Is good customer service about dead?


I’d like to know from other members of Audiogon how they find customer service today. Not the resellers so much as the manufacturers themselves. I had a bad experience with a really late delivery. I also have a tone arm I bought in a first production run when a setup manual was not yet available – the manufacturer will not respond to my emails. I wanted to audition a rather expensive pair of speakers that were not available in my area. I contacted the manufacturer (from his own website) to ask where I could go to audition and purchase these – but no response. I have however had amazing support from the good folks at VAC and Jeff Rowland.
So I am now searching for new speakers but customer service is my first criteria and everything else is second. I'll be looking in the 5K-10K price range. I’d be very interested in other people’s experiences.
dat1
Ghasley, Once they had a buyer for the speakers then they would have the funds but there is no way I was going to send these speakers without payment first. Vapor wants to use an escrow company, then have me ship the speakers to them so they can inspect for damage. After this is done they would then release the funds if the speakers came in clean. I can find a buyer and take less risk like Dat1 did.

I am also sorry for not taking a little higher road in the last thread but there are limits to the amount of bull I can handle. Lesson learned again! I have name called in the forums before and should have known better what was going to happen. I swear it's the dark irish in me. LOL

As far as the amps go, Dennis from D-sonic finally got them back but had to use the forums to get it done because phone calls and emails were going nowhere. I saw him in 3 different forum sites and was on a mission.

Anyways, I will give a pop for Vapor Audio's Cirrus speaker as an amazing sounding monitor. Mine have a great mid hall sound, huge stage,with top notch decay. When the music gets real busy they stay nice and poised. The bass is uncanny for the one 7" AT woofer. The vocals and acoustical music will be tough to match in this price range. Dynamics are not over done with this set so when you crank it up it is not overbearing. Poised keeps coming to mind. I think Dat1 can vouch for some of these comments.

With that being said I would box these up and ship them back without hesitation because nothing sounds that good to make you forget about the frustrations.

I know companies can bounce back from these things and become stronger than ever. It has been done before. The speakers themselves can without a doubt hold this company together but the customer service side or bedside manner needs help. I don't want to see Vapor Vaporized but if they keep making promises they can't keep and can't be upfront with the customer then they will have a harder time keeping the doors open.

So, no I don't think customer service is dead, I just think it is still being learned!
I had no support from this German company of Axinia Schaefer...but, to be fair, she was willing to take my money for a silver litz re-wiring and to build me a SS platter for a Micro Seiki turntable, no problem. Then she refused to deliver the items that I paid her to build for me...hence, no product...no need for customer support, super.

Watch out for that one!

Cheers!
This is my last post on this topic.

Paul, you were offered FULL refund and we made it clear that we have a buyer ready now. I always have a list of people wanting a pair immediately.

We try to work with you in private, you misrepresent things in public. With all the options we've given you, any reasonable person would realize we're trying and would communicate until details are agreed upon. Since you're not doing that after the offers we've made, I have to assume you're happy with the speakers.
I had a very good experience with Bel Canto earlier this year where they made a repair to an amp i acquired second hand in a timely and cost effective maner and with good clear ommunications. I was very satisfied.
IMO, going on the forums and saying you are offering a FULL refund when you really mean you will find a buyer for the speakers but you have a buyer now is a misrepresentation. The difference? One is absolute and the other is contingent. Contingent upon the final inspection, contingent upon supposed buyer not backing out at the last minute, etc.