Am I Being Ureasonable?

[dr*audio]

As a tech, here are my answers:
1. Not giving an approximate timeframe is irresponsible.
2. Taking in enough repairs so that you have a 6 month backlog is irresponsible and unfair to customers.
3. From what I have seen, most of these guys stop answering the phone at some point.
Get your equipment back ASAP.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Four months is way too long imho.

Some of the better restorers have wait times longer than that. Some shops are still getting back on their feet after Covid, some are dealing with illness and death, supply chain issues, you name it.

 

[DB-7]

Four months is isnt a long wait for a spot on a highly qualified techs bench in todays world where qualified vintage repair techs are scarce. Although in that time he should have at least assessed your units issues and informed you of a plan. I would call again and politely ask if he has assessed the unit. You may have just caught him on a bad day the last time you called. We all have days like that.
If your unit has major issues that needs unobtainable parts, you'll be waiting way longer.

 

[tourmax]

Nothing wrong with calling and asking for an update on your property for a job you are paying good money to get done. More so if it's been 4 months without even a courtesy call/email from them.

Nothing wrong with being busy and having a wait list, but that doesn't mean they get to do whatever they want. He should have at least given you a rough time frame and added a "disclaimer" that it may take longer. If he's so busy he can't even give you an estimate, walk away. That's no way to do business when you're holding a customers property.

If he's too much of a "snowflake" to not want to pick up the phone and say something like "I haven't gotten to it and it's number X on the wait list", I'd drop buy unannounced, pick up my property and look for another electrician/audio tech. There's more out there, especially if this guy is saying "I ain't cheap but".....

Now, if you agreed to an "open ended" contract on time when you dropped it off, that's on you. But you can always cancel the job and go pick up your property. He can't do anything about that other than try to charge you a fee of some sort for cancelling or possibly "storing" your property for 4 months. It would be a bit greasy of them, but some people will try.....

For me, I want to be treated with respect when I contract a service and I treat the contractor with respect. If that bond is broken by either party, I part ways. Can't deal with someone who doesn't hold to their commitments....

 

[Mr Boochie]

Been thinking about this and here's my opinion.
If a guy tells you he is expensive and good, He's probably overpriced and trying to prepare you for sticker shock.
Then there's the question of him being good, Is this a self proclamation from his own mind Or do his customers actually feel this way?
If his work backlog is 4 to 6 months out, This is not a fluke and it is his normal practice.
Not informing a customer of this timeline up front is not a good business practice.

My experience with any kind of fix like this is that it gets done within a month. Unless there is a legit parts ordering problem, any longer --- there are issues.

After all, the tech is not making any money if the unit is just sitting on his bench. Most businesses want ppl's gear out of their shops ASAP.

 

[toodletunes]

The only reputable tech in our area went to service/repairing only gear that he sold some time ago after too much squandered time trying to appease those who had gotten a clear timeframe estimate, and yet almost immediately commenced badgering, oh so special me types. Took a piece to another who'd been referred, with shop at residence, paid fairly, and encountered the same fail shortly thereafter. Ergo, those that chose not to acknowledge clear repair parameters managed to make the rest of us lose access to reliable expertise. Patience, or find another resource.

 

[Mr Boochie]

The only reputable tech in our area went to service/repairing only gear that he sold some time ago after too much squandered time trying to appease those who had gotten a clear timeframe estimate, and yet almost immediately commenced badgering, oh so special me types. Took a piece to another who'd been referred, with shop at residence, paid fairly, and encountered the same fail shortly thereafter. Ergo, those that chose not to acknowledge clear repair parameters managed to make the rest of us lose access to reliable expertise. Patience, or find another resource.

Wondering, if a tech knows that he won't be able to touch a unit for 6 months --- 1.) Why does he accept the unit and the liability if something goes wrong in those 6-months (like it gets stolen)?
2.) Why would the owner drop the unit off to the tech, knowing there's going to be a 6-month (at least) gap between looking at the unit and fixing it?

Repairing other ppls equipment can be a very rewarding and very frustrating experience. I've always tried to take on only what I can fix in an allotted time frame. If the owner is a pain --- I return the unit, as is untouched. You can tell these PITA types, in a few minutes of interactions on the phone or talking to them in person. It's just not worth all the hassles.

 

[Oerets]

As a tech, here are my answers:
1. Not giving an approximate timeframe is irresponsible.
2. Taking in enough repairs so that you have a 6 month backlog is irresponsible and unfair to customers.
3. From what I have seen, most of these guys stop answering the phone at some point.
Get your equipment back ASAP.

Agreed that is how a shop should be run.

The problem now being there are so few of them. Being replaced by someone working out of the home. I find since texting and messaging seems to be replacing phone or in person conversations. That the etiquette for more then a few seem to be less then desired nowadays.

Talk to the guy he may of taken in your job due to the referral. Was to busy or knew it would be awhile.

 

[RunOutGroove]

I feel for you... I took my stuff a few times to a local shop that also had big wait times, though fortunately, I don't believe that I ever waited 4 months for anything. I'm lucky that more recently I found a that a relative of a friend does this work out of his home, does great work, charges reasonably and has a quick turnaround. If you can find an alternative locally, it might be worth picking up the gear and going to that person. If not, I would just try giving this guy even more time, like even 8 months or so, knowing that you have other gear to use in the mean time, but then if the thing isn't done by that time, go pick it up and figure out another plan later.

 

[mymonkey]

Okay, I've been down this road a couple of times. Both with high-end audio gear. A Nak Dragon and a Sony 777 ES SACD player. Both needed alignment. Two separate techs, two separate brick-&-mortar businesses. 20-years apart between fixes..

Month passed, no fix. My calls were always answered with "we need to order parts from Japan" --or-- "I'm just fine tuning the unit." Or some such nonsense.

After six months, I called --- no answer from both businesses. They both went out of business, and I never got the equipment back. With no forwarding or anything. Drive to the businesses, both are now new businesses. The new ppl have no idea what happened to the old business or owners. I'm left digging through business licenses and all that civic crap.

If I were you, I'd get my equipment back, while you can. Worry about fixing or selling once you get it out of this tech's hands.

Nowadays, I will try to fix the darn things myself. Tube equipment is no problems. I will try to tackle complex solid-state or just get rid of the offender and buy a new replacement.

I'll tell you --- sending my old JBL speakers out to have them reconed, or new surrounds, and tested made me sweat big time. I went down and talked to the owner/tech Bao (Speaker Repair Pros, in Orange County) and checked out his setup --- before handing over the speakers. There just isn't a whole lot of long-time reputable techs doing this kinda stuff anymore. I was very satisfied with his work and especially his level of expertise. Communication was the best part. We'd spend a couple of hours talking about JBLs in famous guitar amps, for famous studios.

Anyhow, good luck!

Thanks Mr. B. Sorry to hear about losing equipment. That makes me worry. Again, I will probably wait until the end of the month and reach out, in a nice way of courese. Thanks again fdor your input.

 

[mymonkey]

No your not unreasonable.
If it were me,I would nicely get my gear back and go elsewhere.
The tech I deal with is in the Chicago market,so I would guess he gets plenty of jobs,especially with his great reputation. There is a thread currently in this section talking about him and his service.
Every time I have dealt with him,he tells me it could be about 6 weeks wait,he usually contacts me 3 weeks later saying gear is ready.

Is that Casper Yardley. if so, he's the one i did shots with in his listening / testing room. What a great operation. Really cool guys. Thanks for replying.

 

[Audio Fan]

How about 3 yrs? I took one of my two Nakamichi 1000zxl on a 6 hr drive to drop it off at a well known Nakamichi specialist. Said it would take a while, but then the pandemic hit, he closed his shop, but to only work on Nakamichi gear. Eventually, I just relayed I was coming to get it in a few weeks either way, then it ended up on the bench, but was not completely finished before my arrival to bring it home. So now I have one partially restored, but not finished. The other is awaiting a new tech.

My local tech has had 4 mono blocks for over a year, cannot figure out the issue. In the meantime, he's repaired other things.

 

[twiiii]

When I dropped off my old MC 207 at Audio Classics it needed a meter which Ryan ordered immediately and two channels were over heating and shutting down prematurely driving 4 ohm speakers. Well. I got the amp 15 weeks later. $800.00 including shipping. Meter was replaced, bad connections re-soldered, bias re-adjusted, amp was run in approaching full power a couple of times for over 24 hours before the unit was repacked and shipped. Connectors were cleaned as were switches cleaned and checked and the faceplate removed and thoroughly cleaned, etc. Yes the unit is 16 years old so I can't complain. Its much newer twin is almost 3 years old now with no sign of any issues.

The new one drives the bass section of the front three speakers and the two rear. the old one drives the midrange and tweeter of the front three and rear two with the old one driving the super tweeters of the left and right front and the new one driving the side channels of the 7.0 system. With 16 12 inch woofers who need subs.

 

[mymonkey]

Nothing wrong with calling and asking for an update on your property for a job you are paying good money to get done. More so if it's been 4 months without even a courtesy call/email from them.

Nothing wrong with being busy and having a wait list, but that doesn't mean they get to do whatever they want. He should have at least given you a rough time frame and added a "disclaimer" that it may take longer. If he's so busy he can't even give you an estimate, walk away. That's no way to do business when you're holding a customers property.

If he's too much of a "snowflake" to not want to pick up the phone and say something like "I haven't gotten to it and it's number X on the wait list", I'd drop buy unannounced, pick up my property and look for another electrician/audio tech. There's more out there, especially if this guy is saying "I ain't cheap but".....

Now, if you agreed to an "open ended" contract on time when you dropped it off, that's on you. But you can always cancel the job and go pick up your property. He can't do anything about that other than try to charge you a fee of some sort for cancelling or possibly "storing" your property for 4 months. It would be a bit greasy of them, but some people will try.....

For me, I want to be treated with respect when I contract a service and I treat the contractor with respect. If that bond is broken by either party, I part ways. Can't deal with someone who doesn't hold to their commitments....

Agreed on all counts, including it's on me for initiating and taking the leap. Couldn't agree more with the "respect" angle. Thanks for posting .

 

[ernieb1536]

Or split the difference between these two extremes and give BOB a polite call and see what the status is.

Agreed ! Call him politely , maybe it’s done and he misplaced your number , or it maybe comes down to the squeaky wheel gets the oil , ethier case politely tell him to sh&@ or get of the pot! If the answer is not satisfactory pull the gear and try someone else !

 

[Jimbo40]

Wow, this is a ton of discussion for a simple question.
I'm in the service industry can I can tell you for sure that the squeeky wheel gets the grease.
Call Bob and ask him if he's looked at the unit.
No? How far out are you in time frame Bob, it's been 4 months and I'm getting impatient.
Bob says, well there's 2 units in front of you yet but you'll be coming up soon.
You,; great what does soon look like to you Bob 1 month? 2 months?
Bob says, when you bought it in for service I told you I was pretty stacked and you said that's OK I have many other units so no hurry, now your getting impatient but I should be able to get to it in a week or 2.
Now you have politely squeeked.
I am 1 of 2 things either the squeeker or the greaser.
Don't sit and wait until your the bomb.
You've taken more time to write this post and voice your concerns and get the mob consensus about a question that if you simply asked Bob, you would have your answer to. You have helped nothing and meanwhile poor Bob is a negative discussion on an audio forum.
Bob is most likely just a good tech trying to do a good service that very few do.
Some of us have to ware many hats in our business Bob's tech hat may be excellent and his office hat he doesn't put on to much
You should have called Bob @ 1 month, then 2.
Build a relationship, be a good guy, give Bob benefit of the doubt or go pick up your gear and get in another 6 month line and wait.
Don't make these guys hate there work by going off on poor Bob.

 

[W9TR]

One of the famous and loved McIntosh techs, Terry DeWickt, (sp?), now retired, would often have lead times in the 9 month range. He did advertise how long it would take when you sent something to him.

 

[Bone Yard]

My car was in for repair, the parts had to be made overseas and shipped, three months of waiting but they gave me a brand new freakin car to drive.

With the amount of horror stories of guys going out of business during the wait, I'd be more happy to hold on to the equipment (maybe find someone else during the time) and give a small deposit to hold my spot. These guys might be happier, it must be overwhelming looking at six months worth of stuff piled up.

As a contractor that books jobs, it's unacceptable to hold ransom over customers.

 

[Mr Boochie]

My car was in for repair, the parts had to be made overseas and shipped, three months of waiting but they gave me a brand new freakin car to drive.

With the amount of horror stories of guys going out of business during the wait, I'd be more happy to hold on to the equipment (maybe find someone else during the time) and give a small deposit to hold my spot. These guys might be happier, it must be overwhelming looking at six months worth of stuff piled up.

As a contractor that books jobs, it's unacceptable to hold ransom over customers.

As a part-time tech, my biggest issue is staying on schedule. It's so easy to make excuses for not going to the bench. Gotta pick up someone this morning, gotta fix something in the house, it's a sunny day (why spend it inside)? Like writers, you have to stick to a strict schedule, or nothing gets finished.

Nowadays, I only fix my own stuff and close friends. So much less anxiety.

 

[Audiofreak71]

Awhile back I sent in a piece of gear to a very reputable business that most here know of. It was (for them a very simple fix, so when 4 months came I called and nicely asked for an update and they told me I’m close in line to getting mine fixed, sounds good I said and waited.

At the 8 month mark I called again and asked for an update, I was told well because of Covid their staff has been resorted to working from home and there is only one person working in the shop. Ok I understand I said given the circumstances at the time.

At the 1yr mark I called and asked for yet another update and was told my piece is very close in the queue. At 1yr 6 months I called and respectfully said I realize that it’s been tough for businesses due to Covid so I would like you to return the gear I sent being that it appears you guys are overwhelmed and I’ll just try my luck at another place. Five days later I received a box labeled from the business, I opened the box and my gear was fixed.

I will never use that place again and will never recommend them to anyone, if asked about said business I will tell the truth to those that ask me. With that said imo I would get your gear back.


Audiofreak71