Terrible after-sales service and a complete lack of customer support
I purchased an RM Italy KL503 Low Drive from CRT France in June 2026. The amplifier never worked properly, right from the first use. It had serious problems in SSB, with virtually unintelligible modulation and extremely erratic power consumption. I tested it with different radios and setups to rule out problems with my station.
What is particularly concerning is that CRT France itself tested the equipment before shipping it and provided me with a photograph of that test. The photograph shows the amplifier operating in AM, with approximately 360 W of output, whereas RM Italy specifies a maximum output of 300 W and an input drive power of just 1 to 6 W for this Low Drive model.
This result, approximately 20% above the manufacturer’s specified maximum output, raises serious concerns that the amplifier may have been overdriven or operated outside its specifications during the test. This is particularly relevant because the amplifier never worked properly while in my possession.
I sent CRT France the manufacturer’s technical documentation and requested clarification. I never received any technical explanation for the results of their own test.
Instead, I received a response that I found defensive and discouraging. They authorised a return for inspection under warranty, but immediately warned that I might have to cover servicing and shipping costs if no fault was identified. They also stated:
“This amplifier has been sold for a long time and has never shown any faults.”
I consider this statement deeply inappropriate. A model’s sales history does not prove that an individual unit is free from defects, especially when a customer presents technical evidence that warrants an explanation.
To summarise, the main problems with this experience were:
Equipment that did not work properly from the very first use: the amplifier arrived with serious problems, despite the tests CRT France itself had carried out before shipping it.
A technically concerning test: the photograph supplied by the company shows approximately 360 W in AM from a Low Drive amplifier specified for a maximum of 300 W. I never received any explanation for this discrepancy.
A defensive response to the complaint: instead of addressing the evidence presented, the company stated that this model had never shown any faults and immediately warned me about potential charges.
Warranty-related costs borne by the customer: CRT France’s policy places shipping costs and any necessary packaging costs on the customer, even when equipment is returned for service under warranty.
No follow-up after dispatch: on 18 June, I informed them that I had shipped the equipment, enclosing the invoice and the after-sales service form, and providing the tracking number. I received no response from a member of staff.
No support when a delivery problem arose: on 25 June, I immediately notified CRT France of a delivery issue and asked them to confirm the address of their own service department and, if necessary, contact the carrier. I received only an automated reply. I never received any response from a member of staff or any meaningful follow-up.
The outcome was disastrous. The amplifier was eventually declared lost in transit, and I spent countless hours contacting carriers, filing complaints and trying to resolve the entire situation on my own.
In my dealings with CRT France, I was left to bear the entire loss, with no solution offered by the seller. Timely intervention when I requested help, or return procedures offering better support and more secure shipping arrangements, could have helped prevent or minimise this outcome.
I do not hold CRT France directly responsible for the parcel being lost in transit. My criticism concerns their handling of the complaint, their failure to provide technical explanations and their lack of assistance when a problem arose with a shipment to their own service department.
I bought equipment that never worked properly, paid for international shipping to have it serviced, and ended up without the amplifier. When I needed the seller most, I was left without support.
I will not buy from CRT France again, and I do not recommend their after-sales service, especially to international customers.