partial payment. Manny then fronted the $200 and delivered it to me at the Venice Meet. I was blown away by the Happy Ending to this story. I'm almost speechless in regards to what Manny did for a total stranger. The term "good guy" doesn't begin to describe Manny. It was such a pleasure to meet him and his beautiful family at Venice Beach. He has a boombox brother for life in me. Really hope someday the SoCal crew can go out to Arizona and hang with Manny on his turf.
Here are pictures of the original Craigslist post, Venice Beach and at my house.
By this time, 3 weeks had passed and I was frustrated because this guy was the worst communicator I've ever dealt with. You know the kind that you gotta email 2 to 3 times before he gets back to you and when he does its 5 days later. To say this deal was frustrating me is not saying enough. On March 1st I thought we had a deal and I was going to make the 10 hour round trip drive to get it the next day but when I woke up I had an email from him saying that he wasn't home and all of a sudden went out of town. I emailed him and asked him to shoot me straight and told him again that I also wanted to know if he could send me those pictures of the box and possibly a video showing me that it worked like his description stated. This was his response:
"Will not post any more photos or make a video.Have not the time or need. Dont wast any more of yours or my time.You will come all this way and may not like the box so I will not sale it to you. It is just a boombox and I do not need the cash to spend this much time on it."
So at that point I was really bummed and couldn't see a way to get this good deal. Then I got an idea that I knew was a long shot but it was my "Hail Mary" attempt at getting the deal done. I noticed that one of the members (mancardo) that said he was coming to the Venice Beach Meet, was coming from Arizona. And although I had never communicated with him on boomboxery, I took a shot and PM'd him asking for his help in brokering this deal. To my surprise mancardo, aka Manny, was more then willing to help me. Luckily he works less then a mile away from the address that the guy had posted on Craigslist. He went to the guy's house and verified everything I wanted to know. Manny told me the guy was an older man that works in apartment maintenance and a tenant was behind on the rent and left the J-1 as partial payment. Manny then fronted the $200 and delivered it to me at the Venice Meet. I was blown away by the Happy Ending to this story. I'm almost speechless in regards to what Manny did for a total stranger. The term "good guy" doesn't begin to describe Manny. It was such a pleasure to meet him and his beautiful family at Venice Beach. He has a boombox brother for life in me. Really hope someday the SoCal crew can go out to Arizona and hang with Manny on his turf.
Here are pictures of the original Craigslist post, Venice Beach and at my house.
Good job both of you!!! 
Love the pictures too!
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