Sumiko Audio

I would give the folks at Sumiko a call and get their recommendations.

Sumiko Service Center located at 2431 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710 (tel:510-843-4500)

Try Flat Earth Audio in Connecticut. They service some old SMEs.

Kal

This is really good information to know for anyone interested in SME products. This lack of help or helpful info is very telling. Most audiophiles can read bewtween the lines in their response to you. Sorry this did not work for you. What could one expect if they bought the $30 K model 30 table?

This is the reponse I received when asked about SME dealers in Georgia:
Descriptor Line: Sumiko has received your message.

Thank you for contacting Sumiko, an oasis of artistry in a

marketplace of mass-production and planned obsolescence.

We pride ourselves on World Class Service and our goal is to

process your request quickly and efficiently.

As a Sumiko product owner your first contact call for

support should be to the Retailer where your product was

purchased. Each Sumiko dealer has been trained in our

comprehensive Star

Jim, while I agree with you that customer service ought to be a primary consideration when choosing gear, I think you're being a little unfair to Sumiko here. The 3009 was distributed by Shure over 30 years ago, when it was new -- I doubt any of Sumiko's partners were even out of high school back then, much less in the hi-fi business.

Yes, SME UK is asking a lot of money for a rebuild, but if you'd bought a $2000 MG back then, think about what you'd pay to have it rebuilt to spec today. I've seen NOS 3009s sell for around $400, which is probably the way I'd go -- especially when you consider that even a 3009 in need of refurbing is not without value in the age of eBay.

I don't doubt the cost of THEIR service, but I would expect more assistance in finding a dealer who MIGHT be of help. You are right in that there is no guarantee of repair given the age.

I would hope that most reps of manufacturers would direct a potential customer promptly in the right direction. There is too much competition to do otherwise. I have always thought of SME in the best of light, even owning their products in the past myself. Business is about people first and products second.

Hi...

I have had an excellent experience with the Customer Service at SME in England.
The armrest on my SME Series V was broken, and I wrote to SME regarding this. Two days later I received a small packet with a brand new armrest and a kind letter. With compliments!

Now...that's first class service, in my opinion...

Sincerely
Nilau

This proves that SME is a class act. They may never know what a smart "marketing" person it was that put that arm rest in an envelope and sent it to you.

I certainly enjoyed the 2 SME arms I owned previously and you can be sure I will buy a new TT soon and install an new SME on it before I kick.

Maybe customer service is not dead after all.