MONOPRICE NIGHTMATE

[Count Dacula]

Last Fall I placed an order at MONOPRICE for an extra subwoofer, since my ancient KEF one developed a grounding issue.

Even though I have a DAYTON one working here for 10 years, never "missing a beat", I went with MONOPRICE for no particular reason.

So, totally lacking enthusiasm for a black box, I opened it up shortly after the 30 day return period to find it DOA. Never in 50 years have I ever had a DOA return, so I was a little surprised, I was also surprised by MONOPRICE's hair splitting of a "few days past return" taking on a literal meaning.

After a few weeks, I was wondering where the replacement sub was, and discovered, no I had to rebox this dead thing and drag it from my bedroom (yes) load it in the car and take it to multiple shipping centers to find the "right" one, and then buy a roll of tape to get it sent out. ONLY THEN after receiving my return did my replacement go out, taking about a month total.

Flash forward a few weeks, snow storms, holidays and the like....I FINALLY get this new sub unboxed, in place and hooked up....it PLAYS!!!!
At the end of the first song, I can hear it squealing and squeaking inside like an alien embryo was in there.

Back to corresponding with MONOPRICE. I get a bunch of confusing answers and instructions from them like....

"Once the replacement is canceled and the store credit is reflected in your Monoprice account, I will apply the store credit to your new order and process a refund for the amount you have already paid."

although... "We are able to cancel the current replacement since we do not offer exchanges for a different product."

Does anybody understand this? They won't exchange it for a different product, but give me vague instructs on how to do just that...?

I just wanted to swap for a different model other than their "Defective Line". I had one in the cart when I started this process, and it had a $40 coupon, but because of the stupid runaround replies, the thing expired. So, here I am with NOTHING to show for 6 months of effort to get one simple product in the customer's hands....in working condition.

So now I have to repack and ship out ANOTHER DEFECTIVE SUBWOOFER with no clear solution in sight.

I ask them to just refund me every time I correspond with them.

This is still ongoing. I have some pics of the #1 subwoofer box sticking out of my trunk....I plan on getting #2 pics too

Will there be a #3?

 

[fcracer]

It sounds like you’ve already gone through enough pain, so I don’t want to add to it, but this is a good example of getting what you pay for. Monoprice is a discount audio company that specializes in low prices. Given this is their business model, one should expect poor customer service if something goes wrong. I’d recommend spending the extra money and buying from excellent companies such as SVS.

 

[Count Dacula]

Understood, but they do sell "higher end" models too. $2500 to $3000 is a lot for a subwoofer....to me.

https://www.monoprice.com/category/audio-video/speakers/subwoofers?&menuDisStr=subwoofers&sort=sellingPrice%20desc&TotalProducts=19

With the experience of the DAYTON. and the KEF, I was a little surprised.

 

[JSmith]

Sounds like a bit of a nightmare...

A DOA product is always annoying, sorry to hear.


JSmith

 

[Count Dacula]

Here's where I'm at...

"I checked for "store credit" on my page yesterday, obviously there was none so I was unable to go ahead with the new purchase. Now the coupon is expired, so I'm screwed.

Also I am leaving town in a week, and will be unable to receive a package for about a month anyway. I also suspect that no credit will emerge until you get this old one back.

See how quickly this deal falls apart? Despite all my effort expended in unpacking, correspondence, testing, repacking, shipping, waiting, unpacking, testing and corresponding again....we literally got no place except taking my money.

So how can I get back to the place and price from last week when I requested this deal to be processed? There was like a $25 difference then, what has changed now? You literally made it impossible to close this deal from the unintelligible directions to the removal of the $40 coupon to waiting until I am unable to take delivery.

I will make a project of shipping this busted POS back, in the midst of all the other tasks I need to do before leaving town. THEN MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A DEAL TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVEE SUBWOOFER AGAIN! It will be almost April. I guess my "warranty" already started ticking, even though I had not one single day of use from your product.... warranty will be expiring because of all the time killing and confusion.

I guess I am a good customer after all. I sent you money, and got piles of junk in return, plus a giant hassle. Way to go! I think this story might be good enough to circulate online. Is there any dispute of the facts? I am literally stuck with nothing for my money and effort, except FURTHER hassles. Great job."

 

[Count Dacula]

I think I'm going to get my credit card company involved.

 

[Spkrdctr]

SVS usually has world class service. You might have to take a loss and buy all over again from a reputable company. If customer service is bad it always tells you the company is bad. Sorry to hear about your troubles. I hope something works out for you.

 

[Count Dacula]

I just want what I paid for 6 months ago, or a refund.

Not a lot to ask.

 

[Count Dacula]

I currently have 24 MONOPRICE emails in my box concerning this ONE item.

If that's not a hassle, I dont' know what is....other than setting up and shipping out a big subwoofer multiple times. We all know how much fun that is.

Guess where I'm heading now??? Never mind I'm 61 in PT for a hip and have two artificial shoulders. No, I love doing heavy lifting, much easier than MONOPRICE doing a little QC on their end.

 

[Spkrdctr]

I just want what I paid for 6 months ago, or a refund.

Not a lot to ask.

I agree with you. But short of burning down their building, there isn't much the poor customers can do. It is very aggravating. I wish I could help but my kind of help would put me in prison. But good luck. No one deserves crappy treatment from these shady companies.

 

[norcalscott]

If it were me I'd probably bite the bullet and take it apart and see if it is easily fixable. Could just be a couple of loose screws or something like that.

 

[Count Dacula]

I had this thing boxed up and on the back porch,then decided to test it one more time.

I didn't think I had RF interference, it was similar, but more like a steady ripping-screeching sound. It would come and go on longish cycles. Out back on an extension cord, it didn't make any screeching, from what I could tell.

So I dragged it back in and set it up, and the noise was back at about 50% strength at idle, but when playing the whole plate amp made the same noise, except not thru the speaker, through the chassis of the amp itself. I made some videos. I gave up and figured I'd be unplugging it overnight....but forgot because it stopped making noise.

So now, day whatever... trying to get it tuned into the system, namely to match up to the Dayton sub under the other KEF LS50M. Quickly it was clear the MONOPRICE sub is not even in the same league. It produces a "rapping" (on "wood") sound from the ****** cabinet/spkr/amp combo, pretty much regardless of settings. The Dayton is bouncing across the room and punching me in the gut in the process. No comparison.

What a big mistake this unit was. Like $175 and it's nearly useless. I set it to play as low/low as possible, just to fill in the room a little. Bare minimum.

In the meanwhile, Monoprice set out another same-same sub, even though it's not what I wanted. I'm waiting for FedEx now and plan on refusing the delivery. I simply give up and don't want to deal with it again.

Posting this is both embarrassing for me and for Monoprice. What a catastrophe stemming from lack of QC. I don't mean a blemish, I mean DOA.

 

[Count Dacula]

I spent the day waiting for MONOPRICE, but the package they sent actually was delivered to Hebron KY, their shipping center.

I can't even explain what's going on with MONOPRICE. I believe they charged my card, for an item that ended up back with them. I really cant' deal with this any further.

Hopefully they give me the store credit they offered, took away, offered again, then took back.