Just one more reason why I do my own work.
Headed back to garage to finish 40K service on my audi.
Warranty repair wait times - serious industry problem??
I'm looking at buying a used amplifier that needs some work, and lucky it's still under warranty. In researching places to get work done it's horrifying to learn that it could take two or three months after speaking to a few places.
Is this a widespread problem in the audio gear repair world? That's really bad.
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Multiple service dealers, in Connecticut and New Jersey and they say to stay away from Manhattan. The manufacturers are saying not to bring it back to their location but only go through service centers. Suddenly hi-fi is very unpleasant because the manpower necessary to do this technical work has suffered and it's not getting better. |
Basically it's unfortunate because I would like to buy an amplifier and now I learned because of the declining workforce to service audio gear it presents another problem. Why would anybody buy used gear when servicing is needed and in many cases it's probably a good idea. I think manufacturers have some serious issues finding Labor and having the willingness to pay appropriately to service their products. And this is after charging more money for their products and then they don't wanna pay for obligated warranty service work. Warranty repair centers probably don't make much money off of warranty work as they prefer straight repair work. low priority work for them. I think manufactures are going to have a serious problems in the future if they don't care of their customers. Everybody suffers because the guys in the back office want to boost the profit margin in the short term without regard for longer-term consequences. |
I had a Tascam recorder that was at the warranty repair service for over 4 months. I was told some people had been waiting for over a year! Sorta of like a badge of honor? Anyway, they said if I wanted to pay extra, I could move up the waiting line. I ended up taking it back unrepaired and now use it as a boat anchor. So, as much as I can, please DO NOT buy anything from Tascam! ozzy |
My guess is your service center handles a lot of electronic gear so it may relate to other manufacturers as well. I’m beginning to understand that warranty Service centers related to audio gear, and other stuff and they do cover lots of manufacturers, are notoriously slow with warranty repairs. I did hear from one audio related service center that manufactures don’t want equipment back and they refer it to service centers. What recourse does anyone really have. Odds are you won’t be impacted, so because the masses don’t have a problem manufacturers can financially not give much attention to this. Because so many other manufacturers do it, there is safety in numbers. So I’m thinking twice about buying used audio components right now. Do warranty service centers make much from manufactures for this work? Or do they make more money on non-warranty work where they can charge customers directly.
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@facten -- My thoughts, also. Unless you are getting the steal deal of a lifetime, why would you buy an amp that's still under warranty (implying it's not that old) YET NEEDS service work already? In the automotive world that's usually called a "lemon". |
My recent experience with Cary repair was really excellent and rapid, quite the contrary to the above! My Cary SLP05, which I bought used out of warranty, needed repair and the total turn around time, including shipping both ways, was about 3 weeks. Cary was GREAT, very professional, very responsive, very careful, with packaging of my preamp more carefully done than I have ever seen. I purchased a Schiit Freya+ in case my unit would be gone for months. I did get acquainted enough with the Freya to realize what a great product it is (helped by smoked glass Ken Rad VT231’s and CBS-Hytron 5692’s!), but the Cary service far exceeded what I expected. |
Correct. McIntosh, as with most audio manufacturers, gives priority to warranty repairs. So far, no one in this thread has identified a manufacturer with two- or three-month delays on warranty repairs. |
My neighbor has a couple 275 amps that are not used, older and need some attention. Definitely out of warranty, and service repair places say mcintosh says best to go to a service center. This was as of two months ago. Currently don't know what timing is for mac. They don't like to be in the servicing business that's why they have a net work. CJ is a good place to send gear and they don't take that long. |
Nonsense. I’ve done business with McIntosh and the company delivers excellent service. Mac’s service network can save shipping costs and offers customers options. But to say the company doesn’t "like to be in the servicing business" is pure BS. In audio, McIntosh is the gold standard in service. |
This is not limited to technology. I brought my Stihl leaf blower in for servicing to the store from where I bought it. They said sure, you can leave it and pick it up in 6 months. I asked if I could discuss my problem with one of the repair people and I would try to service myself. They said sure so I walked into the back of the store and there were 2 guys back there with a mountain of Stihl products waiting to be repaired or serviced. Probably 250 at least. At that point, I said to myself that I would use it until it dies and then just buy a new one when I can't fix it myself any longer. I suspect the same trend is happening with audio. There just isn't enough trained technicians. My local audio repairman finally retired after 40 years of service when he just could not find anyone to take it over. He would have given it to someone for nothing. Sounds like a great trade to learn especially with all these young kids getting into vinyl. It would be great if our local technical colleges would start offering audio repair programs. |
Rolex started a tuition-free training school for watchmakers in Lititz, Pennsylvania because the numbers of trained (and qualified) watch repair technicians was concerningly low, low enough to jeopardize the market for their products in North America. After sales service in that small industry has been constrained by manufacturers that will not sell parts to third-party service companies but who themselves are unable to provide timely service to their customers. And the charges for those services are not low. Audio isn't much different. Service of older gear works against sales of new gear, so there is a disincentive to make out-of-warranty service fast and convenient, whereas in-warranty service requires speedy and correct work to honor the contract of the warranty and the reputation of the maker. |
I don't follow why warranty service would get priority by repair centers. Truth is it's a very low profit business compared to other repair work, and when there's a shortage of skilled labor to do the work, there is no incentive for manufactures to really take much of an interest. It's a dying profession. Reputation when slow walking a warranty repair is really a non-issue for manufacturers. To delay means increased profits it's that simple. Anything to Delay a decrease in cash flow. It's an ugly business, this is the dark side. |
Because it’s part of earning authorized status, which is a source of business.
How do you know your claim to be true?
You are the OP and you continue to make unsubstantiated claims. You’ve still provided no evidence for your original claim that a warranty repair will take two to three months. |
