McIntosh Flunking the Course in Washington State...What Do You Think?

My experience is tech-support doesn’t understand tube amplifiers very well and very bad at giving troubleshooting advice.

The guy i spoke to was apparently reading from a script. They used to have someone named Chuck who is exceptional but he retired. If you ever have a problem with a tube amplifier I would definitely escalate it up the management ranks until you find someone who actually knows what they’re doing. Although that’s not a given because the real people who know stuff probably don’t get on the phone and talk to anybody.

I'm lucky, I live about 30 minutes from Inner Sound.  I had a McIntosh receiver that needed some work.  I did pay for the rush service, but I had it back within a couple of weeks, at most.  They did a great job.

Ken

I rarely give dealerships or Manufacturers a second chance if they wrong me or screw me over! Bad customer service is unacceptable in the age of high priced stereo gear! Also, one thing I stopped doing is buying from very small Boutique companies that have just a couple of employees. Too many risks with them going under, the founder passing away or having major illness or folding leaving me with a boat anchor if I need service or parts that can't be obtained elsewhere. Its sad because some of these companies make great products.

Shall we ask everybody's favorite advisor / confidante about Inner Sound's high quality work?

Reviews for Inner Sound in Clackamas, Oregon, indicate issues with long repair wait times and unsatisfactory repairs, particularly on vintage equipment. Customers have reported items failing shortly after the 90-day warranty, high service costs, and improper repairs that made devices worse than before. Common Complaints About Inner Sound:

Extensive Delays: Repairs often take significantly longer than estimated, with some users reporting waiting months for service.

• Failed Repairs/Warranty Issues: Idler wheels and other parts have failed shortly after the 90-day warranty period, requiring additional paid repairs.
• Poor Quality Service: Instances of incorrect parts being used, custom modifications being removed without permission, and equipment returning in worse condition.
• High Costs: Customers have found repair costs to be high for the quality of service provided.

Note: Some users have noted that due to the scarcity of specialized repair shops in the area, they are often the only option for certain repairs. 

This is a bigger issue of the lack of qualified service techs in the industry as a whole. Not a Mcintosh directly related issue. If there is no one who is qualified in the area how is that Mac’s fault?  I’ve seen this coming for a decade, very few younger people are getting into this type of work and the older people who have been doing it in the past are retiring fast now. Also, the older guys are not taking the time to train the younger Techs.

 My local audio shop doesn’t have a tech anymore and there really isn’t anyone left in the area. This is a sign of the times get used to it. If you really want to help start recommended to young people to take electronics technician courses in school. There is an opening market for this work.