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steveinspain
22-10-2009, 08:57
Just how highly do you rate customer service, and what is your best experience of it ?

The reason for this thread is that I have just experienced the best ever.
I managed to blow a drive unit in one of my Avondale RMS speakers - by pressing 'play' when some child (NOT one of mine) had been playing with the volume control. These speakers are several years old, and I don't think many pairs were made, so I was unsure if a replacement could be sourced
I contacted Avondale via email (Les is known for not being the best at responding to emails) late one Sunday afternoon, and that evening got a reply from Bob, who was holding the fort while Les was away.
After giving a few details, including who I had bought the speakers from I got another reply telling me that Bob had built the speakers himself, that he had a spare drive unit on the shelf someplace, and that he would send it out to me.
I asked both times about payment, and my questions were ignored, and again later when I got full details of how to fit the unit and still no mention of money.

Well, I now have the unit fitted, and it has cost me nothing at all.
I think that this is fantastic, and feel it is worth telling the world about, as few if any of the larger companies would be able to offer such quality of service.
Many thanks especially to you Bob, and to Avondale for having this sort of care for its customers.

The Vinyl Adventure
22-10-2009, 09:28
Stan Beresford replaced a 7520 after I had broken it. I was pretty chuffed about that!

Mick Parry
22-10-2009, 13:40
Steve

With the amount of free publicity you have given Avondale, it's only to be expected you get some decent service.

Naim on the other hand have a genuine reputation for giving everyone a brilliant service.

Regards

Mick

PS I have never needed service from Naim, all of their products are 100% perfect. Get it righ first time etc.

NickB
22-10-2009, 14:35
Hi Mick

Wow does that mean that NAIM now supply child resistant volume controls on their equipment.

Now that is cool !!!!!

Nick

Rare Bird
22-10-2009, 14:48
Castle Acoustics

In the late '80's i had a pair of Castle 'Pembroke' loudspeakers i bought used, not knowing someone had taken the Castek fuses out of the crossover i managed to destroy two unit. I explained to Castle what had happened & said i could only afford to get one unit repaired at a time.They told me to send both in together with my detail & we'd post them out repaird free of charge. & so they did.

Rare Bird
22-10-2009, 14:51
Another fantastic service i remember is from the Late John Michell.That guy was brilliant he used to talk to me personally on the phone about things i wanted to do to my Hydraulic turntable..Required parts all made & in the post a few days later. What i found amusing back then was something as small as a bunch of key came parcelled in a box as big as a turntable carton. :lolsign:

Michell still run a brilliant service now.

Rare Bird
22-10-2009, 14:52
Oops double post

:scratch:

The Vinyl Adventure
22-10-2009, 14:58
Oops double post

:scratch:

someones trying to get their post count up ;)

The Vinyl Adventure
22-10-2009, 15:27
Hi Mick

Wow does that mean that NAIM now supply child resistant volume controls on their equipment.

Now that is cool !!!!!

Nick

Avondale make replacement knobs for naim hifi too :)

Mick Parry
22-10-2009, 16:59
Hamish

Naim don't bother making replacement knobs for Avondale, they only go for quality.

Regards

Mick

The Vinyl Adventure
22-10-2009, 17:07
im not sure if your serious mick.. is this you having a laugh, or do you count naim boxes to help you sleep and then dream naim green tinted dreams?

steveinspain
22-10-2009, 19:16
Come on, surely it isn't being left to me to make some comment about Naim, Mick and knobs is it ?

I have to add to this following on from his remark about doing something right first time that my only experience with Naims customer services resulted in me being sent the wrong part..

Mike Reed
22-10-2009, 19:29
Steve



Naim on the other hand have a genuine reputation for giving everyone a brilliant service.

Regards

Mick

PS I have never needed service from Naim, all of their products are 100% perfect. Get it righ first time etc.


Yes, Mick; Naim service is very good indeed, BUT they don't half charge for it! In fact, for everything; cardboard boxes at £30 ish a throw, I am told. Back in 2001, I was charged £30 for two.

I know this is not exactly comparing eggs with eggs, but earlier this year I had two 100 watt E.A.R. valve amplifiers serviced for........£100

Two 135s serviced by Naim? Over £700 ! Maybe the valved amps. didn't need much doing, but the Naims would have cost the same regardless.

Meridian are very good, too. AND very reasonable (purported not to profit from repairs).

Additionally, you can no longer take your stuff to Naim; everything has to go through a dealer (with carriage add-ons, of course). Tough titty if you're nowhere near one, eh?

I do agree with the build quality and reliability factor, which has always been good.