R&L Electronics — Local services in Hamilton

I searched the internet for a hinged tilting tower base plate for my Rohn 20G tower. The cheapest one was through R&L Electronics at $205.00 plus tax and shipping. The shipping cost me $70. Still, a bargain. This was not a special price. This was their advertised price. The Base is manufactured by American Tower under their Amerite brand. R&L doesn't carry a lot of stock. They had Amerite drop ship it from their factory.

When I received the plate I tried to match it up to my tower. My tower legs are around 11.25 to 11.50 inches apart. The base plate support stubs came in at 10.75 to 11.00 inches apart. Their web site says explicitly not to bend the legs or webbing to make them mate up as this may cause a reduction in structural strength.

I took pictures of a tape measure next to the legs and sent it to both companies. A month later: nothing.

I called R&L. The person who answered said he had seen the email, but was too busy at that time to deal with it. He looked again, and called American Tower. A lady on the other end said the salesperson who had placed the order no longer worked at the company and asked if I would re-send the email. After receiving it, she said she would have someone look at it when they returned and call me. They never did.

R&L said if they did not respond that they would work out something with me. They gave me several options, all of which required I return the base which did not thrill me. All they had to do was send a new upper plate with the correct dimensions. I would then return it as soon as I confirmed it would work.

R&L never checked nor responded.

I should not have to chase down people at two different vendors to get any satisfaction. I am going to find a metal shop, have the stubs cut off, remounted and welded. That will be far less cost and headache than dealing with poor customer service.

I will not buy from either...

I was really looking forward to coming to this business. I drove about an hour to get there. I was looking for shortwave radio equipment receivers etc. The people there ( an much older gentleman, and a balding man were there ). They did not at all seem interested in selling anything to me there. I was going to spend a considerable amount of money there, but as soon as I started asking them questions about shortwave receivers and other radio equipment, they weren't interested at all. They had told me that they did not have any receivers. I looked around the store a bit, and found a SANGEAN receiver. Then I checked the website while I was there and they had an NC60B and an NCL270. Not to mention they very nice transceivers there. Equipment they got.. in spades, salesmanship, not so much. Don't expect to get a lot of talk from them, and I would HIGHLY suggest new ham operators / users, avoid this place if you need to ask questions. BTW, found a nice Yaesu FT-991A that is going to work very well with my antenna here at the house at DX Engineering. Will be here...

I've been dealing with all the amateur radio supply stores since 1981 and with few exceptions I usually deal with R&L , first off home QTH is Winchester, KY and if I order before late afternoon my item will arrive the next day. The prices as a whole beat the others I've even found what I thought to be the lowest price at another store just to check R&L and find it even fifty dollars lower. The staff is extremely helpful , numerous times I've called to order something not knowing the part number and just explaining the item they've searched their computer or ask other staff to run down the part for me and since the interstate connector was put in the store is a whole lot easier to access. R&L has been a great asset to this wonderful hobby and I wanna 73em for a...