2. amps-preamps
  3. 182715-1264

What happened to Rotel?

I feel Rotel's product quality has significantly gone down hill along with their service. I would never purchase a Rotel product ever again. I purchased a Rotel RSP-1576 only four years ago and now the volume occasionally VERY low, barely audible even turning the volume to near max. Completely unplug it would resolve the issue and make the volume return to normal. I tried to obtain warranty services through Rotel but was told I need a physical receipt despite I submitted it upon product registration. Their service is absolutely horrible and would try to deny your warranty claim for any little reason they can find. Worst of all, they don't have an actual office here but only a distributor, so their actual manufacturing entity isn't bound by US Consumer laws and there's no way to file a lawsuit against them. STAY AWAY FROM THIS BRAND

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philfreak
9 posts
 

I bought a Rotel  amplifier about 25 years ago on trial. I had it for a day and returned it, it sounded thin and had no muscle. 

jl35
3,938 posts
 

been using my RMB 1095 5 channel amp since I bought it from a friend in 2004, sounds and works great...never really liked Rotel stereo stuff, except their CD Players...currently have CD11 Tribute which is great inexpensive player...agree it's complicated to get warranty service without a receipt

shutupuface
33 posts
 

Another Old Guy here. I can definitely appreciate your feelings on this matter. I checked Rotel’s website (as I am sure you have already done) and unfortunately, it does require a copy of the original receipt for warranty work. However, IMO your online registration SHOULD have been enough.

It seems as though more and more companies have gotten away "Customer Service" in more ways than one. I am sure many of you other old guys can remember when "customer service" used to really mean something. I will use Craftsman tools as an example. You paid a slightly higher premium for their brand, but there was no question if you needed to replace a tool from them.

Before "planned obsolescence" became an "industry standard", companies used to actually compete to make a better product than "da udder guy". In addition, they knew that by building a better product, the customer developed "brand loyalty" as well.

(my parents owned an old Norge refrigerator that lasted 25 years before my mom made my dad buy her another one because the "color" was not in fashion.)

Maybe that is why companies like McIntosh, Marantz, and others are still in business?

And, perhaps that is why brands like Adcom are still selling today because of their reputation of longevity? If I was in your shoes, I would find the address/phone # of Rotel and try to contact a supervisor to explain your situation. If you do not have any luck there, I would continue to make your concerns known on social media. Sometimes, as they used to say, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease".

Best regards,

Rob

 

mickeyb
539 posts
 

What happened to rotel is rotel. 
garbage in-garbage out. 

paradisecom
281 posts
 

All of the Rotel gear I have run over the years has been great, including my current integrated. 🤷‍♂️ 

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