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The black hole of component repair?

Is the repair time for components typically measured in months? I have been fortunate over the last ten years with this hobby but at the end of January I had to send an amplifier and a DVD player in for repairs. The DVD player was past warranty and had to be sent to an independent service facility. They have had the player for 6 weeks and informed me today that the manufacturer in the UK sent them the wrong part (or maybe they ordered the wrong part) and they are waiting for the correct part. Looks like another 3-4 weeks before I see the DVD player. The amplifier was under warranty so that went back to the manufacturer. The amp sat on the floor for 6 weeks. I was told today that they have looked at it and that they have located the board they need to fix it. They may be able to get it installed in a week but can not make any promises. I am guessing that it will be another 3-4 weeks before I see the amplifier. I know some of this repair time is unavoidable but weeks can quickly turn into months especially with shipping time and components sitting around for weeks before they are even looked at. I now know why there are frequently things for sale on Audiogon where the listing states something like "just back from the factory in perfect working order". I guess when you send something in for repair you might just as well go ahead and replace the item right away and then sell whatever you sent in for repair when you finally get it back.
mchd1
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Gee, and I thought taking just under a month to get my former Pass Labs X1 fixed and returned (not counting shipping time) was bad. Oh, I still do. ;-)
tubes108
153 posts
 
Unfortunately, my repair story may not be topped--at least I hope so as I’d hate to think that someone experienced a lengthier repair of a product. About 1990 I left an amp at a repair center for a "few weeks at the most" repair. I am still waiting for this to be completed. Yep, you read that right; that's the last time I saw my amp.

Every time I inquired, I was told a different story. As 3/4s of year of waiting approached, I asked for them to return the amp, regardless of condition. The repair center owner told me that they no longer had the amp as it was sent to a specialist in another state. I contacted this specialist who had some reason why the amp could not be returned immediately. What to do? Small claims court of course. At some point, the out-of-state specialist contacted me, at the insistence of his wife, to explain that he never had the amp, and he had been lying to cover up for some mischief done by the repair center.

I did go to court which was quite entertaining in part because I could play Perry Mason and ask the defendant questions, and because of the lies the defendant told the judge, which biased him against me before the case commenced.

Oh, this repair center is still in business.

Regarding a fantastic repair experience. The folks at QS&D (540/372-3711) repaired my Quads twice. Their turnaround, as I recall, was 2 days. I was awestruck; fantastic interest on their part to keep their customers listening to tunes.
ozfly
887 posts
 
My California Audio cd player took about 2 months to repair(when they were still in business). My daughter's Consonance integrated amp took about 3.5 months (that may have been partly her fault). On the other hand, the owner of PBN (they make Sierra and Montana equipment) flew out on his dime to my house for a service call within about 6-8 weeks (we just couldn't align schedules sooner). That six weeks didn't seem very bad at all given the personal service involved. I've been a long time customer and it was a unique problem so I'm not trying to suggest that's typical service at PBN, but the personal touch makes time fly. Good communication and an honest approach to good service makes a real difference.
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
On the other hand, I once had an issue with a Kora Eclipse, which I sent back to FRANCE and received it back in my hands 10 days after sending (with shipping covered both ways!).
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