Paid Culture Vulture has yet to show up after over 1 month

AlexO · 29th July 2008, 04:40 PM

Hi all,

I have an issue that is driving me crazy. I need to hear if anyone else has had this experience, and I'm also looking for advice.

June 25th: I pay and order a Culture Vulture from a company here in Norway. I'm told there usually is 10-12 days of deliverytime, and that I will be given a tracking number as soon as possible.
June 30th: I request any news about the CV, there are none.
July 7th (12 days after order), I ask if there is possible to get a trackingnumber, and now I'm told no, there is not. (??)
July 9th: Concerned about not getting the unit I ask for information again (amon gother things, where it's being sent from). I'm told that his mails to England are not responded to, and maybe the reason is vacation. He says the box should be on its way though. No info about where its coming from.
July 14th: I've again asked for info, and now I'm told its coming from Germany. He also says that there has been a misunderstanding regarding the delivery date, and that it was to be sent that week.
July 16th: I get an email stating it will be sent the following day with DHL, and that I'll be given trackingnumber.
July 24th: I get a call, the box has YET to be shipped. A month since I paid and ordered, and it had not even been sent? I said, if I'm not to cancel the deal, I want it sent immediately with DHL express (I called DHL before demanding this, and was told an express order from England to Norway takes 24 hours), and on their (whoever the dealer here ordered this from) account.
July 25th, friday last week: I get an OK, it's to be sent the same day, tracking number will be sent.

Guess what: it's July 29th, and I have yet to see a shred of evidence that the thing I paid $2600 for is actually on its way to me. I also don't really know where the cockup REALLY is, cause no one is telling me, and my only contact in all this is the dealer here. He says it is possible it MIGHT come tomorrow, as DHL (he says) sometimes forwards packages with local mail.

I'm feeling extremely frustrated, and find it strange that I have to fight to get a new piece of gear I've paid for.

Maybe I should just say enough is enough and lay down the money on an H8000FW instead? (a purchase I initially planned after getting the CV). The guy says he understands if I don't want to wait anymore, and will give me my money back if I say so. I really want the CV tho...

I have also been in contact with Unity Audio by phone, but the woman I spoke to couldn't really do much to help me, other than giving me an emailadress to a guy called "Kevin" I could forward my issue to. I have done this and am awaiting a reply. (He's on this forum too, isn't he?)

Best,
AO

olivia_nb · 29th July 2008, 05:13 PM

I waited 25 minutes last saturday in an empty restaurant for a veggie sandwich and fries, and we barely saw our waitress, all of this for a $30 tab... sometimes we just get bad customer service, yeah it's someone's fault, but we may never know. Having things get f*ed up is all part of the human experience.

I know $2600 is a lot of cash, but you're not immune to bad customer service even at a $20,000 price point. Your dealer can't be the only game in town, cancel the order and make sure they know you're getting it somewhere else, or if they're the only game in town get another piece of kit elsewhere and make sure the manufacturer knows this! They may even bend over backwards to make it right for you if they know they're losing your business becaise of their distributor. If they don't then imagine your headache when they have to service it if something goes down.

My advice (not that you're asking me) is take the lump and chalk this one up to bad luck and move on with your money in your pocket (you paid with a credit card right? no one should be doing a transaction like this with anything but a credit card these days), or admit you'll suffer death to get this piece and suck it up...

Art · 30th July 2008, 02:26 PM

That is not cool.

I just got the Culture Vulture, ordered it from Alto Music in NY on Wed had it in Denver on Friday. Can you order it from the U.S.? I know that dealers have them in stock here. Good luck!

Art

donsolo · 30th July 2008, 02:47 PM

Alto music is in Westchester, Right?

azwun25 · 30th July 2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsolo

Alto music is in Westchester, Right?

Middletown NY. Orange County.

nightscope · 30th July 2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexO

Unity Audio

Unity Audio are the main distributors for Thermionic gear in UK. Their customer service is excellent. Every product I've bought has been at my site next day. That said, your beef is with your Norwegian supplier. I'm sure Kevin will help if he can, though.

ns

AlexO · 1st August 2008, 12:28 AM

Thanks for your replies guys! About not being immune to bad customer service at any price tag, I guess that's true. It's sad though..

Anyways, Kevin responded rather quickly to my e-mail, and it appears the cause of the delay originated with one of the norwegian companies, yes (This purchase appears to have gone through atleast two different comanies here..).

Kevin confirmed one CV had been sent for Norway, and today I got the message that it was in Norway. Though, there had been some issues at the customs (why am I not surprised...

) so they hadn't gotten it out yet. But, tomorrow they were supposed to get it, so if all goes well and all is true, I'll have it tomorrow. I'll let you know!

Best,
AO

donsolo · 1st August 2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azwun25

Middletown NY. Orange County.

I could have swore there was one in the Mt. Kisco area...

God I miss the Northeast

But that's a totally different rant.

olivia_nb · 1st August 2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexO

Kevin confirmed one CV had been sent for Norway, and today I got the message that it was in Norway. Though, there had been some issues at the customs (why am I not surprised...

) so they hadn't gotten it out yet.

so your fate was in the hands of civil servants, I do feel bad for you now.
Hope you get it soon!

AlexO · 3rd August 2008, 02:41 PM

The Vulture has finally landed! I can't believe it. It ended up being picked up at a Chinese restaurant by a friend of mine

. It's incredibly cool and I just can't wait to get home and hook it up (Visiting my parents this weekend, leaving soon).

AO

NorseHorse · 4th August 2008, 04:15 PM

A Chinese Restaurant?...

olivia_nb · 4th August 2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexO

The Vulture has finally landed! I can't believe it. It ended up being picked up at a Chinese restaurant by a friend of mine

. It's incredibly cool and I just can't wait to get home and hook it up (Visiting my parents this weekend, leaving soon).

AO

If it's now powered by vegetable oil you're in luck!

though your studio may smell a bit different...

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29th July 2008, 04:40 PM	#1
AlexO Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 4	Paid Culture Vulture has yet to show up after over 1 month Hi all, I have an issue that is driving me crazy. I need to hear if anyone else has had this experience, and I'm also looking for advice. June 25th: I pay and order a Culture Vulture from a company here in Norway. I'm told there usually is 10-12 days of deliverytime, and that I will be given a tracking number as soon as possible. June 30th: I request any news about the CV, there are none. July 7th (12 days after order), I ask if there is possible to get a trackingnumber, and now I'm told no, there is not. (??) July 9th: Concerned about not getting the unit I ask for information again (amon gother things, where it's being sent from). I'm told that his mails to England are not responded to, and maybe the reason is vacation. He says the box should be on its way though. No info about where its coming from. July 14th: I've again asked for info, and now I'm told its coming from Germany. He also says that there has been a misunderstanding regarding the delivery date, and that it was to be sent that week. July 16th: I get an email stating it will be sent the following day with DHL, and that I'll be given trackingnumber. July 24th: I get a call, the box has YET to be shipped. A month since I paid and ordered, and it had not even been sent? I said, if I'm not to cancel the deal, I want it sent immediately with DHL express (I called DHL before demanding this, and was told an express order from England to Norway takes 24 hours), and on their (whoever the dealer here ordered this from) account. July 25th, friday last week: I get an OK, it's to be sent the same day, tracking number will be sent. Guess what: it's July 29th, and I have yet to see a shred of evidence that the thing I paid $2600 for is actually on its way to me. I also don't really know where the cockup REALLY is, cause no one is telling me, and my only contact in all this is the dealer here. He says it is possible it MIGHT come tomorrow, as DHL (he says) sometimes forwards packages with local mail. I'm feeling extremely frustrated, and find it strange that I have to fight to get a new piece of gear I've paid for. Maybe I should just say enough is enough and lay down the money on an H8000FW instead? (a purchase I initially planned after getting the CV). The guy says he understands if I don't want to wait anymore, and will give me my money back if I say so. I really want the CV tho... I have also been in contact with Unity Audio by phone, but the woman I spoke to couldn't really do much to help me, other than giving me an emailadress to a guy called "Kevin" I could forward my issue to. I have done this and am awaiting a reply. (He's on this forum too, isn't he?) Best, AO

29th July 2008, 05:13 PM	#2
olivia_nb Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: LA (Beagle Rock), CA Posts: 1,302	I waited 25 minutes last saturday in an empty restaurant for a veggie sandwich and fries, and we barely saw our waitress, all of this for a $30 tab... sometimes we just get bad customer service, yeah it's someone's fault, but we may never know. Having things get f*ed up is all part of the human experience. I know $2600 is a lot of cash, but you're not immune to bad customer service even at a $20,000 price point. Your dealer can't be the only game in town, cancel the order and make sure they know you're getting it somewhere else, or if they're the only game in town get another piece of kit elsewhere and make sure the manufacturer knows this! They may even bend over backwards to make it right for you if they know they're losing your business becaise of their distributor. If they don't then imagine your headache when they have to service it if something goes down. My advice (not that you're asking me) is take the lump and chalk this one up to bad luck and move on with your money in your pocket (you paid with a credit card right? no one should be doing a transaction like this with anything but a credit card these days), or admit you'll suffer death to get this piece and suck it up... __________________ My project is Olivia Neutron Bomb and can be heard at http://www.olivianeutronbomb.com My name is Jeremy and my demo page is http://demo.olivianeutronbomb.com

30th July 2008, 02:26 PM	#3
Art Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 201	That is not cool. I just got the Culture Vulture, ordered it from Alto Music in NY on Wed had it in Denver on Friday. Can you order it from the U.S.? I know that dealers have them in stock here. Good luck! Art __________________ Art Bodin

4th August 2008, 04:15 PM	#11
NorseHorse Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 656	A Chinese Restaurant?... __________________ Williamsburg, VA 23186

1st August 2008, 12:28 AM	#7
AlexO Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 4	Thanks for your replies guys! About not being immune to bad customer service at any price tag, I guess that's true. It's sad though.. Anyways, Kevin responded rather quickly to my e-mail, and it appears the cause of the delay originated with one of the norwegian companies, yes (This purchase appears to have gone through atleast two different comanies here..). Kevin confirmed one CV had been sent for Norway, and today I got the message that it was in Norway. Though, there had been some issues at the customs (why am I not surprised... ) so they hadn't gotten it out yet. But, tomorrow they were supposed to get it, so if all goes well and all is true, I'll have it tomorrow. I'll let you know! Best, AO

3rd August 2008, 02:41 PM	#10
AlexO Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 4	The Vulture has finally landed! I can't believe it. It ended up being picked up at a Chinese restaurant by a friend of mine . It's incredibly cool and I just can't wait to get home and hook it up (Visiting my parents this weekend, leaving soon). AO

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