Ham Radio Outlet — Local services in Plano

I have been a pretty regular customer of HRO Plano Tx. It's a 2 hour drive each way from home so I usually order online. About a year or so ago I saw a used Ameritron amp for sale on the back wall. I asked the manager if we could plug it in a make sure it would at least come on. The price was around $2000.00 and for me that's a lot of money. The manager didn't want to do that, and just told me if I wanted it just buy it and if I didn't like it, just bring it back. I got it home and 2 of the tubes were bad. I was so excited about this amp, I drove back to HRO in Plano and bought two replacement tubes. I drove home, put the tubes in, but the amp still had problems. So I made a third trip to Plano to return the amp. The manager started some paperwork to send the amp to MFJ in Startsville, MS. I told him I didn't want it repaired, I wanted a refund. He told me he would not refund my money. We got into a mutual shouting match in the store in front of other customers. I told him I was going to call HRO corporate office in California and file a complaint. As I reached for the exit door, he called out to me to come back in and he would give me my money back. He eventually did. Two days ago I purchased a new Yaesu FTDX10 radio online from HRO Plano after store hours and paid about $1400.00. I checked my bank account and the purchase had cleared my bank but I never got a shipping notice with a tracking number. I gave it another day and finally called the store and asked if they had shipped it yet. I was told it had not been shipped and would not be shipped because the manager has placed a notice on my account that HRO was not to do anymore business with me. I told the salesman the transaction had posted, HRO had the money, and I wanted the radio shipped that day. He refused and said I would have to talk to the manager and get his approval before HRO Plano would sell me anything, but the manager wasn't there. I called the corporate office in California again and spoke to Luke. He called the store and told them to refund my money immediately and they did. Does this sound like good business? The manager turned away business for a radio he had been paid for. I ordered the radio from Gigaparts for the same price. Customer loyalty is non existent at HRO Plano Tx. Buyer...

A $30 Coax Cable Cost HRO My Business

Fellow hams, gather 'round the virtual rig for a tale from the shack of NN2X, Tom. Licensed since 1980, I’ve been an active ham for over four decades, DX and actual lived in 70 countries in the last 45 years. From 5kW amplifiers that make the lights dim to whispering QRP signals, I’ve worked it all—CW, SSB, digital, you name it. My shack’s seen more gear than a contest station during Field Day, and for years, I was a loyal customer of Ham Radio Outlet (HRO). If it was on their shelves, I probably bought it.

But a few years back, a small $30 purchase changed everything. I picked up some coax cable from HRO—nothing fancy, just needed it for a quick antenna project. Got home, unrolled it, and what do I find? The connectors were the wrong type. Not even close to what I needed. No big deal, mistakes happen. I grabbed my receipt and headed back to the store, figuring a quick swap would get me back to soldering and SWR checks.

At the counter, I explained the mix-up and asked for the right coax. The salesperson? Flat-out refused. No explanation, no apology, just a hard “no.” I was floored. Here I am, a guy who’s dropped serious cash on everything from tower-climbing amps to pocket-sized QRP rigs, and they wouldn’t budge over a $30 cable. I told them right then, “I’m done. You’ll never see me again.” And I meant it.

Since that day, HRO’s lost out on my business. We’re talking $2,000 to $5,000 in annual purchases—antennas, transceivers, accessories, you know the drill. Maybe that’s pocket change to a big retailer, but it’s my hard-earned money, and I’m spending it elsewhere. As an electrical engineer with an MBA, and now VP of Sales and Business Development for a publicly traded company, I’ve spent half my career designing circuits and the other half closing deals. If one of my salespeople pulled a stunt like that, they’d be looking for a new call sign—er, job—by the end of the day. Customer service isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the difference between a loyal QSO partner and a silent key.

So, here’s the takeaway, hams: support the shops that value you. I’ve found other suppliers who treat me like a fellow operator, not just a wallet. HRO fumbled a $30 QSO, and they lost a lifetime DXer in the process. Catch you on the...

I ordered a brand new Kenwood TM-V71a dual band radio and received the incorrect mic (one with no dtmf buttons). Contacted the manager at HRO Plano and was given the run around for months, complied with all their requests and was finally was told to contact Kenwood. Talked to Kenwood, they requested a receipt. HRO was unable to provide a proper receipt that Kenwood would accept. Never got a mic from Kenwood or HRO so in the end I had to buy the correct mic (MC62) from another company for $70.53 at my own expense. Never will I buy from HRO again. Purchase your gear from a reputable company, not HRO.

Yes. I said I ordered it, I never stated I had any interaction with sales staff until the incorrect mic was shipped. I'm not sure what you're attempting to insinuate. You were contacted within 10 days (your Plano manager chose to do nothing about it) and gave me the run around for months after which you THEN told me to contact the manufacturer. I did indeed expect a brand new product with the accessories that are shown on the Kenwood website. I can not control what Kenwood asks for for service or that they were not satisfied with the receipt you provided. I complied with all your requests with no resolution. I'm simply letting others know of your after purchase customer service or complete lack thereof. I'm sorry you're as unhappy with your manager's handling of the situation as I am.

I made you aware of the issue with the receipt and your manager did nothing further so that falls on you. As previously stated I did contact Kenwood and they would do nothing with the receipt you provided and you WERE made aware of this fact. So in the end I still had to pay for the correct one. Your manager could have contacted Kenwood to attempt to resolve the issue, yet chose not to. And yes of course I'm upset with the situation.

So making a call to Kenwood yourself is too much to...