Experiences of a Naim newcomer

Barry: Thanks for letting us know your experience.  I too am considering the US and am glad you are back in the saddle with your system.

Bart (or anyone): My US dealer (200 miles away--I may have mentioned that I live in Texas where you the north end is closer to Canada than to the southern part of the state) has been fine, although my contact has been limited to purchase and delivery--no problems so far and based on my contacts with him, none are expected.

But I find that it is always my tendency to prepare for ultimate disaster (I still have a ten-year food supply buried in a salt cave 500 meters below my house in preparation for the Mayan prediction that the world would end this past October.  Now I realize that the Mayans did not have perfectly accurate chronometers, so I am cutting them a little slack, but after a waiting a suitable grace period--say when President Obama takes his second oath of office --I will make somebody a helluva deal on 5,000 cans of tuna in oil!)

So the question is: If someone in the United States does become dissatisfied with Naim products or service, and reasonably determines it to be in his best interest to make future purchase or service contacts with another dealer, is one limited to the closest one, or can you do business with any dealer in your state--or any dealer in the U.S. for that matter?

Thanks,

Russ

Russ, you are permitted to shop with whomever you like Feel free to email me (my email address is in my profile here) as I'd rather (and be happy to) discuss specific dealers that way.  Many of us do not live close to a dealer.  I live close to an excellent dealer, but their on-the-floor selection of stuff to audition is very limited in Naim.

Rest assured that if any problem you might have requires repair services, the Naim-approved folks here in the States do excellent work.  We are well taken care of that way!  And Happy Thanksgiving

Russ,

are you serious about this question? I could understand if it came from someone from a former communist state - but from a Texan?

If I am correctly informed the freedom of contract is a fundamental right in the U.S.

Bart: And a Happy Turkey Day to you as well, my friend (although the 1/16 Comanche in me does not think very highly of my Iroquois cousins on the East Coast for being so welcoming to my 15/16 Brit relatives lo these many 400 years ago.)  Thanks for the good inormation. 

Pink Hamster: Yes, I am most definitely serious.  You are correct as to right of contract--(so far as it goes.)  Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution provides in part that "...No State shall...[pass]  any Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts or grant any title of Nobility."  (That last part isn't really part of your question but was put in because there had been rumors that George Washington had been offered a Kingship and turned it down--and thus I am afraid to call myself "Lord Russell", not so much for fear of being confused with the co-author of Principia Mathematica, but of being shot at sunrise!

But your question is a good one that deserves a serious answer.  Although I do most certainly have the right to enter into a contract with anyone to accomplish any purpose--other than one which is illegal (e.g., a contract to sell 10 pounds of heroin) or "...void as against public policy", an important point to remember is that a contract requires the assent of two or more people or corporations.  So if my dealer has entered into a contract with Naim--or in this case, Naim's U.S. distributor, to sell only to people within its agreed area, then said distributor is under a contractual obligation to Naim not to do business with me.  Thus, although I may have the legal right to enter into a contract with him (should he be willing), he might well have foregone his civil right to contract with me, because of his previous contract with Naim.  This happens all the time, and potentially if, if for example, I were to fall under the Austin Texas dealer area (apparently from what Bart says, not the case), then were I to approach the Houston dealer with a proposition to buy from him, I could even be guilty of the civil tort known as interference with contract and therefore liable to damages in a lawsuit filed by "my" Austin dealer.  Not likely to happen even with dealers having their own areas--but possible.  All of this is not exclusive to U.S. law, but derives from the English Common Law--probably by now modified as greatly by statute over there across the Shining Big Sea Water as it is here in the Colonies.

Best regards,

Russ

Russ,

FYI - there are no boundaries, or as you put it "agreed areas" in the on-line world.  Maybe in the hypothetical world.

Joe: Perhaps, and the law may have changed in that area (I myself was never a contract lawyer and have not practiced law anywhere for a number of years), however, with all respect, I suspect that it would be valid for a manufacturer to enter into a contract with its various dealers (either brick and mortar or online), to sell their products only within specific geographical boundaries.  That does NOT appear to be the case with Naim.

Interesting point and just for grins, let's give this a try (although I concede that there are additional considerations when crossing international boundaries):

tomtom audio (James) If you are hanging around, could I as a proponent of the late rebellion, go online and buy something from your UK dealership?  If I were willing to pay shipping, insurance and the purchase price--all in Sterling as opposed to our increasingly worthless U.S. dollars? 

Speaking of U.S. currency, it is my understanding that the Treasury will soon be authorizing a new trillion dollar note--with a copy of our current Chief Executive on the obverse and an engraving of Greek Street riots on the reverse.  The new notes are rumored to be available no more than 10 to a customer.

Russ

I can attest that the contrary is the case, even for new gear. "Contracts" be damned in the US.  Let alone the various Naim dealers that sell used gear on the second-hand market via Audiogon and the like.

I hope you are enjoying the profundity of football on the tube featuring Lone Star teams.  Happy holiday to you!

Understood, Joe, and of course I was not speaking of Naim--and only in the abstract anyway--I realize perhaps better than anyone that where contract law or any law for that matter,) one gets only so much justice as one can afford. 

As for football (not the civilized version all of our friends worldwide are thinking about where the feet are actually used on the ball), I am in something of a funk.  I went to one of the top Texas FB high schools in the early 'sixties--we had Tommy Nobis--several years all pro with the Falcons and Phil Harris, who then went to the University of Texas and single handedly beat Staubach and Navy for the 1963 National Championship.  My high school hasn't won a championship in 50 years.  My alma mater, Texas has gone downhill since our last N.C in 2005.  I gave up on the Cowboys because the owner is such a ********* and I guess I like the Texans.  But it is all so damned commercial these days.  I am going in more for audio and fishing.

Russ

Football and fishing.  Now you got me.  I grew up in Ohio a Buckeye fan watching Woody Hayes' teams.  Three yards and a cloud of dust.  And now I am working here in the Pacific NW, hopefully helping salmon to prosper.  That's real fishing!

Don't give up on Mack.  He's a successful football guru and recruiter, just maybe not as good as, say, Urban Meyer.  Damned the Tressel bowl ban or OSU might be in it for another NC.  We'll see Saturday if the Bucks can remain undefeated.

Russ you're right on track, and I just don't know off hand the status of geographic restrictions -- whether they are legal.  We have a long weekend and I'll do some reading.  But then there is the practical issue of whether the distributor really cares.  Feel free to email me.

That 'contracts clause' of the US Constitution has never been the subject of much jurisprudence.  An interesting facet of Constitutional law in the US -- some provisions have been interpreted extensively, and some not at all.  

Russ

I'd suggest you get in touch direct with James - more chance of a response than posting in a thread in here, I'd have thought

Doesn't Naim gear manufactured for the US run on different Voltage specifications?

Quite.  James will not be able to respond here - it's against the rules.  Also, being a UK dealer, he can only supply UK 230V kit.  Note that if you buy from overseas, any problems or issues are only warranted by the dealer who sold the gear or by default to the Naim factory.  Your local dealer or distributor is under no requirement to assist for free.