I bought my fourth pair of SS-M9ED that I saw in Japan!!!
The photos below chronicle the purchase of the SS-M9ED (called SS-1ED in Japan) while I was in Japan the week after the France trip.
I had this Japan trip booked earlier even before the France trip.
My purpose going to Japan was to listen to the ELP Laser Turntable which I was contemplating buying.
I arranged to visit the ELP factory to listen to it, and then spend the rest of the week traveling around Tokyo to buy vinyl LPs and to enjoy the sights of the Japanese cherry blossoms.
By chance, my friends and I went into the Audio Union Shop in the Ochanomizu station area.
To my great surprise, I found another pair of SS-M9ED sitting there.
The price was nearly half of what I paid for the pair in France, and condition was just as good.
I decided I would have to buy this pair too.
The super tweeters on this pair of SS-M9ED have been removed for handcarry back to Singapore,
while I wait to have the rest of the speakers sent to me by air freight - in the same way as I had arranged for the pair earlier bought from France.
You will understand my extra caution why I would want to handcarry the super fragile super tweeters back with me.
In the past, I have had 3 pairs (6 pieces) crushed while in transit due to the ineptness of delivery people.
The youngish sales guy at the shop had a very bad attitude.
Even after I told him that I wanted to buy the speakers, he still didn't take the necessary actions to conclude the sales.
He, in fact, told me they are only interested to sell to Japanese only.
I had to call my Japanese friend, Mr Takeshi Inoue on the phone to talk to this young sales guy.
However, no carton box, whatsoever would be provided, neither would any packing, or delivery service arranged from their side to send the speakers over to me in Singapore.
While I accepted that no original carton box and packing materials would be available, I was a little upset they would be so unhelpful.
The situation when I bought the speakers 1 week ago in France was so vastly different.
At that time, Flavien Batier went out of his way to provide carton boxes and packing materials to make sure the speakers would arrive in Singapore properly protected.
(Flavien even gave me a 200 euro discount upon hearing that my wallet had been stolen)
For this sale, I was out on my own. I had to call my shipping agent to make some arrangements.
So having to come back the next day to conclude the sales, Takeshi Inoue at least did succeed in asking Audio Union to reserve the speakers for 1 day....
I should say, I needed to go to Akihabara couple of hours earlier, before coming to the shop, to look for a set of star-shaped Alan Keys necessary to unlock the super tweeters from its cut-out housing.
If I hadn't been able to buy this set of Alan keys, I would have to call the purchase off.
After settling the payment for the speakers, it was time to dismantle the super tweeters for separate transport by hand carry back home.
The super tweeters' exposed underbelly.
Just need to cut the black and white cable protruding out from the cut-out housing for the super tweeters.
The super tweeters well protected in a carton box with improvised packing materials that Takeshi Inoue helped cut out.
We left the rest of the speakers at the shop, and carried the super tweeters back home.
Have to arrange pickup, packing and delivery to Singapore
the saga still not finished.....