Don't Order Pickguards From Sharp Concepts!

Trapeze Fan · #1 01-23-2009, 02:11 PM

Many of you ask who you can order custom made pickguards from. I've always dealt with Jeannie's and they've always been fantastic. However, I wanted something wilder than their offerings and found a place in Atascadero, CA., called Sharp Concepts. Their website has fantastic offerings! On 12/29 I asked if they could make a guard for my John English Masterbuilt '55 P and they said yes. On 12/29 I sent them $75 PayPal. They emailed back that "design and fab would begin" as soon as my original, cracked guard arrived. At a cost of $6, I Fedex'd my old guard on 12/30 and it arrived to them on 1/05. On 1/22 I made my FIRST contact asking how it was going. Having received no answer, I contacted them again, TWICE, on 1/23. Here's the gist of the conversation: "everything is on backorder" and these things take time. We can't tell you when it will be done because if we tell you and then we don't deliver then we'll just be talking again, so we don't want to make any promises! I'M NOT MAKING THAT UP.........THAT'S ALMOST A VERBATIM QUOTE! So, I responded that I was just asking for a ballpark figure on delivery and told them I'm not a mysterious person and don't like mysteries so could they just give me a "rough idea" on delivery. Their response was a PayPal refund, which I'm happy about, and then a crappy email about how they don't like people being pushy. So, to sum it up, I paid them the day I first made contact and they withdrew the funds immediately! I shipped the old guard for template purposes the next day. I never bothered or contacted them again for over 3 weeks. It took 2 days to get a response, which they did not want to give me! Yep, that's about the size of it...........so, if you like giving your money to people who do business like that, then do business with Sharp Concepts in Atascadero, California. If that's not the way you like doing business, then don't! I won't!!!!!!!!! Oh, I forgot that for the privilege of paying them immediately and shipping my old guard in order to get nothing in exchange, I'm out $6 shipping on my old guard!

MHensleyJr · #2 01-23-2009, 02:17 PM

There's a key on your keyboard that says "Enter." Try using it sometime...

Anyway, I don't see what the problem is. You got your money back, right? Maybe you were being a little too pushy with them.

Trapeze Fan · #3 01-23-2009, 02:29 PM

If you call paying immediately and then waiting 3 weeks to ask your first question about a delivery date being pushy, then you have a different definition of "pushy" than I do. I also noted where you're located. Hmmmmmmm! In contrast, on the same day I paid them and placed my order, I also ordered a custom handwound pickup for my '55 from Curtis Novak. Same day, my friend! Got the pickup and installed it in my bass on 1/12 and never had to ask a question. When it was done, Curt emailed me w/tracking and everything! On his website, he specifically says his turnaround has gone from a week to three weeks, but i had that pickup in my bass in two weeks!!!!! So, go ahead and keep defending your buddy at Sharp Concepts. The other forum members can make up their own minds. I provided specifics. You, Mr. Hensley, are in the words of former President Bush just "conjecturizing."

bass'n it · #4 01-23-2009, 02:33 PM

Thanks...........I'll keep that place in mind to not go with them if I ever need to

jgroh · #5 01-23-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MHensleyJr

There's a key on your keyboard that says "Enter." Try using it sometime...

Anyway, I don't see what the problem is. You got your money back, right? Maybe you were being a little too pushy with them.

I agree about the paragraphs being our friend, but I would be ticked too if this happened to me, so on your second sentence, I say "huh?" He paid good money and waited a long time to get no response. I call that getting the runaround.

And since I own my own business as well, I would never think about sending a customer an email like that. Also, how is plexiglass or whateverthehell they are using backordered?

j.kernodle · #6 01-23-2009, 02:35 PM

Thanks for the heads up. Does seem like an odd response to what was a reasonable question at that point in your wait.

MHensleyJr · #7 01-23-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trapeze Fan

I also noted where you're located. Hmmmmmmm!

What does my location have to do with anything? Look at a map, my friend. I'm a few hundred miles away from this place you're mentioning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trapeze Fan

So, go ahead and keep defending your buddy at Sharp Concepts.

My "buddy"? I've never even heard of this company!

Look mister, I'm not looking to start an argument with you. I was just pointing out that maaaayyybbe you can appear to be a bit "pushy" to some people. Catch my drift?

stflbn · #8 01-23-2009, 02:39 PM

So you think because someone from California posted a reply that didn't exactly agree with that they're associated with Sharp Concepts?

Could be, but I'd be surprised if Sharp Concepts had people carefully watching the talkbass forums to protect their name and honor.

You asked for something custom. Apparently they couldn't get the custom pickguard material or something. Sounds like they suspected early that you were going to be a noisy waiter so they offered your money back.

If it really would have been an issue to you, you should have split the shipping.

Honestly, $6 for shipping is kind of the 'price for doing business' on something like this. Almost always when you ship a amp or guitar back to get worked on it's your responsibility to cover the shipping to get it there.

.

BassScum · #9 01-23-2009, 02:41 PM

I live in the same general area. What does that have to do with anything. A Little maturity please.

Trapeze Fan · #10 01-23-2009, 02:41 PM

No, I don't. I think your initial response wasn't based on anything or not on anything I read, and your comment began with a childish criticism of my failure to edit in paragraphs. I apologize if that offended you. To me, it seemed like an unnecessary comment. What followed was another critical, unwarranted and unfounded supposition. That supposition received a response from me of like kind. Call it a "suppository" if you will. Do you catch my drift?????????? Anyway, draw your own conclusions. I'm done here!

PhatBasstard · #11 01-23-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MHensleyJr

There's a key on your keyboard that says "Enter." Try using it sometime...

Anyway, I don't see what the problem is. You got your money back, right? Maybe you were being a little too pushy with them.

Maybe you missed the details of the conversation:
"They emailed back that "design and fab would begin" as soon as my original, cracked guard arrived. At a cost of $6, I Fedex'd my old guard on 12/30 and it arrived to them on 1/05".

Reading is fundamental, Grasshoppah.

Plus, he did not get all his money back. He's out the $6 for shipping the old guard. (Ahhh....more details

)

Three weeks from that point for a pickguard?!?
Ridiculous!

stflbn · #12 01-23-2009, 02:44 PM

Big words right there... big words... I'm convinced.

G2K · #13 01-23-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trapeze Fan

Many of you ask who you can order custom made pickguards from. I've always dealt with Jeannie's and they've always been fantastic. However, I wanted something wilder than their offerings and found a place in Atascadero, CA., called Sharp Concepts. Their website has fantastic offerings! On 12/29 I asked if they could make a guard for my John English Masterbuilt '55 P and they said yes. On 12/29 I sent them $75 PayPal. They emailed back that "design and fab would begin" as soon as my original, cracked guard arrived. At a cost of $6, I Fedex'd my old guard on 12/30 and it arrived to them on 1/05. On 1/22 I made my FIRST contact asking how it was going. Having received no answer, I contacted them again, TWICE, on 1/23. Here's the gist of the conversation: "everything is on backorder" and these things take time. We can't tell you when it will be done because if we tell you and then we don't deliver then we'll just be talking again, so we don't want to make any promises! I'M NOT MAKING THAT UP.........THAT'S ALMOST A VERBATIM QUOTE! So, I responded that I was just asking for a ballpark figure on delivery and told them I'm not a mysterious person and don't like mysteries so could they just give me a "rough idea" on delivery. Their response was a PayPal refund, which I'm happy about, and then a crappy email about how they don't like people being pushy. So, to sum it up, I paid them the day I first made contact and they withdrew the funds immediately! I shipped the old guard for template purposes the next day. I never bothered or contacted them again for over 3 weeks. It took 2 days to get a response, which they did not want to give me! Yep, that's about the size of it...........so, if you like giving your money to people who do business like that, then do business with Sharp Concepts in Atascadero, California. If that's not the way you like doing business, then don't! I won't!!!!!!!!! Oh, I forgot that for the privilege of paying them immediately and shipping my old guard in order to get nothing in exchange, I'm out $6 shipping on my old guard!

I'm with the T-Fan on this one. There was no pushyness, just a desire to find out when the investment was going to pay off. No crime or foul there, shame on them. They at least could have told you another 4-6 weeks and delivered in 3.
Shame on them

stflbn · #14 01-23-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhatBasstard

Maybe you missed the details of the conversation:
"They emailed back that "design and fab would begin" as soon as my original, cracked guard arrived. At a cost of $6, I Fedex'd my old guard on 12/30 and it arrived to them on 1/05".

Reading is fundamental, Grasshoppah.

Plus, he did not get all his money back. He's out the $6 for shipping the old guard. (Ahhh....more details

)

Three weeks from that point for a pickguard?!?
Ridiculous!

I've gotten several custom pickguards from WD Music that have needed templates created. Each of those took in excess of 4 weeks if I recall correctly. And no firm timeframe was given. I was 'in line' from the time I ordered.

It's never fun to wait, but often custom 'is' custom and a person should expect potentially unexpected delays.

.

MHensleyJr · #15 01-23-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

I've gotten several custom pickguards from WD Music that have needed templates created. Each of those took in excess of 4 weeks if I recall correctly. And no firm timeframe was given. I was 'in line' from the time I ordered.

It's never fun to wait, but often custom 'is' custom and a person should expect potentially unexpected delays.

.

+1 Totally agree with you.

cybersnyder · #16 01-23-2009, 02:50 PM

You do come across as "pushy" and you post a comment on a public board designed to hurt their business. There's "freedom of speech" and then there's "libel".

insomniac2295 · #17 01-23-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MHensleyJr

There's a key on your keyboard that says "Enter." Try using it sometime...

+999999999999999999999999

Blueszilla · #18 01-23-2009, 02:53 PM

Thanks for the heads up, I don't like dealing with fatheads who have no idea about customer service. I see no problem with your original post in any way, and many problems with dealing with a company that has poor communication skills.

I was about to look for a custom p'guard mfr this week, so this comes in handy. IMO you did nothing 'pushy' at all, I don't understand how that was derived from the post.

Everyone needs more fiber once in awhile, I suppose.

santucci218 · #19 01-23-2009, 02:55 PM

i waited three months for my custom, hand painted pickguard.

PhatBasstard · #20 01-23-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

I've gotten several custom pickguards from WD Music that have needed templates created. Each of those took in excess of 4 weeks if I recall correctly. And no firm timeframe was given. I was 'in line' from the time I ordered.

It's never fun to wait, but often custom 'is' custom and a person should expect potentially unexpected delays.

.

3 weeks...to create a template when you have the old guard?!?

Still seems ridiculous, but even then...to not be able to (or be offended by) respond with a "ball park" figure to a customer's request is just bad business. Then, to send his PayPal back with a somewhat nasty email?!??????? Just because he asked for a ball park figure after 3 weeks had already elapsed?!?!

Just plain irresponsible, bad business practice...period!