Musicians Friend very upsetting

Rumzini · #1 06-02-2006, 12:12 PM

So I ordered the new MXR Blowtorch a couple o weeks ago knowing that it didn't come out till the 31st. Well then each day the product isn't available till the next day. I check then...then it's not available till the next day. I know I know...it's not Musicians Friends fault...however when I ask the guy on the line what type of time frame are we looking at then...he has no idea. Whenever the truck gets here he says. Wow...working for FedEx, I have a big problem with not knowing when your product is going to be there. If I were at MF, I do believe I would be on the horn with MXR/Dunlop about the problem. As long as I knew when to expect it...i wouldn't be so upset. So...here's a $139 of my hard earned money and you just do the service for me whenever the truck gets there!

bassmonkeee · #2 06-02-2006, 12:18 PM

Have they even charged your credit card?

Do you honestly think, with the amount of inventory that MF carries, that they can call up every manufacturer, or play "watch the tracking number?"

Sometimes people expect waaaaay too much for these low, low prices.

Fastfwd · #3 06-02-2006, 12:18 PM

I got something against them too. They have this whole thing about now having a Canadian specific store.

Well first of all it's not all that well stocked. But I guess that's because they can't sell some of the things over here. One thing they have in the Us version and not the Canadian version... Godin guitars that are made in Canada, Quebec. What's happening here?

And what really made me mad. Once you found what you want and are ready to checkout you suddenly see that they can ship anywhere in Canada but Quebec. They can ship in Israel, Turkey and any other number of countries but not Quebec?

Rumzini · #4 06-02-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmonkeee

Have they even charged your credit card?

Do you honestly think, with the amount of inventory that MF carries, that they can call up every manufacturer, or play "watch the tracking number?"

Sometimes people expect waaaaay too much for these low, low prices.

I expect and demand quality service from such a company. If you say it will be in on a certain day then fine. If you don't know then say so in the first place...or...call the manufacturer and say what gives?

barthanatos · #5 06-02-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumzini

I expect and demand quality service from such a company. If you say it will be in on a certain day then fine. If you don't know then say so in the first place...or...call the manufacturer and say what gives?

Most places I've encountered don't charge for merchandise until it ships, if that's any consolation.

Rumzini · #6 06-02-2006, 12:44 PM

I used Paypal and the money is gone. I would suspect that they could put it back in. What;s the point...then I don't get the item. So I wait.

gruffpuppy · #7 06-02-2006, 02:49 PM

Sorry to hear, I have played the same games with them with a pedal, send bad pedal back, not in stock, get same pedal back, not in stock. Finally get pedal back with no help from customer service.

I also expect better performance from a company.

Move on to another company. Probally wouldn't hurt so bad it the word "friend" wasn't in the name.

Rumzini · #8 06-02-2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruffpuppy

Probally wouldn't hurt so bad it the word "friend" wasn't in the name.

My guitar player and I replace that word with "enemy". Seems to fit better.

jeff_bass28 · #9 06-02-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastfwd

I got something against them too. They have this whole thing about now having a Canadian specific store.

Well first of all it's not all that well stocked. But I guess that's because they can't sell some of the things over here. One thing they have in the Us version and not the Canadian version... Godin guitars that are made in Canada, Quebec. What's happening here?

And what really made me mad. Once you found what you want and are ready to checkout you suddenly see that they can ship anywhere in Canada but Quebec. They can ship in Israel, Turkey and any other number of countries but not Quebec?

A lot of US businesses, especially mail order, like MF, won't do business in Canada. "Too expensive" to print everything in English and French.

Fastfwd · #10 06-02-2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff_bass28

A lot of US businesses, especially mail order, like MF, won't do business in Canada. "Too expensive" to print everything in English and French.

That makes a lot of sense. Quebec is probably the only place in Canada that has a law that requires french. Not that any of the other internet businesses care. I do a lot of business with US companies without anything in french.

truckin88 · #11 06-02-2006, 05:51 PM

also they don't want to deal with duties on some items, my company will not do business in canada just to avoid the hassle.

You guys are expecting a lot, if you had used credit card, MF will not chrage you for a specific item until it ships, even if it is a multi item order, they only charge for shipped items, they are usually very helpful. As far as paypal, it might be better, to transfer to your bank and not use paypal, because paypal automatically defaults to your paypal balance or bank account, they are not assured their money as they are with a credit card company.

The sad thing is, big companys like MF who is also guitar center and some other companies, could really give two $hits if this pisses you off, cause they will still sell items, cause of their blow out prices. Like the walmart of instruments

on a side note: fedex, there are mutliple threads on here about them losing basses, they just lost some poor member's 1967 scroll bass, no business in the world is perfect.

Fastfwd · #12 06-02-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckin88

The sad thing is, big companys like MF who is also guitar center and some other companies, could really give two $hits if this pisses you off, cause they will still sell items, cause of their blow out prices. Like the walmart of instruments

Exactly. There is something to be said for buying at your local guitar center assuming they have good service and are somewhat competitive. I will definitely prefer a 500$ part at my local center than a 550$ part over the Internet. But sometimes it's more like 500$ vs 350$.

jive1 · #13 06-02-2006, 07:04 PM

Do you guys seriously expect that the guy on the phone at MF has ANY type of relationship with ANY manufacturer?

Truth is that sometimes the manufacturer doesn't know for sure either.

KPJ · #14 06-04-2006, 10:54 AM

Large stock orders shipped via freight companies are not like a single package shipped by FedEx. Sure, the IBM commercial where the packages have transmitters that let the shippers know where they are is cute, but that is not common practice. Usually, there is a window of when a stock shipment will arrive. If MF is getting a big shipment from Dunlop, they don't know EXACTLY when it will hit.

**bassman314** · #15 06-04-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastfwd

That makes a lot of sense. Quebec is probably the only place in Canada that has a law that requires french. Not that any of the other internet businesses care. I do a lot of business with US companies without anything in french.

Import/Export laws between the US and Canada is tricky, too, especially for larger items..

actually, from my experience in BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec? the whole country gets French shoved at them... but Quebec is French only... so the rest of the country is forced to be bi-lingual, except for Quebec...

I visited a friend near Ottawa. She has friends in Quebec, so we pooped over to Gattineau, which is like maybe 15 minutes from Ottawa. We go into a depanard or whatever they call it. The cashier doesn't speak english... good thing my friend speaks french and english...

**bassman314** · #16 06-04-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

Do you guys seriously expect that the guy on the phone at MF has ANY type of relationship with ANY manufacturer?

Truth is that sometimes the manufacturer doesn't know for sure either.

+1

jeff_bass28 · #17 06-04-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman314

Import/Export laws between the US and Canada is tricky, too, especially for larger items..

actually, from my experience in BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec? the whole country gets French shoved at them... but Quebec is French only... so the rest of the country is forced to be bi-lingual, except for Quebec...

I visited a friend near Ottawa. She has friends in Quebec, so we pooped over to Gattineau, which is like maybe 15 minutes from Ottawa. We go into a depanard or whatever they call it. The cashier doesn't speak english... good thing my friend speaks french and english...

I've heard that a lot a Quebecois (?) are so bitter over the whole language issue, that, well, say for instance you have an American and a "English" Canadian in a restaurant; the American will get better service every time.
Can't say if that's at all true or not; I've never been east of Toronto. Although I have to ask (for anyone in Quebec) -- is there some difference in French/French-Canadian and American ettiquite that makes picking your nose in public more acceptable? Last time I was at Niagara Falls, I was in a line behind this family from Quebec, all of whom were very intensly digging for gold.

jeff_bass28 · #18 06-04-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMASH

There are no duties involved for the shipper. The buyer/importer pays any taxes/brokerage/duties.

It's not a language issue either.

People just make stuff up on message boards and then it gets taken or repeated as fact, so let's nip that in bud fo once.

No, actually, the language is an issue. Any printed material coming from the US to Quebec, by law, must be printed in English and French. Same goes with things like giveaways:
"Game is open to all legal residents of the United States and Canada (other than the residents of Puerto Rico and the province of Quebec), except for the employees and immediate family..."
(taken from a Bass Player giveaway 'fine print.') Not allowed entering the contest from Quebec, as that would require reprinting the contest rules, as well has the whole magazine, in French.
I believe there are reasons other than the language (taxes?), but I know for a fact that it is a part of it.

Fastfwd · #19 06-05-2006, 05:54 AM

To clear things up: I was born and lived pretty much all my life in Quebec and still do.

Yes. Americans do get treated better than english Canadians in Quebec. It works the other way around too. Quebecers get treated a lot better in the US than we do in the rest of Canada. Something to do with our past; France vs England.

Yes. Quebecers really don't know how to behave, especially when on vacation. You will see them picking their noses in public and wearing bikinis in Florida when they weigh 300lbs.

There is a law that says everything has to be written in both french and english but I don't know if it applies to shipments from other countries, probably not.

All alcohol and gaming in Quebec has to go through the government, it is a way of making money. Maybe this is why so many contests are not ellegible to people from Quebec.

And Montreal is a special case. Just as you can't expect people to speak english 5 minutes away from Ontario you can't expect some people in Montreal to speak French. And this includes waiters and other people that work with the public.

The best thing for someone that lives in Quebec is to be bilingual. The best thing for an english Canadian is to stay away from Quebec and stop whining about not wanting us to separate from Canada.

GM60466 · #20 06-05-2006, 06:06 AM

...and in the end, You get what you pay for.

Did Paul sing that or was it John?

GM