Upscale Audio is up front with customers

I have yet to negotiate a price on equipment that was acceptable to me with Upscale Audio.

ozzy

The cabinetry was done at Tannoy but they were shipped to China for finishing as it could be done cheaper and better there.

@nonoise Interesting! Thanks for that info. I can’t complain about the results, either way. But it’s wild to imagine that it was cost effective to ship these speakers an extra trip around the globe, even back then.

Because Fyne appears to be cheaper and just as good?

@grislybutter As someone who has pined after and purchased Tannoys for a long time - Fynes actually appear more expensive to me (for comparable models). And what are they thinking with the driver trim on Fynes? Tannoy's drivers look so much more sexy 

I have had some good experiences with them, but I'm disappointed currently. I bought an item which (I learned after the fact) isn't in stock and it's taking weeks.

Kennyc: "It's refreshing to positively support audio experts and their body of service vs taking a magnifying glass on a oops then blowing it out of proportion."

Exactly! And UA's body of service is 30+ years! 
 

O52rc: "Nothing I said was insulting or out of line, and he just hung up on me. I understand that for him, an $8000 preamp is a nothing sale given how much business he does ..."

No retailer hangs around 30 years by hanging up on an $8,000 sale. If you weren't "insulting or out of line" maybe you were just wasting his time? I'd hang up too. 
 

I bought Meadowlark speakers from him back in the early 2000s after several pleasant and frank conversations; I've bought tubes, I've bought gear, I've had conversations with him and reps there that were informative but didn't result in a sale, with no hard feelings. Don't mistake "No-bullshit" for "Nasty."

I've never had any issues with Upscale. Spoken with Kevin many times over the years and he's always helpful and pleasant.  Maybe once he wasn't but never rude.  I shrugged it off because I'm sure his patience gets tried daily and he's human.  I couldn't imagine dealing with the public as long as he has. Overall, we've had some lengthy conversations. I appreciate his honesty. Kevin runs a very good business and not many like Upscale anymore.  They have always helped me out with their customer service professionals. Hopefully they continue to survive successfully.