Esoteric A100 Service Nightmare

This all sounds just plain wrong.  At first I assumed that your unit was a CD player, but realize its an integrated.

I would find out exactly what tool is needed and verify with Esoteric that no other domestic Esoteric repair location has it.  Hell, have them ship the "tool" to the U.S.

Maybe this is all obvious, but just trying to help.

Is this unit under warranty? Have you contacted your dealer for assistance?

You might search for better shipping provider. I have sent the quite heavy and bulky SF Guarneri speakers, in their three large boxes to Hong Kong, from Europe, for 250eur, via Schenker fright company.

https://www.dbschenker.com/global

I am in no way associated with that company, just used their service

You could ask the guys on the Esoteric Forum @ AudioAficionado.com
One of the members  may have already gone through this.

Suggest you put in a claim with your Homeowner's Insurance company. Get docs to show unit is not repairable. If you have replacement cost coverage, you'll get the money you need to replace the unit.
Larry

Why not ship the 'tool' to the USA? Ridiculous situation.The company should be bending over backwards to help. I think what it is, is the DISTRIBUTOR chose the service provider, not the company. And whomever that is need to be taken to task for failing miserably.

"You could ask the guys on the Esoteric Forum @ AudioAficionado.com
One of the members may have already gone through this."

Actually it's .org, not .com.

I had to get a new drive put into my DV-50 and it was done in California. I've heard about the special "jig" that exists only in Japan.  Sorry to hear about your difficulties... good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Thanks  hk_fan.  This would really suck if the guy can't get the amp fixed.  Why would they need a jig to take an amp apart?  I could see if it was for aligning a laser or something, but an amp?  IMO, any authorized Esoteric repair center should already have this special tool/jig to do repairs.  Back in the late70's, when I sold Accuphase electronics, we were forced to buy all their specialty tools in order to repair equipment that we sold in house.

" quoted shipping in the thousands " sounds very odd unless the story is not true or TAP Electronics want to get rid of this customer. Some special tools or particular know how might be guarded by a manufacturer.  

I can ship myself from Chicago to Japan for less money...round trip.

I would put all of your problems, inquiries, and requests in writing and submit only using your country’s national mail system and request reply, response, and answers also be submitted in writing using the same system because when you use the phone it is too convenient, expedient, and time saving to just give you a quick answer so that they can move on to the next caller.

Mention you are DOCUMENTING the request for future action.Whatever that might mean. but it usually gets more than a perfunctory response. Also mentioning how everyone whom you have discussed this on several websites.. etc. Since if they realized blowing you off may lost them a hundred new customers..

Makes me never want to even consider any Esoteric gear in the future. Thanks for letting the audio community know.
And sorry for your troubles. 

Sorry re your plight. My past business experience suggests that using “Registered Mail” with copies to relevant parties- ie who sold you the unit, the USA distributor, the Service Manager, the Public Relations Dept of Esoteric. Your comment “I was contacted..” does not mention ‘how’ you were contacted. The quote of “thousands” for shipping sounds highly suspicious. Write now to ask for written clarification of the specifics involved. Tools can be replicated using simple 3D Printing. I would request clarification of what the “right environment” entails. 

Sorry that happened to you. But thanks for the warning. I'll never purchase Esoteric gear.

Never going to purchase esoteric gear based on this thread.

Sounds like they just don’t want to help you. Thanks for letting us know, I need a new disc spinner and I’ll be sure to not look at anything from Esoteric 

The RULE: One Hundred Positive comments might get the brand one new customer. One Negative comment will lose the brand a hundred possible customers.               
I made that up....

But Elizabeth oh so true! 

Now I believe even less. OP, you have to prove your case here, anyone can say anything. I don’t care much about either Esoteric or Esoteric owners, by the way.

...that's why all of my stuff is American made backed up by those with proven support.  State of the art /time moves on - that's when you rely on customer support.  ...a lesson for buyers of expensive boxes.

I have a very expensive Esoteric SACD player that was built in 2008 and is hopefully my last SACD player. If I found out I couldn’t get my unit repaired, I would probably lose my mind or go postal on them.

I'm gonna' sound completely unsympathetic, but this thread sounds a little like someone complaining about the upkeep costs on their mega-buck Ferrari.  Every review I came across described the A100 as the most complex KT88 amplifier ever made.  The amp cannot even be retubed by the user.  To have that done it must be sent to a qualified dealer.  Esoteric intended the amp to be a state of the art, reference quality product and according to the reviews they succeeded.
I have no idea whether TAP is treating you with respect or whether the shipping cost is reasonable, but your obvious frustration comes across.  From other posts it seems you've had the amp since at least 2011 and you state that it sounds wonderful.  Maybe a better way to look at this is to spread the repair cost over the life of the amplifier and accept that wonderful sounding state of the art performance really does cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per year in upkeep costs.
Please let us know the outcome.

I Hope this can help 
scott.sefton@integrahometheater.com    1-201-785-2646
I believe he is the NorthAmerica sales rep

Onhwy61.....   if I came across as complaining of the cost, I may not have been clear.  The thread is not to whine but to seek the opinions of the fellow enthusiasts. And thank you to many forum users with constructive comments.   I just want the unit fixed. My extent of the effort has been reaching out to the authorized vendor, the US distributor and the authorized repair (TAP electronics).  This thread/post is the last effort.  I’m ready to move on from Esoteric.  And no, I do not complain about the cost of the luxury goods that I own.  But I do address the services or at least the lack of genuine effort that fall short of fulfilling the consumers expectations.  
Regards 
Frank 

@stringreen  ………………………….

I always try to buy American when I can as well, but do not ever forget that al LOT of American high end company's have closed or gone bankrupt over the years.    In this mans case, if it absolutely must go to Japan to be repaired, Esoteric being the large company that it is could afford to pay for shipping one way and the customer pay for the other.  I think that seems fair.

What a horrible experience. Feel for you man. 
I hope you can get it fixed for under a g. 
If you can’t, shop it to me and I’ll pay for the shipping. 
Good luck. 

stereo5I concur. If Esoteric wishes to keep a presence here in the U.S.A. then it does require better Customer Service. Hopefully Frank will receive resolution regarding his A100.

kimf70Excellent points all around on Esoteric's / TAP Electronics customer service. Thank You for sharing your experience here. It is imperative to post both positive and negative experiences when dealing with these companies, manufacturers. Well done.

@kimf70 
Is the unit under warranty?
Did you talk to Scott Sefton?
You should at least talk to someone higher up in Integra's chain.

By the way my first post in this thread was supposed to be ironic

I find it highly amusing for someone to immediately claim they will never purchase a product based on something they read on an audiogon forum thread 

I just felt the need to explain myself since I assume the joke went over everyone’s head 

d2girls sez': " Never going to purchase esoteric gear based on this thread. "                   
Exactly how would anyone not your Mother, or married to you.. know that was ironic?  
There is a rule on audio site. NO ONE understands a joke, sarcasm, or irony. Ever. Well, maybe 3 people might get it.. But the other 382,605 will think you are serious. Every audio site I know, no one gets subtle jokes. The have to be: WARNING>>> HA HA JOKE: xxx.xxx.xxxxx! Joke over, back to the real world....  for the folks to know. Maybe it is so many English as second language? or just audiophiles have no sense of irony? Or they are trying to read it on their smartphone while driving in rush hour traffic.. Any which way...  every word is set in stone..

kimf70

Thank You for the update.  There are plenty of excellent amp(s) out there for your consideration.  Keep us posted on your next purchase decision.

This thread is giving me PTSD, you mentioned looking at Audio Research...  I had a poor experience with Audio Research and their HD-220 amp (bought used from my local dealer $5k), the amp was problematic from the start, had to be sent back multiple times for service over a few years until they finally said that its irreparable and they tried to SELL me some replacement monoblock DS450M amps, for $4k.  I didn't accept and am stuck with the HD-220 paperweight, hoping to make something of it eventually.  If you look around you'll see HD-220's and DS450M (for $4k).  If you're looking to avoid this situation, I would not recommend dealing with AR.  Or

When I make a joke that may be in doubt, I just use an emoji at the end of whatever it is I said, unless it's obvious, but even that is a value judgement in and of itself, so to speak, if you catch my drift, lest it go over your heads and lead to hurt feelings. 👍😄

All the best,
Nonoise

Perhaps they would let you trade it in for a Gibson guitar...