LAJayne Senior Member Joined: 26 Sep 2012 Posts: 4 Location: WA State Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon Oct 1, 2012, 9:27pm Subject: whether or not to return an open box Nuova Simonelli Oscar purchase
After much research, I ordered a Nuova Simonelli Oscar, open box. It arrived today. 2 things bother me and I wonder if I am just being overly cautious. First, when I removed the drip tray, there was a screw in it. I couldn't locate where it came from but there are 2 open slots on each side so it could have fallen from inside of the machine near the brewhead since it is fairly open. Even with a mirror and flashlight, it was not obvious where the screw belongs. Second,there is a dent/crack on the front of the machine. Maybe it was from the portafilter knocking into that area. It seems odd to have a crack/dent rather than a scratch, though. There was also coffee in the brewhead area so maybe the previous owner didn't bother to clean it. All of this is making me anxious. Should I be concerned? It was $100 less for the open box. Should I return it for anew one?
I am 150 miles from the vendor so I would have to mail it back or drive over and back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
diggi Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2011 Posts: 383 Location: Halifax, NS Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Spaz vivaldi S1 V2 Grinder: B Vario, OE LIDO Drip: Chemex, Espro Press,... Roaster: Poppery I
Posted Tue Oct 2, 2012, 1:27am Subject: Re: whether or not to return an open box Nuova Simonelli Oscar purchase
I can understand your disappointment after ordering a new machine and having it arrive in less than pristine condition. It's like that first scratch on a new car. I'd contact the dealer and see if you can work something out....ie: once you factor in the cost of shipping there and back + hassle + replacement, maybe it'd be a mutual benefit to decide on a $ amount that would make you happy and come in cost equivalent/cheaper for the vendor.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,761 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Oct 2, 2012, 9:49am Subject: Re: whether or not to return an open box Nuova Simonelli Oscar purchase
Contact the seller, I am sure they sent it insured, you would be crazy to not do that.
On the surface, if it were me, if the seller could kick back another $50 or so and the machine worked fine, I would live with it and not look back. My oscar had a few cracks in the housing by the drip tray from shipping, it never affected a thing and from more than a few feet away, you could not see the issue and life was good.
I know I will use the drip tray as a place to put screws when I disassemble a machine, perhaps, the seller had removed some of the covers to check for damage and missed a screw when reassembling the machine and you found it. OR it may have fallen out of someplace like you think YMMV.
Who did you buy it from? Coffee in the group head, well it wasn't flushed after the last time it made coffee, perhaps at the first owners home or perhaps on a workbench? Should it have been flushed... yes. Will it make a big deal? Not to me, you should see some of the gunk I see in used machines.
In the end you are the one that needs to be comfortable with the deal. Again, contact the seller and see what they say.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
LAJayne Senior Member Joined: 26 Sep 2012 Posts: 4 Location: WA State Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Oct 4, 2012, 8:55pm Subject: Re: whether or not to return an open box Nuova Simonelli Oscar purchase
Thanks for your advice. It was greatly appreciated. I felt a lot better after reading your posts and then talking with the vendor, Seattle Coffee Gear, whom I have purchased from before. I knew open box meant it might have a few nicks. SCG also said the screw could be from using the drip tray as a holder for screws when testing the machine after it was returned.
I was concerned because I spent a lot more money on this machine and hoped I'd made the right choice. I had my first machine for 11 years of everyday use, and my last 2 for 22 months and 17 months respectively. It was time to make a better investment in the hopes this one lasts a few years at least.
The Oscar makes good espresso shots after I threw the first few out trying to adjust the grind. I wasn't having much luck steaming milk after following directions in the manual. After watching more videos, I found out my usual way was fine.
Coffee is like wine. Once you've had good espresso, you can't go back to the mediocre stuff.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,761 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Fri Oct 5, 2012, 5:48am Subject: Re: whether or not to return an open box Nuova Simonelli Oscar purchase
I'm glad it worked out for you, I had guessed the screw situation on the head. Yes, once you have good, it is VERY hard to go back to what is served in most shops.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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