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SME service is terrible. Can’t buy any accessories from local dealers here in USA

Talk about a pain in the … I’m trying to get a basic setup tool for my 309 arm a HTA key to adjust the horizontal tracking. I found out SME doesn’t allow dealers to sell any accessories or parts for their turntables and arms. WTF! This means if you need a common replacement part like belt your looking at 2 weeks for the part to arrive.
Not only that but shipping from the UK isn’t cheap. Who ever at SME made this bone headed decision at SME needs to fired or better yet, something worse!
hiendmmoe
mauidj
128 posts
 

I've owned SME products since the early 1970's
I still love my SME 20/12 but dealing with them is now getting to be a royal PITA.
Recently needed a set of suspension O rings and the US Importer quoted over $20 each...thats $850 for the set.

Still waiting to hear back from them regarding availability of those and some fluids. Been a month now.
And my wonderful dealer cant help as he is no longer allowed to sell spares.
Between this and no longer selling arms alone.....The guy who purchased SME is an idiot!

billstevenson
1,222 posts
 

SME seems to have lost their bearings under new ownership.  Here is a company whose core business is founded on tonearms that no longer sells tonearms and now apparently no longer facilitates after market parts efforts in the USA.  I am pretty sure the USA is their largest market.  It must be pointed out that it is increasingly difficult to buy/ship/whatever between the UK and the USA.  That situation cannot be laid at the feet of SME of course. 

billstevenson
1,222 posts
 

On a positive note, just last week I needed help with an SME problem myself and once again found Alfred Kayser of SME Canada, very cordial and helpful.  

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