John Wood Audio, a tale of woe

[mmar]

Sad story indeed, not sure if its been asked and as it's so Far down the line it probably matters not, but is it not plausible the the said fault ( low level hum) which I presume was the catalyst for the op requesting a refund could be due to transit damage ie, a faulty / damaged valve

[Eagle owl]

Sad story indeed, not sure if its been asked and as it's so Far down the line it probably matters not, but is it not plausible the the said fault ( low level hum) which I presume was the catalyst for the op requesting a refund could be due to transit damage ie, a faulty / damaged valve

That is a possibility, one of the transformers was leaning to one side by a minute amount but was still firmly fixed to the base.

[Rick E]

That is a possibility, one of the transformers was leaning to one side by a minute amount but was still firmly fixed to the base.

Geoff, it matters not if the thing turned up at your door, built inside out and painted pink! It might be an earth loop or a hundred other things in your system causing the hum.

Nope, the issue here is one of gentlemanly conduct, or lack of, being that you didn't get what you asked and paid for. Then, and enforced by 2 court rulings in your favour, this lovely chap is saying F*** you to the courts too.

[Val33]

I used to run my own company, we supplied parts and accessories for classic and sports cars. For many years I was like Mr Wood. I genuinely believed that the customers were idiots and the only person that knew what he was doing was me. I would argue to the death on each and every return or complaint. I avoided refunds to the very last possible moment. Business was ok, but never did more that pay the bills. After long conversations with other retailers, reading many many articles by my peers and taking a very long hard look at both myself and the business, I did a complete U turn and introduced a 100%, no quibble, 90 day returns policy. 100% of your money back, no questions, no arguments, no limitations, just a straight refund.

In the following year, our turnover and profit doubled. In fact, it doubled, year on year for that and the next five years and within ten years we sold the business to a group of venture capitalists for a very high seven figure sum.

In business, as, I think, in life, the first loss is the best loss. Refund the money, all of it, and move on. As a businessman, it goes completely against the grain, but I can assure you it is the the best, if not the only, way to run a successful business.

Reading stories like this sadden me greatly, I am sure that John Wood is a genuine, honest and passionate man who sadly is just not cut out for running a business unless he can understand the above lesson, act on it and move forward.

Val

[Marco]

I used to run my own company, we supplied parts and accessories for classic and sports cars. For many years I was like Mr Wood. I genuinely believed that the customers were idiots and the only person that knew what he was doing was me. I would argue to the death on each and every return or complaint. I avoided refunds to the very last possible moment. Business was ok, but never did more that pay the bills. After long conversations with other retailers, reading many many articles by my peers and taking a very long hard look at both myself and the business, I did a complete U turn and introduced a 100%, no quibble, 90 day returns policy. 100% of your money back, no questions, no arguments, no limitations, just a straight refund.

In the following year, our turnover and profit doubled. In fact, it doubled, year on year for that and the next five years and within ten years we sold the business to a group of venture capitalists for a very high seven figure sum.

In business, as, I think, in life, the first loss is the best loss. Refund the money, all of it, and move on. As a businessman, it goes completely against the grain, but I can assure you it is the the best, if not the only, way to run a successful business.

Reading stories like this sadden me greatly, I am sure that John Wood is a genuine, honest and passionate man who sadly is just not cut out for running a business unless he can understand the above lesson, act on it and move forward.

Fantastic post, Val!

Superb advice, and how true. That’s exactly how I’ve run my own (successful) business, as from day one I realised that you have to be a people person first, and an ‘expert’ (on the products you’re selling) second!

Marco.

[mmar]

Very true customer service is everything in retail but worth keeping a bit perspective, as far as I can see in both threads that have ran on hear and the wam I cannot recall any other posters that have had any bad dealings with Mr woods this is one incident, granted one too many in the eyes of most but neither the less one incident, is it not?

[synsei]

Very true customer service is everything in retail but worth keeping a bit perspective, as far as I can see in both threads that have ran on hear and the wam I cannot recall any other posters that have had any bad dealings with Mr woods this is one incident, granted one too many in the eyes of most but neither the less one incident, is it not?

And yet that one incident was considered serious enough by a British court for it to issue a ruling against Mr Wood. I'm afraid there is no middle ground here, the judgement has been issued and Mr Wood needs to abide by it or else he will find himself even deeper in the mire, it's that simple...

[Andrei]

And yet that one incident was considered serious enough by a British court for it to issue a ruling against Mr Wood. I'm afraid there is no middle ground here, the judgement has been issued and Mr Wood needs to abide by it or else he will find himself even deeper in the mire. It's that simple...

A judgment is one thing, but enforcing it is another. A great many Court Orders are futile. Presumably Eagle Owl did not find enforcement that simple or else or he would not have posted here and on the Wam.

[synsei]

A judgment is one thing, but enforcing it is another. A great many Court Orders are futile. Presumably Eagle Owl did not find enforcement that simple or else or he would not have posted here and on the Wam.

True enough, however in the long term Mr Woods previously good reputation continues to be eroded by his own intransigence. As has been highlighted in several posts now, it is not too late for him to avoid becoming the architect of his own downfall, but he needs to pull his finger out.

[chelsea]

Posted a lathe stand on a pallet today.
102kg @£75
An amp should be £20 ish.