Somehow the join in my VPI turntable belt managed to slip it's glue join after 5 years or so of use. Having failed to get the Australian VPI importer to answer any of my emails about a replacement I emailed VPI in the US. I received an immediate answer with the offer to mail me a new belt free of charge.
It arrived one week later and turns out to sound way better than the stiffer original one. I don't want to start a debate here about why that may be the case but the new belt is thinner and a lot more elastic than the original.
Another manufacturer's follow up service of that kind I can remember receiving was many years ago when I wrote to Quad in England asking where I could get a plug in card for my 33 preamp to match a Shure V15 cartridge. The card arrived air-mail priority only days later, free of charge.
I've also had superb back-up from Manley Audio Labs for replacement parts.
There aren't many manufacturers these days who respond that way but VPI & Manley appear to be the old fashioned kind. Needless to say I'll be a loyal customer if I ever upgrade to a better turntable or better electronics.
So, there are some good news stories about this industry worth reporting. I've got many horror stories, such as Sony's disgusting policy of not stocking parts for even recent models but let's not go there for now.
I'm one very happy vinyl fanatic for now.
Somehow the join in my VPI turntable belt managed to slip it's glue join after 5 years or so of use. Having failed to get the Australian VPI importer to answer any of my emails about a replacement I emailed VPI in the US. I received an immediate answer with the offer to mail me a new belt free of charge.
It arrived one week later and turns out to sound way better than the stiffer original one. I don't want to start a debate here about why that may be the case but the new belt is thinner and a lot more elastic than the original.
Another manufacturer's follow up service of that kind I can remember receiving was many years ago when I wrote to Quad in England asking where I could get a plug in card for my 33 preamp to match a Shure V15 cartridge. The card arrived air-mail priority only days later, free of charge.
I've also had superb back-up from Manley Audio Labs for replacement parts.
There aren't many manufacturers these days who respond that way but VPI & Manley appear to be the old fashioned kind. Needless to say I'll be a loyal customer if I ever upgrade to a better turntable or better electronics.
So, there are some good news stories about this industry worth reporting. I've got many horror stories, such as Sony's disgusting policy of not stocking parts for even recent models but let's not go there for now.
I'm one very happy vinyl fanatic for now.