Club Alleva Coppolo (Part 8)

[esoxhntr]

You know, I can live with the people posting about the whole experience, though I agree that generally you should talk to the guy involved before going public. However, it always floors me that it is so easy to ignore the 7500+ positive posts and focus on "the one" that says there may be a problem.

If everything was made perfect, there'd be no such thing as customer service. Having dealt with Jimmy on a number of occasions, I have to say he is extraordinarily helpful and has not once let me down. I'm afraid I can't say the same about other "boutique" shops, who will go unmentioned here, suffice it to say I no longer own any of their product.

 

[RS]

I think it'll take more than one complaint to slow that guy's business down. Man, those basses are something else!

This ^.

And I don't get the "timing" of reporting what someone's experience with a custom bass builder argument. As long as the buyer is accurate and fair with his reporting of said experience, how is the buyer in the wrong? In this particular case, the initial negative will turn into a positive review when Jimmy rectifies the issues with that particular bass.
Is anyone here of the opinion that any bass priced north of $3k shouldn't be perfect and 100% delivered as ordered?

 

[esoxhntr]

Agreed. Hopefully in the end we'll spend an equal amount of time talking about how Jimmy took the effort to make it right.

 

[Bassist30]

Please keep in mind that I am an Alleva Coppolo fan, own a silver RA4 and really want this bass. That being said, I wish this hadn't happened and hope that Jimmy does make this right.

There is no question in my mind that Jimmy will do the right thing as he has in the past. I regret what you are experiencing. I also agree that this forum is a place where one we can vent our feelings and two we can notify and express experiences with various companies. My experiences have always been great as I am very confident Jimmy will make good that will satify you and you will have a great sounding bass. For all those who say that you should get a high quality perfect bass because you spent alot of money and waited so long. I agree. Keep in mind these basses are not contracted to a multitude of venders to make sections of the bass and then mail it to jimmy where he can put it together and slap his name on it. Like some of the boutique shops do. So I take it that he is doing his job as there is always going to be a small percentage of mistakes with the best of all companies. Give him time to get a hold of you if eamils is how you want to handle it. It is a small company. I would call.

 

[esoxhntr]

Again, there is lots of expensive stuff that leaves the shop/factory and has to be returned. It happens with expensive cars, watches, high end audio, fancy appliances, so why wouldn't it happen with a bass from time to time? It just proves that Jimmy is human like anyone else.

Unfortunate that it happens of course, and I certainly wouldn't want to be the guy to wait a year for a bass and have it show up in unsatisfactory condition - I can understand the disappointment for sure - but to start the ball rolling about this being a negative experience without having spoken to Jimmy is premature. Notice the change in tone of the posting after Jimmy was spoken to.

My take is that the "whole" experience should include how Jimmy resolves the problem, and well the bass plays/feels/looks in the end. I truly do hope that Celindermotoman ends up with a wicked LM4.

 

[CelinderMotoMan]

but to start the ball rolling about this being a negative experience without having spoken to Jimmy is premature.

Well if I have a negative experience and wait for Jimmy to fix it before posting, and he fixes it.....it still doesn't make the negative experience go away. That negative experience DID happen in the first place, and I'm not one to sugar coat things.

 

[CelinderMotoMan]

Also keep in mind all of the TBers who asked me to "give them a reveiw of my bass when it arrived" and "let them know when I get my bass"

P.s. I found another issue with the bass, and while it can be fixed, shouldn't have been sent out with said issue but after all sh#t that I've got for telling the truth, I'll keep it to myself.

 

[Vic]

P.s. I found another issue with the bass, and while it can be fixed, shouldn't have been sent out with said issue but after all sh#t that I've got for telling the truth, I'll keep it to myself.

At least in my case, this is NOT what I was hoping for as an outcome.

Here's the thing... and really, it's a function of the nature of a web forum. Things tend to get spun up really badly really quickly.

All I was trying to say is, I think (IMHO!) it'd have been best to FULLY REPORT the issues (as you did), but just simply wait until you also had Jimmy's response before doing so. The benefit of doing that is you avoid the typical flurry of bashing that usually occurs in web forums that would otherwise be tamed to a more reasonable "yeah, that sucked, but at least he's taking care of it, and hopefully it won't happen again" kinda' responses.

I just think it's best if both the report and the response are aired at the same time in a web forum when the report is negative. That's really all I was ever trying to say... NOT that you should never report anything negative. Not by a damn sight.

As far as you treating comments here as basically a gag order, I think that's even worse, and if I'm responsible, I'm really very very sorry, and I hope you reconsider. That's not at all what I wanted. Not at all.

 

[simongpaez]

Well if I have a negative experience and wait for Jimmy to fix it before posting, and he fixes it.....it still doesn't make the negative experience go away. That negative experience DID happen in the first place, and I'm not one to sugar coat things.

+1000

P.s. I found another issue with the bass, and while it can be fixed, shouldn't have been sent out with said issue but after all sh#t that I've got for telling the truth, I'll keep it to myself.

I would like to know, cosidering I may be in the market for a new bass,

 

[CelinderMotoMan]

People flame on Talkbass no matter what the circustances, so me "waiting" has nothing to do with it. I couldve flamed if that was my intent, but it wasn't, I like Jimmy but feel he slipped(even when he fixes it, I'll still think that)

 

[CelinderMotoMan]

Maybe thbis will prevent it from happening to someone else

 

[CelinderMotoMan]

IMHO, I think Jimmy should respond to this thread.

 

[CelinderMotoMan]

Maybe thbis will prevent it from happening to someone else

Which, I thought that's what talkbass was here for

 

[esoxhntr]

I just think it's best if both the report and the response are aired at the same time in a web forum when the report is negative. That's really all I was ever trying to say... NOT that you should never report anything negative. Not by a damn sight.

What Vic said - wish I had put it that way myself. And yes, you should be disappointed considering the cost and wait. 1000 pardons for not stating that clearly. I was just trying to stop people from overreacting, and of course wound up sounding like I was, well, overreacting.

 

[KJung]

Had a GREAT weekend with the RA5 and the new TC RH450 with the AE410.. grindy and fat and growly! That rig really works will with the RA!

Regarding all the above, I'm a big fan of getting it all out there. I'm sure Jimmy will make it right, and hopefully this will be a mild wake-up call for him to review some of his new procedures and quality checks (and special order features tracking).

Whenever a company (luthier, amp or cab manufacturer) goes from a very small shop to more of a production mode, there are some growing pains. That's not meant to be an excuse but an possible explanation.

If this is a relatively isolated incident, then no harm done, and hopefully some good will come out of it for future customers.

I can only hope that everyone's Alleva-Coppolo's are as amazing and perfect in every way as mine.

 

[Vic]

People flame on Talkbass no matter what the circustances, so me "waiting" has nothing to do with it.

IMHO, I actually do think it woulda' mattered, which is the crux of my post. Again tho, IMHO I guess. Sure, some will flame no matter what, but I personally think the unreasonable people are pretty easy to pick out and ignore.

BTW, I have tons of respect for you for not succumbing to the temptation to just lash back, and continue to simply post your true thoughts. Again, I hope you reconsider your decision to stifle yourself.

I like Jimmy but feel he slipped(even when he fixes it, I'll still think that)

Totally agreed, on both points.

 

[Vic]

Regarding all the above, I'm a big fan of getting it all out there. I'm sure Jimmy will make it right, and hopefully this will be a mild wake-up call for him to review some of his new procedures and quality checks (and special order features tracking).

Whenever a company (luthier, amp or cab manufacturer) goes from a very small shop to more of a production mode, there are some growing pains. That's not meant to be an excuse but an possible explanation.

If this is a relatively isolated incident, then no harm done, and hopefully some good will come out of it for future customers.

I can only hope that everyone's Alleva-Coppolo's are as amazing and perfect in every way as mine.

+1

 

[CelinderMotoMan]

okay, i'm gonna post this to stop all of the pms, and yes I have called Jimmy. My pickguard had no film on it and has scratches on it as if it has been played with a pick or fingernails (every NEW bass that I have ever received had the plastic on all of the covers). I compared it to the pickguard on my RA4, which I have been gigging with for a while, and it did NOT have any scratches on it.
Not a big deal and can be replaced but...........and I realise this will eventually happen to the bass once I play it out on a gig, but still.....

IMHO, WHEN I SPEND THOUSANDS OF $$$$ ON A BRAND NEW BASS, I WANT IT TO BE BRAND NEW AND SHINY.
Sorry if that offends anyone or makes me look like an A-hole. but if MY bass is gonna get scratched up, I want to be the one responcible for the scratches

Why me?!?!?!

 

[Vic]

okay, i'm gonna post this to stop all of the pms, and yes I have called Jimmy. My pickguard had no film on it and has scratches on it as if it has been played with a pick or fingernails (every NEW bass that I have ever received had the plastic on all of the covers). I compared it to the pickguard on my RA4, which I have been gigging with for a while, and it did NOT have any scratches on it.
Not a big deal and can be replaced but...........and I realise this will eventually happen to the bass once I play it out on a gig, but still.....

IMHO, WHEN I SPEND THOUSANDS OF $$$$ ON A BRAND NEW BASS, I WANT IT TO BE BRAND G@DD*MN NEW AND SHINY.
Sorry if that offends anyone or makes me look like an A-hole.

Why me?!?!?!

Thanks (for posting the "rest of the story"), and again, I do agree with your initial dissatisfaction.

 

[esoxhntr]

IMHO, WHEN I SPEND THOUSANDS OF $$$$ ON A BRAND NEW BASS, I WANT IT TO BE BRAND G@DD*MN NEW AND SHINY.

Now that's funny. Don't get me wrong, you are absolutely correct - I just was tickled by how you put it.