Audible illusions Slow customer service

This is not news. More like common knowledge........

You got scammed big time.

From what I've read here, they're known for bad customer service. I almost bought one many years ago. Glad that I didn't.

Reminds me of my very first job as a computer/server/tablet technician. Warehouse setting. 

The Floor Manager - "UNITS ON HOLD!!!" 

The logistics at Audible Illusions might be terrible. If you want a quick response, tell them their logistics needs improvement (or that you're interested in buying more IF they can help you)

There’s like three people there at most. It’s not logistics. It’s just how they do business (speaking from experience).

I owned 3 AI preamps from 1992-2016 and although I never had problems, I worried if I did that it would never get resolved. That was one of my reasons for trading it in for a Rogue RP5 preamp. I didn’t keep the rogue for very long as I all of a sudden decided to go all McIntosh.  I believe AI is Art Ferris, his wife and a Tech.  I also believe that Art Ferris is semi retired. 

I owned a modulus 3a in the late 90s, sold it and bought another one  a few years later since I liked it so much. I never had any issues with either of them and it really is a great sounding preamp. It’s just a shame that their customer service is so poor.

Oz

Ric Schultz of EVS (Electronic Visionary Systems) might be willing to work on an AI pre-amp. He worked at the company for a while (in the 80's or 90's, I believe),  and came up with a series of mods for the Modulus 2.

Somehow people keep doing business with AI even though they know that the service from AI is at a snail’s pace. Maybe be because their preamps are so much worth the all delays?
For me, it wasn’t that bad. I always got prompt responses from Art or somebody else at AI.
I ordered a new set of tubes for M3B MM, and it took about a month. I was not mad at the long delay, but somehow I expected that their service would be slow, so I was OK with it.
The bottom line is, as long as it works, it sounds so good.

Still waiting on this guy.

Still waiting on this guy, Opened a BBB complaint

Have you just asked for them to send it back? They aren't that exotic. Any qualified tube tech should be able to repair it.

Here is what happened, needed a Power supply only for a l1 thought factory might have one. no

But he offered me a trade-in that he would  refurbish, paid him the money now he comes up with every excuse there is , Nice fellow but..

I want to warn people about doing business with Audible Illusions. I initiated a trade in on July 17, 2021. I made the final payment for the new unit on August 16, 2021 when Art told me that the new preamp would “ship by the end of the week.”

It did not ship by the end of the week. Nor did it ship by the end of that month. I spoke to Art in the first week of every month since then and he kept telling me that it would “ship by the end of the month.”

It’s now January, 2022 and I still don’t have the unit. I told Art that I’ve decided I don’t want to deal with him anymore and that I want a refund. He refused to give me a refund and told me that he doesn’t have any money to refund. He called me back about 20 min later and pleaded with me to take the new unit which he said he’ll “ship by the end of the month.” I told him please not to send the unit (I don’t believe his promises anymore anyway) because I just want my money back at this point. He said during this second phone conversation that he’d do his best to refund my money “by the end of the month.”

There are many companies out there. Please think twice about working with Audible Illusions. I have been mislead pretty much from the word go.

In the interest of being fair I will post if and when I get a refund.

 

 

 

 

That's a real shamejj71, and I really feel for you. He has lied and used you and your money. I hope that you get it back, and that this is a warning to any others considering doing business with him. 

@roxy54 Have you just asked for them to send it back? They aren't that exotic. Any qualified tube tech should be able to repair it.

 

^^^ +1.  Exactly. Get your AI preamp back at least.  Can you do this, even if you send them a prepaid ship label?

Thanks, roxy54. 

I appreciate your sympathetic response.

Dealing with this guy has been very aggravating.

I’m a reasonable and understanding person but this has gone way too far.

 

 

I never had reliability problems with any of my 3 AI Modulus preamps but I am glad I sold them when I did.  I have no such problems with McIntosh.  

I said I would post if Audible Illusions issued a refund. Well, here I am. I was happily surprised with a receipt for a full refund this morning. What a relief.

Thanks all. I inherited a M3A and it seems to have some weird intermittent click sounds. BUT, such glorious sound...and such a shame the business is what it is. My local dealer warned me off as well, exact same stories. 

You'd think they would understand the Internet has changed everything, and that their business suffers because we all know. Sad, really.

Well, my money is probably going to PrimaLuna or something instead. Again, thanks for the warnings here!

Yep, Im still waiting on my unit 15 months now.

Stay clear

I worked for this character years ago when he was still in Pleasanton, CA (mid 80s....almost 40 years ago). He would tell a dealer if they paid cash in advance they would get preamps right away.......months and months later.....he still had not shipped. He would lie to people on the phone, he stole ideas from me without acknowledging me.....he would take preamps in to be upgraded and they would sit for months under his bench and then he even sent the wrong preamp back to someone.

This in not hearsay.....I saw him do all this.

This is not someone.....that anyone should have to deal with. And if your preamp goes down....good luck getting it repaired.

I send Art Ferris all my love and blessings and prayers. Underneath his "not living in his heart game" is a heart of gold.....same with everyone. The soul is not tarnished by what we do. However, we have to pay for our Karma. How we treat each other......is how we live and how people treat us.....sometimes it will be in another life that you have to balance your Karma.....Some people are spending this lifetime building Karma.....to bad....we choose either ego or love every second. Please choose love. It feels way better......for everyone.

I send you all blessings and love and please pray for those overseas who are suffering at the hand of ego.

Finally got my unit, Its a beauty.

Thanks Art 

Thanks ricevs. Wise words.