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Has Nordost forgotton who pays the bills?

Recently I was entertaining the thought of purchasing a pair of used Nordost Heimdall 2 rca Interconnects from a private owner online. Prior to purchasing the cables I did a bit of research on Audiogon to see if anyone had any issues with counterfeit cables. I found no real issues but did read that if contacted Nordost would authenticate the serial numbers on the cables to verify that they were the genuine article. Well, I did contact Nordost and much to my chagrin I was met with the following response from Nordost:

"Due to the overwhelming requests to validate serial numbers for cables being purchased on the used market we are no longer able to offer that service. Serial number verification requests can only be requested by authorized dealers/distributors for cables involved in trade in/up requests"

My curiosity got the best of me so I contacted my local dealer that I have been doing business with for years. I was told by the associate that "He did not have access to this information"  Long story short, I bought the cables and I do believe that they are genuine. But the larger issues is that it seems Nordost has gotten too big for its britches. Lets not forget that without consumer there would be no Nordost. The response from them seems so snobbish, not customer friendly or client centered.  Most audiophiles are aware that cables have the greatest mark up of any other audio product. Given that and the already overly inflated price for Nodost cables you would think the company would at least give the hint that they care for their customers. Used cables are truly a bargain and my be an introduction to the brand. I digress. My goal with this post is merely to inform folks that if you are considering used Nordost cables and are looking for then to authenticate your potential purchase, well forget about it. They ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO OFFER THAT SERVICE! 

Stay well, Stay safe, Stay home and listen to tunes.

 

darrell21256
bpoletti
1,565 posts
 
Caveat emptor.
realworldaudio
174 posts
 
They are actually focusing on people who pay their bills, and reserving the customer support to service actual customers who buy products. If they would run around  a myriad requests asking to validate serial numbers then their actual paying customers would be left to wait...Money talks, and companies either fall in line or fall out.Of course, would be great if they could honor their promise.
But that old world is almost gone, today the US companies are struggling to stand up against the impossible onslaught from Chinese companies undercutting products at impossibly low prices. US companies need to start compromising service quality / cut on staffing to stay competitive...
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,182 posts
 
Take another run at it with copies of your Nordost cable purchases thru authorized dealers
builder3
776 posts
 
darrell21256 OP12 posts10-25-2021 4:32pmbuilder3,
I agree that when buying used that you are not a Nordost customer per se, your point is well taken. My issue is that by cutting back on a service they at one time offered, they miss the potential for the "used buyer" to become a "New " buyer purchasing new items from their local dealer. I have learned about several products on the used market that I was not aware existed. Also don't misunderstand me, I own a lot of Nordost, some purchased used but most purchased new. In total contrast, Ayre is A+++ when it comes to customer service, they continue to service and give advice on products that are well out of warranty or even used or they don't produce anymore. They clearly understand the potential for an Ayre customer today and in the future. Thanks for the responses this has been interesting.
 I didn't misunderstand anything you said. They don't owe you anything. For you to suggest that they do, all while throwing out snarky comments about their over-priced products on an audio forum reflects poorly on your position.
tablejockey
4,078 posts
 
The Norse level and higher construction is quite detailed and intricate.

It would seem to be quite expensive to produce? Are the knock off's THAT GOOD? 

First time I've taken a close look at my H2's. The spiral "air dielectric" and texture of the overall construction doesn't appear to be something copied without extensive tooling? 

Anyone compare the 2? 
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