Basis Audio - Exhorbitant servicing evaluation cost


I have lusted after a Basis Debut turntable for years, and recently was close to purchasing one used. That is until I explored Basis Audio's service policy. Service is not even a link on their website... I had to find the turntable policy, which explains they are a "victim of their own success" since they have such great sales success and excellent service, they can only provide very limited information about their older products. Then they say to know more you must send a table in for evaluation. The fees for evaluation are alarming to me (see below). $3400 just to evaluate a Debut vacuum table? I planned on spending just a little more than that to buy the table in the first place. I emailed Basis weeks ago to ask if I was understanding the policy correctly and whether the fee was applied to eventual repairs. No answer. 

Since this evaluation cost, and the general vibe I get from reading their website is "We don't want to service our tables so we will price ourselves out of most of the trouble," is preventing me from wanting to buy a Basis table, I thought I would ask experienced Basis owners here what they think. I've heard nothing but great things about their products over the years, but if I can't have it serviced if I need to, it just scares me away.

From the Basis website:

4. Basis turntables are extremely precise and technical tests and measurements are labor intensive. Pricing for the evaluation, based on model, is as follows:

1400: $500

2001, 2200: $1,200

2500: $1,600

2800: $1,800

Debut: $3,200

Debut Vac: $3,400

Inspiration: $3,500

Inspiration with Vacuum: $3,700

Vector Tonearm: $1,200

SuperArm: $1,600

montaldo

Agree about the parallel, viridian. but I have owned three sota turntables and Donna has been nothing but extremely helpful when I have any sort of problems. And as I noted early in this thread, SOTA has begun to teach hobbyist how to make repairs in the field. I think it's a great solution for a product that is difficult and risky to ship. So I have to defend SOTA ... they are one of the least commercialized (i.e. advertised) but highest quality product and service companies I've dealt with. as well as being an amazing value. I would put their sound quality versus price up against any turntable manufacturer. 

And this is not to take anything away from Basis. they obviously have an equally loyal following in fantastic products. 

 

Wow, you read my post very differently than I do. I complimented SOTA and Donna as well as her achievement in moving the company forward. My interactions with her have always been pleasant. 

But disagreeing with a policy does not require a defense, unless one is not interested in both sides. And that policy at SOTA may have evolved in the long time since Kirk’s passing, though I still do not see any literature for them on Vinyl Engine.

All companies have good and bad, as we can see regarding a lot of people in this thread not being comfortable with Basis’ policies. And frankly, if they did not answer my emails, I would not be a customer either. I get that. And I am not a cheerleader, or fanboy, just an end user that was happy with both products, as well as Linn, Rega, VPI, and a host of others.  But hey "go team!" Whatever floats your boat.

All good. if I misunderstood, my apologies. 

If I receive any clarification on the evaluation fees I will post it here.

Thanks all.

After all this discussion, I think it best if you contacted Basis directly with your questions. It seems there have been others that had great service from them in the past, but maybe they needed to change their priorities due to market changes.

Bob