MISTAKE #3 – Assuming the stuff actually works!
With this vintage stuff, it’s almost assumed that the reason it’s up for sale at usually cheap prices is because it’s just obsolete and a waste of space. With Bell Labs/At&t usually making relatively durable products using quality parts, its likely that the 30 year old hardware STILL works.
NOPE. I also found a very cheap Merlin Magix PBX that I got to try some linking experiments with, and while I learned from the two above lessons and didn’t buy an expansion chassis (same issue as above), I was disappointed to receive my cheapo pbx that had a dead power supply in it. Again, it wasn’t a super costly thing as a new supply can be had for about $20+shipping, but still, assume anything you buy to be as-is, and either damaged or broken, so when you get working things, you’re actually excited 😉