On a sunny day (Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:56:07 -0700) it happened John Larkin wrote in :
Well, I warned you. Typical example right now here: I have an old Epson 460 inkjet (these days it is all Epson R200 with special ink system), but the 460 is nice for envelopes, and I have some spare BW cartridges. So some time ago I got that one back from the attic, hooked it up, and it made this big noise: RRRR BANG BANG BANG, slamming the ink head into the sides repeatedly, as if there was no end stop. I thought, 'mm maybe a micro switch', so opened it up, has a little PCB in it, and guess what, in the middle of that PCB a big 40 or 48 (do not remember) chip in one of your type sockets. Immediately I knew what to to: chip out, chip in, couple of times, to rub oxidation of those contacts. Worked perfectly again. Then some weeks later, same thing... need to replace that socket one day.
If I had to do acceptance testing for equipment, then you would get it right back with a request for real IC sockets. Never save on parts quality. The list is much longer then my Epson printer though, my own circuits in the past, some big TV manufacturer used those too IIRC. Was it not Tek that first used sockets for even transistors, then later outlawed all IC and transistor sockets.. Guess why.