Viking Acoustics - buyer beware!

[gordon]

I wouldn’t buy Viking speakers based solely on his postings let alone based on vortrex’s postings and pix.

 

[vortrex]

I read your OP and I see no mention that you originally ordered a pair of Viking Tube Master speakers and after they were built, you changed your mind and ordered a pair of Berlin MKII speakers.

Let me break my original post down for you...

"I paid the cash in Aug 2019 and sent my trade-in speakers shortly after that. To make a long story short there were some setbacks (original speakers painted wrong color), some changes of plans for various reasons (could not source good wood), and by the time things got on track COVID-19 hit."

Actually, David is incorrect and I am surprised he didn't mention this on audiogon. There were 3 different models in this saga. Original order was for a speaker called Berlin 1887. This started the ball rolling. Invoiced by Viking on 8/1/19 and paid by me on 8/2/19. This invoice was for $4400 + my trade in speakers. I also then paid another $262.50 on 10/2/19 for "upgraded paint". Those speakers were painted the wrong color. For whatever reason David did not want to just repaint them basic black and we transitioned to the TubeMaster which was a brand new speaker for him. I stated up front I wanted "clear" cherry baffles (as in no blonde streaks or crazy grain patterns)as I was looking for a uniform appearance. David said he could do this. Speakers were made but did not look this way. David acknowledged and said "it's difficult to get good wood these days". Totally understand! HE suggested Berlin MK3 because the baffles are shorter and it would be easier to get a uniform look to the wood (as in not see the 3 planks each baffle is made from). He also suggested doing them in clear maple. I agreed. Up to this point everything is totally cool on both sides. David is making this sound as though I was hard to work with a changing my mind. Totally false. It was a collaborative effort on both sides to get to this point. HE was even kind of pushing the TubeMaster because he knows the amp I have and the music I like and said this would be best.

My trade-in speakers were shipped to him somewhere around mid Oct 2019 as a guess. FedEx ship history doesn't go back far enough for me to get the exact date. These were soon after listed on the Viking website for sale and sold.

Why are you posting saying I owed Viking more money? Please answer.

 

[mep]

So you went from trying to purchase one pair of Viking speakers to a total of 3. Your story keeps unfolding and its not clear that when you made the deal on the first pair which you said was roughly 50% cash and 50% trade that you ever covered the additional money for the price difference from the first pair to the third pair.

The bottom line is your story has more variables than when it was originally told by you. What were you going to do after the Berlin MKII speakers arrived if they were in perfect condition after you had already purchased another pair of speakers?

 

[vortrex]

So you went from trying to purchase one pair of Viking speakers to a total of 3. Your story keeps unfolding and its not clear that when you made the deal on the first pair which you said was roughly 50% cash and 50% trade that you ever covered the additional money for the price difference from the first pair to the third pair.

The bottom line is your story has more variables than when it was originally told by you. What were you going to do after the Berlin MKII speakers arrived if they were in perfect condition after you had already purchased another pair of speakers?

No I did not trying to purchase 3 pairs of speakers. I tried to and successfully purchased 1 pair of speakers. There is nothing unfolding, all mentioned up front. I'm sorry you cannot grasp it. There was no price increase from 1st to 3rd pair. Why do you think there is a price increase?

You keep on saying Berlin Mk2 but that was never part of this saga. I was going to keep the Mk3. That would have been two very different speakers. I know what you are trying to imply, again totally false. LOL you are making stuff up that not even Viking is accusing me of.

 

[vortrex]

These are the speakers I traded in. At this point I have given these to Viking for free plus a little extra cash too.

 

[Mr Peabody]

MEP it looks like you are trying too hard to find a hole, his story made sense to me as I read it. Did Viking ever dispute painting the wrong color or promising a baffle they couldn't achieve? Seems this is something a manufacturer should know, their capabilities and what a customer ordered. The person in charge is responsible and should make things right when there is a screw up.

If it was me I wouldn't have sent my speakers until the new ones were done. But I guess no one expected it to take as long as it did.

 

[jeff1225]

So you went from trying to purchase one pair of Viking speakers to a total of 3. Your story keeps unfolding and its not clear that when you made the deal on the first pair which you said was roughly 50% cash and 50% trade that you ever covered the additional money for the price difference from the first pair to the third pair.

The bottom line is your story has more variables than when it was originally told by you. What were you going to do after the Berlin MKII speakers arrived if they were in perfect condition after you had already purchased another pair of speakers?

I have to disagree with you MEP. I have read his story on both forums and it looks consistent to me.

 

[mep]

$5800 (edited to reflect actual number)

So, I asked you in post #4 how much you were claiming Viking owed you and your answer was $4,000. You went on WBF today and claimed $5,800. Now you come back to AS to change your answer to $5,800.

 

[vortrex]

So, I asked you in post #4 how much you were claiming Viking owed you and your answer was $4,000. You went on WBF today and claimed $5,800. Now you come back to AS to change your answer to $5,800.

Yup, changed it to the full amount I paid. I was giving Viking a break at $4k and call it even but they continually keep posting misinformation and blaming me.

 

[vortrex]

MEP it looks like you are trying too hard to find a hole, his story made sense to me as I read it. Did Viking ever dispute painting the wrong color or promising a baffle they couldn't achieve? Seems this is something a manufacturer should know, their capabilities and what a customer ordered. The person in charge is responsible and should make things right when there is a screw up.

If it was me I wouldn't have sent my speakers until the new ones were done. But I guess no one expected it to take as long as it did.

In hindsight I agree but you have to understand I had a great relationship with Viking up to this point so I never thought things would end up like this. Of course nobody could have predicted Covid-19 either.

 

[mep]

I have to disagree with you MEP. I have read his story on both forums and it looks consistent to me.

Not even the amount of money he claims he is owed has remained
consistent. I asked him yesterday how much money he was claiming he was owed and his answer was $4,000. Today the price is $5,800.

 

[AJ Soundfield]

The-inquisition-a-model-for-modern-interrogators

 

[vortrex]

May 25th Viking said they refunded my CC. However, Viking doesn’t even have my CC number. Then they said they mailed a refund check. Nothing has been received by me.

 

[Jerome W]

I just would like to say 2 things.
- I am really sorry for your bad experience. It is aweful. Unfortunately in many fields, Covid 19 has been a great “lawyer” to allow people bot fulfilling their duties and start doing things in the wrong way.
- Thanks a lot for taking the time to share your story.
It is very important in these cases to inform the community of such a bad behavior.
Take care and wishing you the best for your next audio purchases.


Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[vortrex]

Thanks Jerome. Unfortunately the thread on WBF was closed last night after Viking went on there making up more lies and blaming me for all this. They said a 42% refund is all I’m getting.

 

[jeff1225]

Hi responses to you on WBF should be enough to dissuade people from buying from Viking. His excuses for the work quality and accusing you of not being an "audio brother" (whatever that is) for not giving him another 2.5 years to fix the problem demonstrate that Viking is a hobby and not a serious concern.

I'm sorry you're out the money, but I think you've done made your point.