Ordering & Methods of Payment  

We accept the following forms of payment:

  • VISA
  • MASTERCARD
  • AMERICAN EXPRESS
  • WIRE TRANSFER: $15 fee added to shipping total
  • MONEY ORDER
  • CERTIFIED CHECK
  • PERSONAL CHECK
  • WESTERN UNION
  • PAYPAL

    Details below.

Ordering Parts, Manuals, and other things is pretty easy -- just call or e-mail me and we'll work out what you need, and I'll give you a final quote. you can pay for items using any of the methods below.

How you pay for things will depend on whether you are in the U.S. or not.

Orders from within the United States, click here
Orders from other countries, click here.

Payment Terms

Paying for Repairs. Repairs are generally paid for when the work is complete. I usually have a good idea what the problem is, and how much it will cost to repair. In such cases, and if you are in the U.S., it is probably simplest for you to put a check for the amount I quoted in with the unit to be repaired. That way I can simply ship the unit back to you when the work is complete. Before sending items to me for repair, you need to get a Repair Authorization number from me. Click here for information on that.

Paying for Upgrades and Modifications. Because of the high cost of the parts I used for upgrades, and because I cannot predict which upgrades I'll be doing, all parts are ordered on an as-needed basis. For that reason, upgrades and modifications are always done on a prepaid deposit basis (usually 50%).

Call me or e-mail me to discuss your needs, and we'll determine which upgrades will work best for you. Or just contact me and tell me what you want. You can even just send a printout of the upgrades page for your product with circles around the specific upgrades you want is sufficient. Be sure to tell me:

  • Your name, shipping address and telephone number.
  • Any known problems with your unit -- we can probably take care of them while your unit is here.

    I'll respond with an estimate for you to inspect. And once the details have been sorted out, we'll need a 50% (or other agreed-upon) deposit for the work requested plus return shipping. The balance is payable when the work is complete.

Once I receive the deposit, I order the specialty parts needed. Normally, it takes one to two weeks for the parts to be on hand, at which point I begin the work on your unit. Sometimes it is not desirable for your system to be "down" for such a long period of time, so you might want to do what many other customers have done: send your deposit ahead of time, then arrange to have your unit here a bit later, when the parts are here. Most upgrades require less than a week to do, although large projects, like SA-11 rebuilds, can take longer.

An exception to the above are the NP100 rebuilds for the SA-12 and SA-100 amplifiers, the NP220 upgrades for the SA-20 and SA-220 amplifiers, and the 24-bit Rapture DACCard upgrades for the DA-10.     To keep costs down, these upgrades are done on a "batch" basis. I purchase sufficient parts to do 25 upgrades at a time. Upgrades like these, which require new printed circuit boards to be assembled and tested with all-new parts, are better handled in the traditional style of making then in batches, or "production runs."
     To get on the Priority List for these rebuilds, you will need to send in your payment (again, with Letter of Instructions and shipping information). If I am in the process of doing rebuilds, and have an opening in the Priority List, I can generally get to your unit in short time. However, if I am between production runs, I will need to save your payment in a separate bank account until I have received a sufficient number of orders (usually eight) that I can start ordering all the parts for a run of 25 units. It is impossible for me to predict exactly when all eight orders will be received. Sometimes orders come in quickly, sometimes not.

You can view the present status of these rebuilds by visiting the pages which describe them.

Methods of Payment

  • U.S. Customers:

  1. Method One: Cash and Checks. You can send a personal check, company check, cashier's check or money order, payable to Alta Vista Audio L.L.C., to the address below. Be certain to include a note describing what you are ordering, or the invoice number you are paying for, and any shipping information you need me to know. If you send your check by postal service, and if you have requested a signature as proof of delivery, and if the carrier misses me (I may be out on an errand, buying parts or something), then I will have to go the post office and stand in line to get the envelope because they do not attempt re-delivery, and will not hand the envelope over to anyone other than the addressee. If I have to do that, then I will add a $45 fee to your invoice. If you insist on shipping by postal service, then please address your package to: Michael Elliott or Dai Phan 2027 Charleen Circle Carlsbad, CA 92008

  2. Method Two: Credit Cards. You can pay with your Mastercard, Visa or American Express card with the following limitations:
    • Please add 2.7% to all credit card orders.
      NOTES:
      • If you are in California, I am expected to charge you 7.25% sales tax. San Diego county residents pay an additional 0.25% for the privilege.
      • Orders paid by credit card are subject to verification, and I must ship the goods to the card's billing address.

  3. Method Three: Transfer payments from any Western Union office. Click here to find your nearest location. When transferring, please send the money to Michael Elliott, and request a Money Transfer Control Number. Tell me that number and the amount you sent I can retrieve your payment.

  4. Method Four: We can accept Paypal payments from anywhere. Go to www.paypal.com and Send Money to our e-mail address, mike@altavistaaudio.com
    Please add 2.9% + $0.30 to all Paypal payments to cover the fee they deduct.     For example: to make a $100 payment, please send $102.90 + 0.30 = $103.20.
  • E-mail: mike@altavistaaudio.com
  • telephone: +760 519 0193 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pacific time, Monday - Friday)
  • fax: + 760 547 26o1

 

  • Non-U.S. Customers:
    1. Method One: Money Orders.You can send a Western Union Money Order, or American Express Money Order (or other International Money Order), or a bank cheque drawn on a U.S. bank, payable to Alta Vista Audio L.L.C. in U.S. dollars to the address at the bottom of this page. Be certain to include a note describing what you are ordering, or the invoice number you are paying for, and any shipping information you need me to know.

    2. Method Two: Transfer payments from any Western Union office. Click here to find your nearest location. When transferring, please send the money to Michael Elliott, and request a Money Transfer Control Number. Tell me that number and the amount you sent I can retrieve your payment.

    3. Method Three: Wire Transfer. You may also pay by direct wire instead. If you wish to do this, please provide your bank with the following information:

Bank: Citibank
Address of bank branch where account is located:
898 E Vista Way Vista, California, 92083-5937 USA
ABA (Transit) Number: will be provided on request.
Account Holder/Beneficiary: Alta Vista Audio L.L.C.
Account Number: WILL BE E-MAILED UPON REQUEST

IMPORTANT:
When you choose bank transfer please note that:

  1. Our bank charges $15 to all incoming money transfers to our account which has to be added to your order value,
  2. There may be other fees charged by your bank, and/or by  intermediary banks. It is your responsibility to cover all wire transfer fees. Your order will not be proceed until the net value of the amount due less all wire transfer fees has been received in our account. 
  3. Send me a note, fax or e-mail to inform me what you are ordering, what the remitting bank is, and your shipping address, including your telephone number.

4. Method Four: Credit Cards. Visa, Mastercard and American Express have some restrictions regarding accepting payment from certain overseas countries. Please contact me for details.

   
Orders paid by credit card for non-U.S. customers are subject to verification, and I must ship the goods to the card's billing address. Some restrictions -- not mine, the credit card company's -- apply. I must abide by their decision regarding non-U.S. sales. Please add 2.7% when paying by credit card.

5. Method Five: We can accept Paypal payments from anywhere. Go to www.paypal.com and Send Money to our e-mail address: mike@altavistaaudio.com
Please note that Paypal must charge a fee for international transactions which you must add to your payment. Please go to https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-xborder-fees-outside&countries and use the Standard Rate to calculate your fee.


C O P Y R I G H T ©  1 9 9 8 - 2 0 0 8   A L T A   V I S T A   A U D I O  L.L.C.
2027 Charleen Circle · Carlsbad, CA 92008 · USA
PLEASE SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT
Email: mike@altavistaaudio.com
Email preferred but if you have to call:
Tel 877-517-4247 (U.S. toll-free) or call + 760 519 0193 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday - Friday)
fax + 484 348 3O82