How long should I have to wait?
Early B.
Posts: 7,900
I've grown more patient as I get older, but damn! -- how long should I have to wait for a piece of audio equipment I ordered back in February?
Here's the kicker -- the manufacturer took my money once I placed the order, so he's got my money and I have no product. I don't think a manufacturer or dealer should take your money until the item is ready to ship. Yes, it's a custom piece, although not expensive at all (approx. $300), so how about half up front? I'd be OK with that.
If the manufacturer didn't have all of my money, I wouldn't be bitchin' about it. So my issue is more of a business ethics concern than anything else. If you take someone's money up front, you should be prepared to deliver the item in a very short period of time. At the very least, you should inform the customer up front that it's gonna take 3 months to get your order, then let the customer decide if he wants to do business with you. Isn't that fair?
I think this should be the case even if you sell stuff on ebay. As soon as the customer pays you, you should be prepared to send them their item and not hold onto it needlessly and send it out when it's most convenient for you, unless, of course, you state that up front. I do my best to send stuff out within 24 hours of payment. If not, I apologize and let the buyer know that their package will be delayed for one day.
I placed a pre-order with Emotiva, but no money exchanged hands. The pre-order is merely a mailing list, and they'll let you know when the item is in stock so you can decide at that time if you still want to purchase it. That's cool with me, and I think that's how it ought to be done.
OK, rant is over...
Oh, in case you're wondering who the manufacturer is, I'll save that for the review that I'll post on this board, whenever the item arrives.
Here's the kicker -- the manufacturer took my money once I placed the order, so he's got my money and I have no product. I don't think a manufacturer or dealer should take your money until the item is ready to ship. Yes, it's a custom piece, although not expensive at all (approx. $300), so how about half up front? I'd be OK with that.
If the manufacturer didn't have all of my money, I wouldn't be bitchin' about it. So my issue is more of a business ethics concern than anything else. If you take someone's money up front, you should be prepared to deliver the item in a very short period of time. At the very least, you should inform the customer up front that it's gonna take 3 months to get your order, then let the customer decide if he wants to do business with you. Isn't that fair?
I think this should be the case even if you sell stuff on ebay. As soon as the customer pays you, you should be prepared to send them their item and not hold onto it needlessly and send it out when it's most convenient for you, unless, of course, you state that up front. I do my best to send stuff out within 24 hours of payment. If not, I apologize and let the buyer know that their package will be delayed for one day.
I placed a pre-order with Emotiva, but no money exchanged hands. The pre-order is merely a mailing list, and they'll let you know when the item is in stock so you can decide at that time if you still want to purchase it. That's cool with me, and I think that's how it ought to be done.
OK, rant is over...
Oh, in case you're wondering who the manufacturer is, I'll save that for the review that I'll post on this board, whenever the item arrives.
HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50 LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub
"God grooves with tubes."
"God grooves with tubes."
Post edited by Early B. on
Comments
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Exactly 1 year.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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i never did like paying for a pre-order...i think good business is when they charge your card when item ships. I could understand a deposit for a custom piece but not full payment.
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MFSL takes pre-orders, but doesn't charge your card until the item ships. That's the way it should be. On custom build orders, half up front sounds fair to me. Paying in full and having to wait months sounds fishy. What if the company decides to close it's doors in that time?
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If you are talking about Nick then long wait times and little communication are par for the course.
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If they don't have the item ready to ship they better not take my money before it is!Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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Ask basic questions BEFORE you hand over the money.
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Oh, I forgot to mention -- I knew the manufacturer had a long wait time, but more recently claims it made major changes in the production and items can be shipped out within a week. That's why I didn't have a problem forking over my money.HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50 LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub
"God grooves with tubes." -
Since you already paid, then I would say six months or so. Especially if it is a smaller company and something custom as you stated. I don't think to them it matters about the money, but more the man power or time to actually get it completed.
I probably would have sorted that out ahead of time but that is just me. I would have expected to pay at least half or at least the cost of whatever is being customized and then pay for the customization part of it after it is completed and I am satisfied.
That being said, I would contact them and ask them for a reasonable time frame for when you might receive this item that you have ordered. Hopefully they will give you a good general time frame and be honest about where they are in the process.
Good luck!I know just enough to be dangerous, but don't tell my wife, she thinks I'm a genius.
Pioneer VSX-816
Monitor 40's - fronts, bi-amped
Monitor 30's - surrounds
CS1 - center
PSW10 - I'll let you guess
Blue Jeans Cable - speaker cable
Daewoo 27 incher - one step up from a console
Sony Progressive scan DVD
XBOX
SOPA since 2008
Here's my stuff. -
I would wait a year or two and if they have not delivered by then I would teach them a lesson by ignoring them.
madmaxVinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... -
Oh, I forgot to mention -- I knew the manufacturer had a long wait time, but more recently claims it made major changes in the production and items can be shipped out within a week.
Is this for custom items or for just general products? Like I said above, I would just call them and see. It can't hurt.I know just enough to be dangerous, but don't tell my wife, she thinks I'm a genius.
Pioneer VSX-816
Monitor 40's - fronts, bi-amped
Monitor 30's - surrounds
CS1 - center
PSW10 - I'll let you guess
Blue Jeans Cable - speaker cable
Daewoo 27 incher - one step up from a console
Sony Progressive scan DVD
XBOX
SOPA since 2008
Here's my stuff. -
