Manufacturer Repairs? What is a reasonable time?

Vicdamone reads like the preamp I bought here! The person bought it used and it arrived damaged. The buyer shipped it to the manufacturere VAC Valve Amplification Co. and then waited.. and waited. In the meantime the owner bought another preamp he liked a lot. So as soon as the VAc Standard came back he sold it (to ME! for a great price) and I have loved it ever since.

I would say a small manufacturer just has trouble. They have orders for new stuff and have to build it, and may have repair stuff too. Then life gets in the way.. Sleep, weddings, school for kids, etc. health too.
So I usually do not buy small boutique makers stuff. But the VAC has been great for years now. So i at least can say, even though a repiar may take five six months.. it is worht it if you can handlee it.
If not. Then do not buy from tiny companies.
(And even big companies may take just as long.)

Elizabeth is right, but if that small manufacturer has visions of growing, they had best get their customer service in order and not make it a second or low priorrity IMHO.

Elizabeth, unusually similar story but not my pre. I love dealing with little boutique works and have had honest service from all but this manufacturer.

As I said, they were, and still are, notoriously famous for pulling the ol' oki-doke for service. I find absolutely no excuse for lying, dodging messages, and emails. I recall taking to using strange phones to avoid their caller ID which worked well but the hook was already set.

In the end a formal letter sent signature required mail seemed to stoke the fire. Damn silly actually.

Too much high end pricing for low end service in this industry. Too be fair, there are some notable exceptions, that do provide outstanding service.

Maybe none. If the unit is under warranty, most will simply replace it and later sell the unit, repaired, as 'B'Stock.