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Anyone ever buy and return anything to MF?

grimmchaos

grimmchaos

Nov 22, 2007
1,351
3,345
#1
Hey guys, I recently bought a 5 string Warwick Corvette $$ from Musicians Friend, and after having it for a few weeks, I decided to return it because I could never get it to sound quite the way I wanted it to. I've bought a bunch of stuff from MF, but never had to return any of it. I realize I have to cover return shipping (and insurance), but the Warwicks come with only gigbags, and I'm hesitant to just throw it back into the box with the gigbag and hope for the best. If it breaks its my responsibility, but will UPS cover damage to a $1500 bass if it gets broken in the packaging that the manufacturer shipped it to me in?

I feel like I should double box it up before sending it back, but its gonna cost me a bunch at that point....the Warwick boxes are big as it is. Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions? Thanks!
 
#2
I returned a Levy's strap to them, and they never received it. That was the first time I ever had to make an insurance claim on a lost package (out of hundreds, if not thousands). Thankfully USPS were great, I filled out one form and had my money back within a few days.

Either way, I took that as a sign and haven't shopped from the MFers since.
 
#7
I ordered a Tribute L2500, natural finish + maple fingerboard and a hard case. When the bass arrived, it had a rosewood fingerboard. Although the sales rep **really** wanted me to keep it (and offered a further discount on the price) I told him I wanted to return it.

He emailed a return (prepaid) FedEx label which I printed from my computer. I put everything back in the original packing and took it to the local shipping point and off it went.

Later that month I received an invoice showing what I had ordered, that I had returned it all, and a $0.00 balance.

Sorry for all you MF bashers, but it was an easy process. The mail order music business is very competitive, so they all keep on the straight and narrow.
 
#8
I BOUGHT AN ALESIS KEYBOARD. HAD ISSUES ON ARRIVAL, SO THEY SENT ME THE UPS RETURN LABEL AND A NUMBER TO CALL TO SCHEDULE THE PICKUP. RETURNED ONE TO ME RIGHT AWAY, THEN ACTUALLY 6 MONTHS LATER ANOTHER ONE SHOWED UP???
 
#10
Interesting, I tried to press for them to pay for shipping, but it didn't work. Is it because I didn't like the item, and thats why I want to return it? I might have to give them a call again tonight when I get home from work.
 
#11
whenever you're dealing with customer service you should always act like the hassle of returning the item is putting you out in some significant way.

I would say that since this isn't a warranty or shipping issue that you will more than likely not get any leeway in what they make you pay for (such as shipping) and infact I'd be surprised if they even give you a 100% refund on the item and don't hose you on a restocking fee.

I just bought a 4 string wick $$ from GC and I love it, i'm not sure how you couldn't get the tone you wanted out of it, it's one of the most versitile basses out there.
 
#13
whizack said:
whenever you're dealing with customer service you should always act like the hassle of returning the item is putting you out in some significant way.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree. There's no reason to act upset with them when all you're trying to do is conduct a reasonable business transaction. If they are uncooperative or unfair, then you're entitled to put some pressure on - but not if they deal with you fairly.

People who automatically act adversarial are one of the plagues in today's business world. The old saying still applies: "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
 
#14
My biggest issue with the bass was the B string...had trouble getting it to stay clear. There's so much bottom end available on the bass I couldn't get the B to not be muddy, at least not on my gear.

I did forget to mention that they hung up on me once...."hold on, let me transfer you to customer service......dial tone". A big part of my job during the day is customer service, and I understand how things don't always work out, but I've never hung up on a customer no matter how bad things have gotten. Though I understand he could have just hit the wrong button accidentally as well, and maybe it wasn't on purpose. I was calm, as I'm a generally a relaxed, easy going guy. Also, if you can't return something you don't like, whats the point of the 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back? I emailed them from work to see if someone would at least send me a label, and will follow up with a phone call tonight.
 
#19
I've gotten a lot of stuff from MF. I've only had to send one thing back and that was a $150 item which I didn't order but somehow ended up in my box.

I called customer support and the lady was totally shocked that I was being honest enough to let them know they sent me something I didn't pay for. By no means should I have had to pay to return that item, but in that case they even paid FedEx to come pick it up from my house.
 

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