Spark amp problems after one week!
-
So got my amp one week ago today, super excited as it only took three days from when I ordered (QLD Australia). Noticed a slight hum through the amp and a high pitch squeal comes through the music control dial when turned clockwise. My cousin has exactly the same amp with none of these issues. Plugged in an electric guitar a few times since receiving and no issues great output. Plugged in an electric acoustic this morning all worked well at the start now nothing, no sound coming from the amp with either of the two guitars. Can still play music through the app and Bluetooth. Have tried resetting no change also tried different cables just to be sure no change. Contacted support so now have to wait for reply. Gunna be very annoyed if they expect me to pay postage return, for something that breaks within a week. Not happy Jan!!!!!
-
Yeah, I'm with you on this one. It sure is shit when something goes wrong with a great product like this. But, fret not; great products come with great customer service, including approved regional service centres; they have to; everyone knows that, right?
Anyhow, the good news is (or should be) this. As someone from the UK who bought his Spark direct from the USA, I can tell you that the support team located in the USA is very good; they'll get you through to the, "Okay, you need to get little Sparky back to us for repair" bit, if that's the appropriate solution.
There's also good news regarding shipping costs; or at least there should be, because you are well within honeymoon period comprising the first 30 days of your contractual obligations with Positive Grid. As such, you shouldn't have to pay, so pack little Sparky up, send him off as directed by support, and enjoy a dozen or so amber nectars while he's away. And don't pine, he'll be back soon, fixed and ready to go...
... Hopefully, trouble free for years because, if not, this is where things might start going south faster than your great great grandma's boobs. What I'm about to describe applies to customers in the UK (and also Europe) who bought Sparks direct from Positive Grid. I'd advise you check what's happening in Australia.
Simply put, Positive Grid sold tens of thousands of Sparks to customers in Europe but never thought to open an approved Spark service centre in the region (not in the UK or the EU bloc), despite having business relationships with Spark retailers in the UK, such as guitarguitar, who have world class technical staff around the country. Hence, after 30 days, any repair work, no matter how menial, needs to be carried out in the USA (I guess because that's where they, uh... No, they're made in China, aren't they?).
Anyhow, in accordance with the T&Cs, the customer foots the bill for shipping i.e., a $145 USD flat fee to ship to and from the USA, additional shipping costs to get Sparky to the UK warehouse (wherever that might be) and possibly import / export VAT @ 2o% courtesy of an overspill of Brexit legislation. In my case (excluding import VAT), that came to around $2oo USD which, for the repair of a cheap, plastic, $2, 3.5mm headphone socket, is absurd.
Hopefully, you'll be okay, but I would urge all potential (and new) customers to think about the lifetime cost if considering the purchase of a Spark.
Also, Positive Grid are more or less silent about this matter (unless you specifically ask), to the point that having no approved Spark service centres in Europe is not mentioned on their website or pointed out during the sales process. So, don't, as I did, assume that all repairs would be affected in the UK or Europe.
That said, if I hadn't bought direct from Positive Grid, perhaps things would be different. Well, when I enquired about purchasing a Spark from guitarguitar (as above), they sent me the appropriate paperwork and told me that they would handle any warranty issues (as long as I arranged and paid for the return the item to one of their UK stores); well, until, I pointed out that there is no approved Spark service centre in the UK or Europe, and outlined the consequential costs incurred. They were clearly not aware of this. Indeed, they were dumbfounded by this and told me that they would have to investigate further as to their warranty commitments for the Spark.
Makes you wonder, don't it? No?: Well, it should.
Good luck, best wishes and be safe.