Complaint Review: Soundworks Audio and Video

I purchased a power amp from SOUNDWORKS, 10526 CONNECTICUT AVE, KENSINGTON, MD 20895. They also operate as SOUNDWORKS ONLINE and AUDIOBUYS (Audiogon.com)through Audiogon.com. They advertised the amp in "very good condition" and "works well". I paid and did recieve an amp. The amp would not work. I emailed Soundworks and waited for a response. After 2 days, I phoned the store and was told that I had to leave a message for Rick.

The next day I called again and finally got to Rick. He acted like he hadn't received my email or message and then stated I had damaged the unit. This statement was made before he asked me anything about what I had done. He further stated that the unit was used and he did guarrentee it works. I advised him his ad advertised it "worked well" and that implies that what I bought will work when I get it at a minuim. I further indicated that I had a great deal of experience with these units and I had not damaged the unit. Next he said to ship the unit back and he would have a tech look at it. I shipped the unit that day.

After 2 weeks of silence, I started the calling again. My 3rd call to the store, I got him and he said the unit had been damaged in shipping and he had it repaired. I advised him if the unit had been damaged that I wanted my money back and he could address the damage with UPS. This he declined and said he was mailing the unit back. I received the unit a week later and big surprise, it did not work correctly.

I called again and he said that I was just out of luck. I then called and asked to speak to the owner. The owner advised me that he would check into the problem and get back to me.

It has been months and I am still waiting on that call. I took the amp to the local McIntosh dealer and he repaired the unit. He advised that some one had attempted to repair the problem prior to their repair. He said that they had not correctly completed the prepair. The dealer also advised this was not a shipping damage problem, but a electronic failure.

To make a long story longer, Soundworks can't be trusted. They won't keep their word on call backs or what they advertise. I asked them if this is how they regularly treat customers and their reply was "you aren't a customer since you bought the item through the internet and not in the store". My emails as well as conversations were always presented in a professional manner.

Good luck with these people.....Note, Audiobuys has other negative feedback which occured after my purchase.