VPI Turntable repair

Did this get resolved? I now have the same issue. Honestly a $500 replacement arm is reasonable to me. I feel like this arm must be a little more than entry level if the similar design is being used in a $4k arm. 

I sent an email to the company, no response. I tried emailing mat@vpi thinking it may be his email address, no response and no bounce back saying it was invalid. Ok... so I called. I was told today they may or should have an answer in a couple months. I had to ask for the guys contact info, he didn’t offer to contact me when a resolution was found... I figured he would say “let me get your info and I’ll call you once we figure out how we will proceed”. That made me assume this isn’t a very high priority. 

The issue with mine is the metal “male” end of the bearing is broke off, my dog knocked the tower speaker over on it. The arm isn’t bent, the table/platter is true. My Dyna DV20X2 is smashed now... Apparently they got rid of one of the machines used in the process of setting the male metal end of the bearing that sits in the jewel cup. 

I bought all my audio gear in 2012/13 knowing one day I could use it to its full potential when I bought a house. One of the main things I did was make sure I bought gear built by companies that service their products no matter how old. Dec 18 I moved out of the crappy uninsulated cardboard duplex into a well insulated first home... I finally set all my gear up last Friday and my god It was so sweet. The feeling I had listening to albums was unexplainable. 

I’m left without a source. I didn’t feel that hopeless after I narrowed down the damage to the arm, after my conversation today I feel pretty hopeless. Especially considering one option was to make an adapter to mount one of the multi thousand dollar arms, at a discount. Not sure what that discount would be. I really enjoyed the table how it was. 

@mparthas,

Check out @vasaudio 's offer. He resides on Cliffwood Ave and works closely with VPI.

Maybe my assessment wasn’t fair, I am thinking they could be ramping up production to meet orders before tax season. I can imagine this is a Busy time for them, I could see them getting around to messing with this after. 

I reached out to the gentleman above, there is hope. 

Chriscox000 your assessment was spot on.   Recently, I had the same experience with non-response from VPI.....but my earlier email interaction with them was very cordial.  Also the $500 replacement arm they offered (this was in an earlier communication) was a used one.  Since the table in the used market sells for $600-800.....I did not go for this option.

I also have a VPI TNT which I absolutely love, and I am not for a moment complaining about the general quality of their tables.  However, the defect in the Traveler arms is a well known issue and, while it was my fault for trying to adjust the bearings, I should not have been put in that predicament in the first place had the arm been properly designed.  No disrespect intended, but I think I will stay away from VPI tables henceforth.

So....I did send my arm to Steve Leong of VAS Audio (earlier message) and he replaced the Sapphire bearings with Ruby bearings for just $150 including return shipping.  The arm works like new.    I also bought a VAS open-bodied cartridge from him, and the whole package was less than what VPI would sell me a used arm for.  And the cartridge sounds fabulous.  I couldn't be happier.  

Great news to hear Steve could fix this and at a very fair price indeed.

On the contrary though, shame on VPI for their attitude in this matter.

Never owned a VPI and most likely never will if this is an example of " service".