Well I will NOT be buying Paradigm again.. You need to know

[Geno]

You know what the problem is...

..You're not Canadian.

Give those speakers to me, I'll have them fixed while paradigm shines my boots.

SheepStar

AHA. NOW I know what my problem has been all these years... So, how do I sign up, eh?

 

[nav]

The folks running Audioholics don't seem to be impressed with the management at Paradigm, and their customer service seems to be lacking somewhat. But, it cannot be denied that they make some of the best value speakers available at certain price points. Their budget bookshelf Atom speaker is legendary in this regard.

In a similar vein: I've only seriously auditioned the Studio 60s (v3); I thought that they sounded extremely nice. I've been given the impression that Paradigm is a dealer's company rather than a customer's company. Hence, I would be apprehensive of purchasing their products, but not because of how they sound.

 

[GreenJelly]

I dont like all of them... they just didnt sound right... or special... they seemed a bit bland, though part of the problem was that the sales man didnt do his job to sell me the speakers. He had all the Paradigms lined up in a row, and pushed a switch to activate one set after another. You cant sell me $1000 speakers that way. I would like a fair and even setting to compair them with, but I just didnt have that available. I was disgusted by the sales man, and I was not impressed with the speakers. Eventually I just told the guy that the speakers are not right, and that Im not interested in them.

Some day I should write that company and tell them of my experiance... and why I walked out, ans why they had a shot in hell of selling me a pair of speakers.

Maybe I will do that today, its a local company, and they do deserve some feedback.

Now at my uncles house, he has an amazing AV setup with a 10 foot screen and a pair of great paradigms. But they didnt pop, they seemed to just be too normal. I dont know, the B&W are just my cup of tea.

You are right though. Two people can have opposing views on the same subject, and in this topic and forum... both of them are right.

Mike

 

[chicomoralessxm]

This whole tread i find most intresting not from the view point of the preference on who likes or does not, but this problem is really ridiculous to say the least. Well if all the details are as is or even close. That says alot. Personally i was seriously intrested in Paradigm but well i'm seriously going to check out Focal, PSB or Polk. Cause this kinda negative feedback is a real turn off

 

[GreenJelly]

Blah... your going from Paradigm to Polk?

Yikes... start a new thread with a budget, and what your looking for, and maybe we can get you streight (Im going to get **** for shitting on Polk, but hey my coffee comes with ginger in it... so take that)

Why ohh why does no one mention NHT for budget speakers... they are nice, and are great for the under $600 a pair crowd. Of course, I never recommend spending under $800 for front channels... at least I have yet to find one for under that, which deserves my respect (barring used speakers ofcourse).

Mike

 

[Denis29]

I bought my Paradigm Mini Monitors from an authorized Paradigm dealer yesterday, and now reading this thread, I remember my conversation with the sales guy and how he digressed to saying that Paradigm reeeeally takes good care of their dealers... Hm... I guess at the expense of the customer then!

 

[lubmar]

The warranty for my speakers clearly say that "... Warranty begins on date of original purchase from an AUTHORIZED PARADIGM DEALER ONLY. It is not transferable. ..."
The store that I got them from clearly say that:
"WE ARE AUTHORIZED TO SELL ... SPEAKERS IN OUR LOCAL MARKET ONLY."
check they web:
http://www.easthamiltonradio.on.ca/TheSpectator.htm

Hawst You say that: "...I had to order them out of state from another dealer..." was that dealer authorized to do that?
... anyway I still think they should help You out, I gues there is a "costco warranty" & the "pardigm warranty"

 

[Nick250]

As my tag shows, I own Paradigm Studio 20s. The two dealers that I visited in the Boston area were reasonably knowledgeable, helpful and patient. I don't expect the sales rep to know as much as I do about the speakers when I enter the store. I am not saying that's right or wrong, but it's a fact of life so there is no point in getting worked up about it. It would be the same if I was buying a lawn mower or a car. You do your homework ahead of time. I am a happy Paradigm owner and have had no problems with the speakers in the five years I owned them so I have had no experience with repairs. I would buy Paradigms again without hesitation. How knowledgeable or helpful the sales person is has no bearing on what I ultimately purchase. Why would I let a jerk have any bearing on my ultimate choice of speakers? The jerk is irrelevant other than plugging in the speakers I want to hear. If I have a choice of dealers, and they price match, I will of course go to the dealer I like best to make the purchase.

 

[Hawst]

I asked and was told yes, as I knew to ask in regards to Paradigm. I was advised on another site about them when I asked in regards to Monitor 90Ps.

So again, yes I did ask and was told yes - BUT - how do you know for sure in case they are lying? As you can see, in a business model like this, there is a HUGE void for potential mishaps at THE CUSTOMERS expense.

I will get in my attic and start looking for the reciept here in a min.

At this point I wouldnt care if the President of Paradigm himself flew out to replace the blown speaker - I will NOT change my tone or position on this matter. People need to know, it is our hard earned money that is paying for allegidly great speakers with a "5 Year Warranty" which in fact is a total lie IF you didnt have a local dealer when you bought them - and then - even more so if they go out of business after the purchase. As you will have no choice to seek support from another dealer but per Paradigm it is totally up to the dealer to honor said 5 year warranty.

And now you can see they are even skimping on the speaker to save a buck as they are going to try and repair it on the spot rather than send me a replacement speaker as a swap out. Heck, I wouldnt care if it were new or a refurb but for crying out loud dont try to send a tweeter diaphgram and ask "someone" to tear apart the tweeter and install it!!!! My goodness do this at the factory or repair center at Paradigm!!

I am at a loss, in many ways here.

Hawst You say that: "...I had to order them out of state from another dealer..." was that dealer authorized to do that?
... anyway I still think they should help You out, I gues there is a "costco warranty" & the "pardigm warranty"

 

[Hawst]

This is just crazy when you think about it. They had Paradigm on the floor selling retail to the walk in public and lets just say for sake of purpose of converstaion that they were not in fact authorized. lets entertain this - company xyz invests into inventory of Paradigm speakers - sells them on the floor of xyz company and do you think for one second honestly they are going to tell you NO? that they are not an authorized dealer????

Come on here this is just rediculios! What are you then going to ask them to whip out thier "Paradigm Authorized Dealer Badge" to prove it? And even then how do you know its not a false badge??

Again, I call BS on this entire flawed business model! Just state that if you buy off the internet then they are NOT warranted! It makes it so much easier!

I bought from that shop due to a recomendation by antoher on another forum. I didnt get a link from "dealtime.com".

This is just nuts.

 

[GreenJelly]

It sounds like nuts to me...

I would take them to small claims court, if you can drive thier on the court date. This is the only way to make the company you bought the speakers from; responsible to meet their obligations for selling the speakers to you in the first place.

You should be able to replace the driver in question without much money, from any authorized dealer. They are just going to charge you. I would suck it up and pay for the replacement. If they wont replace the drivers after warrenty or even in this case, then I would have extreme issues with paradigm, and would highly suggest that no one buy them. If you cant replace the drivers then the company produces products that are not to the standard of every current high end speaker company that I know off.

Mike

 

[TjMV3]

Paradigm and Anthem lost my business several years ago. My issue was with a MCA 50 amplifier and I received absolutely no help whatsoever. They couldn't care less.

After several phone calls to Anthem and nothing but dead ends. I had someone fix the problem and I sold not only my Anthem amp, but my Paradigm speakers. Never again. Never!

Paradigm and Anthem suck!


I hope this nightmare some how...works out for you.

 

[RMK!]

The fact that this is still going on and has not been handled by Paradigm is appalling. Don't they realize the negative impact that an experience like this has on their reputation? Do they think they are a BIG Company and thereby immune to this type of negative publicity? Someone at Paradigm Marketing is asleep at the wheel.

 

[GreenJelly]

Well has anyone told Paradigm of this thread?

For me, unless Paradigm changes the rules... and or makes it right... and or at least provides replacement drivers at a reasonable cost... I can not and will not recommend Paradigm to anyone. Right now I have 247 posts... I have recommended allot of speakers, and really have very few I tell people to stay away from. BOSE, Sony, JVC, Panasonic, etc... I would hate to add Paradigm to that list

Mike

 

[Kai]

While I love the sound of my Paradigm speakers I would certainly be wary of future purchases based on this thread.
I consider customer service second to build quality and would rather spend a premium knowing the build quality is very high and customer service is important to the company I am doing business with.

I will add, no disrespect intended, that I have read very, very few complaints regarding Paradigm. Generally they are a highly respected brand.

I hope your problem is quickly and pleasantly resolved for you.

 

[Hawst]

Thats the whole point of this thread here, is to point out to you and willing to bare my chest to you guys my real experience here, no fluff. The fact of the matter is - Paradigm does not care about its customers. They only care about protecting active dealers - notice I say active dealers - as I didnt have one in my area - had to buy from out of town - now my dealer no longer carries them - and Paradigms position is screw you - they dont care about the end user. We are peons and they dont care.

I even provided the senario, the descision makers name that you will need to speak to in this situation, and direct phone # so you guys can call and ask for yourselves to see what I have said is truth about thier policy.

Don't they realize the negative impact that an experience like this has on their reputation?

 

[TjMV3]

Hawst,

What's the current status with your situation? Any progress?

 

[Nick250]

Thats the whole point of this thread here, is to point out to you and willing to bare my chest to you guys my real experience here, no fluff. The fact of the matter is - Paradigm does not care about its customers. They only care about protecting active dealers - notice I say active dealers - as I didnt have one in my area - had to buy from out of town - now my dealer no longer carries them - and Paradigms position is screw you - they dont care about the end user. We are peons and they dont care.

I even provided the senario, the descision makers name that you will need to speak to in this situation, and direct phone # so you guys can call and ask for yourselves to see what I have said is truth about thier policy.

You have made your point time and time again. How about just posting to keep us up to date on new developments as they occur.

Nick

 

[Hawst]

Nick, sorry about that if I have been so repetitive about this. Its not my intention at all. Try to put on my shoes for a min and feel my frustration is all I ask.

This was my "first time" to spend more than a grand for speakers and it was way over 1k - into the 2ks. Which is why this is all the worse for me as this isnt my 15th pair of high end speakers.

Again, sorry I will try to refrain and only post updates.

You have made your point time and time again. How about just posting to keep us up to date on new developments as they occur.

Nick

 

[Hawst]

Thanks for asking, but I am still waiting on the new speaker to show up and be instlaled. My speaker is at a local dealer awaiting the local area rep (which reps other brands as well) to come to that dealer and take apart my tweeter and see if he can fix it. This should happen from what I am told about Wed next week.

Hawst,

What's the current status with your situation? Any progress?