I've only just stumbled across this thread and just wanted to say that I believe there may be many 'Cabs' out there. Whether or not you believe that some of the comments arising from Cab's frustrations are fair, the underlying and long-festering frustration is understandable.
Like Cab, I purchased the PT gear (P-1A, P-3A, Monolithic PS) from PT about 4 or 5 years ago, and the decision to do so was based largely on the promised SOCS. Being in Australia, I figured it would take a little longer to reach me but never did I dream (nightmare?) that it still wouldn't be available in the US 4 or 5 years later, let alone in Australia.
Did I complain? No, I gave PT the benefit of the doubt and just waited, and waited and waited. PT (Walter from memory) assured me that it wasn't far away and that MMK kits would be distributed in Australia to cater for the Australian customers.
Did I understand that there would be a cost associated with the SOCS option? Yes. But the cost was incidental as it was something I wanted and formed an important part of my decision to purchase.
Mls suggests that Cab's earlier analogy was flawed so let me suggest another one. A customer considering the purchase of a new model BMW is told that the air conditioning option is not yet available for this model but will be available very shortly and can be paid for when ready and installed for a small fee. So the customer buys the car. However, he wouldn't have bought the car (especially in Australia) if he'd known that the air conditioning wouldn't be available for 5 years, if at all. The car may function in all other respects, but if a function that was fundamental to the customer's purchase decision ('option' or not) was not delivered in a reasonable timeframe then the product was misrepresented and the seller should make amends.
Eventually, I gave up on SOCS, chalked it up as a poor purchasing decision, chastised myself for trusting the promises of a hifi company and resolved not to purchase from PT again. Eventually, I put my PT gear up for sale and finally managed to sell the P-3A and Monolithic PS at a significant loss. However, I can't even sell the P-1A for the equivalent of US$350! So, like Cab's P-1A, it sits in its box gathering dust in a cupboard.
As those of you involved in customer relations will know, complaints are positive in that they at least give you feedback on what is in the heads of your customers (rightly or wrongly) and give you the opportunity to turn the customer around. However, the vast majority of unsatisfied customers simply remain silent and resolve never to trust you or buy from you again. This is usually because they don't believe the seller will do anything. In the P-1A case, we kept waiting because we kept being assured that SOCS was close. But eventually, so much time had passed since the purchase of the P-1A that complaining no longer seemed like an option. Apparently Cab and I were both part of the silent majority until now and I believe that there are many others in the same situation.
I certainly have sympathy for the personal issues that the SOCS programmer has had to deal with. However, there comes a point in time where, for the credibility of the company, you bring in another programmer or make amends to your customers (eg. recall or partial refunds etc). Five years is simply ridiculous.
I have no interest in attacking or defending anyone involved in this sad tale, just sharing my own experience with fellow enthusiasts and providing Mark with a little more customer feedback FWIW.
