Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: TubeGeek on March 29, 2014, 01:37:04 pm

Title: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: TubeGeek on March 29, 2014, 01:37:04 pm
Does anyone know if Brown Note is still in business?

I placed a $1000 order several weeks ago for a d'lite 22/33 amp kit and have been trying to contact them with absolutely no success.

I wanted to add the foot switch kit to my order but at this point I think I should cancel and order elsewhere as I am frustrated with the lack of communication and service offered.

Problem is…I don't know if my order is being processed or not.

I wish I could get a hold of them :help:
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: sluckey on March 29, 2014, 01:59:34 pm
I think he's out of business.
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: HotBluePlates on March 29, 2014, 02:52:18 pm
I placed a $1000 order several weeks ago ... I think I should cancel ... Problem is…I don't know if my order is being processed or not.

You provided a bank or credit card for payment; I'd contact the issuing company and place a stop-payment. You'll be certain your order isn't being processed then...
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: TubeGeek on March 29, 2014, 07:53:28 pm
I placed a $1000 order several weeks ago ... I think I should cancel ... Problem is…I don't know if my order is being processed or not.

You provided a bank or credit card for payment; I'd contact the issuing company and place a stop-payment. You'll be certain your order isn't being processed then...

He has not charged my card yet.  I have talked with mastercard and they can't stop a payment that hasn't happened yet.  I could wait for a charge to appear and then dispute it, but I'd rather not deal with that hassle.  I am trying to speak to him about my order with no success.  Another weird thing is in the shopping cart, the cost to ship a kit to Canada came up as zero. Very odd and that leads me to think he is not in business or accepting orders.  He should at least close his online store. I don't know.

I guess I am going to have to close this card and get another one sent to me.  I'll give him a fews more weeks and see if there is any response.  I'd say after 6-8 weeks and no communication, it's fair for me to do.

Who knows, maybe he is following Mr Dumble's often talked about business methods of making people wait months or years before anything. All I know is, I am not going to be that person that waits and waits and then all of a sudden a charge on my card and an amp kit shows up after I have moved on and already built the amp.

I certainly would never provide this level of service to people and be able to sleep at night.
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: drew on March 29, 2014, 09:12:35 pm
You somehow missed the fact that there were years of complaints, on multiple amp boards including Brown Note's own forum, about the guy not filling orders? :dontknow:
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: TubeGeek on March 29, 2014, 11:20:54 pm
You somehow missed the fact that there were years of complaints, on multiple amp boards including Brown Note's own forum, about the guy not filling orders? :dontknow:

Yes I did.  Wasn't until after I ordered that I came across this issue.  I know it sounds crazy but I don't participate in other forums much.  I like this one.  Lesson learned.
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: drew on March 30, 2014, 12:34:13 am
You can try contacting him here, if you haven't already: https://www.facebook.com/BrownNoteAudioLab
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: Ed_Chambley on March 30, 2014, 06:33:29 am
I have a rule of internet buying.  If I cannot call and get someone, I do not order from them.  I have learned the hard way that even if they respond to email quickly it is much harder to get problems addressed.  It only takes 1 phone call to correct a problem, but I have spent hours and typed enough words to write a novel explaining a problem when a simple phone call would have corrected the problem.

I also have a separate credit card, but prefer paypal for most internet sales, but don't feel bad as it has happened to most of us.  Just do whatever to charge back the purchase.  I never really liked the name Brown Note anyway.  If interested in what it means, google it.
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: lego4040 on March 30, 2014, 08:55:00 am
That sucks man, I've had similar problems at one time. Instead of waiting then disputing I just cancelled the card and got a new one. Joke was on them when they went to process invoice, they quickly got in contact with me saying hey went to fill your order and blah......... I told them due to their poor business like tendency and refusal to contact me I had no choice but to cut them off. Yes I had to wait for a new card but I was also stress free from having not to dispute it
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: Fresh_Start on March 30, 2014, 09:05:46 am
I helped Moss put together a transformer order to get the 20+ discount from Mercury. The deal was, he was supposed to give me the 10+ price from then on. Only that's not how he remembered it. Also had a really hard time getting my second order delivered. Done, done and done.

I have to say that Ed's got a good rule. In January of 2013, I ordered a firearm related part from a company with a good reputation. Voicemail box full. They did respond to emails, but I finally got the part THIS January.

Cheers,

Chip
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: TubeGeek on March 30, 2014, 01:30:14 pm
Wow I am certainly not the only one.

I am going to cancel my credit card as soon as I can.  I'd do it today but I am waiting for a refund to be processed on this card. After that is confirmed, cancelling it asap.  It's a separate amp credit card that I use to order parts only.

This is the first problem I have ever encountered with an online purchase.  I've done hundreds. I guess it is bound to happen statistically :l2:

Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: clyde on March 31, 2014, 09:54:12 am
Yes, unfortunately your only option is to cancel your card, a total hassle.  Seems the amp business isn't very good these days.
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: John on March 31, 2014, 11:05:46 am
Quote
Seems the amp business isn't very good these days.

No business is good these days, if you don't fill orders, take orders, answer the phone or return emails.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Brown Note Tube Amps, what's the deal?
Post by: TubeGeek on April 08, 2014, 08:23:23 pm
I cancelled the mastercard.  No need to deal with him now. Thank goodness.