So he bought a used LPS1. Alex at Uptone Audio seems to focus on this, but it really doesn’t matter what mikey8811 paid, or if he got it free, it still had two years warranty. He sends it back, paying the shipping, and is without the unit for this time. He then receives back an LPS1, that is supposed to be repaired, but I agree, it really wasn’t. Just installing a used board from a product somebody else sent in isn’t "repairing," it is "substituting" somebody else’s problem over to you. Especially as Alex says it is imperative to use the specified power adapter, which we don’t know was used with the unit the substituted board came out of. As evidence of this questionable practice, upon receiving the LPS1 back, it then quickly dies. And it is still under warranty.
This is where it is interesting. mikey8811 is now at the same point, a non-working LPS1, but he’s out for the shipping cost.
The price for a new LPS1.2 is $435. So, and this is important, Alex of Uptone Audio says he’ll send a brand new LPS1.2, mikey8811 can keep the non-working LPS1, but he will also pay $250. It is my understanding that Alex did indeed send a new LPS1.2 unit.
Now, mikey8811 is not "all in" for $250. He’s essentially at $435. The warranty wasn’t "void" as thyname stated. He had an LPS1 that should have been fixed properly for no charge, and really mikey8811 shouldn’t have had to pay the second shipping charges for the clearly defective LPS1 that he was sent. The value of that unit was put at $185 by mikey8811 agreeing to this new deal that Alex offered.
At this point, mikey8811’s actions do become a bit questionable though.
OK, the torx screw complaint is very technical, and Alex does seem to be willing to take care of this. Saying "I don’t have a torx screwdriver" is fairly ridiculous, they are common enough that is should be possible to just borrow one from somebody if you don’t want to spend the small amount to purchase one. "I am not technically inclined" has to be pretty complete if a person can’t unscrew an old screw and screw a new one in.
However, ultimately I’d decide in mikey8811’s favor, based on the advice from Alex to put some electrical tape inside to stop the board from rattling. That does not inspire confidence.
So at this point mikey8811 deserves his investment back. That is $435, as previously agreed in the deal offered by Alex. But mikey8811 instead gets $250 back by disputing the charges with his credit card company and still has the unit. So he didn’t get the unit for free, it is worse than that. Now Alex has been swindled out of $65, which is the difference of the $185 to the agreed price of the unit at $250.
It would be fair for mikey8811 to keep the LPS1.2 and pay the $65 difference. Otherwise Alex should agree to refund the other $185 for the warranty he didn’t have to honor, which was the deal he offered, but mikey8811 should then return the LPS1.2. I’d be interested to hear what ultimately happens.