Stageline - delay?

Is it such a significant thing that you've been waiting four weeks for a Stageline that you feel the need to vent on a public forum? How do you cope if there are significant issues in your life? In the scheme of things, does it matter? Why can't everyone stop bloody moaning and start to focus on what's good in their lives?

NFG, sorry to hear that but there could be a whole range of reasons for a delay.  It would be built as part of a batch and it's always a juggling act , so maybe it has had to give way for other items taking priority. Of course, if one crucial part is either late from a supplier or, more usually, deemed unacceptable from an internal QA point of view, production can take a big hit as replacements from suppliers take time regardless of whether you're a minnow or a whale in the industry. Either way, your dealer would be kept abreast of any such issues.  

Never mind - all the more to look forward to when it arrives. Obviously the first respondent is having a grumpy half-hour too. Time to lighten up gents -  it's only HiFi 

I'm not in the least bit grumpy. I'm just wondering why so many people keep moaning. As you say, it's only Hifi. It's not like waiting for a life changing event. I've waited ages for Naim stuff in the past and never felt the need to mither on the internet. Look at the various threads - the app is crap, Naim can't cope, everything's going wrong, the world will end if product X doesn't arrive NOW. It's not important. 

I am with HH, Hand built to order, guess you have to wait. Enjoy it all the more when it arrives.

I'm sorry, having to wait four weeks for a Stageline is beyond absurd.  It's totally understandable the OP is annoyed, particularly given the lack of communication.  Waiting four weeks for a piece of reference kit like the 552?  I think most customers can get on board with that.  No manufacturer can be expected to tie up hundreds of thousands of pounds stocking big ticket items that move infrequently.  But waiting four weeks for a Stageline?  That's way outside the bounds of any reasonable expectations.   It cost ~US$700 here in the States where I live.  Say the distributor gets half, so it costs US$350 at wholesale.  Say Naim's margin is half of that, so US$175 of factory-level COGS.  Take out the forex markup and the true unit cost is probably lower than that.  They can't keep a few of those handy?  Handbuilt to order?  Come on now.   

I recall that back in the late 70s I was quoted a six month delivery time on a Rega Planar 3 - I would have jumped at four weeks  

My wife has been waiting a year for me to put her a new washing line up. 

I've just ordered the New Steven Wilson album and have to wait until the 18/08 and he has already made it, to whom must I complain? Tony don't shoot me please 

My 552 took around a week, I was amazed they could build one so quickly. A fraim shelf took 3 months. Complexity of the product doesn't seem to be a factor.

Mother waited for me for 9 months. Never complained.

Did moan for the next 20 years though till I found a job. 

No pleasing some people!

yeti42 posted:

My 552 took around a week, I was amazed they could build one so quickly. A fraim shelf took 3 months. Complexity of the product doesn't seem to be a factor.

552 costs £20k the people at Naim will have worked 24/7 to put this together just in case you cancelled your order due to delays a stageline would take a back seat since it costs a few hundred quid

NFG posted:

Ive been waiting for a Stageline for four weeks, dealer has been contacting Naim frequently but no news yet.

Not impressed by Naims inability to supply a relatively simple piece of kit.

I shall be passing Salisbury on Friday & could collect it if it were ready.

When I bought my Stageline, my dealer had one in stock ready to go, and then bought another one to have. 

If you MUST have it there will be dealers with them in stock, just phone a few. Otherwise it seems pretty obvious there is none in the Naim HQ and you'll just have to wait for the production run. 

While I would not like to think of myself as a sycophant  I have to agree with HH (not suggesting HH is a sycophant either) that there is a sense of entitlement creeping in that is a bit childish. Naim really are not doing anything deliberately to annoy customers. Why not try an email to Naim yourself?

.sjb

I feel the criticism of the OP is a bit harsh. Everyone seems to make out Naim are beyond criticism and NFG is unreasonable for complaining. Surely he/she should feel entitled when parting with hard earned cash.

There seems to be a strange view that Naim should be treated like a charity, I think that furthers Naims complacency and we get half finished app releases. Last I checked they were in it for a profit and with this comes the right for those consumers to complain. 

ssmith posted:

I feel the criticism of the OP is a bit harsh. Everyone seems to make out Naim are beyond criticism and NFG is unreasonable for complaining. Surely he/she should feel entitled when parting with hard earned cash.

There seems to be a strange view that Naim should be treated like a charity, I think that furthers Naims complacency and we get half finished app releases. Last I checked they were in it for a profit and with this comes the right for those consumers to complain. 

I take your point but an email to support@naimaudio.com might elicit the information needed. This is not a support forum by and large. Anytime I have used the email I have got a prompt reply. 

The forum seems to have become the go to for complaints but there are other avenues more appropriate initially. 

.sjb

He 

Sloop John B posted:

ssmith posted:

I feel the criticism of the OP is a bit harsh. Everyone seems to make out Naim are beyond criticism and NFG is unreasonable for complaining. Surely he/she should feel entitled when parting with hard earned cash.

There seems to be a strange view that Naim should be treated like a charity, I think that furthers Naims complacency and we get half finished app releases. Last I checked they were in it for a profit and with this comes the right for those consumers to complain. 

I take your point but an email to support@naimaudio.com might elicit the information needed. This is not a support forum by and large. Anytime I have used the email I have got a prompt reply. 

The forum seems to have become the go to for complaints but there are other avenues more appropriate initially. 

.sjb

He said his dealer had. Is there a clear boundary of what the forum is for, is this not allowed (genuine question not sarcastic response)? If so a lot of useful feedback for Naim would never be posted. 

Ravenswood10 posted:

Never mind - all the more to look forward to when it arrives. Obviously the first respondent is having a grumpy half-hour too. Time to lighten up gents -  it's only HiFi 

Gosh Ravenswood, I can't believe you said that... 'it's only HiFi    

HiFi is the very reason for living, it's as close to the meaning of life as we're going to get this side of the grave (well, apart from the number 42 of course).  I can't think of anything of greater importance in my life (and I'm hoping SWMBO isn't a reader of this forum).

Sounds about normal waiting time. I have made a couple of Naim purchases over the years and delivery times have been 4-13 weeks. Stageline if I remember correctly was something like 6 weeks (a few years ago though). I would only start to worry if the equipment is not delivered within eight - nine weeks  

It can also happen that the ordered item never arrive as was the case with n-Sats (ordered and paid but never received and without any formal explanation – money refunded later). 

I recently ordered a Rega P3.  Got it in about a week.  Then I ordered a Rega DAC-R.  Got it in about a week.  I can go on Amazon and order a Chord Mojo and have it delivered in four days.  I can go on MusicDirect and order the ATC 7s, 11s, 19s or 40s and they'll ship tomorrow.  Kind of puts things in perspective.  

NFG,

Consider the Naim demographic in general and then consider the "Naim-can-do-no-wrong, nobody-else-got-PRaT-like-that" loyalists that typically reply on this forum and you'll get every rationalization under the sun to support a delay in delivery of a Naim box. There are folks here that put money down on the new Uniti line, never heard, that are waiting months upon months upon months for something to appear on an ambiguous horizon. These folks are content to wait because it's Naim.

Perhaps the willingness of folks here to accept wait times for their Naim gear is testimony to Naim's fantastic replay prowess. OTOH, plenty of folks that expect gear delivered in a reasonable amount of time find alternate manufacturers that deliver quality goods with PRaT and all that, in stock and on demand.

My advice would be to find a Stageline that's currently available, buy it, and tell your dealer you saw no reason to wait. Otherwise, explore other phono stage makers and get something that fits your timeline.

You list a French location. Is that where your dealer is too? Maybe there is a problem between Naim and distributor that those of us living in the UK simply don't have.

Antway, hope it turns out for you. Stageline is a nice stage and the N and now the S have both been good for me.

(Oh, and you really don't want to be using the A303 on a Friday).

There are 2 extremes here. Naim can do no wrong - I will wait for ever or walk on burning coals - to get 'my' item. Or - Naim are *** useless - WHY have they not got the item I want - I want it NOW...

Reality lies somewhere between these 2 polar opposites. Personally, I would have asked my dealer and/or contacted Naim discreetly. But thats not the 'modern' way is it.....? Perhaps we are a lot closer to my second extreme, than the first, nowadays...? Actually, there is no perhaps. We are.

I feel sorry for Naim.... But.. its a business.

When I was waiting for my 272/250 it took a bit longer to come than expected. So I rang Naim and asked them why this was. The nice lady on the switchboard put me through to the appropriate member of staff, who explained exactly why they were delayed. He told me when they should be ready and that they would do what they could to get them to me quicker than that. Which they did. 

I have found that being nice and friendly, understanding and tolerant, keeps everyone happy and gets things done. Moaning about things is far less effective. Everything comes to those who wait. 

Well said HH. I posted earlier this morning on a similar 'whingey' thread elsewhere on the forum. I wish the doom and gloomers were as swift to praise as they are to knock. Strange how few of them ever seem to get off their backsides and vote with their feet. Guess it all comes down to how little effort it takes to fire off the moan to a forum.

Tim

If you wanted next day delivery try Amazon though it is highly unlikely they would help in any installation issues and very doubtful if they could carry out any service or repairs in a dozen or so years time.

As they say you pay your money and take your choice but it seems strange that people get so wound up over a black box delivery time when other things in life are far more precious.