MSS HiFi Took my Money

[Jerome W]

Hello my friends,

A friend of mine, Jean Luc, who is a new member here ( clad7) ordered a new pair of 1.2 kW monoblocks at MSS HIFI, NY.
He's asking me an advice, and his story is rather disturbing so I thought the best way to answer him would be to ask to my very good friends here first.

He sent the money by wire transfer on 7 th april. MSS HiFi said they would send the amp converted in 240 V.
After receiving the money, they did not send to Jean Luc (JL) any confirmation.
On april 14th, JL asked them if they got the money.
On april 15th, they replied " Yes, we have received the funds. We have sent the amplifiers to McIntosh factory for voltage conversion yesterday. We will let you know as soon as they are ready."
My first question here is : do they need to send the amps to Mc to do this ? It is so simple I did myself on the 2301's !
On May 2nd, JL sent this message :
"Good morning Johnny,
more than 15 days you wrote me, and since this day, no knews . . .
What happens ?"
One day after, they replied : "Will check with the factory today.
Johnny Boey"
May 5th, JL writes : "OK, Johnny,
and the following answer is ? ? ? ? "
He got no answer. So, on may 9th, JL writes again :
"Johnny,
you wrote me you check with the factory the 3rd of may.
Today is 9 of may . . .
Always no news !
What happens ?
Do you think it is serious "
On may 10th, they reply :
"They are still at the factory. Should be ready next week.
Johnny Boey"
May 19th : JL writes :
"last week you wrote me : "They are still at the factory. Should be ready next week"
Nine days (more than a week !) have passed . . .
I'm always waiting, without news from you, if I do'nt send you a mail ! ! !
I think you are not serious . "
May 30: MSS replies a funny answer :
"Dear Customer,
Thank you for contacting MSS Hifi.
Leaders of the Free World The World's Busiest High -End Audio Store
One of our sales team members will get right back to you. Thank You!!
MSS Hifi"
June 10th: JL writes :
"Dear Sir,
I haven’t received any answer from you for more than two weeks. Please come back to me ASAP.
However it is disappointing, if I don’t hear from you in the following days, I will take it as a proof that you are not serious, nor honest. Thus I will ask my bank to cancel the order transfer of 13 000 Euros and I will contact my American lawyer to take the necessary legal measures.
I hope this is only a misunderstanding and we will find a solution quickly.
I’m looking forward to receiving your reply.
Regards"
He got no answer so on june 15th, JL writes this on my advice :
"Dear Sir,
I haven’t received any answer from you for more than three weeks ! it is not acceptable to get such lack of interest in a regular business transaction.
As a loyal customer asking for informations, I deserve to get those informations.
I was planning to order to you a high end preamp also, but I will reserve this until I receive the amplifiers I have ordered.
If I don’t get any reply to my query this week, I will regret it but I will have to post a message on the web site "audioaficionado.org" to describe my problem and to inform my friends there.
Let me precise to you that I am a highly respected and active member on this site, since its creation in april 2009. I'm sure that you would not appreciate the effects of such a bad feedback on the most popular high end audio forum on the web and I would really like to avoid this.
Best wishes."
On June 16th, they finally answer this :
"Just checked with the factory. They still have not worked on them yet. They promised us by the end of the month, definitely.
Johnny Boey"

JL is very worried by the fact that since april, and the wire transfer, nothing really moved from MSS HIFI.
He's asking me if he should contact a lawer in New York.

What do you think my dear friends ? How can we help Jean Luc ? Do you think that Jean Luc should contact a lawer ?
Did you order anything from MSS HIFI ? Are they serious ?
How can they "sell " new Mc amps if they are not official dealers ?
Can we trust the fact that the amps would be at the McIntosh factory for conversion ? Could we ask McIntosh about that ?

All your opinions and advices will be highly appreciated from the poor frenchies !
Cheers,
Jérôme ( and Jean Luc / clad7 )