Well, until now, I have stayed out of this thread...
Alan Warshaw lives about 5 minutes from my home, in Wyndmoor, PA. Like me, he is just outside the Philadelphia city limits. Alan took over Hales in its final, fleeting moments. Unfortunately, Hales is no longer in business, but that is completely unrelated to Alan. I have no doubt that things were too far gone at that point. He is the US distributor for Electrocompaniet, and I believe myriad other products.
I have had the occasion to be on the other end of things with him, where he was the customer. I was only in that relationship a short time. I don't remember him ever being satisfied the first time, and I don't recall the words "please" or "thank you" being an integral part of his vocabulary. But, I do hold out the hope that there is good in all man, and I hold out hope that Alan will show it in this situation.
Like many in the high end, he was an eccentric fellow. While everyone has their good side, he left people with the impression of him being an snobbish, elitist person. Alan is definitely upper crust. He may not have the most refined "listening skills". I mean that as a person, not as an audiophile. The stubborness he is holding to in this case is not unexpected. I was not particularly fond of him, but again, my dealings with him were over the short term.
I hold the Electrocompaniet marque in the highest esteem. The product exhibits exceptional quality, both in sound and in build. In brief, it doesn't get any better than Electrocompaniet.
Technically, I am not sure who is doing the upgrade of the player, but I would have a difficult time imagining it would be him. He is not a hands on person, but seems more like a "sales/marketing" type. He is not the type to hook up a tv in his home, it takes him 3 or 4 tries to buy the right splitter for a cable. I cannot see him modifying a CD player. It is a crime to underestimate people, however, so I apologize.
Ernie, who we have all come to know and hold in the highest regard, is in a difficult situation. However, being that he has had Father & Son go to Alan on his behalf, I believe that Alan should cede this situation. This is become not a matter of business, but one of ego. At this point, with the current discussion going on here, Alan is doing nothing to earn himself potential business. Rather, he is damaging the future prospects of Electrocompaniet in the US. The market for high end audio is difficult enough right now. Factor in the mess of a distributor who does not make Electrocompaniet ownership a pleasure, and the company just may one day find itself in the same situation which developed for Jadis in North America. A superlative audio company who all but falls of the face of the map for reasons unrelated to the product.
Ernie, may I suggest that both you and Father & Son contact Electrocompaniet in regards to your situation? If I were Electrocompaniet, I would make sure that not only that the matter is put right, but that we did WHATEVER is took to erase the bad taste in your mouth. Maybe it's just me, but I would feel the need to bend over backwards to make a public display that Electrocompaniet customers and potential customers have nothing to worry about in terms of customer support.
Being local, if there is anything I can do for you Ernie, please do not hesitate to let me know. Be it legwork/pickup/dropoff/courier or whatever, it's no problem. I may have a weak mind, but I do have a strong back. If I can do anything to save you the long drive, it would be a pleasure.
GOOD LUCK!
Alan Warshaw lives about 5 minutes from my home, in Wyndmoor, PA. Like me, he is just outside the Philadelphia city limits. Alan took over Hales in its final, fleeting moments. Unfortunately, Hales is no longer in business, but that is completely unrelated to Alan. I have no doubt that things were too far gone at that point. He is the US distributor for Electrocompaniet, and I believe myriad other products.
I have had the occasion to be on the other end of things with him, where he was the customer. I was only in that relationship a short time. I don't remember him ever being satisfied the first time, and I don't recall the words "please" or "thank you" being an integral part of his vocabulary. But, I do hold out the hope that there is good in all man, and I hold out hope that Alan will show it in this situation.
Like many in the high end, he was an eccentric fellow. While everyone has their good side, he left people with the impression of him being an snobbish, elitist person. Alan is definitely upper crust. He may not have the most refined "listening skills". I mean that as a person, not as an audiophile. The stubborness he is holding to in this case is not unexpected. I was not particularly fond of him, but again, my dealings with him were over the short term.
I hold the Electrocompaniet marque in the highest esteem. The product exhibits exceptional quality, both in sound and in build. In brief, it doesn't get any better than Electrocompaniet.
Technically, I am not sure who is doing the upgrade of the player, but I would have a difficult time imagining it would be him. He is not a hands on person, but seems more like a "sales/marketing" type. He is not the type to hook up a tv in his home, it takes him 3 or 4 tries to buy the right splitter for a cable. I cannot see him modifying a CD player. It is a crime to underestimate people, however, so I apologize.
Ernie, who we have all come to know and hold in the highest regard, is in a difficult situation. However, being that he has had Father & Son go to Alan on his behalf, I believe that Alan should cede this situation. This is become not a matter of business, but one of ego. At this point, with the current discussion going on here, Alan is doing nothing to earn himself potential business. Rather, he is damaging the future prospects of Electrocompaniet in the US. The market for high end audio is difficult enough right now. Factor in the mess of a distributor who does not make Electrocompaniet ownership a pleasure, and the company just may one day find itself in the same situation which developed for Jadis in North America. A superlative audio company who all but falls of the face of the map for reasons unrelated to the product.
Ernie, may I suggest that both you and Father & Son contact Electrocompaniet in regards to your situation? If I were Electrocompaniet, I would make sure that not only that the matter is put right, but that we did WHATEVER is took to erase the bad taste in your mouth. Maybe it's just me, but I would feel the need to bend over backwards to make a public display that Electrocompaniet customers and potential customers have nothing to worry about in terms of customer support.
Being local, if there is anything I can do for you Ernie, please do not hesitate to let me know. Be it legwork/pickup/dropoff/courier or whatever, it's no problem. I may have a weak mind, but I do have a strong back. If I can do anything to save you the long drive, it would be a pleasure.
GOOD LUCK!
