Delivery Times

Posted by: Steve O on 08 May 2017

Ordered my new NAP 300DR & Supercap DR on 14th March and I'm still waiting for them to show up at my dealers.

I could have carried them from Salisbury to my house by now!

Anyone else had a long wait for kit recently?

Regards,
Steve O.

Posted on: 08 May 2017 by Karl

I waited about 6 weeks for my 250DR, all the classic series are built to order, also we've had 3 bank holidays in the last few weeks. 

Probaly not much longer to wait.

Karl

Posted on: 08 May 2017 by Cloud Sauce

4-6 weeks for an SN2.

Posted on: 08 May 2017 by Pcd

STEVE O, as most is built to order delivery times can vary I ordered a 250dr early part of last year and it took nearly 12 weeks for delivery upgraded to a 300dr earlier this year installed within 4 weeks of order.

Posted on: 08 May 2017 by David O

My 272 / 250DR combo took 5 weeks recently....certainly worth the wait...

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by David Hendon

Get your dealer to ring Naim up and get an update on delivery date....

best

David

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by Steve O

My dealer has been pestering them for weeks for a delivery date. Never waited this long for stuff before. 

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by greekspec2

my NAP 300DR took 8-10 weeks last summer

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by cheeselet

Ordered a 250 DR four weeks ago, no word yet.

I tried to open a plain old bank account at Virgin today. I have to wait 5 weeks to get an appointment to do this. Then I'll get a free cup of coffee. 

Is it something to do with Brexit? 

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by hungryhalibut

My XPSDR took one day in November 2015.

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by yeti42

At least their busy.

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by cheeselet

I think it's because we're all living longer and can therefore afford to wait a bit longer!

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by rhom

Has it always been the case that Naim product is built to order? This is genuinely the first I've heard of it.

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by Timo
Steve O posted:

My dealer has been pestering them for weeks for a delivery date. Never waited this long for stuff before. 

And he did't get any indication when your precious goods migt arrive? If so, poor customer service from Naim on this ocassion! 

 

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by hungryhalibut
richardhomer posted:

Has it always been the case that Naim product is built to order? This is genuinely the first I've heard of it.

They do have small stocks of very popular items, but nearly everything is made to order. When I bought my 272 it had just been introduced and demand was higher than Naim expected. So they ran out of a critical board and had to wait for more to arrive from suppliers, so it was out of heir hands. Then there are issues with front panels arriving that fail quality control, Fraim shelves with dodgy veneer and all sorts. So it's really no surprise that things do sometimes take a while. 

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by Drewy
Hungryhalibut posted:
richardhomer posted:

Has it always been the case that Naim product is built to order? This is genuinely the first I've heard of it.

They do have small stocks of very popular items, but nearly everything is made to order. When I bought my 272 it had just been introduced and demand was higher than Naim expected. So they ran out of a critical board and had to wait for more to arrive from suppliers, so it was out of heir hands. Then there are issues with front panels arriving that fail quality control, Fraim shelves with dodgy veneer and all sorts. So it's really no surprise that things do sometimes take a while. 

Control knobs in the case of my 552 but I only waited 5ish weeks which I didn't think too bad considering it was made for me.

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by Drewy
richardhomer posted:

Has it always been the case that Naim product is built to order? This is genuinely the first I've heard of it.

I think it's a supply and demand thing. Something like a 272 they probably make as many as they can knowing they're not sat around long if at all. In the case of my 552 they're probably selling very few at the price so I imagine they can't second guess when the orders come in. ''Tis a small factory and it's not exactly mass production.

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by Richard Dane

Naim have traditionally kept a small stock on hand of entry level kit, otherwise yes, the bigger stuff is built to order.  However, it's a little more complicated than that (or perhaps a bit simpler?) because it makes best sense to build each model in small batches, say 5 -10 pieces.  And of course you try to ensure that you don't sit on too much stock of parts for too long so you need to ensure that parts arrive "on time". It's all a bit like a giant juggling act with thousands of balls in the air.  And if one of those balls goes awry then it can bring the whole lot down. 

A lot of part suppliers have extended their lead times in recent years which makes for merry hell if there's a QC problem or demand for a product suddenly spikes.  

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by DrMark

I don't think it's poor customer service. You are purchasing a practically bespoke product...the shelves at the local low-end store where ever ones lives are replete with consumer grade audio that can be had immediately. I would imagine that they are VERY careful in the assembly, testing, and run-in of these pieces, particularly at the NAP300 level.

Poor communication maybe. Poor service no.

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by Timo
DrMark posted:

I don't think it's poor customer service. You are purchasing a practically bespoke product...the shelves at the local low-end store where ever ones lives are replete with consumer grade audio that can be had immediately. I would imagine that they are VERY careful in the assembly, testing, and run-in of these pieces, particularly at the NAP300 level.

Poor communication maybe. Poor service no.

Well, I would have thought good communication is part of good customer service, especially when the customer puts nearly 12K on the counter... 

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by rhom

These are not 'bespoke' products - nothing about them is in any way changed to suit the customer. In that sense they are no different from any piece of consumer electronics.

I appreciate the forum is highly partisan - but this strikes me as 'cake and eat it' on Naim's part. Surely they could afford to keep a sufficient number of each item in stock to service 'normal' levels of demand? They must have the ability to predict with some degree of accuracy what they are likely to sell over the next three months.

I can't imagine Rolex only build watches when they know they have a buyer for one.

Posted on: 09 May 2017 by Simon-in-Suffolk

I prefer that my Naim is built to order. I can be confident when I buy new, unless it's an accessory, basic unit or available almost immediately, it's been hand built for me and I am assigned my own serial number. If I want to buy mass produced stuff I go elsewhere. Long waits sound like they are busy which sounds good for them. Last time I was at the factory in December  I saw a Statement NAC, a 272 and 252 being made to order ...  and a large batch of Uniti Cores being pre made.

Perhaps much of the production time is being prepared for the new Unitis at present? I have heard for new product launches  there is often a batch build so as to allow dealers to purchase upfront etc.

Agree these are not really bespoke products, however the option to have tuners built  into the streamers or new Unitis get close to bespoking.

A 252 being made to order:

IMG_0615

Posted on: 10 May 2017 by Steve O
Timo posted:
Steve O posted:

My dealer has been pestering them for weeks for a delivery date. Never waited this long for stuff before. 

And he did't get any indication when your precious goods migt arrive? If so, poor customer service from Naim on this ocassion! 

 

He was told they'd be arriving by the end of "this week". This week being every week for the last 3 weeks.

Posted on: 10 May 2017 by spacey

There's a saying; good things come to those who wait

But in all honesty I'm impatient too and feel your pain, especially when it come to new toys! The wait will be worth it though.

I'm with the opinion also that if I were spending 10K on amps having them build to order is by far the best way.

 

Posted on: 11 May 2017 by Halloween Man

I know Chord Electronics are facing the same product delays blaming electronic component distributors running down stock as a consequence of brexit (drop in the pound).

Posted on: 11 May 2017 by cheeselet

I thought Brexit would be to blame! (yawn!).

My dealer rang today with due date 4 weeks away, so I'm now informed.

It's not as if I have no music.  The 250 dr is an upgrade for me so it'll  be nice when it comes.