Seriously...it's an obvious defect in the tube. I don't care how old the tubes are, I mean people are still using tubes from the 1930's. I have purchased 2 x 4 of those tubes from Sophia and never had a problem with any of them. I' m sure I got over 3000 hours from each set in my parallel single ended amps. I have to say I'm very disappointed in their reply. I will take their service under advisement and leave it at that.
If tube manufacturers know the tubes are mis-cared by the shipping companies, do they should not make glasses thicker and resistant to transport miscare??
I never see a report of 6C33 glass damaged in the transport.
I never see a report of 6C33 glass damaged in the transport.
Here's the response fro Sophia. They may be right, but I am not buying their tubes anymore...
Hi,
*
I am trying to do my best to serve you, but this is so much I can do.* Please note that I already gave you some discount – the full price should be $215 one unit + $15 shipping + $10 matched fee = $240.* As you may know, tube is very fragile, anything happened can damage the tube.* This afternoon I received a phone call from a client in Canada who bought Sophia Electric tubes in October, 2012.* He told me that he has enjoyed Sophia tubes very much, but this morning he dropped one of the tubes and the tube started sound noisy.* He told me that he was not asking for replacement rather he wanted to know if he could buy a single tube.
*
Best regards,
*
Sue
*
From:xxx
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 10:10 PM
To: Sophia Electric
Subject: RE: Sophia Electric Princess 300B/n Failure
*
Hi Sue,
Would you be able to replace the tube without charging me the full price? In my opinion the tube failure was not due to shipping stress.
If you can't stand by your product and blame it on the shipping then I can't use it. We will simply discuss the issue within the community and make our conclusions.
For $200 I can get a new pair of 300b with warranty, and since I can't use just one tube then I guess you could keep them both.
Regards,
....
Sophia Electric <sales@sophiaelectric.com> wrote:
Hi ...,
*
I don’t want to argue with you.* Let me know what you want me to do with your tubes.
*
Best regards,
*
Sue
*
From: ...
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 2:33 PM
To: 'Sophia Electric'
Subject: RE: Sophia Electric Princess 300B/n Failure
*
Hi Sue,
*
The tube in question was used in my amp for months without failure, it failed all of a sudden, one morning. It was not moved or handled in any way in the past 2-3 months. I feel the tube failed due to manufacturing defect (improper tempering of the glass) and not due to shipping, the crack developed along the wire over time because of temperature changes.
I bought them from Edgar on Audiogon for $285 a pair (eplace0822), and he said that he bought the tubes directly from Sophia and that he knows you and Richard well.
*
...
*
*
From: Sophia Electric [mailto:sales@sophiaelectric.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 2:08 PM
Subject: RE: Sophia Electric Princess 300B/n Failure
*
Hi ...
*
Received your returned tubes.* The leaking should be caused by the rough shipping and handling.* You know tube is very fragile.* It is very easy to be damaged by rough handling.* If it is manufacturing defect, it should show up within 1 – 2 months.
*
We can find you a matched tube for $200, priority shipping included.
*
If you wish to proceed, please send paypal payment to sales@sophiaelectric.com.
*
Best regards,
*
Sue
Hi,
*
I am trying to do my best to serve you, but this is so much I can do.* Please note that I already gave you some discount – the full price should be $215 one unit + $15 shipping + $10 matched fee = $240.* As you may know, tube is very fragile, anything happened can damage the tube.* This afternoon I received a phone call from a client in Canada who bought Sophia Electric tubes in October, 2012.* He told me that he has enjoyed Sophia tubes very much, but this morning he dropped one of the tubes and the tube started sound noisy.* He told me that he was not asking for replacement rather he wanted to know if he could buy a single tube.
*
Best regards,
*
Sue
*
From:xxx
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 10:10 PM
To: Sophia Electric
Subject: RE: Sophia Electric Princess 300B/n Failure
*
Hi Sue,
Would you be able to replace the tube without charging me the full price? In my opinion the tube failure was not due to shipping stress.
If you can't stand by your product and blame it on the shipping then I can't use it. We will simply discuss the issue within the community and make our conclusions.
For $200 I can get a new pair of 300b with warranty, and since I can't use just one tube then I guess you could keep them both.
Regards,
....
Sophia Electric <sales@sophiaelectric.com> wrote:
Hi ...,
*
I don’t want to argue with you.* Let me know what you want me to do with your tubes.
*
Best regards,
*
Sue
*
From: ...
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 2:33 PM
To: 'Sophia Electric'
Subject: RE: Sophia Electric Princess 300B/n Failure
*
Hi Sue,
*
The tube in question was used in my amp for months without failure, it failed all of a sudden, one morning. It was not moved or handled in any way in the past 2-3 months. I feel the tube failed due to manufacturing defect (improper tempering of the glass) and not due to shipping, the crack developed along the wire over time because of temperature changes.
I bought them from Edgar on Audiogon for $285 a pair (eplace0822), and he said that he bought the tubes directly from Sophia and that he knows you and Richard well.
*
...
*
*
From: Sophia Electric [mailto:sales@sophiaelectric.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 2:08 PM
Subject: RE: Sophia Electric Princess 300B/n Failure
*
Hi ...
*
Received your returned tubes.* The leaking should be caused by the rough shipping and handling.* You know tube is very fragile.* It is very easy to be damaged by rough handling.* If it is manufacturing defect, it should show up within 1 – 2 months.
*
We can find you a matched tube for $200, priority shipping included.
*
If you wish to proceed, please send paypal payment to sales@sophiaelectric.com.
*
Best regards,
*
Sue
Last edited:
Bah, this is awful, I dont realize Sophia Electric terms was this bad.
This is the same usual talk from any chinese shop in Hong Kong, they dont stand up by his products, they just want sell more.
It is clear this kind of vendor just want profit selling more one pair of its fragile, unreliable tubes to you.
I suggest you dont give more money to these people, they dont deserve confidence, at least so far.
I surprised they inform its tubes are fragile. I receive a pair of Guiguand 300B from HK in a very damaged package, and the tubes are perfect.
This is the same usual talk from any chinese shop in Hong Kong, they dont stand up by his products, they just want sell more.
It is clear this kind of vendor just want profit selling more one pair of its fragile, unreliable tubes to you.
I suggest you dont give more money to these people, they dont deserve confidence, at least so far.
I surprised they inform its tubes are fragile. I receive a pair of Guiguand 300B from HK in a very damaged package, and the tubes are perfect.
Boy, am I glad I logged into DIY Audio today!
I was planning to order a 6 pieces of the same 300B's and probably a pair of 205's from Sophia tonight!
After reading your email exchanges with them, there is NO WAY I will deal with them.
Thee's an old saying that goes something like:
"Pigs fly while hogs get slaughtered" . A judge that I spent a lot of time before used to say it often.
I find it hard to believe that they value the customer relationship so little that they couldn't provide a 50% discount on a replacement tube. I do not believe that their margins are such that such a discount would result in a loss for them.
I see no value in a company that sees no value in building a long-term relationship with its customer base.
I was planning to order a 6 pieces of the same 300B's and probably a pair of 205's from Sophia tonight!
After reading your email exchanges with them, there is NO WAY I will deal with them.
Thee's an old saying that goes something like:
"Pigs fly while hogs get slaughtered" . A judge that I spent a lot of time before used to say it often.
I find it hard to believe that they value the customer relationship so little that they couldn't provide a 50% discount on a replacement tube. I do not believe that their margins are such that such a discount would result in a loss for them.
I see no value in a company that sees no value in building a long-term relationship with its customer base.
I asked Sophia to return the tubes so that proper evaluation of the defect could be done by a third party expert, now that they have alluded to certain legal issues...
Here's the last word from Sophia:
We are willing to help those worth helping. *You did not purchase from Sophia Electric nor have we had financial gain from your used item purchase transaction, so we are not legally binding to serve you, rather it was our goodwill. *To avoid further involved in your used purchase, please send over return shipping, within reasonable time frame, preferred by paypal of $15 to get your items shipped by US Postal service back to you. *Note all tubes are identified by serial number inside the vacuum tubes. *
If you talk and act the way like you did, no one is willing to help you. *
You will learn a lesson.
From: ...
To: Sophia Electric <sales@sophiaelectric.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 12:58 PM
Subject: RE: please return the tubes
Dear Sue,
In light of changing tone from Sophia I was advised to ask you to return the tubes.
Please return both tubes back to me at your earliest convenience. Please make sure to return exactly the same tubes as I took detailed high resolution pictures of the tube before I sent it to Sophia so I am able to verify.
Also do you have a preferred technical lab that the tube could be sent for expertise?
Thanks,
...
Sophia Electric <sales@sophiaelectric.com> wrote:
Please be reasonable as you did when you first called us. You bought used tubes and the excess shipping may damage the tubes. Sophia electric provide warranty for any tubes shipped out, but we have no control on used tubes transactions.
*
Please disclosed the fact that you have bought used tubes when you put into internet and You need to prove the manufacture defect from a third party quality inspection or what you are doing is defamation in legal term.
*
Last week, boss said that you called and wanted to seek help from Sophia Electric. I can't see you are seeking help, rather than trying to damage Sophia Electric's reputation. Sorry, any reasonable educated internet users would advise you to be fair and reasonable.
*
Best regards,
*
Sue
We are willing to help those worth helping. *You did not purchase from Sophia Electric nor have we had financial gain from your used item purchase transaction, so we are not legally binding to serve you, rather it was our goodwill. *To avoid further involved in your used purchase, please send over return shipping, within reasonable time frame, preferred by paypal of $15 to get your items shipped by US Postal service back to you. *Note all tubes are identified by serial number inside the vacuum tubes. *
If you talk and act the way like you did, no one is willing to help you. *
You will learn a lesson.
From: ...
To: Sophia Electric <sales@sophiaelectric.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 12:58 PM
Subject: RE: please return the tubes
Dear Sue,
In light of changing tone from Sophia I was advised to ask you to return the tubes.
Please return both tubes back to me at your earliest convenience. Please make sure to return exactly the same tubes as I took detailed high resolution pictures of the tube before I sent it to Sophia so I am able to verify.
Also do you have a preferred technical lab that the tube could be sent for expertise?
Thanks,
...
Sophia Electric <sales@sophiaelectric.com> wrote:
Please be reasonable as you did when you first called us. You bought used tubes and the excess shipping may damage the tubes. Sophia electric provide warranty for any tubes shipped out, but we have no control on used tubes transactions.
*
Please disclosed the fact that you have bought used tubes when you put into internet and You need to prove the manufacture defect from a third party quality inspection or what you are doing is defamation in legal term.
*
Last week, boss said that you called and wanted to seek help from Sophia Electric. I can't see you are seeking help, rather than trying to damage Sophia Electric's reputation. Sorry, any reasonable educated internet users would advise you to be fair and reasonable.
*
Best regards,
*
Sue
They were used?
My comments were based on my belief that they were purchased new.
I guess I'd like to get a better understanding of the circumstances of your purchase.
My comments were based on my belief that they were purchased new.
I guess I'd like to get a better understanding of the circumstances of your purchase.
From the beginning I stated that I bought them used, but frankly, what difference does it make? I did not claim warranty nor demanded a new pair or free replacement. My biggest disappointment was that Sophia at once put a blame on the customer "I don't want to argue with you" style. Obviously their customer service department needs improvement.
I myself manufacture and build variety of audio gear, I sign on all my pieces, and I service all my gear that has my name on it, bought new or secondhand, expensive tube preamp or cheap Sony PS-1.
I was taken aback by hostile customer service tone.
I myself manufacture and build variety of audio gear, I sign on all my pieces, and I service all my gear that has my name on it, bought new or secondhand, expensive tube preamp or cheap Sony PS-1.
I was taken aback by hostile customer service tone.
I also missing these details (that you bought the tubes used and from a third partie), so now I see Sophia as no so bad at all.
Sophia discount offer was resonable to my country consumer law, if they offer to me 50% discount I would buy another 300B pair with then.
Seems if you had bought direct from then a new tube, the custumer service would be better.
Now in this situation the question is:
1) How many hours this tube was used by you and by the previous owner??
2) How much average hours a new current stock tube usually lasts?? (as Shuguang, EML, Sovtek)
Sophia discount offer was resonable to my country consumer law, if they offer to me 50% discount I would buy another 300B pair with then.
Seems if you had bought direct from then a new tube, the custumer service would be better.
Now in this situation the question is:
1) How many hours this tube was used by you and by the previous owner??
2) How much average hours a new current stock tube usually lasts?? (as Shuguang, EML, Sovtek)
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