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The Saga of the lakland Duck Dunn....

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Gil Irwin

Gil Irwin

May 7, 2006
274
2
Pacific Northwest
#1
Over a year ago, I contacted Dan Lakin regarding a Duck Dunn w/ DarkStar pup. Dan informed me that I should immediately contact a Lakland dealer as he anticipated another shipment in late Jan. 07'. I immediately contacted Steve the "Dude" and promptly sent him a $500 deposit via PayPal. And so the wait begins. In March, 07' I sent an e-mail to Steve to enquire as to delivery and price. He replied to say that he would check into it and get back to me.

No response since then.

I again e-mailed Steve every month or so to inquire when I might expect delivery.

No response.

I e-mailed Dan Lakin to inquire when I might expect delivery.

No response.

Here's the latest:

I am so sorry Gil...I have been going through a court case, family issues and reorganizing the business and I've been on total reactionary mode where the squeeky wheel gets the grease. I am printing this out and taping to my monitor for first thing Monday.

Steve

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Gil Irwin <[email protected]> wrote:
Steve,

Another month has passed and I still don't have the "definitive answer" you assured me was forthcoming.

What's up with that?

Gil

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Steve Barr <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Gil,

I'm very sorry this has fallen through the cracks as it has and I will deal with this on Monday and get you a definitive answer.

Steve
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Steve,

I've had a $500 deposit on a Skyline Duck Dunn w/ DarkStar pup for nearly a year now and no word from you regarding delivery except that you've told me you'll check into it and get back to me. Months have passed and I need to hear from you soon or refund my deposit.

Gil Irwin

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Guy's, I'm not looking for advice or direction on this matter as I'm quite capable of dealing with this myself.

The point is that ordering anything from the "Dude" at this point is iffy at best, so Caveat Emptor.

If the "Dude" responds to me as promised, I'll update, hopefully with a positive report.
 
#5
There's a good possibility that Dude owes Lakland so your bass is not on order. Dude won't tell you hey I'm behind on my bill.
 
#8
Sorry you had that experience. Dude helped me out a few years back with a defective East preamp. He was great, and very fast in taking care of business. There must be something going on that has caused that to change....I hope he works it out.

PS--I should note that I had bought the preamp from Brian Ristola at Best Bass Gear, not straight from Dude. Dude straightened out the issues though, even though I didn't go through him.
 
#10
Unbelievable what's happened to Dude. When I first heard conversed with him on alt.guitar.bass a few years ago, he rubbed me the wrong way immediately. Honestly, I thought he was a creep. Then he told me how he started the VGTC because he had to take care of his ailing parents and wanted to stay at home to work and I felt bad for him and actually developed a level of respect for him. Never bought from him, but I did occasionally post at the Dudepit.

Moral of the story: You should go with your first instincts.
 
#11
I personally feel Dan Lakin should step in and make right on the deal. He did after all endorse this particular dealer as a stand up guy directing purchases of HIS products that way.

Might as well start your legal proceedings for your refund. His problems with the law, and other bs he sited are self inflicted, and not your problem.

PS careful what you type, he will threaten to sue.
 
#12
I don't know Steve personally, but I had contacted him about a DPLEIII bass and I had several questions. His response everytime was, "Send $500 to me. I don't know how much it will cost in the end though." I steered clear after that...
 
#13
In his own words, he ran his "business" by paying for the back end of one order with the front end of another. Your deposits paid off the basses on the batch prior. Since he decided to can his business that allowed his "lifestyle" in favor of a spam filled crapfest of clickthroughs, there was no front end of the next order to pay for the back end of the last catastrophe mentioned earlier. According to him, this is how all mom and pop businesses run.

He's also mentioned the possibility of bankruptcy 11 as a means to take care of this.

I am not speaking for him, but rather relaying info he himself has posted in the past. I have no dog in this fight, but I know a lot of others that have been bitten. I'm sure he will be along shortly to tell me to stfu, etc.
 
#17
:cool:
This blows my mind.
I have delt with Steve, VBTC over the last year and a half.
Bought three Laklands from him.
Skyline JO
Skykine Duck Dunn
USA Decade.

He has gone out of his way, to take care of me.
His customer service, was as good as any I have had.
He had a great repore, with Dan Lakin.

Don't know what problems he is going through now?
Does not sound like the same person.
I hope all works out for you?
 
#19
Tim Cole said:
PS careful what you type, he will threaten to sue.
Click to expand...

He can threaten, but as long as you're in another state, it's a hollow threat. Slander is only slander if it isn't the truth.

As far as calling the police for your "stolen" money, I doubt they would do anything because they would view it as a contract dispute rather than theft. Of course, we know differently.

I almost bought from Dude a few years ago, but there was something nagging in the back of my mind about him. Not sure what it was, but I went with another source.

It's a shame. In the day he seemed to be a good "Dude".
 
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