Tell us your worst audio dealer or mfr. experience.
Please tell us the worst experience you've had with a Dealer, Manufacturer or both and what actions were needed and what the outcome was. I'm sure there are many interesting horror stories. Interested to hear all.
I had a very negative experience with Green Mountain Audio. Yes, the founder and owner Roy is a very nice guy. But as a business owner some fundamentals were missing when I dealt with him.
The process from start of my order to when the speakers were finally delivered went 3 weeks past the original promised date. I would receive assurance "the speakers will ship early next week"...I would call that Wednesday and be told "oh no, sorry, will be next week". That went on for 3 consecutive weeks.
Finally when they shipped, the driver of one of the drivers was 100% defective. I called and wanted a replacement shipped express so I could have prior to vacation and my shipper account was used without him asking to reimburse me in any way and it was his defective speaker. I was going to assume the difference between ground and expedited but he never asked or seemed to care.
I second Sound By Singer....By FAR my worst experience I ever had with a dealer or anyone else on the internet. Andrew is the ultimate "used car salesman" of the audio industry. If his lips are moving, he is lying.
Wow, this guy Tim Paravincini must be the biggest asshole in all of audio. I have *never* read a single good thing about him. I'd rather contract ebola than to deal with him...
I'm surprised to read the negative posts about David and Stereo Exchange in NYC. Let me explain my experience.
After winning the Audiogon auction for a pair of Eggleston Rosa speakers, David was kind enough to hold the speakers for over a month due to my business schedule of extended travel.
David also held my check and agreed to allow me to pay cash.
My business travel was none stop and I only had an early Sunday morning to meet, so David agreed to meet me at the store at 8 am on a Sunday.
While I was there, and after inspecting the speakers, I was interested in the different brands Stereo Exchange carried which I wasn't familiar with. David was kind enough to discuss the brands, their strengths and in what systems they were typically used by his clients. He compared the brands I was not familiar with brands I was (VAC, Rogue, Rodgers with Audio Research - and Focal with Sonus Faber, etc). This in spite of him having an appointment he needed to get to.
It was a good experience and David was professional and friendly, dependable and polite. He did what he said and went through a great effort to accomplish a small sale (I got the speakers at a steal!).
A very positive experience, one I will always remember. David has my confidence and trust.
Sonic Frontiers and Chris Johnson. I paid big dollars for their CD transport. I think at the time it was $1800. But, once I received the unit, it would play maybe one CD out of 5.
I sent it to Canada at my cost for repair and after many months of pleading to him to repair/return the unit, it was returned just the same way that I sent it.
Chris Johnson claimed I was using defective CD discs.
I found out later, Sonic Frontiers was using a Phillips transport that was known to have problems.
I can see why Sonic Frontiers went out of business...
"He was VERY patient, professional and accommodating. I took weeks to finally pick them up due to my business schedule and me not being readily available. It was a very positive experience - he established my trust and confidence. I highly recommend David."
At least Dave's starting to figure out how to take care of customers. He almost went out a few years ago when a new Best Buy opened up near the store. He's one of the few owners in the entire industry, that doesn't know anything about audio. For him, its just a business. Its very rare in that most people that open an audio store do so because they're really into the equipment.
I don't want to get started on Tim Paravincini, but I needed a replacement part and his personal behavior (not the amp) caused me to fix it and dump it because I didn't ever want anything in my system that reminded me of his incredible behavior over a simple broken part for one of his amps.
I hear ya! In this cottage industry, I dump anything if not happy with the company.
I'm a big fan of EAR and glad never had to deal with Tim Paravincini directly.
With the best of intentions, I dealt with David Wasserman, the owner of Stereo Exchange in NYC - I bought a pair of used Eggleston Rosa speakers from him here on Audiogon. He was VERY patient, professional and accommodating. I took weeks to finally pick them up due to my business schedule and me not being readily available. It was a very positive experience - he established my trust and confidence. I highly recommend David. I am sincerely sorry to hear about Zd542 slipping and falling - we've all had that unpleasant experience. Not fun :-( Only good wishes, TJF.
Sound by Singer. Carried Audio Valve, but when my amps needed repair, it took 3 phone calls just to get someone to answer my question about repair. Let's just say they were not interested in assisting me in any way. I had to find repair work on my own. I was willing to pay whatever price it took to fix these, so price was not an issue.
They just refused to stand behind the product and were unbelievably arrogant as a bonus.
I don't want to get started on Tim Paravincini, but I needed a replacement part and his personal behavior (not the amp) caused me to fix it and dump it because I didn't ever want anything in my system that reminded me of his incredible behavior over a simple broken part for one of his amps.
The worst audio experience I've ever had was at Stereo Exchange in NYC. Some water got tracked into the store because it was raining and I slipped and went down right on my ass. Pain like I never felt.
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