Viva, no longer a fan


Viva as a company has decided to abandon the audiophiles who engage in the used market.  I heard that the had implemented new transformers in there amps.  I emailed them directly 3 times over a 2 week period with no reply.  Finally I called and the knew who I was by name, surprised I was then told that the US importer would be contacting me.  Here is the mail exchange:

From: John Krupa
Date: September 21, 2016 at 7:04:52 PM EDT
To: support@vivaaudio
Subject: Fwd: Viva Audio

Totally what I did not expect!!! I was primarily looking to upgrade them to the new Quattro status as I understand there was an big transformer upgrade that I was willing do in addition to the voltage change. After the Bob Clarke email I was taken back and responded how I felt. I really am no longer interested in Viva as a company to do business with if that is the case and will blog the copy of this email to the various sites.


From: John Krupa 
Date: September 21, 2016 at 2:08:37 AM EDT
To: Bob Clarke
Subject: Re: Viva Audio

The Verona's are at my Girlfriends house in Manchester. I heard there was a new Transformer upgrade in the Quattro series, hence my interest. I have over $300k invested in my system and I have Sola CVS transformers providing both voltages hence it was only for convenience sake. Upgrades are and have been part of this industry that I have been a part of for over 40 years since I started in this hobby. Name the manufacturer and it hasn't been a problem. Upgrading from. Mk1 to a Mk2 or an SE upgrade. Weather it be BAT, YG, Plinius, Ayre, the list goes on and on, It's a shame that a manufacturer acts in such a petty way. I will make sure that I share this email on all the sites that I am a part of! It's funny but this I believe reduces the brands appeal and will drive down its resale valve hence the initial desire to purchase in the first place. This is an email I would have expected from a "name deleted" type. Now I guess Viva! No longer a fan!


On Sep 20, 2016, at 12:02 PM, Bob Clarke wrote:

Dear Mr. Krupa,

Viva Audio has asked me to respond to your request regarding voltage changes and upgrades for Viva Verona amplifiers and Linea linestage. Viva no longer services equipment purchased on the used market from anyone that is not an authorized Viva dealer. They do not make voltage changes, in order to discourage grey-market international sales. I would recommend using a high-quality, high-current step-down transformer, which, besides allowing the use of a European voltage product, will also have the beneficial effects that isolation transformers provide.

Best regards,
Bob Clarke
Profundo


Ag insider logo xs@2xvip428
STAX USA is the exact same way.

They will not even service Headphones bought legally in Japan, and brought into the USA.

They are pricks!


One thing that soundsrealaudio said that I agree with is the Viva is a tube amp and I would imagine there are any number of good technicians out there who could install a new transformer and do any other upgrades. That is one of the great benefits of owning well made tubed gear it's relatively easy to repair and usually not horribly expensive.
Hi Bill (Grannyring),
I don't believe that Viva is refusing to service any and all of their used products but rather those that weren't sold new by an authorized dealer thus grey market. My apologies if I'm mistaken concerning this scenario.

If I do have it right then I do not blame Viva for this sensible policy. It seems that this would to some degree discourage grey market practices. What do you believe to be a more effective and reasonable approach to halt/diminish grey market competition.?
Charles, 
@Charles: I think in those circumstances, they should have a problem not with an eventual end user, but rather with their dealers. If they only sell to authorized dealers and they track their serial numbers, they will know exactly what dealer that unit was shipped to. If that dealer sells it in a manner that doesn’t equate with their rules, and thus those become units become grey market goods; who should suffer, that dealer or a subsequent end user? I am assuming that all of the units leaving the factory only go to authorized dealers and distributors so the goods don’t start off as grey market. Viva is making a user suffer for a dealer’s unsavory sale.
Mike