Peer Gynt wrote:I have come back to VPI after a 30 year hiatus. I was fortunate 30+ years ago to sell VPI products, as well as Clearaudio, Souther, Dynavector, New York Audio Labs, and a few others. This was a hobby level activity, in my spare time. It was not my livelihood.
Recently, when I needed a lighter counterweight for my JMW 10 3D Printed tonearm, since there are no dealers near me, I called VPI. They would not sell me one, but referred me to one of the internet dealers.
I googled and quickly discovered that the recommended dealer did not stock what I wanted.
So I looked at other internet dealers, and that is how I found SSD. They did not stock most of my order, but they had the counterweight. So I gave them the full order. They intended to delay shipment of the counterweight until the other stuff was delivered to them. After several days I figured out that this was what was going on. So I left both voice and email “messages of encouragement.”
They split the order and I got the counterweight a few days later. The rest arrived after about two more weeks.
I recently contacted another small dealer over the Internet to try to buy a dual pivot kit. None in stock. And VPI will not drop ship to support these guys. So I had to chase around with other dealers until I found a guy with one in stock.
My point, I guess, is that this is a rough business. There aren’t that many serious customers. The margins are small. Models are modified so often that dealers don’t want to stock spare parts that are not useful for several models. And VPI won’t drop ship.
It would be nice if, for customers with no dealers within 50 miles, VPI would allow direct ordering at full retail and with customer payed shipping. That would not undercut legitimate local dealers. And it would be great support for the boondocks based VPI aficionados, like me.
Exactly! The closest VPI Dealer to my location is a 4 hour round-trip. While I've never visited them, I know from emails that they have few Tables in stock. Of course they can order one, but for me to see and hear, say an Avenger, or a Prime Signature...who knows how far I would have to travel.
I understand the need for a Dealer, but 99% of my entire set-up has been purchased on-line, and will continue to be.