2. misc-audio
  3. 174534-102527

Buyer Dispute

I would like to have some opinions of a remedy for this issue:

I purchased a pair of B&W 804D3 loudspeakers through Audiogon in August 2021. They were shipped in original containers by freight. The boxes arrived damaged with some holes in the boxes, but no damage to the speakers accept for one very small spot, which could be repaired with a drop of stain. However, neither tweeter was functioning. A multimeter revealed an open circuit across both voice coils. The seller said that they worked before shipping but offered to send me replacement tweeters under the previous owner' warranty which I agreed to. However, and here is the rub; Because of supply chain issues, Bowers and Wilkins did not, and still does not have the tweeters in stock. I have been waiting 6 months for the seller to provide the replacements from B&W, but they continue to be out of stock. In short, I paid nearly $7,000 in August 2021 for speakers that I still cannot listen to.

Any opinion on a path to resolution?

 

kirbymydog
kirbymydog OP
36 posts
 

I may invite him to join the conversation first, which was suggested by Onhwy61. But will hold off naming names for now.

kirbymydog OP
36 posts
 

Yo-yo yay a …I completely agree that Bowers needs to step up. Thus far I have communicated with both B&W in the UK and US on the availability issue. I have gotten various responses. My most recent request was for the international spares team leader but have not received a reply. Encompass, their distributor in the states has been useless. They have the tweeter listed, and provide a ship date about every two weeks at the end of which it simply turns over another two weeks. Very frustrating. I wonder if they have supply issues with their newly released D4’s?

jl1ny's avatar
jl1ny
396 posts
 

At $7K I would have sent them back to the seller from jump street and moved on.

ghasley
2,434 posts
 

@kirbymydog 

 

You are being very kind and patient, HOWEVER, you need to recognize that it is hard to have two faulty tweeters go bad in shipping. The guy is lying to you. What could possibly have caused both to stop working? An thermonuclear electromagnetic pulse. I predict that 6 or 7 months of effort to get a pair of tweeters will result in the discovery that isnt your problem. Then you are going to need crossovers. Another 6 or 7 months go by and then you might have a pair of working speakers. Its your deal though, best.

unsound
7,313 posts
 

Your generous willingness to resolve the problem has exhausted reasonable time to correct the situation. You should not have the buck passed on to you, and have to deal with a middleman, with whom you have no contract with.

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