Almost NBD - warning online retailer content

[LBS-bass]

I see what you are saying and I agree to an extent. However, the key thing that will cause me to judge a company is their customer service. If their customer service is responsive

But people need to be well and at work to provide customer service, too. The problem is, a lot of people are sick and not at work right now.

I think this is a temporary problem we're spending way too much time complaining about. There's a big spike of illness happening that will (hopefully) start to subside in another couple of weeks or so.

 

[jd56hawk]

I bought one of these from Sweetwater last month, and it arrived in a timely manner.

BTW, it is AWESOME!

Thanks.
Expensive, sure, but I had to buy something and I just didn't need a bass!

 

[coy garcia]

Sweetwater is better than most. I work in transportation and it's nearly impossible to hire drivers. I have a bass on order that was supposed to be done in June. Patience is something i've never been good at but what can we do.

 

[bassdog]

I encourage you to be patient with this situation. It's a bass you wanted and were/are excited about. Breathe and find something to distract you.

 

[Bass Viking]

I encourage you to be patient with this situation. It's a bass you wanted and were/are excited about. Breathe and find something to distract you.

I can understand why people are impatient. When you’re stuck inside, locked down, etc. you tend to fixate more on this stuff. You’re absolutely right about needing distraction.

 

[BAG]

Yes, they advertised that it ships in 24 hours and probably should make a change to their website, at least temporarily.

Yes, you are being very, very impatient.
And why the hell do you NEED a specific new bass by Tuesday that your current bass/s aren't good enough for?

These are not normal times. Cut them some slack.
It's only in very recent times that such quick delivery time frames existed and hopefully things will be back to normal soon.

Oh..... and don't ever move to New Zealand or Australia. You'd probably die from the stress of having to wait 6 weeks for a set of Chromes flatwound bass strings to ship from overseas that you pay $70 for.

Not sure if you've been working with a Sales Engineer

As others suggested, ask for a "sales engineer" to be assigned to you

Personally, i'd be more concerned about what kind of company they are that call their sales people "engineers".
Not only is that some serious top-level corporate wanking right there, but the person who suggested it, and every person that allowed it to happen and continue, don't know or care about the actual meaning of the word engineer. They just want you, the customer, to feel like their sales people are highly trained professionals and will make up a ridiculous job name to do so. They will probably do other dodgy things just to make sales too..... like promising really quick delivery.

 

[wvbass]

Tough luck MF, I was looking at a Mesa rig too.

Lots of people criticizing Sweetwater, and many more defending. Is that in fact where it was ordered? MF makes me think of another online vendor. Or was MF intended to be profanity?

On the other hand they should change thier web site and remove promises they can no longer keep. It's just not right to sell you on false expectations.

As to saying they should stop promising 24-hour shipping if they can't deliver...from my point of view, vendors are between a rock and a hard place. They either promise that and do their best, or they announce possible shipping delays and watch people like the OP take their business to another vendor that has the same issues but still promises 24-hour shipping.

 

[BarqsBitMe]

As to saying they should stop promising 24-hour shipping if they can't deliver...from my point of view, vendors are between a rock and a hard place. They either promise that and do their best, or they announce possible shipping delays and watch people like the OP take their business to another vendor that has the same issues but still promises 24-hour shipping.

This is where a company's reputation comes into play. If I know that Company A goes out of their way to treat their customers with respect, I will appreciate their honesty about shipping times and inventory and order from them well before I would order from Company B that has a reputation of ripping people off. True, a lot of people could not care less and will just order from whoever claims to have what they want. It is one of the things I despise most about the state of the modern world. The masses would rather have instantaneous cheap garbage that breaks almost immediately than high quality items that cost more and take time to make and deliver. Companies across the globe have adapted by giving into these market demands for cheap, shoddy, but quickly delivered trash. Those that do not have a hard time competing if they can compete at all...and thus the degenerative cycle continues.

 

[Ash Jazz]

Sweetwater has always been #1 in customer service. However they are now out of stock of many items. I believe that is because the company was recently sold.

I cancelled my MF order and put in an order this morning at ZZSounds. The bass is expected to arrive tomorrow.

So the story has a happy ending!

 

[LBS-bass]

Sweetwater has always been #1 in customer service. However they are now out of stock of many items. I believe that is because the company was recently sold.

I cancelled my MF order and put in an order this morning at ZZSounds. The bass is expected to arrive tomorrow.

So the story has a happy ending!

Hope you get it tomorrow! Please post pics; we want to see it

 

[FenderBassist]

Hi all,

My enthusiasm for my new bass, an Ibanez SR1345b, is getting replaced with frustration. Maybe I'm being impatient but the web site specifically said in stock, same day shipping on most orders placed before 3pm and if not guaranteed to ship within 24 hours. I placed the order at 5am Wednesday morning.

Its my fault for waiting until the last minute but I was counting on using it Tuesday evening. I am going on day 3 with no change in the order status, "processing". I called, the lady was nice, apologized for the delay but couldn't tell me anything definitive about it.

Tomorrow I am calling and canceling the order.

I don't know what's up with Sweetwater but they are out of stock of just about everything.

Niether local GC or SA have one in stock.

Zzsounds supposedly has it in stock and guarantees 2 day free delivery. I think I'll try to go that way. Tough luck MF, I was looking at a Mesa rig too.

Maybe I am being too impatient but I feel lied to. That's the part that bothers me. Don't make promises you can't keep and if something happens, tell me, I shouldn't have to come looking for you for an explanation.

I completely understand how you feel, and I think it's going to get worse in many other areas of shopping / purchasing as well due to shortages.

My hopes that you can get this resolved quickly and get your bass.

 

[Ash Jazz]

Lots of people criticizing Sweetwater, and many more defending. Is that in fact where it was ordered? MF makes me think of another online vendor. Or was MF intended to be profanity?


As to saying they should stop promising 24-hour shipping if they can't deliver...from my point of view, vendors are between a rock and a hard place. They either promise that and do their best, or they announce possible shipping delays and watch people like the OP take their business to another vendor that has the same issues but still promises 24-hour shipping.

MF = Musicians Friend!

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Looking forward to the NBD post, the SR1345 is gorgeous!

 

[Ash Jazz]

Yes, they advertised that it ships in 24 hours and probably should make a change to their website, at least temporarily.

Yes, you are being very, very impatient.
And why the hell do you NEED a specific new bass by Tuesday that your current bass/s aren't good enough for?

These are not normal times. Cut them some slack.
It's only in very recent times that such quick delivery time frames existed and hopefully things will be back to normal soon.

Oh..... and don't ever move to New Zealand or Australia. You'd probably die from the stress of having to wait 6 weeks for a set of Chromes flatwound bass strings to ship from overseas that you pay $70 for.




Personally, i'd be more concerned about what kind of company they are that call their sales people "engineers".
Not only is that some serious top-level corporate wanking right there, but the person who suggested it, and every person that allowed it to happen and continue, don't know or care about the actual meaning of the word engineer. They just want you, the customer, to feel like their sales people are highly trained professionals and will make up a ridiculous job name to do so. They will probably do other dodgy things just to make sales too..... like promising really quick delivery.

I got a gig. This particular gig comes with a good paycheck. They drop the keys a lot. I have been a steadfast 4 string player but many of these songs don't sound right in the dropped key without lower notes to go to. The hooks don't work. So I could tune down or get a 5 string. I've been thinking of getting one any way. I would like to be able to show up for rehearsal on Tuesday with the 5 string. Neither the local GC or SA had the bass I wanted. So I went with a retailer who "guaranteed" a certain level of service that ultimately they couldn't provide.

 

[Ash Jazz]

Looking forward to the NBD post, the SR1345 is gorgeous!

Oh yah, it looks super cool and I've like Ibanez basses I have played in the past. Here's the sales pic...

 

[BAG]

I got a gig. This particular gig comes with a good paycheck. They drop the keys a lot. I have been a steadfast 4 string player but many of these songs don't sound right in the dropped key without lower notes to go to. The hooks don't work. So I could tune down or get a 5 string. I've been thinking of getting one any way. I would like to be able to show up for rehearsal on Tuesday with the 5 string. Neither the local GC or SA had the bass I wanted. So I went with a retailer who "guaranteed" a certain level of service that ultimately they couldn't provide.

Fair enough

And they are a fantastic instrument.

 

[truand85]

In this "new normal" distributors should quit making the promises none of them can keep. I'll grant you that.

That said, for this "new normal", yes, you're too impatient.

Also, don't be surprised if Zzsounds doesn't have it either. And if they do, they're likely so short-handed (like everybody else) that they won't be able to process/ship it in two days.

After a while you'll run out of companies to boycott.

No need to boycott a company, just go to another one for that one specific product. That's a loss for them and they take that very seriously. Give them feedback.

I wanted to buy a subway 212 cab from sweetwater. I called my sales guy, who told me "I can't give you a definitive timeline, just place the order and we'll ship when they're in stock". I told him he just lost my business and I placed the order with a competitor. I looked 2 days later and I have a new sales guy.

 

[LBS-bass]

I got a gig. This particular gig comes with a good paycheck. They drop the keys a lot. I have been a steadfast 4 string player but many of these songs don't sound right in the dropped key without lower notes to go to. The hooks don't work. So I could tune down or get a 5 string. I've been thinking of getting one any way. I would like to be able to show up for rehearsal on Tuesday with the 5 string. Neither the local GC or SA had the bass I wanted. So I went with a retailer who "guaranteed" a certain level of service that ultimately they couldn't provide.

Good luck with it. Takes a little getting used to!

 

[Jtimbo123]

yeah, I used to be impatient like that, but now it feels immature and unrealistic. This instant gratification ideology needs to stop. We already get things way faster than ten years ago, and now we go berzerk over the slightest hiccup in delivery.

Oh, and we have a shortage of everything, so to not take that into account is illogical.

 

[Ash Jazz]

Good luck with it. Takes a little getting used to!

Another reason I am anxious to get it. Last time I picked one up I kept getting lost!