How Long Is Too Long?

By the way, I'm running a Technics SL1200GR and since the LCR MkIII and Copla have been MIA, I'm using a MoFi Studio phono pre.  

Cartridges are a Benz Micro Glider, Ortofon MC Rondo and Audio-Technica VM540ML. 

@ jasonbourne71, 

No, I don't have to pay for the repairs. That's good I guess but the question now is, is it worth it?  

I've been casually looking at used phono pre's on this site and USAudiomart as I may just write it off as a loss until I get it back and then I can decide if I want to sell it or not..  

@ yogiboy, 

Fortunately, my phono pre is not in the same class as yours.  I would be really pissed if it was and I had to wait so long.  LOL!

@ ghdprentice,

He doesn't charge for the repairs.  After having to wait so long, I think it would be good business that he doesn't. 

@ mike_in_nc,

I get what you are saying and as I said, I gave him a call. He said he was swamped due to a big influx of orders but at some point you have to take care of your customers who already bought and own a piece of your equipment. Especially if it is in need of repair due to parts failure which I believe is the problem after talking to the owner/designer/builder.  He admitted as such.

@ ozzy,

Yeah, no matter what the excuse is, it appears we’re at the mercy of the manufacturer. I guess we can only hope that we get our problems or issues resolved in a reasonable amount of time.

When I spoke to the guy, he said he wasn’t even answering emails any more because he felt like he was just getting "feelers" and he didn’t have the time to respond.

I get it. When you’re pretty much a one man operation, time can’t be wasted on conversing with potential customers.

Oddly enough, the few times I talked to him on the phone I had to cut him off because he just kept on rambling. I should have told him, "Hey, a little less talk and just fix my gear please". LOL!

Sorry to hear about your knee Ozzy.

My wife has a lymph node problem she's been trying to get diagnosed.  She gets lab work done and nobody calls or sends her the results.  She has to keep calling her doctor to find out the results.  So, you're not alone in that regard.

I’m happy to see some have a sense of humor on this sight. 😄

@ petg60,

I didn't ask but his excuse for not repairing my units is that he's too busy building new ones for other customers.  I doubt he has any spares lying around. 

I'll give him another call.  

@ markny2011, 

I guess I should consider myself lucky? 😄

That is shameful about PS Audio. 

@frankmc195, 

Yep, I did it so my hands are tied.  I'm going to give him a call.  Hopefully he answers the phone.  

@rpeluso 

🤣

@alvinnir2 

Good advice and I have been thinking along those lines as well.  I said earlier that I have been casually looking at other phono pre's on this site and USaudiomart..  

You brought up a good point that what happens if I need to send them back for some other reason?  I have to wait at least another 4 months?  

No. 

I'll give him a call and if I don't feel good about his response then I'm not opposed to posting the name of the company.  

I alluded to the fact that these are not in the same class as say, Quicksilver. 

Total cost for both units new today would be $827 not including shipping and tax. 

I've talked to the owner and it's not a supply issue.  He simply hasn't had time to get to my gear as he is busy building new units for new orders.  

cleeds,

Yes, it certainly appears that way.  I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.  I appreciate that he doesn't charge for repairs as he "stands by his product".  

I would prefer to pay for the repairs and get my gear back in a reasonable amount of time. 

I'm 64 and life's too short.

@ozzy, 

I'm trying to get in touch with him today and if I can't get any satisfaction I will reveal the name of the product. 

I didn't want to come off as one of those vindictive types that come to the forum to soil a company's name because I had a bad experience. I wanted to make sure that others feel as I do and believe that I've shown enough patience.

Before his product got a boost from the Stereophile review, he was great to deal with.  Now ... maybe not so much. 

We'll see.

@cleeds 

I believe you are correct sir! 

@bubba12 

To me $800 and change is not a "few" hundred bucks. 

Thanks to all for the suggestions and advice.  

The company is:  Lounge Audio

My two pieces are/were:

LCR MkIII Silver & Copla

@grislybutter, 

I can't seem to get him to respond or answer the phone.  I guess I'll just have to wait it out.  

In the meantime, I'm thinking about a Parasound JC3 Jr. 

When I get the Lounge pieces back, I'll make sure they work and then try to sell them.  

I'll have to put it down as a learning experience.  

@sokogear 

Agree.  As I said, I'll just have to put it down as a learning experience and think twice about buying direct from a small business/operation.

To think, I was proud of myself for supporting the little guy. SMH.

@grislybutter, 

I bought the units about five years ago.  I sent the LCR MkIII in for an upgrade to the Silver version a couple of years ago.  Funny thing,  I had a Mono switch added but he left a wire off so it didn't work.  Back then, he wasn't so busy so turnaround was pretty quick.  Ever since that Stereophile review his business picked up.  As I said before, good for him, not so good for me.

So, I don't think I could get my money back.

@yogiboy,

Thanks for the recommendation on the Sutherland.   Didn't they make a battery powered PSU?

As I said earlier, it's great that he "stands by his product" and doesn't charge for repairs as long as you own them.

That said, if I knew I'd be waiting four months and counting, I would have preferred to pay for the repair and more than likely  get it back in a reasonable amount of time.  

He's supposed to fix the mono switch he installed but never hooked up in the phono pre in addition to the bad left channel in the Copla step up device. 

So much for supporting the little guy.  

@ozzy, 

Well, at least I now know to stay away from Tascam.  😁

Thanks.

@ozzy , 

Do you think I should start a thread here and other audio forums trashing  informing others of my experience?  

It may be good to inform the new customers what they may be in for.

@tablejockey,

Thanks for the support. I will give it another month which to some is too much leeway and some others maybe not enough.

Then I’m going scorched earth! 🤣

Hey, I might just do that anyway.

In the meantime I’ll continue to search for a different phono pre.

@jeffrey75 ,

Believe you're right.  His name is Robert Morin.

He seems like a nice enough guy but his business acumen needs work. 

@thecarpathian, 

Yes.

I might just wait for him to post on the steve hoffman forum and respond to his post by saying, "Hey Robert, how ’bout less time on the internet and get to fixin’ my Lounge Audio gear!"

I already mentioned that it's not a supply issue.  Covid is not to blame in this instance.  I spoke to the owner about it.  He's simply "swamped" with new orders after a Stereophile magazine review on one of his products.  As a result, those of us with gear that needs repairing are on the backburner..