Eminence speakers - new saga!

[akis]

After my bad experience with the Skytronic speaker, I did some research, asked here too, and after looking at dozens of speaker frequency response graphs and comparing prices I chose the Eminence "The Tonker" at 12" and ordered 2 from a very well known firm in Germany. Shipping was an astonishing low 10 Euro!

But, my bad luck seems to persist. The speakers arrived on Monday and in the evening I opened the package with great anticipation. Finally, my hand made guitar amp would be graced with 100db speakers made specifically for guitars and with one of the best frequency response curves I could find. Yes, the magnet is ferrite and not ceramic, or alnico, but the price reflects this, so a very good compromise - on paper.

The speakers came in their own sealed box with "Made in USA" written on. Quite heavy at 4.5 Kg each, or more.

Opening the first box revealed sub-standard packaging: there was no plastic bag around the speaker to stop debris from the box falling into the cone, and there was no cover over the delicate cone to protect it from the flaps of the box. As the flaps close onto the cone they "cut in" with their sharp edge into the rim where the paper cone meets the chassis. Evidently a cover is needed over the cone to protect it, but there was no cover.

As I took the first speaker out it appeared that those flaps had indeed "cut in" and had made permanent dents. I tried (very very carefully) to push one of those small dents back out but it is a paper cone so the creases/dents are permanent. Further this cone had 3-4 long creases running down from the rim to the centre, obviously something was wrong, it must have been subjected to some great lateral stress.

The second speaker I opened was in much worse state. Again the packaging box flaps covers had cut in to the rim but the chassis was also bent and the middle of the cone was squashed in. That speaker must have been dropped from a great height!

Firstly it amazed me how those speakers were shipped from Eminence in the US inside those flimsy boxes, further lacking a cone cover and a plastic bag. Then I was further amazed how the German company put two of those heavy speakers inside a flimsy paper box, with some filler on one side of the box, basically no protection at all, those speakers were at the mercy of the courier people from the word go.

The only explanation might be that Eminence never intended these speakers to be sold retail and shipped out individually. Perhaps Eminence intended these speakers to be shipped on a crate and only to volume manafacturers (eg Marshal) who would transport them and handle them in a defined way.

I sent photos to the German company I bought them from and they have agreed to take them back and exchange them. I said that if I send them back in this same packaging they will probably receive them in pieces. They replied that they must have them back before sending out new ones. Then I asked how were they planning to send out the new ones, if in the same type of packaging then they would also be destroyed in transport. The man replied , "yes, most likely (they will get destroyed)".

Speachless...

[AndrewT]

post the name of the German supplier.
Copy your correspondence to Eminence.

I wonder if Eminence reply will be along the lines of "fakes"?

Keep us informed of developments.

[akis]

The company is Thomann International and I cannot for a moment believe they are fakes.

I really really do not want them to send me replacements with this kind of packaging. Plus I am wasting all this time, it is a shame.

I have written to Eminence with photos of the packaging and of the damaged speaker, let's see if they reply.

[ashok]

I have bought 15/8/6/1 inch Eminence drivers and they came in very stiff cardboard boxes. They had stuffing sealed in thin plastic bags to protect the drivers and there was no way that the cones could be damaged by the box. VERY well packed is what I would say. The box also says Eminence on the outside !
I'm sure your supplier is repacking it in their own box. You must inform Eminence . They have a very good support team.

[akis]

Absolutely not, they said, they have no time or resources to be re-packaging, they said. I begged them to put them in a better box next time and they were categoric that this is how it comes from the manufacturer.

[ashok]

A few years ago I bought a NHT 1259 sub which was shipped by air. It arrived with a smashed in dust cap and no labels on the driver saying what it was. I informed them immediately.
The company told me that the dust cap was damaged due to differential air pressure in the aircraft ! I was furious that they tried to cover up with a stupid explanation like that. It was shipped damaged. So they agreed to give me credit for a new driver. So I paid shipping and got the new driver which was fine and had all labels and markings on it as it should have been!

[badman]

Originally Posted by ashok

A few years ago I bought a NHT 1259 sub which was shipped by air. It arrived with a smashed in dust cap and no labels on the driver saying what it was. I informed them immediately.
The company told me that the dust cap was damaged due to differential air pressure in the aircraft ! I was furious that they tried to cover up with a stupid explanation like that. It was shipped damaged. So they agreed to give me credit for a new driver. So I paid shipping and got the new driver which was fine and had all labels and markings on it as it should have been!

You're being entirely unreasonable. This kind of thing happens all the time, and you just have to live with it. After all, there's limited cargo space, it shouldn't surprise you that they stick them to the exterior fuselage to let the plane hold more.

[akis]

I spoke to Eminence, very nice senior guy (in terms of years at the job).

The boxes they came in appears to be genuine. They do indeed package them like this to keep costs down and they do expect couriers to handle them appropriately.

In my case the external box shows no signs of damage but the speaker inside had collapsed through the cardboard insert that was meant to keep it in place and the basket was bent. I had to "dig" the speaker out of the insert. The damaged cardboard insert is a sign of damage but the box is not damaged.

Additionally the dustcap is squashed. This is a mystery, how did the speaker get so much damaged with the external boxes not showing it, especially the dustcap.

We agreed the speakers must have been repackaged at some stage and the external boxes replaced. Very naughty.

The German company will send UPS to collect them and will then replace them. Here's hoping I get a decent pair this time.

[akis]

By the way the 3rd picture shows the "good" speaker which shows vertical creases on its paper cone running down into the centre. This has also received damage, the Eminence guy said those vertical creases should not be there.

[planet10]

I've had 6 sets of big Eminence thru here... 3 of the 5 had the same boxes as yours. One driver didn't survive, and you can be sure that the ones being reshipped to The Netherlands after TLC were much better packed upon departure.

dave