Very Bad purchase from upscale audio Acoustic Zen Adagio


This was not my first purchase from Kevin Deal at Upscale audio. I am a entry level audiophile. My PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP and Dialogue Premium Preamplifier have given many hours of enjoyment. I have purchased well over 1K in tubes from Kevin. This purchase took me over the 10K mark with Upscale Audio. I am not a rookie to audio or tube amplification. I have had a successful tube amp repair and design shop since 1993. 
My concern.
Here is the description of the Acoustic Zen Adagio from Upscale audio's website.
This pair of Adagio's from our demo room are also the last pair of Adagio's in our inventory. The Adagio is such a sweet sounding speaker and is perfect for those who really like to get inside the music. The pair we have are in the stunning Figure Red wood finish. The baffle style is the original (and better sounding) non-tapered baffle, as pictured. Price $2499.00 plus shipping
Ok.
I called Kevin and talked to him on the phone.  I asked him if he would entertain an offer. I told him that I had seen the same speakers offered on Audiogon and Audioasylum for considerably less.
He said I am a retail store and back my products. He also said this and I quote " Those people are just guys in their underwear scratching their asses." I am a store.
I trusted the description of the speakers and I trusted Kevin.
Total price. $2839.  $2499.00 plus $340.00 shipping to NC.
The speakers arrived and I couldn't wait to unpack them and hook them up. The packing was great. My anticipation was greater.
Left speaker Tweeter DOA. The same speaker had a shameful reject finish.  The lacquer was so clouded you can hardly see the wood figure. The back of the speaker was loaded with black specks under the lacquer. These speakers are seconds, rejects. I sent Kevin Deal 4 emails referring to the fact that this really was a bad deal.  It has been 3 days and no response.
On the other hand Robert Lee ( Owner of Acoustic Zen)  responded immediately to my email asking for help with the DOA Tweeter. I sent it off next day air to him and today responded that it is on it's way back  to me.
Somehow Kevin Deal's Train ran off the tracks so don't ask for your money back

rbogartr
Users and lovers of vintage tubes often don't think of RAM Tubes, but Roger Modjeski not only has them, but tests (200 readings per tube, via an Apple computer with RM-designed softwear)), grades (A, SA, B, C, etc., as well providing exact test number specs) and matches them (pairs, quads, octets) for every known factor----gain/transconductance, bias current, noise, microphonics, you name it. He also selects and matches sets for specific amplifiers, providing them for CAT, Quicksilver, Conrad-Johnson, Atma-Sphere, and of course his own Music Reference. My first choice.
Andy at Vintage is a national treasure. I hope that he lives to be 110.

Amen to that...!!!

For retailers trying to defend Mr. Deal. I disagree on two grounds.

1. It's crystal clear to anyone with functioning eyes that there's a significant difference between speaker A & B. As the purchaser stated, the cabinets are not the same color or quality of finish. These were demo models, previously opened by the retailer. It's hard to fathom Mr. Deal or other staff member didn't see the disparity in these two speakers. It's the responsibility of the retailer to send such flawed merchandise back to the manufacturer upon detection, before trying to pawn them off to a customer.
2. Why ship a speaker with a dead Tweeter? The speakers were already out on the floor, so it would take all of 10-15 minutes to plug them into a running sound system to ensure they functioned correctly.

This is a simple case of a snake oil salesman trying to pass along a flawed pair of speakers. I would have nailed this guy to the wall.
Some questions:
1. Didn't Agon used to have a "Disputes" forum?
2. Did the OP ever open up an official Agon dispute?
3. If the OP used Paypal, did he ever open up a Paypal dispute?
4. Opinions on Mr. Deal aside (I've dealt with him twice and he struck me as a brusque but straightforward guy), I don't see why this very public dispute was allowed to progress as far as it did by the Agon staff. There've been a lot of serious accusations and labels thrown around.