How is Quality and Customer Service defined in the 21st Century?


On another recent thread, a poster questioned the customer service of the Marantz  brand.  They certainly have been around a while.

Got me to thinking, what has been your experience with particular brands and quality and especially customer service? 

My 21sr century experience of two popular consumer brands was that the overall quality was not good. Particularly referring to CD players where the warranties have the life span of a lightening bug. The sound quality is/was excellent, the lasers mechanisms/transports were problematic at best and abysmal at worst.

Appreciate your thoughts and possible pointers to better quality and overall customer sat. 

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I've had many interactions with customer service in the audio industry, some good, some not so good. The Klipsch customer service in particular  seemed to be relatively non-existent. Had a stripped binding post connection on a Forte IV, sent several emails, a couple of phone calls, no response. Pretty amazing considering how competitive the audio industry is, can only assume they don't care. Sold the Forte's and moved on.

With there being so many job openings in the tech area and some parts issues, service in a lot repair shops has slowed to a crawl. 

Deltronics in Woodridge, IL has been excellent at fixing several different components for me over the years.  They always get it done right.  They also tell me whether it's worth doing and discourage me from having it repaired if it isn't.

Modwright has been over the top great in repairing or replacing my CD player, even if I didn't buy their player originally from them.  Dan always want the customer to be happy in the end.

Paradigm speakers has also been very good to replace blown drivers at no charge other than shipping one way.

 

Once upon a time, you received a warranty on an item of various sorts that spelled out reasonably well what one could expect if said item misfunctioned under conditions noted to varying levels or degrees....

CS and Repair/Replace generally went just fine.  Conditions above, beyond, or just totally FUBAR went where that sort of conflicts lead to....

When we started getting queried upon purchase about 'purchasing an extended warranty of X or Y length' (Y typically longer for more $), I began scrutinizing the object and it's ilk with greater care....

The 'net has made this possible....and makes one a better and informed consumer, less likely to invoke regrets and future frustration..

'Duty Now For The Future!' as per Devo:

Y'all are a great source overall. *S*  Thank you. 👍😃

Current response to extended warranty queries...if the point is 'pushed' =

"If I can break it or it breaks in my hands, using it for what it's 'supposed to do'...

I've already made plans for that.....which is why I'm buying it here, for as little as possible...." *S* ;), and out the door...

Pragmatic beyond your wildest explanations......

Happy Laborious Daze, J

I have had great luck with everything in my system working flawlessly for years. USA made Schiit Audio items (including an original Freya from whenever that was), BIfrost 2/64, Dennis Had and Pass amps, old trusty Marantz CD player (into a bespoke DAC), Old Linn/Akito table, etc., just keep on truckin'. That could change of course but do I worry? No.