[loving_it]

On 2/17 I purchased a Demo VPI Classic 2 from Music Direct for 2799 with a new 1200 cart and 200 Phono cable on a promotion they had going with GE " 36 Months 0 % " on a  purchase over 2500.00 .

I asked my sales guy if this was the old style front mounted motor or the new rear mounted motor unit and he confirmed it was the new style , so I purchased the works , I was told it might not go out on the date I purchased it Monday 2/17 since they were busy and it would go out Tuesday . I said no problem Tuesday would be fine I understand .

I received a call on Tuesday and saw it was Music Direct on the called ID and thought cool they calling to tell me its shipping or has shipped since it was 15 min before closing , I was wrong instead I was told we have some bad news the TT is the older style not the new style . I was shocked and replied didn't I ask you to confirm this ummm yeah , I then ask now what since I sold my TT already the sales guy said I can offer you 10% on the TT  and I replied but its not the model I wanted and asked since it was their mistake would they just sell me a new TT for the 2799 ? I was told no and he would just cancel my order .

Another problem the 36 month promotion ended Tuesday and this is when I got the call 15min before closing ,  I ended up calling VPI direct to discuss  the differences with front and rear mount and in the conversation I brought up what happened with Music Direct . I was asked for my # and VPI said they would call Music Direct and see what they could do for me .

I received a phone call in about 10 min back from VPI and I was told I would be receiving a call in the morning from Music Direct and the problem will be handled  " wow " thats service on behalf of VPI .

I did get a call from a different sales guy and he stated lets work something out here I said I'm game what can you do for me  ? He said I cant give you a new TT for the 2799 but I can go 2999 only problem its not in black oak its going to be in walnut since thats all we have in stock - I agreed lets get this deal closed and get the TT out Wed and I will have it Thursday .

Now on Thursday I get a call we have a problem I went to pull the TT and we have none I was told , but they can over night one from VPI and get it out to me on Fri it will # priority again I agreed . But on Friday I got a voice message from the old sales guy saying I don't think it will ship today we got very busy , I about gave up up I didn't even bother calling back since I was upset . Then about 2 hrs later I get an email saying your TT has shipped . I am very close so it takes 1 day for me to receive a package from Music Direct so I would see it Saturday " Today "  it showed up about 1 hour ago and I was all excited so I unpack it and guess what damage on the walnut dead center in the front

Thoughts ?  I'm not a happy camper

[Wayner]

Too bad their inventory wasn't right. That happens. You can't blame the damaged wood frame on MD, but perhaps rather the shipper, or if there is no apparent damage on the box, from VPI themselves.

I think you should keep your cool (no, it's not easy to do, lots of money here), but get to the bottom of the BS and find out who damaged the wood. Then get the problem resolved. I'm sure VPI would send you out a new wood trim.

While there may not be any excuses for MD dropping the ball on this one, They are your partner on the deal and I suggest working with them until the problem is resolved.

Jim Davis is the owner. I know Rodger, he may help you or Bes probably can, too.

Wayner

[loving_it]

Too bad their inventory wasn't right. That happens. You can't blame the damaged wood frame on MD, but perhaps rather the shipper, or if there is no apparent damage on the box, from VPI themselves.

I think you should keep your cool (no, it's not easy to do, lots of money here), but get to the bottom of the BS and find out who damaged the wood. Then get the problem resolved. I'm sure VPI would send you out a new wood trim.

While there may not be any excuses for MD dropping the ball on this one, They are your partner on the deal and I suggest working with them until the problem is resolved.

Jim Davis is the owner. I know Rodger, he may help you or Bes probably can, too.

Wayner


Rodger took the original order and Bes then took over , Bes said he would look the table over very well before shipping so who knows . There is no damage to the packing , I understand the inventory thing can happen but after it happened the 1st time one would think it wouldn't keep happening on the same order . As for me asking Rodger to verify if the TT was new or old style he dropped the ball on that and took a guess . I agree I need to cool off was just trying to get some input form some ops with a clear head    Thanks   also note MD mounted the cart and this damage is pretty noticeable

[mick wolfe]

I agree with Wayner. I have no idea how the Classic is constructed, but if it's anything like an old HW19, the wood plinth is a separate item and can easily be replaced without sending the whole turntable back. If you're still getting the interest free package with the cart and cable, it would be hard to walk away from this deal and start over from square one. I'm afraid it's going to require a little more time and patience.

[Austin08]

I felt bad for you. There are always a risk doing business online. MD is a big name in high end retail store. I often buy new record albums from them and haven't got any trouble. But in your case, that is very unacceptable. Too many mistakes over one transaction ( I am only talking about service, not a broken product itself). Keeping your cool and trying to work with MD to resolve this situation is the best option for you, right now. Good luck, it is a nice table set up.

[mick wolfe]

I just picked up on something else.(maybe) I'm hoping they didn't ship the table with the arm mounted. If so, I've always thought that is inviting a disaster no matter how elaborate the packaging. I've never shipped or received a turntable where the arm wasn't separately packaged or even shipped in its own box. Now I would expect "all in one" packaging with a $500 Project, but not a table/arm at the $3000+ price point.

[woodsyi]

You know, these transaction problems can sometimes occur even when both sides are sincerely trying to do good business.  I always consider these special opportunities to makes thing better with the customers.  Mistakes happen but if you correct them and offer something extra in a sincere effort to make reparation, you can actually win over customers more so than if everything went smoothly.  Give MD and VPI chance to make right. 

BTW,  we have no dirty laundry policy here but I don't think you are just venting.  I think you are trying to gather yourself to resolve the situation and asking advices.  So let's stay even keeled and work this thing out.  I don't want undue disparaging remarks. 

[loving_it]

I just picked up on something else.(maybe) I'm hoping they didn't ship the table with the arm mounted. If so, I've always thought that is inviting a disaster no matter how elaborate the packaging. I've never shipped or received a turntable where the arm wasn't separately packaged or even shipped in its own box. Now I would expect "all in one" packaging with a $500 Project, but not a table/arm at the $3000+ price point.

Arm was not mounted

[mick wolfe]

Arm was not mounted

Good!

[loving_it]

Arm was not mounted

dirty laundry policy  Sorry for sure this is not my intension , note I will see what happens next week, I sent pictures and spoke to them .

[loving_it]

I also decide to check over the table setup everything is pretty close except the tracking force for my cart is 2g max and it was well over 4g . I asked them to setup the table and asked what would I have to do or set once I received it , I was told put the platter on and arm thats it . I dropped 1200 on this cart  I'm just glad I went over the setup .

I'm done posting now because I'm afraid it is going to turn into an issue here , thanks for the replies      Have a good weekend guys

[roscoeiii]

Music Direct has some great turntable set up guys like Chris.

And not sure if it is part of the issue, but they have fairly recently moved to a totally new location and warehouse. Could have something to do with the misinformation.

[neobop]

On 2/17 I purchased a Demo VPI Classic 2 from Music Direct for 2799 with a new 1200 cart and 200 Phono cable on a promotion they had going with GE " 36 Months 0 % " on a  purchase over 2500.00 .

Did you spend a total of $2799 or $4199 (2799 + 1200 +200) ?
neo

[loving_it]

Did you spend a total of $2799 or $4199 (2799 + 1200 +200) ?
neo

 2999.00 plus 1200.00 plus 200.00  around 4400 total

[loving_it]

Elusivedisc set up and mount my Zephyre II cart on my unipivot arm and did a good job. I recheck with Sure pressure gauge and it death on.

Funny thing is one of my Phile got Clearaudio Concept with MC cart. The gauge came with the table read 2.2g. He bough the digital gauge and report to me that the digital guage read 4g. WTH?????

My table came with a Digital but I
like to use the Shure I have anyway they both read pretty close

[loving_it]

Music Direct has some great turntable set up guys like Chris.

And not sure if it is part of the issue, but they have fairly recently moved to a totally new location and warehouse. Could have something to do with the misinformation.

All they guys at MD are great  Chris Rodger Bes   I think its more of they got in a bind and tried to do the best they could to get the TT out to me at the last minute and this is the result .

I'm sure things will work out in the end .

[Rocket]

Hi,

I'm sure you will get it all sorted with Music Direct.  I've had problems with purchasing online and shipping before.

Good luck.  Regards rod

[vortrex]

I am very close so it takes 1 day for me to receive a package from Music Direct so I would see it Saturday " Today "  it showed up about 1 hour ago and I was all excited so I unpack it and guess what damage on the walnut dead center in the front

Thoughts ?  I'm not a happy camper

I bought a "new in the box" Classic 1 from audiogon.  When it showed up the walnut had a ding in the front and there were some other minor fitment issues with the plinth.  I emailed pictures to VPI (mostly about the fitment issues) and they, without me mentioning anything, said to send it back to them and they would replace the plinth.  It turns out I bought it from someone who was not an authorized dealer, but they still did it for me.  Free of charge and they even paid for the shipping back to me.

[loving_it]

I bought a "new in the box" Classic 1 from audiogon.  When it showed up the walnut had a ding in the front and there were some other minor fitment issues with the plinth.  I emailed pictures to VPI (mostly about the fitment issues) and they, without me mentioning anything, said to send it back to them and they would replace the plinth.  It turns out I bought it from someone who was not an authorized dealer, but they still did it for me.  Free of charge and they even paid for the shipping back to me.

Customer Service at VPI is awesome I agree Mat went way out of his way for me . My issue is not with VPI

[Guy 13]

I bought a "new in the box" Classic 1 from audiogon.  When it showed up the walnut had a ding in the front and there were some other minor fitment issues with the plinth.  I emailed pictures to VPI (mostly about the fitment issues) and they, without me mentioning anything, said to send it back to them and they would replace the plinth.  It turns out I bought it from someone who was not an authorized dealer, but they still did it for me.  Free of charge and they even paid for the shipping back to me.

Hi vortrex.
That is rare these days and your case is even more rare.
If one day I want to up-grade my turntable,
VPI will be my first choice and it's made in USA.
In your case, I guess they wanted your VPI turntable to look new so anyone looking at it will say:
It's nice and when you tell your friends this story, they will be impressed
and that's good for VPI and it did not cost them that much I am sure.

Guy 13