I bought Focal Stella Utopia Evo, but...
- Thread starter Jongsun
- Start date
I am in the process of filing a refund lawsuit with the dealer and when I send a complaint email to the focal CEO and sales representative, they only read and have no reply. It's just amazing.
Oh, I bought the focal stella utopia directly from the distributor.
They are dealers and distributors.
I bought the focal stella utopia at a new price.
Focal guarantees two years but my dealer says one year.
Of course I asked the focal for a history of serial numbers
But they did not answer.
They also didn't answer why the speakers didn't have manuals.
I sometimes get it wrong because I use a translator.
I am so stressed out after purchasing this in January 2021
I'm not even listening to music.
I just hope this speaker disappears from my living room soon.
There is no guarantee card from focal, but I received distributors gurantee card (only one year).
There was no manual, but there was no guarantee.
To sum up what has happened so far,
I purchased the focal stella utopia evo em in January 2021.
This product was imported in August 2018 and I bought these that was 2 years old
The place I bought is distributor and dealer.
They import focal products and sell them directly.
This is a bit funny, too.
A few days later I found the 13" woofer not working at a low volume on the left speaker.
I informed the dealer and they took off the 13" woofer and replaced the diode according to the direction of the focal.
It was also worked by an installation engineer, not a professional repair engineer.
They said the focal said that this is the case because the diode often go out.
However, it was not repaired.
And when they replaced the diode, they tricked me into saying it was focal genuine part.
But they were getting cheap diodes.
They used cheap lead, not silver lead.
And once again replaced the diode.
I was so angry to rip the 13" woofer off the new speaker twice, but I held it in.
I asked why there was no manual, but they said it often happens.
Does this make sense?
And when asked why the speakers were stained, they just wiped them off.
They said they couldn't fix it.(February 2021)
I asked for a refund because I don't have the same color in stock.
Then they offered to exchange it for a "natural noyer" one at an additional price.
It's crazy.
I'm not going to accept them if they just exchange.
I asked for a refund.
They said no refunds because they lost money
and the lawsuit began.
I wrote about this injustice on the audio forum.
It has caused a lot of public outrage.
Then they made rumors that I had broken the speaker.
They sued me for libel and obstruction of business for my post.
At this time, I also sent an email to the focal.(February 2021)
The person in charge said the stain could get on.
However, he did not respond to the lack of a manual.
He did not answer the request for a history of serial numbers.
They offered an exchange for "natural noyer" at no extra charge.
They suggested this because the blue I bought is out of stock.
I was so disappointed that I refused.
After that, no matter what mail I send, I just read and don't answer.
I also sent an email to Focal ceo (May 2021)
He said he would consult with his team and give them an answer, but they didn't.
On the contrary, he said he would sue if he spread this fact unnecessarily.
And now a lawsuit is under way.
The dealer claims that my house's harmful current and my carelessness in using it broke down.
However, he said he would exchange it in consideration of consumers.
That's absurd.
It's the consumer's fault, so why are they exchanging it?
The dealer said he had the same color in stock.
The same product arrived from Dubai on March 31, 2021.
Obviously, the focal said they don't have the same color in stock.(February 2021)
This is not a reliable product.
A third trial this month.
I'm so angry looking at the speakers in the living room that I want to clean them up, but they're too heavy to do it'
Anyway, I hope that no one is harmed by the irresponsible follow-up of the focal.
I purchased the focal stella utopia evo em in January 2021.
This product was imported in August 2018 and I bought these that was 2 years old
The place I bought is distributor and dealer.
They import focal products and sell them directly.
This is a bit funny, too.
A few days later I found the 13" woofer not working at a low volume on the left speaker.
I informed the dealer and they took off the 13" woofer and replaced the diode according to the direction of the focal.
It was also worked by an installation engineer, not a professional repair engineer.
They said the focal said that this is the case because the diode often go out.
However, it was not repaired.
And when they replaced the diode, they tricked me into saying it was focal genuine part.
But they were getting cheap diodes.
They used cheap lead, not silver lead.
And once again replaced the diode.
I was so angry to rip the 13" woofer off the new speaker twice, but I held it in.
I asked why there was no manual, but they said it often happens.
Does this make sense?
And when asked why the speakers were stained, they just wiped them off.
They said they couldn't fix it.(February 2021)
I asked for a refund because I don't have the same color in stock.
Then they offered to exchange it for a "natural noyer" one at an additional price.
It's crazy.
I'm not going to accept them if they just exchange.
I asked for a refund.
They said no refunds because they lost money
and the lawsuit began.
I wrote about this injustice on the audio forum.
It has caused a lot of public outrage.
Then they made rumors that I had broken the speaker.
They sued me for libel and obstruction of business for my post.
At this time, I also sent an email to the focal.(February 2021)
The person in charge said the stain could get on.
However, he did not respond to the lack of a manual.
He did not answer the request for a history of serial numbers.
They offered an exchange for "natural noyer" at no extra charge.
They suggested this because the blue I bought is out of stock.
I was so disappointed that I refused.
After that, no matter what mail I send, I just read and don't answer.
I also sent an email to Focal ceo (May 2021)
He said he would consult with his team and give them an answer, but they didn't.
On the contrary, he said he would sue if he spread this fact unnecessarily.
And now a lawsuit is under way.
The dealer claims that my house's harmful current and my carelessness in using it broke down.
However, he said he would exchange it in consideration of consumers.
That's absurd.
It's the consumer's fault, so why are they exchanging it?
The dealer said he had the same color in stock.
The same product arrived from Dubai on March 31, 2021.
Obviously, the focal said they don't have the same color in stock.(February 2021)
This is not a reliable product.
A third trial this month.
I'm so angry looking at the speakers in the living room that I want to clean them up, but they're too heavy to do it'
Anyway, I hope that no one is harmed by the irresponsible follow-up of the focal.
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When the lawsuit is completed with the dealer here, I will discuss it with my lawyer
I'm no lawyer, but I would consider a technical expert at the trial. Someone to provide proof your amp did not damage thr speaker. A damaged speaker will have electrical characteristics that show the damage. The impedance through the coils goes up and the insulation on each winding breaks down allowimg current to leak from strand to strand instead of going through the whole winding.
The stain is a no win. Forget about it. You want a 100% functional speaker.
If the diode was replaced with non factory parts, that is another point to argue.
I personally think your issue is in the crossover. Inaccurate reaistor matching. Maybe a faulty inductor.
Any way about it, you got heard. When they sue back, you were noticed. Keep at it. Good luck. Hopefully the judge awards you a victory and requires they refund you.
The stain is a no win. Forget about it. You want a 100% functional speaker.
If the diode was replaced with non factory parts, that is another point to argue.
I personally think your issue is in the crossover. Inaccurate reaistor matching. Maybe a faulty inductor.
Any way about it, you got heard. When they sue back, you were noticed. Keep at it. Good luck. Hopefully the judge awards you a victory and requires they refund you.
They and I tested and found out that there was a problem with the speaker.
And they also admitted the problem with the speakers.
Their admission of the matter remains evidence.
That's why they reported to focal and Focal ordered the diode to be replaced.
Focal instructed to obtain and replace the diode with the same capacity without sending the original parts.
Does this make sense?
That's why they lied to me that this was a genuine part.
The fact that there is a problem with this speaker is clear.
But as the case begins, they change their statements And I'm spreading rumors that I'm broken.
The trial will take place next week.
Thank you for being nice to me!
That makes two of us.
I sent what I posted here to the CEO and sales representative of Focal.
If they were confident, they would have posted an explanation here.
But they don't reply to emails and don't reply here.
Thank you for your advice
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Good luck. I have bought a number of faulty items over the years (all brand new). One was a Mcintosh CDP, One was a Metronome CDP and the third a PurePower distributor. All were refunded 100% once the fault had been identified (the Purepower didn't need much of a work up as it kind of exploded whilst I was on the phone to the dealer and he almost soiled himself). Good luck. At any price you should get a full refund.
That's right. If there's a problem with the product, it's right to exchange or refund
Moreover, if they don't have a product to exchange, of course it's right to get a refund.
The dealer said his company doesn't have a refund policy.
They have a very bad reputation in our country.
Because of this case, many people try not to use the products that the dealer sells.
Of course, it includes the focal
I heard rumors that sales also fell by less than half.
I hope that I win the case and this bad company disappears.
Thank you for your advice
I am also a trial lawyer (CA and MA), and the way you were treated is complete BS, especially for such an expensive speaker by a well-established manufacturer. I think that you made a tactical error by not naming Focal as a defendant, because that puts them in the spotlight, not just the distributor. They have more incentive to fix this situation. From Focal's website:
A PHILOSOPHY OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS
The quality of our products is essential, and excellence is a constant concern. This is why we choose all our French and foreign partners with great care, to ensure that the level of quality meets our select criteria, whether they're suppliers of components or finished products.I would argue that that constitutes a separate representation of quality on which you can rely, and their conduct towards you is a breach of those representations (among other things). You are clearly right, down to the dubious facts that the speakers were imported 2 years before you bought them and didn't come with owner's manuals or cards (but did come with a stain). My Focal Diablo Utopia III's came with a full glossy brochure and manual for each of the speakers. You are being lied to left and right, and you need to make sure that you have an expert that will testify that there is nothing in your house or equipment that would have caused any problems, and that X is the actual problem with the speaker, which has nothing to do with your house or equipment. Make them lie on the witness stand, and then go right after them on those lies. I am outraged that Focal would treat someone that way, and it was not my personal experience. Right after receiving my Focals, the metal center of the woofer literally fell out because they didn't use enough glue. A phone call to the US distributor and I received a brand new woofer for free the next week. That is the type of service to expect. Sure, things happen. Its how those things are dealt with that counts. Go get them and good luck.
Thank you for your advice.
The judge instructed the expert to appraise the speaker
To determine whether this speaker is broken by the consumer's fault or an initial failure.
Anyone who knows a little about electronics knows that this failure cannot occur for use in a week, but ordinary people do not know.
After an expert makes an assessment, it will be confirmed that it is an initial defect, and the judge will make a judgment based on it.
I received an e-mail from Focal that acknowledged the initial defect.
And this was also submitted as evidence.
However, the focal does not take any action and does not respond to my e-mail, just reading it.
I am going to file a claim for damages with the focal when the trial with the distributor is completed to some extent.
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