Have you ever refused to use a brand name because of a past experience?

[Andrew Jones]

I had a bad experience a couple of years ago with a VERY popular bass product, it was a customer service/ guarantee word issue.

I sold all products that I owned with that name and don't use anything by them.

Even though they make great stuff I refuse to use it ,Possibly at my own expense.The make stuff that good.


Thoughts? Similar experiences?



Aj

[Deacon_Blues]

Well, not really in that way, but if I notice a company (brands or shop) have poor or even non-existing customer service or if the products have reliability issues, I usually don't buy anything more from them. I also recommend others to stay away from the company in question, if someone happens to ask my opinion on it. But I don't go as far as selling products I own if I otherwise like them.

[Phalex]

I bought a really cheap set of wrenches once that had a "Lifetime Guarantee". The faces on them were so soft that I stripped a wrench in about 2 weeks. I threw them all away. Why in the world would I want them to replace a piece of crap with another piece of crap? It would have had no end, I'd still be exchanging those things (actually, with a product that crappy, it wouldn't surprise me if they were no longer in business.)

[BWB]

I have been playing bass for 28 years and have broken 3 strings in my entire life.

One of them was in high school in the 1980's.

The 2 others were from a single pack of 4 strings that I tried out after people on www.talkbass.com raved about how great they were. That was a few years ago. I haven't broken a string since, and I will never ever, ever, purchase that brand again. They were expensive, too $37 or so for a set of 4.

GARBAGE.

[Pilgrim]

I learned that GEICO won't insure drivers who own radar detectors - and that GEICO also donates radar guns to the police in some eastern states. That's a nice way to set their insureds up for speeding tickets so that GEICO can increase their rates. Weasels.

That's their decision as a business, but it doesn't mean I have to do business with them. cute lizard or not, I'm not planning on ever buying insurance from GEICO.

[awakefie]

Yep. I'll give most vendors 2 strikes (1st time - hey it happens, 2nd time its a trend, after that, it's just a bad product) then they're outta there forever. There's too many choices to stick with something you're not happy with.

[WalterBush]

A certain popular amp company has blown up, shut down during gigs to avoid blowing up, caught fire, and distorted like crazy when it wasn't breaking or catching on fire. This happened on several models, one I owned, one I used, one I repaired, and a few I was just subjected to listening to. I won't buy anything from *** amplification ever, period, unless I hear a couple of decades of reports on how reliable they are.

I'm forced to use ** amplifiers all the time because they're so prevalent as house amps. I have yet to play through one, on stage or at GC, that doesn't sound awful and fail to reproduce what I like in a bass tone. I'm unlikely to ever buy one, although at least they don't blow up on me or shut down in the middle of a gig.

[WalterBush]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I learned that GEICO won't insure drivers who own radar detectors - and that GEICO also donates radar guns to the police in some eastern states. That's a nice way to set their insureds up for speeding tickets so that GEICO can increase their rates. Weasels.

That's their decision as a business, but it doesn't mean I have to do business with them. cute lizard or not, I'm not planning on ever buying insurance from GEICO.

Or people could just (wait, I know it's a crazy thought!) not exceed the speed limit

[cookiesRfalla]

exactly 1 year ago i met this guy in my university who had a Rickenbacker (first time meeting a guy who had a Rick) and he was a complete jerk. he wanted to join his band and i joined (he also sings). they wanted to play some songs for The Who at a gig and i asked him if we can change 1 song due to the fact that i can't pull the bass solo off, but he insisted on doing it. I told him that I'll probably screw up and he said it's ok, let's just have fun. I felt good and actually practiced that solo a lot just to try pull it off.. the day came and we played the song but i screwed up. The ignorant jerk kicked me out of the band!!.. that is why I hate Rickenbackers... a lot and I'll never buy one

[bongomania]

There are some brands which have left a bad taste in my mouth, such that I wouldn't "refuse" to use them but I would certainly look for a different option when possible. One of them is actually a highly-regarded boutique brand with stellar customer service, but they have enough history of spectacular failures that I just don't want to bother with them anymore, even though my concern about their current products might be irrational.

Oh, and there is one boutique bass brand that I would in fact refuse to use because the builder is such an a-hole that I wouldn't want to associate myself with his name. Obviously his personality has exactly nothing to do with the quality of the bass- it's just that I won't give his name any stage time. Hint: he's been banned from TB a few times.

[tplyons]

I won't use RENU products for contacts anymore after the infected bottles a few years back. I use Alcon now and won't look back, I've worked out great with no infections.

[EASonBass]

Ultimate guitar stands. Had 2. Both failed in the telescoping latching mechanism. Refused repair/replacement under the "Lifetime" warranty. Apparently the warranty is good until the product breaks, then the lifetime ends. Ultimate POS.

[Andrew Jones]

I would just like say that by example I'm not encouraging a thread where we identify the companies that we don't dig.Go right ahead though if your inclined.

For me it was a confession of being stubborn enough that even though they make great gear and have good rep,I felt singled out with a interaction (not a product, a direct one on one with the boss, guarantee related interaction) and refuse to use any of thier products, likely to my disadvantage.


AJ

[Ric5]

Peavey and Squier ...

The 2 worst basses I ever played in a music store and the worst bass amp I ever owned.

[tasty sweeps]

it's important to keep your options open. if you notice a trend in a brand to have faulty products, take appropriate action or inaction. if a product comes out under this offending brand and seems fine to use and fits your wants and needs, don't be bitter just because you said 'never again' X amount of years ago because a.... fan wouldn't spin or something. know what i mean?

[CamMcIntyre]

I'm that way with a certain shoe company. I had a pair of dress shoes wear out [developed a crack & thin spots in the sole] in less than 3 months of 3-4 times a week wear. I paid $150ish for the shows. Upon contacting the company, the customer service was horrible, so I'm not buying any more shoes from them. I've found shoes that cost half as much that last twice as long.

[Baryonyx]

I'll always give something a fair hearing before I form an opinion on it. However, there are some things (Musicman, Gibson, Schecter) that I tend not to enjoy. I'll still try them though!

[Munjibunga]

Yeah. Any American-made car. I haven't owned one since 1971.

[bassrique]

Manny's Music on West 48th Street, NYC.

[Benjamin Strange]

Monster Cable. [expletive] those guys.