Heads up about Watts Tube audio

[EL34]

Several of my customers are having a problem with Watts.
People are complaining about him not shipping merchandise and not answering emails?
Supposedly he is in the process of opening a bar?

I hate to see people get burnt
So I am giving you guys a heads up here


There is this post on Amp Garage you can read here about Watts
http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31259


This was posted on tube guitar amp builders page on facebook about Watts
You may not be able to see it because it is a closed group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tubeampbuilders/permalink/10156355015409493/

Well.....unfortunately I’ve had to submit a dispute/claim with PayPal concerning my orders with WATTS TUBE AUDIO. I still have not received my products or even a tracking number. His voice mail has been turned off and I get no replies from the emails I’ve sent. My patience is gone. I’ll be going through the legal system soon to recover my funds if this issue is not resolved within 10 days. It’s a shame it’s had to come to this but Im DONE

Got an email from a Watts customer yesterday who lives in Canada.
Sort of confirming that there is something going on there

Hey Doug – just sent payment.  I will most likely be doing quite a bit more with you.I was using Ken at Watts Tube Audio- but he has not been getting back to me in quiteawhile and is doing too many things possibly. 

Just got another email from on of my customers saying this

Have you heard any rumblings about Watts?  I ordered some red g10 fr4 perf boards from him back in May and am still waiting
(would have preferred to get these from you btw, but needed red perf).
 
He’s posted a couple of cryptic things on the website and FB about catching up but I can’t tell what’s going on.
Not answering phone or responding to email. I’m not after any gossip, just a private here’s what’s up.

[EL34]

I forgot that I had his name under censured words

It's a long story about him using my name to sell Hoffman knock off boards
And not asking me if he could use my name or make my boards

At the time, I still sold the Hoffman drilling template and mask for each board model

If you wanted to make and sell my boards, you had to have purchased the tools from me and then you were good to go

After contacting him saying he needed to purchase the tools in order to make and sell my board designs
No reply ever from him at all

Who does that?

[pompeiisneaks]

Crap, I forgot that I had his name under censured words
I fixed it

It's a long story about him using my name to sell boards and not asking me if he could use it

What, a guy that's not shipping orders for paying customers ALSO did other less than legit things? :D

~Phil

[Ed_Chambley]

Ken is a Dick, Business man. Always has been and now he can get drink and prove it.


I needed to modify. I think I may have been to harsh.

[goldstache]

Unfortunately I didn’t see this heads up!  I’ve been waiting since mid-summer ‘18 for about $350 worth of stuff paid for.  I’ve tried over 10 times to reach Ken through every avenue possible. 
Any updates or prescribed courses of action?


Thanks.

[DummyLoad]

FWIW - watts website ordering has been disabled.

"...help us avoid selling things that are not actually in stock. This will allow us to run the business in a more effecient manor."[sic]


manor? effecient? what's an effecient manor? a big house full of $#!t?


--pete

[EL34]

Hmm, I am still getting emails from customers that have had issues
I have no idea what is going on, but I think I would avoid that situation

[DummyLoad]

no doubt. even if he does "return" i doubt i'd do any business with him.

i mainly bought 18" x 8" x 2.5" and 24" x 8" x 2.5" blank chassis from him. too bad...now i have to find another source that will bend 12ga aluminum. I prefer 12ga .09" over 14ga .08" - all the shops that are still in biz that bend and sell blanks chassis, most use 14ga.


--pete 

[pompeiisneaks]

no doubt. even if he does "return" i doubt i'd do any business with him.

i mainly bought 18" x 8" x 2.5" and 24" x 8" x 2.5" blank chassis from him. too bad...now i have to find another source that will bend 12ga aluminum. I prefer 12ga .09" over 14ga .08" - all the shops that are still in biz that bend and sell blanks chassis, most use 14ga.


--pete

I bought a chassis custom sized from this guy, because he does custom, he may also be okay doing it 12ga instead of 14, these are 14 though:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Amp-Chassis-w-IEC-Knockout/292330776948

Came super fast and exactly what I wanted.  He also does have an IEC knockout as the name implies so you can get that pre-punched.  Otherwise I use Doug's chassis blank he has as it's fit most things I've done so far :D

~Phil

[goldstache]

12th email sent. No reply.
Any suggestions on how to recoup my several hundred dollars he is stealing?


Thanks.

[DummyLoad]

12th email sent. No reply.
Any suggestions on how to recoup my several hundred dollars he is stealing?


Thanks.

If you paid with a CC, then file fraud claim with CC Co. If your CC does not rescind changes report Watts by:
A) File fraud charges with the County Attorney General in the county where Watts does business - E.g., where Ken Watt's resides.
B) Contact the FBI Cyber Crimes Unit and file a complaint. If the FBI gets enough complaints, they will contact Watts.
C) File a complaint with the BBB branch that's local to where Watts does business - That won't do you much good, but will help to warn others.   


--Pete

https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/saint-petersburg/profile/electronic-equipment-dealers/watts-tube-audio-0653-90333795


Be the fourth, Luke! 

[EL34]

Paypal and Credit card companies will get your money back, no problem

[goldstache]

Thanks I’ll pursue that avenue.

[Vpayne]

I unfortunately didn't see this thread until I had placed an order with WTA.  That was early August, and it has shown processing since Sept 1. 

I filed a complaint with the Florida Attorney General's office.  They referred it to the Department of Agriculture for voluntary informal mediation, which Ken ignored, so they closed the complaint.  I later got a phone call saying they hadn't had any other complaints about WTA, but if they did get more complaints and saw a pattern the Attorney General's office would take action against him. 

I would encourage all of you that have been burned by this guy to go to the Florida Attorney General's website at myfloridalegal.com and file a complaint against Watts Tube Audio.  Mention my name, Vernon Payne, and that I had previously filed a complaint and it was closed.  Many of you got burned for a lot more $$ than I did, but he should not be allowed to do this for any amount.  And his web site is up taking orders again.  If several of you do file a complaint, hopefully the AG office will light a fire under him or prosecute him for interstate wire fraud.  I don't understand why a guy who appears to have run a business successfully for years would do this.  But he should be stopped. 

[EL34]

I don't understand why a guy who appears to have run a business successfully for years would do this.  But he should be stopped.

Thanks for the update

[Vpayne]

Update:  I finally received my order 10 months after placing and paying for it.  Better late than never I guess.

[EL34]

Update:  I finally received my order 10 months after placing and paying for it.  Better late than never I guess.

Wow, that's crazy!

[DummyLoad]

watts tube audio website has been removed.

seems to be hole in the market now that he once filled. i can't find the variety and selection of unfinished 12GA aluminum chassis he had online anywhere in this hemisphere.



--pete

[EL34]

watts tube audio website has been removed.
seems to be hole in the market now that he once filled.
i can't find the variety and selection of unfinished 12GA aluminum chassis he had online anywhere in this hemisphere.
--pete

Looks like he moved his web store over to a Facebook Store
You can take your chances there

https://www.facebook.com/wattstubeaudio/

[shooter]

FB won't let me look unless I join, not worth it 

DL, I went to a handful of local tin knockers IF I provided the stock a couple would bend it for about what I used to pay at Watts for whole thing, so after buying stock it woulda been ~ $25 more
I moved to SS audio - Hammond boxes work 

[goldstache]

I forgot to report back, and it’s only fair, that after going through PayPal I got fully reimbursed from Ken. 


So I blew the money elsewhere.  Hope everything works out for him and anyone else trying to get parts.


I really miss the chassis’.  Should have a look here huh?!

[DummyLoad]

https://tubeamplifierparts.com/


he's back!~


--pete

[PRR]

> he's back!~

Error code: SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE

Cert expired a couple weeks ago. While that's not as dangerous as my browser says, it suggests that business is not being taken care of.

[EL34]

Thanks for the updates

[goldstache]

Through my day gig I was able to get some really nice .09 aluminum, bead welded corner chassis from Chapman on the west coast. 
We made a 25 piece order though.  They were pre-drilled.  I literally sent them a hand drawn hole location plot .pdf (no software) and a proto Hammond chassis hand drilled by me.


They turned em over pretty quick, and they arrived perfectly!!!
They placed the drilling locations tighter than my hand drilled proto!!!


I taped em off and sent them to powder.  They are the best chassis I have ever purchased. 
Rigid, crucial tolerances observed, uniform.
Before powder they were around $60/per (drilled). Can’t remember if that was with shipping or not.
Dimensions were 17 x 10 X 3 I think.


They have done other stuff for us too, in the past. 
Sloped enclosure, etc..


Their front office said, if you can scrawl it on a napkin, we can make it.


Trouble is, I don’t build big runs ever. So I’m just throwing it out there, perhaps a 3 size blank (no drilling) order should happen.
Anyone want to throw down on a bulk order?
Figured I’d start the conversation.

[EL34]

Through my day gig I was able to get some really nice .09 aluminum, bead welded corner chassis from Chapman on the west coast. 
We made a 25 piece order though.  They were pre-drilled.  I literally sent them a hand drawn hole location plot .pdf (no software) and a proto Hammond chassis hand drilled by me.


They turned em over pretty quick, and they arrived perfectly!!!
They placed the drilling locations tighter than my hand drilled proto!!!


I taped em off and sent them to powder.  They are the best chassis I have ever purchased. 
Rigid, crucial tolerances observed, uniform.
Before powder they were around $60/per (drilled). Can’t remember if that was with shipping or not.
Dimensions were 17 x 10 X 3 I think.


They have done other stuff for us too, in the past. 
Sloped enclosure, etc..


Their front office said, if you can scrawl it on a napkin, we can make it.


Trouble is, I don’t build big runs ever. So I’m just throwing it out there, perhaps a 3 size blank (no drilling) order should happen.
Anyone want to throw down on a bulk order?
Figured I’d start the conversation.

You can do that in another post
I want to keep this post only about Watts

[DummyLoad]

> he's back!~

Error code: SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE

Cert expired a couple weeks ago. While that's not as dangerous as my browser says, it suggests that business is not being taken care of.

22 days ago - that, with a domain redirect from wattstubeaudio.com to tubeamplifierparts.com, and this message on the sites home page:

Hey All! Please note that we are currently processing credit card payments through cashapp.
If you don't have cashapp we will send you an invite to grab the app along with an invoice. It is very safe and easy to use.
If you have any questions you can text Ken direct @ 727. six eight six. 8043.

so, no bank backed CC processing either. IMO - run away. far away, as quickly and quietly as possible.

[PharmRock]

I know this thread is a little old, but wanted to let everyone know that he now has an e-bay store:
kens-vintage-stuff
Didn't realize it was Ken Watts until I received the package and saw his full name on the shipping label.

If you'd like to hear about my recent experience ordering from him, feel free to message me.  Bottom line is that things don't seem to have improved much. Anyways, FYI.

[EL34]

I know this thread is a little old, but wanted to let everyone know that he now has an e-bay store:
kens-vintage-stuff
Didn't realize it was Ken Watts until I received the package and saw his full name on the shipping label.

If you'd like to hear about my recent experience ordering from him, feel free to message me.  Bottom line is that things don't seem to have improved much. Anyways, FYI.

Post it here so others can see

[sluckey]

Post it here so others can see

Yes, we want to know.

I bought a couple chassis from him many years ago when he treated his customers right. Smooth transactions. But all of a sudden he started shitting on everyone. Lot of people lost money. I'll never buy anything from him again.

[mresistor]

Looks like he's cleaning out his garage. Quite a mix of items he has for sale.

[PharmRock]

I have never had an issue with Watts until this ebay sale.  Back when I first started getting into amps, I purchased several chassis from him (Watts Tube Audio) as well as other parts and supplies without any issue.  But that was at least 10 years ago.

As for this recent experience, I did a buy it now for some items and paid immediately.  2 days later the item updated as shipped, but it was 5 days later before it was in the USPS possession.  I received the package about 9 days after the initial sale.  However, part of the order was missing.  I contacted him to let him know and he said it was "probably his error" (I would think so!).  He said he would get the remainder of the order shipped out.  That didn't happen for another week, and that's after me sending him a couple of ebay messages asking for an update (to which he never replied).  About 3 weeks later, the remainder of the items arrived.

So in the end, I did get what I ordered, it was just much later than I anticipated.  Was not really a big deal since this wasn't time-sensitive.  My experience doesn't equate to anything like others have reported, but it was an overall negative experience. 

 

[EL34]

What is the link to his ebay store?
kens-vintage-stuff search did not show anything related tyo amp parts

[PharmRock]

try this
https://www.ebay.com/sch/kens-vintage-stuff/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

[owen]

his kavakava bar in st. pete didn’t work out too well.

though I have nothing to add, he took ages to send me a simple turret board years ago after several other issues. he clammed up really quick when I told him I was in town for a month and it wouldn’t be an issue to stop by to pick my purchases up.

I sincerely hope he’s well.

Thanks for the heads up on this ebay store. Nothing with amazing prices, but will avoid it regardless.

[EL34]

I don't keep up with Watts, so I don't know if he is still causing trouble?

Anybody have an update?

[bmccowan]

Wow - how did that come up all of a sudden. I think he is still selling old inventory on Ebay. https://www.ebay.com/usr/kens-vintage-stuff
I bought some washers from that Ken a couple of years back and they arrived with a Ken Watts return address. I would not have bought from him knowingly after the bad history.

[EL34]

OK, thanks for the update.
Looks like a collection of crap on that Ebay store