hardware down....help

[bballnut]

I have a sony trv 730 dig 8 camcorder. I dropped it 3 weeks ago while putting in a cassette and must have bent the houseing. It will not retract a tape in. I am dead in the water.....I not only use it for filming but also as a pass-thru digital converter for my vhs home movies. After a search of the web and one post here, I still can't find parts to fix it myself. Sony wants $250 just to look at it. I want to salvage this thing.

Can anybody direct me to a site that sells parts for camcorders.....?

thanks in advance for your help.

[ZAPPER]

Dude... my condolence.

Search the web for "camcorder repair parts" if you think that you can fix it yourself. I found this site first try (www.acecam.com/srindex.html ) I don't really know how they are. I asked a freind who repairs electronics for the big boys (broadcast type equipment) and he said that repairs aren't really all that bad as long as you dont drop it and bend the tape carriage(ouch!) just kidding. Check around for a local repair shop. I have actually found that some guys will keep the price down to about half of the replacement cost in order to get the work. If they try to charge more the customer will just opt for a new unit and the repair shop doesn't make any money at all. Stroke the repairmans ego, be polite, ask them if they want to work on it or if they have time to work on it. Don't do or say anything to piss them off, they kind of got you by the balls. Don't tell them that you really really need it fixed right now or rush them in any way, that just irratates them, and they won't take the job or they will jack up the price. Another option could be to set a price in your head that you think you would spend and ask them if they can fix it for that price. Say like "I dropped my cam and was hopeful that I could get it fixed for under $250" This is risky though. It could piss them off or you could wind up paying $250 for a $60 repair! Most guys already know that you don't want to spend alot of money and that everyone wants it right now.

PS next time keep that annoying strap around your neck and it can't fall as far