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I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan

208.100.147.138
Posted on May 31, 2019 at 07:00:30
Mike K
Audiophile

Posts: 13973
Location: 97701
Joined: September 23, 1999
 Ordered a pair of LRS on 4-19 and was told 2-3 weeks to delivery. It's
now 6 weeks, and no word from them on production or delivery. I understand
they are a small company, but they have to do a better job of keeping in
contact with customers who have ordered product. When you send your
marketing people on a country wide tour (with the 30.7) and have a massive
amount of great publicity on the LRS, you need to be prepared to crank
up production to meet demand. Magnepan has been in business long enough
that they ought to understand this.

End of rant.

Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

 

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RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on May 31, 2019 at 07:52:13
rizlaw
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Location: NY
Joined: May 31, 2019
 I feel your frustration. I just finished speaking with Eric at 10am this morning (5/31/19). My order for the LRS was placed a week after yours (4/25/19). Eric informed me that shortly before I called, he had spoken with the Production Manager and was told that several mid-April orders would be shipped next week and later April orders the week following. I'm figuring my LRS order will ship by June 15th or perhaps a little sooner.

As they say, "patience is a virtue". In the meantime, I am content listening to my 3rd pair of MMGs (over the years). In the past, I've owned most of the Tympani series including the original MG20s.

 

Try ordering a Ferrari some day. They've been around a whole lot longer tham Magnepan... :), posted on May 31, 2019 at 08:01:01
David S.
Audiophile

Posts: 3552
Location: Mountains of WNC
Joined: August 31, 2000
No, I've not ordered a new Ferrari from the factory, nor have I even owned a used model.

I HAVE, however, known folks who have placed an order & the wait time can be 2+ years.

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on May 31, 2019 at 08:19:10
Davey
 I'm going to wait for the LRS-i to come out. :)

Seriously, why do people feel like they have to "adopt" so quickly on a brand new product like this?? Generally, early-adopters find themselves frustrated with some products.

Dave.

 

Does math not work in Minnesota?, posted on May 31, 2019 at 08:22:43
mbnx01
Audiophile

Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004
 Here's what I don't get - how can they be SO OFF on their estimates?

When I ordered my pair seven weeks ago couldn't they take the existing number of orders and the number produced in a week and figure something out? Instead they apparently just take a guess.

I'm wondering if they are shipping them in order date sequence or some other random fashion.

Oh well. This is the company that took twenty years to figure out how to use email. So I guess we'll just have to put up with their idiosyncrasies.

Speaking of idiosyncrasies... if they sell 1000 pair a year at $650 a pair instead of $795 a pair that's $150,000 they are leaving on the table. I guess they really aren't good at math.

When your demand far outstrips your production.... RAISE PRICES.



'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

this won't help whatsoever but, posted on May 31, 2019 at 08:42:14
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 the last thing you want Magnepan to do is rush building your product!









 

The math, posted on May 31, 2019 at 09:43:26
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7724
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 Selling a product is about what the market will bear, what the item costs, what markup you want, and I'm thinking in this case, how much releasing this product will drive sales further up the line.
Perhaps they could sell for more, but then possibly sell a smaller quantity. Good thing? Sometimes. But if you are using this product as a stepping stone to larger products, then the price they are using maybe makes sense (no way to know without knowing their costs).
I sympathize with the anxious buyers, but I'd rather wait a bit more and be sure to get a product that wasn't rushed thru on "the first ever Magnepan night shift". :)

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on May 31, 2019 at 11:19:44
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 9621
Location: Fort Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Well shame on them. In my experience I am often surprised how much people, me included, will put up with if you just tell them WTF is going on and how it is. Frequent and honest communication goes a long, long way.

 

RE: Try ordering a Ferrari some day. They've been around a whole lot longer tham Magnepan... :), posted on May 31, 2019 at 12:53:52
blakey
Audiophile

Posts: 212
Joined: October 24, 2000
 But Maggie ain't no Ferrari!

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on May 31, 2019 at 12:54:49
BDP24
Audiophile

Posts: 1070
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Joined: September 12, 2013
 There are plenty of instances of a product selling so well that the company making it spent so much money gearing up to meet the initial demand, that when the inevitable slowdown came, the company was over-extended, and eventually went bankrupt. No one wants to see that happen to Magnepan, so geez folks, cut 'em a little slack, will ya?

One the other hand, why does Magnepan continue to get people's hopes up of receiving their pair of LRS's in a coupla weeks? LRS buyers, are you willing to wait 6-8-10-12 weeks for your pair? Would you not order them if you were told the wait would be that long? What's the rush? Don't you already have an acceptable pair of loudspeakers?

 

RE: Does math not work in Minnesota?, posted on May 31, 2019 at 15:25:08
Rod H.
Audiophile

Posts: 1918
Location: Oregon
Joined: May 18, 2005
 I'm no expert on marketing, but here are my thoughts. If they raise the price they will no doubt sell lots of sets, but maybe 20% fewer for example. Then later perhaps they will need to lower the price to $650 again to stimumate sales anyway. I would just be patient. No doubt they will deliver.

 

RE: Does math not work in Minnesota?, posted on May 31, 2019 at 18:59:00
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 I imagine they make a reasonable estimate based on production metrics and scheduling, but stuff happens, particularly in early production. IIRC, with the 3.7's, their CNC machine went down, and with the 30.7's, the curvature of the perforated metal that they get from a supplier turned out to be out of spec, leaving inadequate diaphragm clearance.

 

There is always initially a long lead-time with new Magnepan's., posted on June 1, 2019 at 06:15:53
Lucid
 I remember waiting three months when I ordered the 3.6.

Big demand at first, then the lead time is reduced after a few months.

This is just normal!

Chill out!

 

I'm going to wait a bit before I order, but..., posted on June 1, 2019 at 06:48:52
MaxwellP
Audiophile

Posts: 1622
Location: New York
Joined: September 19, 2007
 I wish you would quit suggesting they sell them for $795.

 

I also ordered on 4/19 (noonish) I'll be curious to see who gets their's first..., posted on June 1, 2019 at 07:15:38
PhilJ
Audiophile

Posts: 2826
Joined: January 20, 2002
 as long as there is nothing wrong with my pair I am OK with the long wait

signed,

Quietly Salivating

:)

 

All good things come to those who wait {nt}, posted on June 1, 2019 at 07:49:14
Stephen 300
Audiophile

Posts: 78
Location: Ohio
Joined: February 17, 2018
 ...

 

Yeah, you're right..., posted on June 1, 2019 at 12:30:16
mbnx01
Audiophile

Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004
 $895 would be about right. :)






'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

You're killin' me...//nt, posted on June 1, 2019 at 16:57:09
MaxwellP
Audiophile

Posts: 1622
Location: New York
Joined: September 19, 2007
 Nt

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 1, 2019 at 17:30:20
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 I talked about that with Wendell, suggested some system of updates, because people naturally get upset when they don't hear. But the bottom line is that they don't have the personnel resources to do that.

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 1, 2019 at 17:33:36
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 Or, as a friend used to say, never buy Serial Number 1. :-)

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 1, 2019 at 18:10:46
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 Lol gotta love it.

Understandably I think they were caught off guard with the enormous interest brought on by the LRS. Those kind of things you just can't calculate.









 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 1, 2019 at 22:11:15
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 It isn't a matter of 'turning a crank'.

People to be hired and trained. It is unethical to hire for a burst than dismiss. It isnt' like FedEx needing more drivers for the Holiday Season.

So too, the factory has only limited space and stations setup for the various operations used in the manufacture. I suspect stations can be 'configured' so you can work on a certain model for which demand is high at that time. Once caught up, the station, and indeed the entire line, will be converted to the next model in line to be produced.

I'd be curious to get some insight in to the total capabilities of the factory. Maybe one day I'll arrange 'the tour' and look myself.
Too much is never enough

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 2, 2019 at 02:49:37
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 Yep. It can be hard meeting the surges in demand that occur when there's a new product, because you have so-and-so many people and in an operation like this many of them are skilled. So I've read that they're working overtime, thinking of adding more people, etc. to handle the demand of the LRS.

Then there's whatever glitches come up when you start making a new product. Those are pretty unpredictable.

I think putting a notice up on their web page is a good idea, by the way. I just get an exception error when I click on the link in the email notification so I'm responding to it here. It worked for pointing out that it might be hard to get through when ordering them.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson, posted on June 2, 2019 at 08:37:09
mbnx01
Audiophile

Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004
 'If you make a better Magnepan the world will make a beaten track to your door'.






'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 2, 2019 at 08:38:03
mbnx01
Audiophile

Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004
 I never, EVER, buy the first production year of any car.





'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 2, 2019 at 09:44:31
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 Not even a Pinto? :-)

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 2, 2019 at 10:51:08
mbnx01
Audiophile

Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004
 I'm old enough to remember Pinto's. At least they weren't as bad as Vega's.





'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 2, 2019 at 11:27:34
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 I remembered the exploding gas tanks, but had to look up the Vega. What a mess!

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 2, 2019 at 14:29:33
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 my money is on a Aug timeframe









 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 2, 2019 at 16:04:05
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 We should start a pool.

 

RE: Yeah, you're right..., posted on June 2, 2019 at 20:28:13
Utley1
Audiophile

Posts: 1609
Location: NYC
Joined: July 30, 2010
 Step up MNBX, if you are in such pain and spring for the .7's which are a better speaker, if you can wait no long. An extra two hundred $ from 'your suggested retail prices' will land you a Maggie tomorrow. Have no empathy for your disappointment, when you have other ways to go. Sorry!

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 4, 2019 at 14:28:10
Mr_bill2
Audiophile

Posts: 2178
Joined: September 17, 2002
 I see his point...How about a phone call or email explaining the situation, they certainly can hire non-qualified persons for that task, no?

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 4, 2019 at 16:02:16
dougsat
Audiophile

Posts: 55
Location: Colorado
Joined: June 4, 2019
 First post:

Agreed that this could be handled better by Magnepan that is for sure.
But in many was they are a small company content on doing things as they have been for years. A friend of mine went through the factory; I'll say this, Magnepan's end product is nicer than what you would expect given the less than state of the art factory. Which may account for the delays on these LRS.
That being said I ordered a pair the last week of April and was initially told 2 to 3 weeks. Well not a word since other than a short conversation with Eric (after I called him), he told me the same thing we all are hearing...
I've decided to let it play out and not get too bent out of shape.
Funny thing is folks are anxious to get these but in the end they may or may not keep them. I'm counting on the LRS sounding amazing for the $$.

Cheers - Doug

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 5, 2019 at 12:58:28
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Margins are tight. Hiring what amounts to a non-value added person is probably NOT cost effective.

When I was working manufacturing over a period of 30+ years, I witnessed the general demise of a favorite department. Quick Check, otherwise known as QC. Fine? Well, all they tell you is that you did SOMETHING WRONG. Doesn't help much. Doing it right the first time, self monitoring thru measurments and proper people with proper tooling is key. Thus? ALL activities are value added.

Too much is never enough

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 6, 2019 at 07:31:09
Mr_bill2
Audiophile

Posts: 2178
Joined: September 17, 2002
 Not sure I follow your point, but I'm sure we are on the same pace here...[So to add]Some information is better than no information. It only takes moments to send an email or make a call to a customer that has already committed funds to buy your product. In most cases they likely didn't even need to hire more personnel to cover phones or communications. If you stop returning inquiries, orders tend to stop as well I'm guessing. I do agree ramping up production overnight is most likely impossible but without happy customers, that too won't be a problem either. Waiting sucks, waiting without any follow up is not an acceptable business practice and sucks even more. I remember this problem happening to John Dunlavy after Stereophile gave him the cover and product of the year. It almost shut him down with the response for his 4As. Production times suffered and customers were upset but his communications to his customers never stopped, orders were filled and his business worked through it. Two way communications is a very important component to good business practices.

 

RE: I'm getting severely annoyed with Magnepan, posted on June 6, 2019 at 12:06:45
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Simple:
Somebody making phone calls is not strictly value added.
Magnepan hasn't even made it to 1995 yet, having minimal internet presence and no 'Email' to speak of. Could they afford 20,000$ a year to hire such a person? You'd think so, but I don't know. Duties of the new person would be to answer ALL inquiries and maintain contact with ALL the internal players to get the right information to the customer.

I think your point is to say what you are going to do, than DO what you said you were going to do.

If they promised 3 or 4 week delivery? Than that is the standard. Period.

IMO, I could benefit AND add value at Magnepan by getting some stuff like YOUR issue in order.

But I'd need to know a lot more about how business is conducted and a bunch more 'under the hood' type things......Quality program, training, recoreds of on-time delivery and how the floor is organized.


Too much is never enough

 

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