Positive experience w/ Jack King

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: FIFTYGUY@xxxxxxx 

Folks-

    In light of some recent discussion here about customer service 
from certain TCML members, and in the general interest of giving 
credit to a "good guy", here's my public thanks to Jack King:

    Jack posted a few weeks ago that he was cleaning house and 
needed to get rid of a bunch of x-ray transformers. It was either 
sell them or scrap them. Since I have the "high voltage disease", and 
come from a long line of pack rats, I decided now would be a good 
time to add an x-ray x-frmr to my pile of toys. Due to *my* limited 
space, I had extensive e-mail conversations with Jack to try to pick 
out the smallest x-frmr he had available.

    At all times Jack replied immediately and in great detail. Due 
to the limited time involved, the first transformer I was thinking 
about went to another customer who knew what they wanted. In 
compensation, Jack lowered his price on the next x-frmr on my list. 
He sold it to me for less than he would have gotten from the scrap yard!

    Part of what took so long to seal the deal was my requirement 
that Jack do some basic tests to make sure I got a working unit. Jack 
took the time to do this, and so far it looks like I got a nice one! 
He also took the time to patiently answer my questions and explain 
some of the finer points of x-ray transformer design and 
construction, so I could properly modify the unit to suit my needs.

    Additionally, Jack crated up the unit at no extra charge. He had 
it shipped to me at low cost (he's got a great deal with his freight company).

     Not only did I buy the x-ray x-fmr from Jack, but also a pair 
of pig bushings and some HV wiring as well (4 gauge 15 kV jumper 
cable!). Good price on those, too!

    On top of this, he included *free* in the crate another item of 
not insubstantial worth! I'm not saying *what* it was without Jack's 
permission, on the grounds that his other customers might say "why 
didn't I get the same treatment"? Human nature...

     Here's the kicker:

    A coupla months ago, Jack posted to the TCML that he had an 
ongoing business problem with one of our members. He had shipped a 
bunch of stuff off to this other member, and allegedly had never 
received payment. This other member was a very well-established, 
well-known figure in the high-voltage community, and Jack was even 
reluctant to bring the mess to public attention.

    Well, I guess Jack didn't learn his lesson! Because he went 
ahead and shipped all this stuff to me before I even mailed his 
payment! Jack has never met me, we've never talked on the phone, and 
we don't have any common friends or references beyond this mailing 
list. I'm a "nobody", yet he treated me like his best buddy!

    So here's to Jack King! I believe he really cares about the high 
voltage community, and has demonstrated that he's willing to go out 
of his way to help out his fellow hobbyists. He has a real passion 
about our hard-to-find equipment, and wants it to find a good home. 
Drop him a line:

    Jack King   <mailto:ekklekktikk@xxxxxxxxxxx>ekklekktikk@xxxxxxxxxxx


-Phil LaBudde