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Anyone else treated poorly by AVA?

Back at the end of December 2020, I placed an order with Frank at Audio by Van Alstine for a Vision SLR preamp. Heard so many good reviews about Frank and his products, I felt that was just what the doctor ordered for my system. At first I was told the custom building of my unit would take up to 3 weeks. Then, as nothing happened, I inquired and was told due to an unexpected high volume of orders, mine would take another 2 weeks. I then told Frank, please tell me if there are any further delays because not knowing is worse than getting bad news. Three weeks past, not a word from Frank. So, almost 2 months past the order date, I called him and he tells me they have a problem, the master technician who builds these units left for another state to care for his wife who got sick. I get that and I hope with all my heart she will be ok. But bottom line is Frank fed me multiple excuses for not performing while not communicating about any of it. It was completely inexcusable. He had my money for nearly two months and did not bother to keep me updated of what was going on. I could not ever recommend AVA to anyone and felt compelled to relate this on this site since I usually see only praise for Frank and I frankly felt the opposite. Worst audio purchasing experience in my 66 years.

128x128baylinor
chorus
976 posts
 
Any manufacturer selling on line needs to state on the same page as they ask for your credit card exactly when the ship date will be. 
Consumers are being abused in most cases. 

When a purchase order from a business is written it comes with both a ship and a cancel date. Why are consumers bending over for this?

If they can not ship within 2-3 days of accepting an order they should not be allowed to collect a payment. BY LAW. Got that legislators?Period end of story. 

Better yet nobody buying a damn thing online should have a charge hit their card until the same day it is loaded on a truck/plane/drone or whatever. Airlines included. What BS we take!

Kudos to Denafrips for only taking 1/2 down on their 45 day backlog.

I for one will not be in the business of financing someone else's company business. 

Anyone else tired of this ???


Sorry for hijacking but this kinda fits in to his complaint.






stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,444 posts
 
@chorus,

your last post hit the nail on the head.  There are too many of these small company’s using the purchasers CC payment way before the item ships, to finance their company.  In essence, they are getting an interest free loan using YOUR money and making you wait for the product, sometimes months later.  That is a bad way to do business and there should be laws against that.

That practice tells me the company is operating on a shoestring and my not be around that long.  Here is another side:


When I bought an Odyssey Stratos amp from Klaus @ Odyssey Audio, I gave them my CC info when I placed the order over the phone.  It took a little over 3 months for my amp to be built and shipped.  My CC was not charged. Two weeks after receiving the amp, I noticed my CC still hadn’t been charged. I called Klaus and reminded him to bill me for the amp and was told that he wanted to be sure I loved the amp first. Two weeks later (a month after I received the amp), I received the CC Bill.  That was really over the top but a great way to buy something.  Needless to say I purchased more from Odyssey and was pleased every time. 
georgehoffmann60
58 posts
 
I'm sorry that baylinor experienced those problems, but I feel bound to say I've experienced the opposite: years ago I contacted Frank about a late 1980s Super Pas II (I was not even the original owner): he asked for photos of the inside, mailed me upgraded captors, and refused to take any money! Just this week, I mailed him a Vision Q phono stage I thought was failing: turned out it's fine and my cartridge is the problem. He spent hours testing the unit and is mailing back, again refusing to accept any payment, even for the postage!
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
frank has always done right by me

i know covid has been really tough on small outfits like his...  i can confidently say he is not a financial shark purposely taking advantage of customers for working capital float, he just isn't that kind of person

ml8764ag's avatar
ml8764ag
502 posts
 
I don’t think the op is being unreasonable at all…when I hear that businesses like this are having trouble keeping up with orders…and don’t have the time or staff to communicate in a timely fashion…. I think…maybe they need to stop taking orders for a while!

You can’t have it both ways… I.e. take people’s money …but not deliver the product or even communicate in a timely and professional fashion!

Basically they are saying…I got mine….but you have to wait (and wonder) for yours.

I personally want to know about these situations….especially if I’m shopping.

The more excuses you’ll accept….the more you’ll be given.

P.S. This is not against this particular vendor…I’ve no experience with him…sure he’s a great man.(but, that’s not really the point…is it?)



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