I only wanted to buy a turntable!

[bearair]

I bought my first real HiFi unit over thirty years ago from Radfords in Bristol, I have dealt with Hifi dealers ever since and always received excellent service until last week.

Round One
I ordered a Elipson turntable directly from Do Good Audio for my stepson who is off to university. It was ordered on the 7th paid extra for next day delivery and promptly received an order confirmation. Late on the 7th I contacted them asking to know whether the turntable would be delivered next day as I would await the courier company. They responded with "it is being processed", phoned them on 8th and spoke to a lady who said she needed to check with another lady, she understood I was waiting in and would ring me back in 15mins. I waited and waited, no phone call so at 13.00 having waited half a day I contacted them again. This time I was told they did not have the item in stock but could supply me with a different turntable, no apology! I requested an immediate refund and email conformation of the refund. The Email I received, but as of today no refund has appeared on my card. I contacted my credit card company who say there is no record of a refund being processed! I am sure I will get the refund eventually but looking for somewhere else to buy the deck from I found the company still advertising the deck in stock and available for next day delivery! Looking at feedback they have done this sort of thing to a lot of people.
Sure enough checked on e-bay and they are still advertising the out of stock table for next day delivery.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELIPSON-OM...kAAOSwjDZYmG~q


Round Two!
Whilst looking at turntables for the boy, I fell for another turntable from a very well known manufacturer, but I found it difficult to find much details on the very new model they are releasing. Found one online at a dealer, buy for £549. Contacted them by e-mail to check they actually had got it in stock! Not in stock came the reply, 21 days for delivery we only keep the more expensive ones in stock. Ok I thought I can wait for 21 days, was just about to place the order when I received a email from the manufacturing company who I had contacted for a dealer name. I replied thanking them and informed them of who I would be buying the deck from. They came back to me telling me not only was the price completely wrong but they have never supplied anything to this dealer. So it appears that another dealer wanted to take my money with little or no prospect of me ever receiving the goods! I am now dealing direct with the manufacturer who has been very helpful.

I do want to stress that this is not a rant at the HiFi industry who have been great to me for over 35 years, I just was unlucky to find two poor dealers in the same week!

Roger