What's up with GK product flow?

clauscaixa · #1 10-25-2011, 03:20 PM

I have sifted through every possible European online store in search of a 212MBE cab to complement the one I already have.

No luck.

Nothing in stock anywhere. Unknown delivery time. Going out of production? New model range coming? Not shipping to Europe anymore?

I just gotta have that cab!

4-string · #2 10-25-2011, 03:27 PM

Seems to have been that way for a while. You hear about a new product being launched, and then it takes months before it actually hits the stores.

If that weren't the case, I would own GK gear now. Unfortunately, this has turned me off GK completely. I like how the stuff sounds though!

Crabby · #3 10-25-2011, 03:36 PM

same here. i was looking to order in a pair of neo112 cabs but learned that there were none available in Canada to order and no eta for delivery.

**Matthew_84** · #4 10-25-2011, 03:51 PM

When I ordered a 410MBE on March 25th, none were available anywhere in Canada, but I ordered it anyway. When I ordered it, I was told it should only take a couple of weeks.

After a couple of weeks, I found out the shipment would come in July, but in August discovered that it wasn't on the July shipment and was then expected to arrive in September.

I finally got the cab last Monday (a week shy of 7 months).

What really annoyed me is that I sent GK an e-mail asking about it after a couple of months and I didn't get a response. I sent another one in August and there was still no reply, granted, I was a little upset and a little tactless. But, I went to send them another one shortly after and they had blocked my e-mail.

Had they just responded to my initial e-mail about how they're really backed up, I would have understood. But they didn't. I didn't feel like a customer. I felt like they just wanted my money.

I love the cab, it is everything I hoped for, but I will not deal with them again.

To be fair, they may not have a huge manufacturing facility, or a lot of staff, hense why their production is really slow, and how they can sell the MBE series for as cheap as they do. The waiting I wouldn't have minded so much, had I been kept in the loop initially about how long it would take. And a simple e-mail response from them would have fixed that. But they simply didn't see the value in it.

**B-string** · #5 10-25-2011, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clauscaixa

I have sifted through every possible European online store in search of a 212MBE cab to complement the one I already have.

No luck.

Nothing in stock anywhere. Unknown delivery time. Going out of production? New model range coming? Not shipping to Europe anymore?

I just gotta have that cab!

We don't know what your distributor may has actually ordered (G-K has an agreement with off US continent distributors).
I do know the cabs and speakers are made at G-K's owned and operated plant in China (closer to the source of poplar and NEO material). They get tested not only in the G-K China plant but also at the G-K plant in California after the boat ride. You could contact rag here on TalkBass or brian@gallien.com (he is artist relations). Direct emails have always been answered for myself but I have never used a generic email address (like: sales@gallien.com). I have always hoped delays were rag being picky about what his name goes out on but I have no confirmation.

garagebassman · #6 10-26-2011, 07:30 AM

I was concerned about them being discontinued as well
when I noticed them no longer in stock on MF or RMC audio.

I actually checked with GK on it. ( It looks as if I may have your same setup MB500/212MBE)

GK ( at the time, 2 mos ago ?) said they were NOT planning to discontinue the cab., But that they HAD been backed up on supplying/filling orders

I actually contacted RMC audio (where I purchased mine last fall), and was told that GK had them in stock, but that demand had not been high enough for RMC to keep them stocked, but he could order and get me one fairly quickly

So i think there may be a delay to get there from GK perhaps, or by contacting GK directly, they may be able to hook you to a european distributor that has them ? Hopefully ?

I was planning to add a second, but still haven't needed the volume....but am still dreaming about the extra headroom ! maybe at christmastime !!

Joe Louvar · #7 10-26-2011, 09:58 AM

The 212MBE's are in stock here in the USA and ready to ship for $399.00US - but if you live in Europe, checkout Barefaced speakers. Barefaced Bass - Ultra lightweight high power bass guitar speaker cabinets

will33 · #8 10-26-2011, 10:52 AM

Kinda sucks reading this 'cause I've always liked GK but man, if they took my money, didn't deliver product for 6+ months and blocked their customers emails, I'd be demanding refund, telling them where to stick it, filing legal complaints, etc. There's no excuse for that kinda crap.

Why in the hell take someones money knowing good and well you can't deliver?

clauscaixa · #9 10-26-2011, 02:32 PM

Thanks everyone for sharing my frustrations and providing your point of view.

I love my GK products too much to let my frustrations change my desire for another 212MBE cab.

Matter of fact I now have promised ETA of 4 to 5 weeks on an 8 Ohm cab, which I have ordered.

It is not GK that is "taking my money and not delivering". It is the retailers (online shops) that allow me to place orders and then a few days later send me an email that they cannot promise any delivery date. And then I cancel the order.

But now I have such promise from a UK dealer that i trust and I can wait 5 weeks no problem.

Looking forward to the extra cab. I don't need extra volume per se ... but I like the slightly softer tone of the cab when it is playing at lower volumes so I am thinking that two cabs will allow me to achieve my volume requirements within a per cab volume load which is a walk-over for the cab design. Ie. not stretching it by a wide margin.

will33 · #10 10-26-2011, 02:45 PM

Then they need to straighten things out with their dealers, it's making them look bad. It's their name that's on the stuff, not "ABC Music store". That said, I am a fan of GK amps, hope this stuff gets sorted out.

**Matthew_84** · #11 10-26-2011, 03:30 PM

Yeah the cab is great, and I'd recommend it to anyone.

But I'd also recommend to look into its availability before ordering. In my case, there is only one distributor in all of Canada for GK, and I got the store to call the distributor numerous times and they were expecting a big GK container to come in July, but didn't know if my order was on it or not. It turned out not to be and then they said it could be on the September container, and thankfully it was.

Maybe GK and the distributors should have better communication so the distributor knows exactly what's coming on the next order instead of finding out when it arrives, and in turn, telling me a date or a reason for the delay rather than just a simple, "it'll get here when it does". But it would also be nice for GK to respond to their e-mails instead of blocking them.

tekhedd · #12 10-26-2011, 03:36 PM

Maybe neo cab delays are related to the artificial shortage of rare earth metals?

4-string · #13 10-26-2011, 04:59 PM

Dealers play their part in this, at least some of them.

My main gripe is the way GK will introduce a new product, and then it is six months or whatever before the very first one hits the stores.

Joe Louvar · #14 10-26-2011, 05:01 PM

I was wrong - I delete my last post.

Joe Louvar · #15 10-26-2011, 05:03 PM

I don't like it either - and it was/is that way with the MB/MBE micro stuff for sure.

EDIT:
And as you pointed out - some of the first units had bugs.

4-string · #16 10-26-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Louvar

but if you live in Europe, checkout Barefaced speakers. Barefaced Bass - Ultra lightweight high power bass guitar speaker cabinets

+1