Elegant Audio Video

[DeanAg05]

Does anyone have any experience with this online retailer? Is purchasing from them asking for trouble?

It seems a bit shady but I have seen a price of theirs quoted on this forum as an option for KEF.

 

[its phillip]

KEF Authorized Retailers

Elegant A/V is on the list of UNAUTHORIZED online retailers - buying from them means there is no guarantee the product is genuine and you will of course have no warranty from KEF.

Here is the list of authorized online retailers:
Vanns.com
Amazon.com (not Amazon Market Place)
World Wide Stereo
Electronics Expo
Accessories4Less.com (B-Stock, Refurbished Goods and Discontinued New Products)
NewEgg
Paul's TV
OneCall.com

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yes, I've bought from them (Mark Herman) before.

Elegant AV is not an authorized dealer.

But, if they are willing to hook you up with the authorized dealer, then it's authorized. Otherwise, it's not from an authorized dealer.

IOW, you would be in contact w/ the actual authorized dealer and the authorized dealer would ship you the speakers directly. In this case, Elegant AV is the middle man.

I don't have an issue buying things from Mark Herman @ Elegant AV.

If you can get Onecall or Vanns or Electronics Expo to price match, then go that route.

The KEF Q900 & Revel F12 are around $1250/pr delivered from Mark Herman.

I believe the Revel is from an authorized dealer. But the Q900 is probably not.

But see if the other stores will sell at that price.

One member bought Q900 + Q600 + Q300 5.0 set for $2200 delivered from Vanns.

Another member bought Q900 + Q600 + Q800 5.0 set for $2200 delivered from Vanns.

 

[DeanAg05]

Well, I was thinking R series bookshelf which don't seem to be available online anywhere really.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Based on my experience, I don't mind buying from Mark @ Elegant AV if he has the best prices, which isn't always the case. Just use credit card for your protection.

I would have bought my B&W 802D2 from Mark if he had the best price. But it wasn't even close. My local dealer had the best price by a large margin. Otherwise, I would have gotten them from Mark.

 

[zieglj01]

Well, I was thinking R series bookshelf which don't seem to be available online anywhere really.

Online at KEF Direct
KEF Bookshelf |

 

[jkrejci]

Steer Clear

I attempted to purchase Martin Logan speakers through them. After I made down payment on credit card, I came to learn they are not an authorized dealer. They then said they'd get it processed through a partner company. After weeks of delay, they warranted to me the order had been processed with ML. Things seemed fishy, so I called ML to ask them if such an order had been placed. It had not. This company lied about that.

I immediately canceled the order, that was week ago now, and they warranted that the full amount would be refunded. To date, it has still not been refunded. Nathaniel Gurien of the company repeatedly comes up with promises, and then excuses for why amount couldn't be refunded just yet. It's a scam.

I've notified Amex of this, and they're dealing with it. There is another blog post that suggests Mr. Gurien sets up companies to run this kind of grey market operation, and then doesn't refund when he should.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I attempted to purchase Martin Logan speakers through them. After I made down payment on credit card, I came to learn they are not an authorized dealer. They then said they'd get it processed through a partner company. After weeks of delay, they warranted to me the order had been processed with ML. Things seemed fishy, so I called ML to ask them if such an order had been placed. It had not. This company lied about that.

I immediately canceled the order, that was week ago now, and they warranted that the full amount would be refunded. To date, it has still not been refunded. Nathaniel Gurien of the company repeatedly comes up with promises, and then excuses for why amount couldn't be refunded just yet. It's a scam.

I've notified Amex of this, and they're dealing with it. There is another blog post that suggests Mr. Gurien sets up companies to run this kind of grey market operation, and then doesn't refund when he should.

Definitely always purchase with your CC.

I hate American Express because they sucked w/ dispute. One time I disputed a measly $50 dispute w/ Amex. I had the Gold card with no Limits. They couldn't even do anything with the dispute. Amex sucks. I will never use Amex again. I ended up dealing with the merchant myself. It took a while, but I got my $50 back. Amex sucks.

I love my Citi MC & Chase Amazon Visa - they are awesome with disputes. I love them.

Elegant Audio, like Digitalcraze and others, is not authorized. It's like buying from AudiogoN, except the products are brand new. Like AudiogoN, you usually don't get the factory warranty either.

But here's the thing. If I could get a brand new speaker from Elegant Audio @ $200 more vs a used speaker on AudiogoN, I would use my MC or Visa to buy from Elegant Audio and get a brand new speaker for $200 more.

Now, of course, if the difference were more substantial, then I would buy from AudiogoN.

I would buy from an authorized dealer vs Elegant Audio if the price difference is not substantial.

 

[gator4200]

I discovered elegant audio by accident through google searching essentially. I was looking for some speakers and after asking about the price I mentioned to him that his price was more than double what was listed on A4L, is there anything you could do. He basically hung up on me and told me to go F--- myself. What great customer service they have there. I would stay away from there at all costs.

 

[cpp]

As far as I'm concerned elegant audio is not a authorized dealer for most of the products they sell, Denon, Bryston BelCanto, Revel to name a few. etc... It would be hard to trust a unauthorized dealer with my hard earned money during a dispute between the manufacture and this seller should a repair be required or if my product was DOA. Maybe their good people, but if your going ti carry a product at least be authorized to sell it.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I discovered elegant audio by accident through google searching essentially. I was looking for some speakers and after asking about the price I mentioned to him that his price was more than double what was listed on A4L, is there anything you could do. He basically hung up on me and told me to go F--- myself. What great customer service they have there. I would stay away from there at all costs.

Wow. I guess they treated me better because I bought some expensive things THROUGH them (via authorized dealers). But that is just terrible customer service. Just horrible. Service is so important. Some people just don't get it, do they?

Anyway, if anyone ever buys online, always use a credit card with excellent buying dispute service. Don't use American Express because they suck at Disputes. I like my Chase Amazon Visa and my Citi Mastercard. I will never use American Express again (and it was a GOLD card with unlimited credit limit too).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

As far as I'm concerned elegant audio is not a authorized dealer for most of the products they sell, Denon, Bryston BelCanto, Revel to name a few. etc... It would be hard to trust a unauthorized dealer with my hard earned money during a dispute between the manufacture and this seller should a repair be required or if my product was DOA. Maybe their good people, but if your going ti carry a product at least be authorized to sell it.

They are not authorized period. For ANY BRAND.

But when I bought my Salon2, they hooked me up with an actual authorized Revel dealer that was listed on both the Revel website & the Amazon website! I guess I was lucky.

Good thing I bought my 802D2 from my local B&W dealer and not from them!

I did buy my Focal 826V brand new from them for $1800 delivered. Looks like it was my final purchase from them afterall.

Buying from them is like buying from AudiogoN - no warranty, except the products are brand new. But if their customer service is that bad, no way anyone will deal with them.

 

[cpp]

They are not authorized period. For ANY BRAND.

But when I bought my Salon2, they hooked me up with an actual authorized Revel dealer that was listed on both the Revel website & the Amazon website! I guess I was lucky.

Good thing I bought my 802D2 from my local B&W dealer and not from them!

I did buy my Focal 826V brand new from them for $1800 delivered. Looks like it was my final purchase from them afterall.

Buying from them is like buying from AudiogoN - no warranty, except the products are brand new. But if their customer service is that bad, no way anyone will deal with them.

"If it seems too good to be true, it probably is"

 

[djrengpe]

STAY AWAY FROM ELEGANT AUDIO! They quote great prices, but either it takes forever to get your merchandise, or you don;t get it at all. I ordered an amp- they charged ny credit card, then it finally arrived 22 days later. I ordered some speakers immediately after the amp order, charged my CC 30 days ago-still waiting. No response from "customer service"- phone or e-mail- asked them to cancel order, refund- no response- will have to go the BBB complaint route I guess. This place is a mess.

 

[its phillip]

Just do a chargeback.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

STAY AWAY FROM ELEGANT AUDIO! They quote great prices, but either it takes forever to get your merchandise, or you don;t get it at all. I ordered an amp- they charged ny credit card, then it finally arrived 22 days later. I ordered some speakers immediately after the amp order, charged my CC 30 days ago-still waiting. No response from "customer service"- phone or e-mail- asked them to cancel order, refund- no response- will have to go the BBB complaint route I guess. This place is a mess.

Just use your Visa or MasterCard w/ zero liability/ fraud protection. If you don't get your stuffs 21 days after charged, simply dispute the charge. Works every time.

 

[Ponzio]

I attempted to purchase Martin Logan speakers through them. After I made down payment on credit card, I came to learn they are not an authorized dealer. They then said they'd get it processed through a partner company. After weeks of delay, they warranted to me the order had been processed with ML. Things seemed fishy, so I called ML to ask them if such an order had been placed. It had not. This company lied about that.

I immediately canceled the order, that was week ago now, and they warranted that the full amount would be refunded. To date, it has still not been refunded. Nathaniel Gurien of the company repeatedly comes up with promises, and then excuses for why amount couldn't be refunded just yet. It's a scam.

I've notified Amex of this, and they're dealing with it. There is another blog post that suggests Mr. Gurien sets up companies to run this kind of grey market operation, and then doesn't refund when he should.

It seems I have fallen into his clutches myself. I won a bid on eBay Sunday & this morning I woke up with an e-mail from him stating that he is "unable to accept PayPal at this time and will refund your PayPal payment. Please reply with an alternative form of payment or regrettably we'll be obliged to cancel your shipment". The first part of that statement is a lie because he already accepted the payment from PayPal, according to my PayPal account history on 7/21/13. Hopefully I've caught this early enough. I'm contacting PayPal when their office opens out West to stop payment and if they give me a song and a dance I'll call my credit card company and stop payment thru them. My enthusiasm and thriftiness to get the speakers has done me in. Back to the drawing board.

 

[Ponzio]

Well the chase is on. PayPal has put the payment on hold and my credit card company has stopped payment on the transaction. Of course I’ll be without a credit card for a week until my new one arrives but there is some satisfaction in knowing that this vulture will have to find his dinner somewhere else today.

I’ve had to deal with 2 other parasites on eBay and luckily I’ve lost no funds but it still pisses me off.

Must chill (repeat after me … Oohhmmm, Oohhmmm) and go back on the hunt for the speakers.

 

[fmw]

I don't know the company but I'll take a guess as to what it is all about. Manufacturers in the audio industry have MAP or minimum advertised price policies. While a dealer can sell anything for any price they want, they can't advertise any price they want without risking their authorization. People like Elegant act as a middle man to put prices on the internet that are below the MAP. That, in effect, hides the dealer from the manufacturer because the middle man won't share information with the manufacturer. When you place your order, the middle man sends it to the dealer to be filled and earns a commission from the dealer. These middlemen are just a shield between manufacturer and dealer in the same way that Amazon and Ebay are. The problem is that the middlemen have no control over anything other than getting the order in the first place. They depend on the dealer to handle things after that and the dealer might be out of stock when the order reaches them. Basically, I think you are OK buying through one of these guys as long as the dealer does the invoice. Otherwise you won't have a warranty as mentioned above.

 

[fmw]

It seems I have fallen into his clutches myself. I won a bid on eBay Sunday & this morning I woke up with an e-mail from him stating that he is "unable to accept PayPal at this time and will refund your PayPal payment. Please reply with an alternative form of payment or regrettably we'll be obliged to cancel your shipment". The first part of that statement is a lie because he already accepted the payment from PayPal, according to my PayPal account history on 7/21/13. Hopefully I've caught this early enough. I'm contacting PayPal when their office opens out West to stop payment and if they give me a song and a dance I'll call my credit card company and stop payment thru them. My enthusiasm and thriftiness to get the speakers has done me in. Back to the drawing board.

The reason for that is not necessarily that he is trying to cheat you. More likely he is trying to cheat Ebay by not paying the selling fee. That's why he doesn't want to complete the sale with Paypal. The selling fee could be all or most of his commission from the authorized dealer. These are the things you run into on Ebay. It takes a thick skin to shop there. I sell on Ebay and don't accept Paypal but my customers can use their credit cards in the Ebay checkout. The case you ran into is most certainly fee avoidance.