2. amps-preamps
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Mcintosh-Bad customer service?

I was preparing to buy a new pair Mcintosh MC501's from an authorized Mac dealer. I have been doing some research and found some incriminating threads on Audio Asylum about Mcintosh. One very lengthy thread was about a seller on E-bay who was forced to pull his ad by a Mcintosh lawyer. Another was about a frustrated buyer who couldn't get support in Russia. There are always isolated instances, but I am very concerned now. One of my main concerns is that Mcintosh will not honor any warranties after you sell it. That means if I later try to sell my amps on audiogon, the buyer gets no warranty! What are your thoughts! I am used to unbelievable service from Pass labs, and even Krell. I refuse to spend that kind of money to a company that treats me poorly after the sale. Should I be concerned?
noonan
ljgj
955 posts
 
Not honoring a warranty that should be transferable is not necessarily bad customer service. At least with Mcintosh you can get things fixed, replaced, restored, and helpful info on touble shooting. Try that with some big name brands, particularly imports. I can tell you some stories about that sort of thing even when there is a warranty.
flynntom
35 posts
 
PLEASE!!! If you were to cost out every component that goes into a piece of "HIGH END" gear, factor in labor, R&D etc. we should be getting LIFETIME warrantes. My hats off to companies like Magnepan Bryston and Adcom who still have margins that are based in REALITY. Their warrantes are average their products WAY above average and they manage to stay in business year after year. I guess they must know something that the big boys don't
noonan OP
16 posts
 
Thanks guys. I love the products. I just kinda like to think they appreciate their customers and will take care of them after the sale. I actually don't mind companies making good profit, but I do expect to be treated well when I pay well. Pass Labs will transfer warranties. They will actually fix things for free (minus shipping)beyond their warranty period, and regardless of where you purchased it. That is indeed rare. I honestly think the non-transferable warranties are designed to protect their dealers by discouraging buyers from buying on Audiogon.
ljgj
955 posts
 
I guess the proof is how long a company can hang on with or without warranty transfers. Three or four companies mentioned above have done that but not as long as McIntosh. If they didn't take care of things they wouldn't sell and thus go out of business. Some companies do not last longer than the warranties they issue. The jury on Pass Labs longevity is still out. I do hope they (like Mcintosh) will survive for a long time.
snofun3
601 posts
 
Every company puts a "warranty reserve" into their pricing so they know their potential outstanding financial obligation, so if you sell before the end of the warranty period, Mac, or whoever, gets a freebie against their warranty reserve. They must love it.
It's probably hard to reasonably defend such a practice, but they get away with it.
Thank goodness for Bryston et al.
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