Yong Heng Disaster, or the Deal that wasn't so good

Well, I found a Yong Heng compressor in eBay that no one was biding on. $99 plus $60 shipping. I bid $120 and got it for $99 as the sole bidder. Vendor has a high satisfaction rating and over 400,000 sales so what can go wrong? Vendor even took it out of the box, photographed it and posted actual pictures. What really can go wrong?

Well, it arrived missing one of the rubber feet. That makes it kinda hard to fill with oil, keep level and having a working system. After a week of e-mails, vendor doesn't have any spares. I take a couple days to look around and can't find anything.

Then, I take a really close look at the compressor. aluminum tubes are bent in ways that make me think it was shipped upside down and dropped a couple times. The gauge and block it screws into tilt forward a couple degrees, and are touching other fittings. Pretty much it got smashed in shipping, for now, I prefer to think the vendor sent a working, clean unit, but that does remain to be seen.

I've been in touch with the vendor and hope to hear back today on the "New" developments, and see what they want to do. 

At any rate, it's damaged, and I don't want to spend $60 to ship it back. I'll post as I go through the disaster and keep you up to date. This could be interesting.


 
Original photo's on eBay show a perfect unit. I'll post comparison photo's when I get home tonight. I'll also compare the serial number plate photo to the compressor I received.  I have no reason to believe the vendor set out to defraud me, but I'll double check just to make sure. 

As for being a $100 compressor, it's a real Yong Heng, At least it's painted as a Yong Heng, and the serial number plate bears that out, but from China you are never really sure. Others with Yong Heng's have had good luck, but to be honest it's not a Daystate $2000 compressor. I just expected it to arrive without being smashed.

The saga will continue!
 
I finally broke down and bought me an F10 Shoebox to fill my SCBA tanks with, I really like it a lot, I've been looking at the Yong Hengs for as long as they've been out and was just never too enthused about buying one but I had to get something because my air source retired and lives in Florda during the winter, last winter I didn't use any of the large volume pcp's because of the pumping so I used my Prod during the winter but this winter it's a different situation, I'm now air free.
 
Yong Heng compressors normally come really well packed in a very sturdy box with expanded foam around them. Was this the case?

The packaging was some factory, some not factory. It had been opened and repacked. It looked like really heavy packaging but the compressor could bounce in shipping. The original shipping box from China was missing the bottom, but was inside a couple other boxes that looked perfect, Still have all packing materials, so can work with eBay if needed.

The shipper was UPS. Packaging looked perfect when I brought it into the house. Honestly, packaging wasn't enough to keep the compressor from bouncing in shipping.

Haven't received a response from the vendor yet, and in fairness, only reported all damage last night. We'll see where this goes.
 
I finally broke down and bought me an F10 Shoebox to fill my SCBA tanks with, I really like it a lot, I've been looking at the Yong Hengs for as long as they've been out and was just never too enthused about buying one but I had to get something because my air source retired and lives in Florda during the winter, last winter I didn't use any of the large volume pcp's because of the pumping so I used my Prod during the winter but this winter it's a different situation, I'm now air free.

Congrats on the shoebox. Hope it all works for you. I've still go the infamous paintball shop, so not out of air yet.
 
Saltlake 58 I may be able to help if you cannot get satisfaction. I have a motorless YH. The motor died and I put a Dayton motor on the end but have not used it much because I have a Tuxing. So I can probably rob parts you need and pass them on no charge. If you don't want them then I will make them available to anyone else in the group but will wait till I hear your outcome before giving others a chance. I will keep the Dayton motor. Nick
 
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I believe Tweeter is rite , shipping is half cost of it , well I guess when we buy china stuff that is below sales price or as is or open box got to epect to get it going or use parts off it , I did use Chinese compressors for 3 or 4 years they I got me a good Commercial unit , But I have heard some of you guys having 0 issues with these , I seem to beak the China stuff very Quickly , keep us posted

LOU
 
Saltlake 58 I may be able to help if you cannot get satisfaction. I have a motorless YH. The motor died and I put a Dayton motor on the end but have not used it much because I have a Tuxing. So I can probably rob parts you need and pass them on no charge. If you don't want them then I will make them available to anyone else in the group but will wait till I hear your outcome before giving others a chance. I will keep the Dayton motor. Nick

Thank you for the offer, but let me work through eBay to see where this all goes. I've been here before (buying typical stuff on eBay for at least 10 years, you get to know your way around). It'll probably take a couple weeks if I have to file a complaint and such, but in the end I'll probably come out OK.

Considering the costs involved in shipping a pile of damaged parts back, the vendor will probably just walk away. Sad really because after seeing the damage, I'm afraid to fire it up. 4500 PSI ain't no fun when it ruptures something. I think this picture shows the damage best. Look at the gauge and block. I suspect the shipper had it upside down and dropped it. There were no UP Arrows on the box, so could have happened. You can also see the aluminum tube is bent down from the fitting. Makes me nervous even firing the thing up, as several of the tubes look like that and ruptures ain't fun.

1549933001_3579112155c6219c99a71c7.04841443_IMG_20190210_213808999.jpg


I will keep you posted as I wind my way through the eBay process. Usually takes a week or two if I have to file a complaint. eBay is usually sympathetic to the customer, to protect the overall image of the company so we'll just see where it goes. Thanks for all the offers of help!








 
Guys, I've owned a Shoebox when they first came out. I saw all editions, improvements get upgraded. I was running a floor fan over mine with cover off when I first got it 8 years ago.

I see these Yong Heng compressors. I can't tell which are real, clones, what. If you plan on ONLY filling a rifle, it isn't a bad deal. Think that thing will hold up filling a 44cf 4500psi or bigger tank? I'd seriously doubt that.

Saltlake, you bought it on Ebay? You should have NO problem returning it. I guess it depends on if returns accepted was stated when you bought it. I had recently bought a cheap magnum springer to practice tuning. It came with back sight broken off, and NOT in the package. It was rusted, & I mean pitting, not a dusting.

There's NO way this seller new this wasn't damaged. I was a fool and thought, oh, everyone else' has them for $178.00 this one is $117 & accepts returns, guaranteed. Well, luckily Ebay sent email where I printed out shipping label & off it went next day. Guy emails me saying he hasn't received it. I didn't even answer him. Then a week later I got a thank you. He saw the date it was sent. I hadn't pulled any BS, he had.

Sometimes it's best to buy quality once & be done. See my upcoming post on hand pumps as I have a huge gripe with Hill. 

Final advice & statement. I also bought a used very heavy duty compressor from a dive shop once. The owner said it runs. It just needs oil & your fittings. It leaked everywhere and needed new lines, its' own new fittings, a full reseal. I sold it at a loss to a man who has a machine shop. I was open & fully honest. He was able to get it running & as far as I know, it still is today. 

That's why I'll be buying a brand new Alkin compressor. Options are there for auto this, that, etc. I want a bare minimum with an hour meter. Alkin is used by The US Navy and I learned about them from my Dive shop. They are 100% full duty cycle (run 10 hours straight if need be) and have the lowest RPM's of ANY 3.7-4.0 cubic feet per minute compressor. 1050-1070. Compare that to any other brand. For way under $3000.00 shipped, I'll be set for life. All parts are readily available to be shipped from a warehouse here near my State. 2 year full warranty. If you buy one through Doug Noble, and can't fix it yourself, even if parts are supplied during warranty (I do NOT see a need for this unless someone runs it without oil, or something catastrophic) just ship it to him if near California, or depending on proximity, there's options on The East coast.

I talk with Doug when I have questions. He's very helpful in all things air gun & machining. The other great thing about buying through him is even after 2 year warranty is up, your help isn't. IF, something were to go wrong, pay shipping and as Doug has a full machine shop, he can fix anything. 
 
JamesD

The seller refunded full price, shipping, and paid for return shipping. I am a bit suspicious of whether the seller knew of the damage before shipping. It obviously wasn't 100% factory packing, and it had been opened, the original box from China was heavily damaged, and repackaged in another couple boxes. Luckily I saved everything and had all the packing to repack and send back.

As for a new Compressor, I'm looking for the minimums, and $3000 is way out of my budget for now. Even $1200 for a Hatsan is out of my range. Besides the Hatsan looks like that double cylinder Tuxing with some extra air drying features. I'll be back on eBay again looking for another one of these things in a few weeks. This time I'll wait for a bit till the weather warms up and I can get out there and test it just as soon as it comes in.

Every time we do something, we learn a bit more. I just hope the next one comes in usable condition, and I can keep it for quite a while.