Subject:Advanced Design of Kentucky: Consumer Alert

Posted by: blindner

Date:3/25/2003 7:01:05 PM

Before you purchase a video or audio workstation from Advance Design of Kentucky (ADK), you should review my incredibly disappointing experience with them… see my letter to their president Scott Chicelli (below) and supporting documentation at http://www.marthaandbruce.com/ADK/ADKDemandLetter.htm. Learn from my mistakes in choosing these guys, I paid them $3,701 to build what should have been a state-of-the art DAW, and it really sucks to be me right now… any ideas would be appreciated. -Bruce

March 25, 2003

Advanced Design of Kentucky
5736 Limaburg Rd.
Burlington, KY 41005
Attn: Scott Chichelli, President
jcskid@advanceddesignky.com
www.advanceddesignky.com

Dear Mr. Chichelli,

I purchased a PC Digital Audio Workstation built by Advanced Design of Kentucky (“ADK”) on 10-07-02 for $3,038 along with additional hardware installed by ADK on 01-09-03 for $663. The total for the PC and hardware is $3,701; receipts are attached.

Since I received the PC, there has been a continuous list of problems that make the PC useless for its intended purpose of recording digital audio. The problems include: frequent ‘blue screens of death’, PC refuses to ‘boot up,’ memory errors, BIOS problems, the audio program (‘Sonar’) sudden closes in the middle of recording for no apparent reason and 2 (two) consecutive failures to package the PC properly for shipping to me resulting in broken hardware upon receipt. These along with other issues are documented in the letters and pictures I’ve previously sent to you dated 11-19-02, 11-24-02, 1-3-03, 1-15-03 and 03-22-03 (attached).

Since I originally received the PC from ADK, I have sent the PC back to ADK twice, at your request and my expense, to correct the problems. Additionally, the audio program (‘Sonar’), the audio interface (a MOTU MKIII) and related programs were sent to ADK, installed by ADK and ‘tested’ by ADK.

On 03-25-03, I called you to discuss the 03-22-03 letter I sent you documenting the latest occurrences of ‘blue screens of death,’ Sonar randomly closing in the middle of recording, and, in general, ADK’s failure to resolve the ongoing issues and deliver a functioning PC (attached).

When I stated I did not want to return my PC to ADK for a 3rd (third) time for repairs and would like onsite service to fix the problems, you insisted that I do no not have onsite service. On 10-7-02, before I purchased the PC, you and I discussed that ADK offers onsite service and 24/7 support. As such, I purchased a 3 year onsite service and 24/7 support contract from ADK (for $105); this is documented on the attached receipt. You now claim I am not entitled to onsite service since the company you work with has gone out of business and ADK no longer offers this. I stated that since ADK has failed to deliver a working PC despite several attempts, and since ADK will not honor the 3 year onsite service and 24/7 service I purchased, I would like to return the PC for a full refund. Our conversation ended when you hung up on me.

Please contact me with instructions on returning the defective PC to ADK in exchange for a full refund of $3,701, credited to my VISA card, on or before March 28, 2003. I will pay for insured shipping costs. If I don't receive instructions by that date, I'll promptly file this case in court in Burlington, KY

You may reach me during the day at 203 926-5643 or in the evenings until 8:30 p.m. at 203 271-9053 to discuss.

Sincerely,
Bruce Lindner

Subject:RE: Advanced Design of Kentucky: Consumer Alert

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:3/25/2003 10:02:25 PM

thats too bad. if you still need a custom daw, i build power/stability starting at $700.

Subject:RE: Advanced Design of Kentucky: Consumer Alert

Reply by: MacMoney

Date:3/26/2003 7:25:58 AM

Hi Bruce,
Sorry to hear that.

George Ware

Subject:RE: Advanced Design of Kentucky: Consumer Alert

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:3/26/2003 1:32:34 PM

I can post a list of DAW components that you can get yourself and assemble that would kick the crap out of anything these guys could build you and it sure wouldn't cost 3700.00. My box cost me less than a grand plus I never feel the need to sue myself!

Also - their god awful website would have sent me running in a second.

Anyway - sorry to hear about stuff like this.

Cheers,

Cuzin B

Subject:RE: Advanced Design of Kentucky: Consumer Alert

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:3/26/2003 2:11:59 PM

They seem to have a few well-known customers.

In any case like this, I would consult your Attorney General plus contact the BBB of Kentucky. They can always act as go-betweens for these kinds of situations. Usually, the issue can be resolved without problems.

HTH,
Iacobus

Subject:RE: Advanced Design of Kentucky: Consumer Alert

Reply by: SkZ

Date:3/26/2003 10:56:58 PM

Sorry to hear that bruce ! if i was you as well as taking the fcukers to court i'd post that on every music related forum i could find on the www and get the twats outa buisness.....

Subject:RE: Advanced Design of Kentucky: Consumer Alert

Reply by: DKeenum

Date:3/27/2003 11:53:22 AM

Bruce (aka Cuzin B),
I would love a copy of your DAW Components. I'm seriously thinking about building my own.

David

Subject:RE: Advanced Design of Kentucky: Consumer Alert

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:3/27/2003 6:29:53 PM

DKeenum,

No problem! Here's the major bits of my main workstation:

Case - Antec 19' Rackmount
CPU: Intel P4 2.53GHZ
Motherboard - ASUS P4B533-V
RAM - 1 GB of Kingston PC2700 (DDR333)
Hard Disk: 2 x 80 GB Western Digital WD800JB (with 8 MB cache)
Video - Matrox G450
Audio Card - M-Audio Delta 66 (with Omni Studio)
Firewire Card - ADS Pyro
CDROM - ASUS 52x
CDRW - Plextor PX-4012A (40x12x40)

Monitors are not included but I use a matched pair of 19' Sony Trinitron's. Given the way prices are falling (from when I bought this stuff) - you should be able to pick up everything for way under a grand no problem. Took me about 90 minutes to assemble and then rock on baby!

Again - this list is around 4 months old now but this box can take anything you can throw at it. Should hold me for a while. You could easily go faster on a bunch of this parts (but for more cash)

I would love to know what hell you get from this Kentucky company for 3700 USD? I mean what am I missing from my rig? If software is part of that price - I can see the cost going up dramtically...

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Cuzin B