Hifi Heaven
rdb2001
Posts: 791
This has to be the worst shop I have ever dealt with in my life. Jim is the rudest POS I have ever encountered and has no customer service skils. I purchased a used classe amp from them on audiogon. Amp was rated an 8/10. I received the amp and it has 3 really nice large scratches on the top. It also has a scratch on the faceplate. I looked past it as I am not one to complain. Well I hook the amp up and my banana plugs will not stay in the jacks. I switch speaker cables to no avail. This does not happen with my brystons that I own. I so happen to have just purchased another classe amp from the same line and all my cables fit snug in the jacks. I give them a call and let them know the issue. I was told that they only tested the amp with bare speaker wire and never tested the jacks. He said he would talk with Jim and have him call me back the next day. Well 2 days pass and I havent received a call. I call and ask for the status and Jim comes to the phone and says he just can't believe that. I informed him I have 6 amps sitting in my home that are Bryston and other classe amps and that none of them have that problem. I also inform him of what his employee said that they didnt test the amp with banana plugs. He informs me that I am putting words in their mouth and that no one said that.
He starts to be a real **** at this point so I kindly ask for a shipping label as he sent me an amp that was not as described even with pictures. He informs me that he doesnt pay for return shipping. I inform him he sent me an amp that was not as describe and defective. This was the worst online buying experience I have ever had in my life. I have bought and sold alot of equipment without a hitch and I thought that since I was actually dealing with a dealer and not an individual I had nothing to worry about. Jim is the rudest and I would not give him another dime. Sorry for the long rant but I think people should know how they treat customers even though they are the ones at fault.
Should I have to pay for a defective amp to be returned? Should I be told I put words in their mouth about how they tested this amp? I just hate this experience as this now makes me want to always deal with a local dealer.
He starts to be a real **** at this point so I kindly ask for a shipping label as he sent me an amp that was not as described even with pictures. He informs me that he doesnt pay for return shipping. I inform him he sent me an amp that was not as describe and defective. This was the worst online buying experience I have ever had in my life. I have bought and sold alot of equipment without a hitch and I thought that since I was actually dealing with a dealer and not an individual I had nothing to worry about. Jim is the rudest and I would not give him another dime. Sorry for the long rant but I think people should know how they treat customers even though they are the ones at fault.
Should I have to pay for a defective amp to be returned? Should I be told I put words in their mouth about how they tested this amp? I just hate this experience as this now makes me want to always deal with a local dealer.
Post edited by rdb2001 on
Comments
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I can't speak for there used gear but I've been buying new from them for over 4 years now without a single problem. Hopefully they'll take care of you.
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I can't speak for there used gear but I've been buying new from them for over 4 years now without a single problem. Hopefully they'll take care of you.
He will refund my money but I have to ship the amp back on my dime which I feel is not right as the amp was not as described. He will get some bad feedback left for him on audiogon. If he was not an **** about this, I probably wouldnt mind as much but his attitude towards it was terrible. I am going to call my credit card company and see what can be done. -
I've been also going to this place for a few years now without issues. I have spoken to Jim before and he wasn't the most customer friendly guy I've spoken too however the others there are good guys and often work with you on stuff. I've never bought used there but have bought new and everything was good.
Sorry to hear about your troubles, I would say if it not as described you could send it back however I've never had them cover return shipping (in any of these issues) before. Even a dispute thru paypal they stated it would not cover the return shipping only what I paid for the item when it was a defective purchase. -
I can stop by and give him a knuckle sandwich..:cheesygrin:
Did you try a get ahold of the owner? I think his name is Bill. I'd call and ask for him and see what can be done. -
I can stop by and give him a knuckle sandwich..:cheesygrin:
Did you try a get ahold of the owner? I think his name is Bill. I'd call and ask for him and see what can be done.
I'm 99.9% sure Jim is the owner as that is what the other guys have told me before when working with them. -
That really sucks rdb, Its one thing to have a policy, and stick with it, not treating other human beings as you would want to be treated is begging for bad karma.humpty dumpty was pushed
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I've bought a few demo pieces from them, top notch in every way. Just so you know, I don't know anyone who pays for shipping on returns of used gear. Unless it's clearly stated that they will, which most don't, then returned shipping isn't going to be covered.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Thanks for all of the replys. Maybe I was asking for too much on the return shipping but I feel like as a buyer, if the item you purchased was not accurately described and in the shape it was said to have been in, you shouldnt have to pay to send it back. The amp was packed well so I doubt shipping caused it not keep bananas snug. It is something they didnt test before selling. So I am out 50 or more dollars for their mistake. Not sure how that is fair but it is what it is.
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I have never heard of them so I went to their web-site looking for a used Cambridge-Audio 840W amp (they are harder than Hades to find used), and they did not have any. However, they did have a Krell reduced to $7995 from $8000. What a deal.
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
How could bananas not fit? Does it look like they've been drilled out or something? Euro amp with different standards? At any rate, I'd just use spades instead. Better connection anyway. Though the scratches would have me pretty upset.
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I have never heard of them so I went to their web-site looking for a used Cambridge-Audio 840W amp (they are harder than Hades to find used), and they did not have any. However, they did have a Krell reduced to $7995 from $8000. What a deal.
There website isn't updated on the regular but out of all the deals I've found it was from them at a great discount. They don't offer many discounts in store or on there website but the deals can be found under there many different online names on Audiogon and videogon. -
Call your credit card issuer, renege on the deal, void the sale due to fraudulent acts by seller. Let them (HI FI) worry about reclaiming their amp on their dime and....at your convenience. Nothing gets a card issuer's attention more than a threat of non-payment !
Good luck ! -
How could bananas not fit? Does it look like they've been drilled out or something? Euro amp with different standards? At any rate, I'd just use spades instead. Better connection anyway. Though the scratches would have me pretty upset.
They dont stay in. They aren't snug in the connections. I can't tell you why but that is what is happening. All of my cables are pre-terminated so I am not about to spend more money on cables to get around and issue. The scratches were an issue, I am just not one to go back and forth. -
They dont stay in. They aren't snug in the connections. I can't tell you why but that is what is happening. All of my cables are pre-terminated so I am not about to spend more money on cables to get around and issue. The scratches were an issue, I am just not one to go back and forth.
You didn't lend it to PolkFarmBoy, did you?smiley_rotflmao.gifIf you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money. -
^lmfao^ shame on u! lol"Everything I ever did in my life worthwhile I caught hell for"
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RDB,
It sounds like you did not use PayPal, and I hope your credit card company helps you out.
I always use PayPal for items I purchase on eBay or Audiogon. On a few occasions items have been misrepresented -- e.g., Audioquest interconnects represented as new, but clearly had been used when I received them. I have disputed these transaction with PayPal, have never been denied, and have always been refunded the full price, including shipping, and the seller has always been required to pay for return shipping.
In one instance the seller had categorically refused to accept a return -- let alone pay for shipping -- but when PayPal interceded, he apologized to me profusely and admitted he was reselling an item that he had been bilked on and, therefore, felt justified in passing on the problem to another.
I was surprised that in the thread above somebody indicated that PayPal did not require the seller of a misrepresented item to pay return shipping. In my experience, PayPal does.Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
One thing you mentioned
"I was told that they only tested the amp with bare speaker wire and never tested the jacks."
With bare speaker wire ? That would seem out of the ordinary, wouldn't it, in a shop that deals with a lot of gear ?
Sure, you can use bare wire. Tin the ends to keep them from "unraveling". But why ?
They make banana plugs. You could push in / pull out a hundred times a day, and they'll be good to go tomorrow.
Or spades. Disregarding any personal preference/advantages to spades, for TESTING you still have to put in a LITTLE extra effort with spade connectors as compared to bananas. But you don't have the potential problem of "Ooops, I guess I stripped too much bare wire !" when your 3" strip job shorts out everything in sight.
Which is why I kind of find it hard to see a busy shop, working with a large amount of gear, would use bare wire.Sal Palooza -
It's pretty much standard procedure to have to pay return shipping out of pocket. Even if you had used Paypal. I doubt there's many places out there that will pay for return shipping on a used item.2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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There website isn't updated on the regular but out of all the deals I've found it was from them at a great discount. They don't offer many discounts in store or on there website but the deals can be found under there many different online names on Audiogon and videogon.
They use many different names on Audiogon and Videogon? That sounds like a red flag right there. -
Wouldn't expect you to understand. I've never had anything negative to say about their business or service. I've recommended many friends and just like me nothing but positive things to say.
