Shop damaged my bass a bit =\ - Page 3

guy n. cognito · #41 07-31-2012, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Beg your pardon!!!

I was in business for myself for over 40 years and all I had to do was make sure that I never left myself hanging for a lawsuit and took care of everything that I ever did wrong. That's an ethic that you don't seem to understand.

The people who roll over on this sort of mistreatment deserve what they get if they've been warned.

In the real world --- not the 'it takes a village' Nancy boy socialist mentality, people are responsible for their actions and have to take care of them.

Go ahead and roll over - it makes me smile that when I was in business, I had a much higher work ethic than you, them and anyone else who falls for dribble like that.

Joe, there is a giant difference between holding the shop accountable for the damage, and making ridiculous demands like "buy me a new bass or I'll take you to court." It has nothing to do with "rolling over," rather working with the shop to make things right. Making demands such as you suggested does nothing more than make the customer look....well....crazy, and is NOT going to encourage the shop to make it right.

No sane judge is going to require the store to buy the customer a new bass, or do anything EXCEPT fix the damage. It sounds like the store is already taking that action, albeit slowly.

guy n. cognito · #42 07-31-2012, 09:12 PM

Back to the OP: you should reclaim your bass and hold it until the proper replacement wheel has been obtained. I don't think I would let this shop continue to hold it, since they may not be storing it properly.

purfektstranger · #43 07-31-2012, 09:12 PM

It's easy to say take them to court, make them pay blah blah blah. No one talks about the time, effort and expense though. Even small claims court means potentially losing pay and time. I am inclined to try and deal with the incompetent store tech. Be firm and set deadlines. Clearly being nice and patient hasn't worked so get serious. Tell them you want a date and time to pick up your bass in good working order. If they are unable to do that then tell them you will take it elsewhere and they will assume the cost to repair it.

SurferJoe46 · #44 07-31-2012, 09:57 PM

He's been there - done it and got nothing but sad stories and 'talk to the hand'.

No-one will 'assume the cost of repair' unless you hold their nose to the wheel. If he takes it somewhere else, then that's the end of it and he's out the cash, time (which he's already spent) and he has to pay more to get it fixed which should have been taken care of in the first place.

What makes anyone in their right mind think this so called 'dealer' is going to give in now that they've screwed this guy around this long? The warranty will expire before he gets satisfaction now.

Times are tough and negative cash flow may break this flaky dealer and they aren't going to fix this problem or have to put out cash to get it fixed. This is obviated by the response so far.

Time to get tougher. Litigate them before they close their doors - which may be any day now.

Rman12321 · #45 11-20-2012, 12:30 PM

Hey guys, just to update here 3-4 months later of not seeing my bass, they gave me a rental to use until mine was dealt with but I got an email yesterday saying that ibanez said it was impossible to replace the nut on my bass... I found that to be disappointing. Now they offered to give me 325$ for my 07 Ibanez ATK-300 which my parents bought for $604 back in 08 here in Canada. I really don't know where to go from here as I am quite disappointed..

Musicman20 · #46 11-20-2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rman12321

Hey guys, just to update here 3-4 months later of not seeing my bass, they gave me a rental to use until mine was dealt with but I got an email yesterday saying that ibanez said it was impossible to replace the nut on my bass... I found that to be disappointing. Now they offered to give me 325$ for my 07 Ibanez ATK-300 which my parents bought for $604 back in 08 here in Canada. I really don't know where to go from here as I am quite disappointed..

Time to get the law involved...

ics1974 · #47 11-20-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicpimp2

That's why I took the time to learn how to setup my own basses and do small repairs. It's a great skill to learn

me too

jlepre · #48 11-20-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rman12321

Hey guys, just to update here 3-4 months later of not seeing my bass, they gave me a rental to use until mine was dealt with but I got an email yesterday saying that ibanez said it was impossible to replace the nut on my bass... I found that to be disappointing. Now they offered to give me 325$ for my 07 Ibanez ATK-300 which my parents bought for $604 back in 08 here in Canada. I really don't know where to go from here as I am quite disappointed..

I thought you had said that the tech had scratched the truss wheel, and not the nut? If it's just the truss wheel, I would just take the bass back and ask for $100 for your time. If they won't go for that, tell them store credit is ok, and pickup some strings and accessories that you might need.

Immigrant · #49 11-20-2012, 01:45 PM

I'm hoping this doesn't break any rules:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Truss_ro...s_Rod_Nut.html

They cost so little. Have the shop replace it and learn how to do your own setups. Stay out of court because there's already enough nonsense clogging up those places.

mp40smg · #50 11-20-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rman12321

Hey guys, just to update here 3-4 months later of not seeing my bass, they gave me a rental to use until mine was dealt with but I got an email yesterday saying that ibanez said it was impossible to replace the nut on my bass... I found that to be disappointing. Now they offered to give me 325$ for my 07 Ibanez ATK-300 which my parents bought for $604 back in 08 here in Canada. I really don't know where to go from here as I am quite disappointed..

I am confused. Are you saying the nut, as being the truss adjustment piece or do you mean they ended up screwing the other end of the neck up trying to correct the rod issue?

It seems to me either way that this store should make you 100% whole. refund the whole purchase price. Go, in person, to the store, having written down EVERYTHING that has happened, with dates, times, etc. Talk to the MGR boss and give them a copy of all of the data. I would also include how long the bass was actually in your posession (not at their shop being "fixed).

In short, they botched "fixing" you bass. If the truss rod is no longer usable/ adjustable and as they have botched the repair they have voided the Ibanez Warranty, THEY should be the one to take the hit, not you. Also, as if the truss rod is no longer able to be adjusted, that bass is unsellable.

Wait... was this bought new from this store and brought back for repair? Or was this a bass you got elsewhere and brought to them for tweaking??

If that is the case, then unfortunately, settling at 300 may not be an unreasonable number. As they are essentially paying you for the instrument for what they would pay to buy it outright.

Turnaround · #51 11-20-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_atw

Also, the plastic on the pickguard, if left on, will degrade and adhere and separate all over the guard. That stuff needs to be removed sooner rather than later. Plus the "Made in USA" sticker or any other stickers will cause a mark on the pickguard, being uglier than any scuffs.

One very good reason for removing the plastic protective film from pickguards and control cavity covers is that they are prone to generating static. Many times a customer with a new bass has come to me and complained of crackling noises. I remove the plastic and the problem is gone.

godofthunder59 · #52 11-20-2012, 03:03 PM

Agreed this guy is a HACK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp40smg

Any "tech" that is adjusting a wheel type truss rod with needle nose pliers should not allowed be near any instrument.

This shows a complete lack of judgement or skill.

mp40smg · #53 11-20-2012, 03:07 PM

Let me withdraw and rephrase...

If you bought this NEW from that shop and brought it back w/ in a reasonable amt of time, a month or so and they did this, I would expect 100% refund of purchase price.

If you walked in off the street and asked them to fix it. And this is what happened, I don't think $300 is an unreasonable offer (on their part) as it represents them buying the bass from you.

Yes, it sucks. Yes, they did screw up. And yes, you will loose money. And yes, the time, effort aggravation of taking them to court to recoup the gap in buy price vs compensation is probably not worth it.

bassbenj · #54 11-20-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rman12321

Hey guys, just to update here 3-4 months later of not seeing my bass, they gave me a rental to use until mine was dealt with but I got an email yesterday saying that ibanez said it was impossible to replace the nut on my bass... I found that to be disappointing. Now they offered to give me 325$ for my 07 Ibanez ATK-300 which my parents bought for $604 back in 08 here in Canada. I really don't know where to go from here as I am quite disappointed..

Personally the whole thing sounds reasonable to me. I've seen this from both sides and understand it. Those stupid wheel nuts are supposed to be cool because you don't need a special too to adjust the truss rod. But that's wrong. And the reason it's wrong is because they make those nuts out of metal the consistency of butter. I own a couple and I've crapped up a couple though not seriously enough to to make the bass unuseable. Thruth is while the idea is promoted that just ANY tool (like say needle noise pliars) can be used to make the adjustment, the nut will be damaged if you don't use a precision ground rod to do it. I use the butt end of drills which are strong and precision ground.

So that's how the mistake occured. I can see that. It means inexperience. It's happened to me. And yes, one great "feature" of these nuts is that if damaged they cannot be replaced without a major destruction of the wood in the area. Nice.

OK. How to make it right? First off the original cost of the bass is irrelevant unless it's new enough that you are talking about a return. IN your case the bass is now used. That means it's value is half the original price. (rough estimate) So that's a fair value. If the bass is useless I'd take the money put it all behind me.

On the other hand if somehow that bass is "special". If you think it has "sentimental value" or if it's a one of a kind alignment of the planets bass of doom, then you can pursue legal action for restitution. However, my opinion is that while money will be obtained, lawyers will get most of it and you will be luckly see $325. What you get is "satisfaction". Period.

I'd take the offer.

Spinal Tapper · #55 11-20-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp40smg

Let me withdraw and rephrase...

If you bought this NEW from that shop and brought it back w/ in a reasonable amt of time, a month or so and they did this, I would expect 100% refund of purchase price.

If you walked in off the street and asked them to fix it. And this is what happened, I don't think $300 is an unreasonable offer (on their part) as it represents them buying the bass from you.

Yes, it sucks. Yes, they did screw up. And yes, you will loose money. And yes, the time, effort aggravation of taking them to court to recoup the gap in buy price vs compensation is probably not worth it.

I agree w/ this.

Also, I'm seeing brand new ATK 300's for $399 on Ebay (shipped). Maybe see if they'd give you closer to that figure...it's worth asking...

wilfred · #56 11-20-2012, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicpimp2

That's why I took the time to learn how to setup my own basses and do small repairs. It's a great skill to learn

+1

Ray man · #57 11-20-2012, 08:20 PM

Use the opportunity to learn how to fix it yourself. You might as well experiment using this bass as a guinea pig.

guy n. cognito · #58 11-20-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rman12321

Hey guys, just to update here 3-4 months later of not seeing my bass, they gave me a rental to use until mine was dealt with but I got an email yesterday saying that ibanez said it was impossible to replace the nut on my bass... I found that to be disappointing. Now they offered to give me 325$ for my 07 Ibanez ATK-300 which my parents bought for $604 back in 08 here in Canada. I really don't know where to go from here as I am quite disappointed..

Given that the damage done is nothing more than cosmetic, this seems to be more than a fair offer. Take it.

Rman12321 · #59 11-20-2012, 10:03 PM

Another thing to add is that I just bought thomastikk infeld powerbass strings to be put on there at the time of the setup, which costed around 54$ with tax. since I haven't had the chance to play the bass much with those strings I asked them to refund me the strings and I will take 325$ and to me that is reasonable. Just waiting on an email response now.

petrus61 · #60 11-20-2012, 10:12 PM

No matter the outcome, I hope the shop AND the "tech" both learned a valuable lesson here. It's really sad that so many mom & pop stores have this reputation these days. I'm sure they gave the "tech" heat for the whole debacle, since they are in business to make money, not lose it. If they are smart, they won't allow him near any more instruments and will not offer repair as a service until they have a proper tech employed. It's things like this that make me wonder why people get into retail and provide services without having all their basses covered or the knowledge to refer potential customers to a beneficial path for both parties. The deal sounds reasonable but the whole thing is just another nail in the coffin. Not of small business, but of people who operate small businesses poorly. It's retail 101.