Stock status / Shipping status during Covid-19

Stock status: 

We have done preventive measures to re-stock vast majority of our common selling tube models. If any tube model happens to be sold out while our website hasn’t been synchronized in real time, we will notify you of such within 48 hours of receiving your order.  You will be provided with alternative options. 

Order Packing / Shipping from warehouse: 

 

Order packing / shipping is as usual at our Canadian location: all tube orders placed on this website now are shipped from our Canadian office in Alberta, Canada. We have all precaution measurements in place now to reduce risks of virus impact, so outbound order picking / packing and shipping is as usual.

Shipping methods: 

Our default ‘free airmail shipping’ is by Canada Post.  A list of destination countries have now been impacted by Covid-19 so delivery to those countries by Post is no longer be available until further notice. Please see this link for Canada Post alerts: https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page

With the chaotic Covid-19 situation and shipping interruptions, we strongly advise all customers AGAINST using this ‘free airmail shipping’ method, as in many countries, delivery is NO LONGER RELIABLE and your precious tube order may get lost in the chaos. 

Postal Airmail parcel is only insured for C$50 maximum by Canada Post. You may be exposed to big financial loss if you have ordered high value tubes, but choose to use this un-trackable shipping method during the current pandemic situation.   

Ship to USA: 

So far postal service between Canada and USA is still as normal – although borders are not closed for non-essential travel but goods flow is not impacted. We will update here if situation changes. 

Expedited Shipping to countries other than Canada / USA: 

Up to now, DHL Express is still shipping from Canada to European countries but the past guaranteed delivery standard may no longer be applicable. However, at least DHL is still shipping / delivering and receivers have full tracking for the parcel movement for the entire process, from pick up to import customs, to final delivery. DHL also uses SMS to notify receivers frequently. We strongly recommend European customers to use our Expedited shipping upgrade which includes DHL Express, unless parcel is extra bulky which may require additional postage charges.  Shipping to Australia / New Zealand and other non-major European countries will still be shipped by Canada Post at this time, as DHL cost to these countries is prohibitively high – hence cannot be covered by our flat rate expedited shipping. 

Courier freight increase: 

We have received notifications from various international carriers about freight / postage increase due to shortage of international flights. We will do our best to hold our ‘free airmail shipping’ offer or ‘flat rate shipping upgrade’ on all applicable countries for as long as we can.. however, if postage / freight increases to an extent beyond our cost can bear, we may have to add a shipping surcharge due to this unexpected situation. If this happens on shipping route to certain destination countries, we will communicate with buyers and advise increased shipping cost. Buyer will have option to either cancel order or proceed with the shipping surcharge.

We will continue update this post if any situation changes. Please come back and check if needed.

Last but not least, we hope all our customers, audiophiles and music lovers to stay well, stay safe, and enjoy your in-home time with audio and music!

Best,

Rachel @ Grant Fidelity

 

 

Payment processor’s refund policy update – Fees no longer refundable!

We use Paypal, Stripe and other payment processing service providers to process payments from worldwide for all orders placed on our website. It is the most efficient way to process payments from credit cards, bank cards etc issued in multiple currencies, and issued from multiple countries.

Currently ALL payment processors on the market have decided to no longer refund the gateway processing fee (usually up to 4.5% of the transaction amount) to merchants (that is us, the seller of goods). So when we process your refund, we can no longer refund this part of your payment as it has taken and withheld by the payment processor, not by us. We cannot refund you funds that were not received by us in the first place.  

We encourage buyers to do due diligence before placing an order and maintain committed to your purchase. An impulsive purchase will cost buyer substantial payment processing fees, plus applicable re-stocking fee if an order is actually approved for refund. 

Please note that we reserve the right to charge order cancellation administration fee up to $25 dollars per order, on top of deduction of the payment processing fees. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12AX7LS: ‘Deadly quiet, extremely dark but not in a soupy muddled way’

Feedback received from Paul via email:

“Hi Rachel,
I just want to give you an update. The tube(s) are doing well. No issues seen and I have about 10 hours on them so far.
I gotta say “wow!” these are deadly quiet, extremely dark but not in a soupy muddled way, they are still very dynamic but the silence is incredible. I am really enjoying these so far and I am sure that they will continue to develop.”

 

Type 50 tube “if you like the sound of the old triodes go for Grant Fidelity (type 50)”

Read review by long time Type 50 tube lover Rob from Netherlands:

Conclusion:
Winners are Grant Fidelity and EML. I would put my money on these. You get new tubes, with warranty. If you like the sound of the old triodes go for Grant Fidelity, if you do favor a bit more modern sound, EML would be your choice. Comparing the Grand Fidelity 50 to the originals, the originals will set you back a heap of money for used pairs, whilst difference in sound will be subtle. You get the same character for far less money, and new. As a runner up I mention the EML’s. They do not exactly match tone and spaciousness like the Grant Fidelities and originals, but do breath about the same character with more tight bass and highs. A bit more “modern” sound. Available new as well. Take your pick.
One thing to mention, the Grant Fidelity type 50 was a one batch production, so only a limited stock is available. No idea how much pairs are left at this time..”

https://www.dhtrob.com/impressies/grantfidelity_50.php

Treasure 6SN7SE Globe – “A sound investment for sure”

Feedback from customer Leo. B via email:

hello,my 6sn7se’s arrived yesterday safe & sound !! wow they’re Beautiful !! i installed them as my 2-front driver tubes in B A T VK-75 & WOW They SOUND Beautiful sound stage fattened up & widened out DETAIL GALORE !! A SOUND INVESTMENT for sure….thanks so much & i’ll try out some other tubes soon !! Leo B.

“The 12AX7LS are the best I’ve heard in my system for phono”

Feedback received from Steven D. via email:

“Hi Rachel,

Initial impressions on the Treasure 12ax7-LS in the critical phono preamp application are positive (George Wright’s WPP200C, 2 x 12ax7 per channel, 60db gain MC). Replacing the Psvane T-IIs, I find the sound is more articulate / better organized / more coherent / less homogenized. Appears as if the noise floor has been lowered, better low level info retrieval. Better bass, too.

My comments should be taken with a grain of salt, as I did not do an A-B comparison, and there was about a week’s gap in listening, so I am working from memory. Still, the LS are the best I’ve heard in my system for phono. System is reasonably revealing: upgraded Nantais classic Lenco, AT ART-9 MC cart, RS-A1 tonearm, passive TVC volume, 2A3 SET, DIY crossoverless fullrangers for speakers (they and my hearing both roll off at ~15KHz ;).

Cheers,

Stephen”