A Bit Frustrated!

[loganpass]

Starting to feel like I might be getting the cold shoulder- last thing I want to do is turn this bass purchase into a bad experience but here's the story.

Admired the Dingwall listing "Dingwall ABII 5 Spalted Maple Burl Top" for a while and finally contacted BC. That one was sold but Ed responded with an option to place an order for a new Dingwall. Sent a small deposit and received a copy of the invoice for a new ABII with "X-Top Package Spalted Maple Burl Top". Time and life fly by until I receive a message that my bass has arrived. Due to some small disasters on the home front, I ask for and cheerfully receive a little more time before I pay her off.

I notice that a new Dingwall has appeared on the website with basically the same specs as mine, namely the "X-Top Spalted Maple Burl Top" and I start thinking I haven't actually seen the bass that was ordered for me. I'm concerned because the bass shown in the listing is described with the same top package but well, bottom line is I don't like the top or accents which although definitely a spalted maple top, is flamed and contains absolutely no burl, the main detail in the example bass top that drew me to it in the first place.

I contacted Ed who happily sent some pictures of the actual bass reserved for me which is unfortunately probably made from the same or very similar top piece as the new one on the website. I let Ed know I didn't care for it and he forwarded some pictures of the second bass that had arrived ( I assume the one pictured that got me concerned in the first place) and again, don't much care for the top etc...

I let Ed know that I'm grateful for the kind treatment I have received from Beaver and crew but I'm very disappointed that Dingwall never bothered to contact me before building the bass so I could yay or nay the top etc... Now please bear in mind that we're talking about an almost $4000 bass. I have ordered other basses over the years and have always been contacted before construction starts to avoid this kind of awkward situation. My invoice clearly says that my contact information was forwarded to Dingwall with the P.O.

So I email Ed to let him know that even though I'm trying to like the tops that have arrived, I just don't and ask him what to do now. I sent that email on Aug. 10th and again on Aug. 18th with no responses. Am I to assume that I have become a problem customer because I'm unhappy with the bass? For almost 4K I don't think it's unreasonable that I receive what I expected and not make do with what they decided to sell me. I would like to figure out a solution that involves me purchasing a bass but if I'm simply being ignored then I want my deposit back and I will seek a bass that is satisfactory. I agreed to the terms that my deposit is non-refundable but unless I'm really missing something, The description was and still is clearly not correct. If it's a burl top, I'm sure not seeing it. I'm not trying to walk away from a purchase, it feels like BC is. Silence is not golden at this point.

Sorry for the long vent, it's therapuetic for me at least. It's been a rough year and I really wanted this bass purchase to be a bright spot. Bass Central, cheerful customer care is easy when everything is going good. Let's work out a solution.

[SLUGGO]

Doug...I looked at one of the burl tops and agree there is no burl. However, the others are gorgeous! That said...this sounds like Dingwall's screw up. But if I were you, I'd CALL Bass Central rather than simply e-mail them. I have bought several basses from them and know for a fact that your satisfaction is paramount! Beaver, Mike, Grasshopper and the rest are the best around.....there is no way they would let you walk away unhappy. Good Luck!

[mstott25]

These two tops do seem pretty different although I really like the looks of both.

I know Bass Central will take care of you but it's hard to not point out a few observations here.

1). You still have not paid for this bass and you started a public thread about this transaction without even making a phone call.

2). It seems to me like you waited for everything to happen rather than being proactive on your part. Why not ask for a phone call before the top is selected? Why not send a photo of exactly what you're looking for?

Originally Posted by loganpass

Sent a small deposit and received a copy of the invoice for a new ABII with "X-Top Package Spalted Maple Burl Top". Time and life fly by until I receive a message that my bass has arrived. Due to some small disasters on the home front, I ask for and cheerfully receive a little more time before I pay her off.



I contacted Ed who happily sent some pictures of the actual bass reserved for me which is unfortunately probably made from the same or very similar top piece as the new one on the website.

I let Ed know that I'm grateful for the kind treatment I have received from Beaver and crew but I'm very disappointed that Dingwall never bothered to contact me before building the bass so I could yay or nay the top etc...

So I email Ed to let him know that even though I'm trying to like the tops that have arrived, I just don't and ask him what to do now. I sent that email on Aug. 10th and again on Aug. 18th with no responses.

[loganpass]

Thanks for your thoughts Micah,
For the record, I think both are fantastic. I'd guess that they are both knockouts in person, I don't think I've seen a Dingwall that I thought looked nasty. However, number 2 is just not what I was expecting.

I started a thread on the Bass Central sponsored forum because that's who's involved. Public yes but it's something I can do to reach someone after business hours. My focus has not been on my bass purchasing dramas during the day. I emailed BC twice after hours because that's when I can, and since I voiced my dissatisfaction I have heard nothing.

BTW to emphasize again, I'm not trying to beat up BC. They have been nice to me up to this point and I'm sure that all the complimentary posts here were earned by them. I'm not mad at BC, I sent them a few bucks, they ordered a bass. What went wrong after that I don't know. I'm just feeling a bit ignored.

I will admit that I should have been more proactive during the process. However in past bass orders I have not had to chase anybody for participation. I assumed it would be the same with Dingwall but I was wrong. Since the order was placed, I've had to deal with a flooded and destroyed house and recently a death. The bass was not even close to the top of my list and in fact is still not in the top five, that's why I opened this thread on the weekend, while my mind was on it. As far as sending a photo to BC, they already have it as bass number one is the one I enquired on in the first place.

[mstott25]

Ouch Doug, sorry to hear about your loss and the other events you've gone through this year.

If you don't like the top, you don't like the top! I guess there's not much more that can be said about that. I would think it would be hard keeping consistency between anything that is both "spalted" and "burl", but it seems like in the photos above that one looks more like a flame maple burl and the other one just looks spalted. There is not much "burl" in the recent pic which I assume is what yours now looks like.

I was thinking you could have sent the photo to Dingwall, not Bass Central, I'm sure Bass Central has a hard time remembering details about any of the basses that fly through there.

Anyways, I hope everything gets resolved for you. BC shouldn't have a problem selling the new Dingwall. Please let us know how things turn out.

[bassnat]

Doug, based on my BC's year's of experience, you are in good hands. I agree that it would be best if you gave them a call. Since school is starting in many counties today a lot of people are on vacation the last week or two before school starts, and are difficult to reach. They could be waiting for a reply from Dingwall. I am glad that you mention you are not trying to beat up on BC and that they ordered the bass for you with only a modest deposit. Sorry to hear of all of your recent hardships. You are obviously a quality customer, dealing with a quality dealer, purchasing a quality bass. I anticipate this will conclude with a mutually satisfactory conclusion. Nat

[BassCentral]

We are working with Doug and Dingwall to get a top that 'works'.

FWIW, if anyone has an issue with an order/etc from us, PLEASE CALL US first. The best, most effective way to handle a possible situation with an order is a phone call to the store.

Thanks.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by BassCentral

We are working with Doug and Dingwall to get a top that 'works'.

That's what we consumers like to hear!

(totally sincere, in case you weren't sure)

[BassCentral]

...and we have a top!


Bongo-
Shouldn't you be working on an Empress Comp review?
(Our in-house pedal freaks are chomping at the bit, not like we need more pedals but... )

[bongomania]

Dan at Empress emailed this morning with a tracking number...

[loganpass]

Sheldon, Barry, and Ed have conspired to create what I'm sure will be a beautiful and most definitely burled AfterBurner for me. So to all of you thank you.

I offer my apologies if I've gotten under anyones craw but it's been a helluva year and my nerves are frayed beyond belief. Receiving a pretty new Dingwall will be a much appreciated high point in what has otherwise been a real pain in the ass year!

I will certainly post the new bass when it arrives some weeks down the road.

[aqsw]

I'm glad everything is working out for you. The guys at Dingwall are super, and it seems the BC guys are too.

Kudos to every one involved

[double]

Originally Posted by mstott25

1). You still have not paid for this bass and you started a public thread about this transaction without even making a phone call.

2). It seems to me like you waited for everything to happen rather than being proactive on your part. Why not ask for a phone call before the top is selected? Why not send a photo of exactly what you're looking for?

That's exactly the right thing to say.
Then if you did not pay yet, i cannot understand why you make all this mess now...

[loganpass]

"i cannot understand why you make all this mess now..."

Then keep re-reading the post until you understand