I feel ripped off...

LCbass2007 · #1 11-11-2008, 06:28 PM

I recently bought an Aguilar OPB-3 for my Spector Euro5. I do not feel comfortable playing with electronics, so I brought it to my local Guitar Center bc my friend works their and said their repair guy is great with electronics. After one day, I was called and told it was ready. When I asked how much, I was told $150. I supplied everything(preamp, knobs, batteries, etc.), so i guess it's just labor I'm paying for, and it seems quite expensive. I'll be picking it up tomorrow, so I'll see, but, has anyone had a similar issue, or am I wrong in assuming that the repair/upgrade is overpriced?

fenderhutz · #2 11-11-2008, 06:30 PM

Robbed.

bongomania · #3 11-11-2008, 06:31 PM

If he did any shielding or setup work then the price is probably "fair" if not a great deal. Same if he had to do any drilling, routing, or sanding to fit the new pre. But if he just pulled the old pre, soldered in the new one, closed the lid and called it a day? That's not worth more than $50 IMO.

LCbass2007 · #4 11-11-2008, 06:36 PM

That's what I figured. I guess I'll know tomorrow.

LCbass2007 · #5 11-11-2008, 06:37 PM

And, I did not get any setup work done, I did that a few days before I got the Aguilar pre

Dave Bassincus · #6 11-11-2008, 06:51 PM

Should've got the price first.
But maybe the guy is great with electronics, and you got what you paid for.
At least I hope so.

WarriorJoe7 · #7 11-11-2008, 06:57 PM

That actually sounds quite ridiculous is he just soldered the pots and put it in. It would have taken less than an hour.

MyUsernameHere · #8 11-11-2008, 07:02 PM

This isn't unusual. Not the price...the thievery.

I've went as far as telling a "reputable" tech to call me and let me know exactly what was wrong/how much it would cost to fix when getting work done, and still had to argue about stupid-high repair bills after the tech decided to fix things without talking to me first.

Moral of the story. Always get a quote first and always get something in writing saying that they will contact you beforehand if the price will exceed the quoted price.

4stringrob · #9 11-11-2008, 08:56 PM

I agree with other posts...a soldering job should have been about $50. I initially thought you meant the preamp and installation were $150, I was going to say fair. Give 'em hell...if it's GC, it might not do any good, but at least try talking to the manager and say you won't do business there in the future, etc. As a mega-corporation operation, they often overcharge on everything and then accomodate some complaints fully to appear like they put the customer first.

Ian Perge · #10 11-12-2008, 03:25 AM

This is right up my alley - I just gave a local luthier a call today about installing... wait for it... Aguilar OBP-3SK/PPs in my 3 Spectors (4, 5, and 5 fretless). We chatted for about 1/2 hour about it and leading to other topics (showing me he's giving of his time and not rushing me off the phone after the quote), and he quoted me $75 per bass with a "light" setup included. Given that the OBP-3SK/PPs are hardly the easiest of preamps to install, I think that's a fair price from someone of his pedigree (he builds custom guitars on the side, is the "name" Luthier in the area, and worked under Michael Pedulla during his formative years).

I'm not sure what you can do post-install - talking to anyone at GC won't likely help as they farm out or recommend a tech, but don't usually actually employ one on their payroll and have no say in their independent business. You might have to chalk it up to "Life Lesson Learned".

SGD Lutherie · #11 11-12-2008, 07:42 AM

I think that was way too much. I charge $30-40 for simple preamps, and $60 for something like a guilar OBP-3.

I have a customer who first came to me after he bought a used Yamaha baritone guitar, and it needed some fret work. He had brought it to GC, and the guy charged him like $60 just to put strings on it! He had an issue with the third fret under the treble strings, so they charged him another $150 and said they leveled it. When it still wasn't good, they charged him $250 and said they did a partial refret, and it still wasn't right.

He called me and said the neck looked twisted. When I got the guitar, I saw they had filed down the first 5 frets just under the treble strings! they were lower than the rest. They didn't do a refret because you could still see the grooves in the frets that were the original cause of the problem!

This was the GC in Springfield NJ, so don't bring stuff there to be repaired! The repair guy there has his own shop, so either he's a crook all the time, or GC takes such a big cut that he feels he has to rip people off.

Very sad. Always ask the price before you get work done.

lonote · #12 11-12-2008, 09:03 AM

How much do they charge for an hour of bench time?

NKUSigEp · #13 11-12-2008, 09:18 AM

Think of it this way, a GC employee makes how much an hour? For the sake of math lets say $15...that means he spent 10 hours on your bass installing a preamp (and you know they aren't making THAT much).

I'd have done it for about $75 with a setup. You got robbed. It's a learning experience though, never take an instrument to a large chain because they overcharge and they hate doing that kind of work. It's too time consuming and requires skills that the average teenage sales associate doesn't have.

stflbn · #14 11-12-2008, 09:24 AM

From memory, buying an OBP-3 from Brian at Low End and having him install it wired as you wish results in around $150. Ya, you were teh screwd.

rumblinbass · #15 11-12-2008, 09:26 AM

that sux. i would have done it at no charge for any friend. there isn't much to it...I would recommend befriending someone with a bit of electronics know-how.

Tamochantern · #16 11-12-2008, 11:43 AM

My guitar guy just installed my pickups, wired my Audere, grounded and shielded, set my neck, and did a complete setup on my new parts Jazz bass for $150.

Stay away from GC. Find an Indie!

LCbass2007 · #17 11-12-2008, 06:13 PM

I picked up my bass today. Before I could even ask about the price, I noticed a price chart on the wall next to the repair room, and a "rewiring" costs $150. I can't really argue since it is advertised, I just did not see. Live and learn I guess...just keep your eyes open if you make the same mistake as me and go to GC for repair. I believe the price list showed a basic setup for $60 not including strings! Insanity

MyUsernameHere · #18 11-12-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCbass2007

I believe the price list showed a basic setup for $60 not including strings! Insanity

No. That's about right in the normal price range for a setup.

Whether or not the quality of their work justifies that price...that's the question.

jbassplayer · #19 11-12-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyUsernameHere

No. That's about right in the normal price range for a setup.

Whether or not the quality of their work justifies that price...that's the question.

The local music store where i live charges about $15(not including strings.) So I would say close to $35 including an average set of round wound strings. $60 in my opinion is a lot of money for just a set up.

MyUsernameHere · #20 11-12-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbassplayer

The local music store where i live charges about $15(not including strings.) So I would say close to $35 including an average set of round wound strings. $60 in my opinion is a lot of money for just a set up.

Really? Most reputable luithers charge much more than that in my experience. Usually between $50 and $75.