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Customer service
- Thread starter Slaphound
- Start date
- Jul 11, 2005
- 3,114
- 1,460
- Disclosures
- Gecko Leatherworks
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
Ernie Ball/Music Man has given me the best customer service ever! Ibanez, has given me some good and some bad, Sure wireless also gave me really good customer service too.
I see EBMM brought up a lot.....among the others. What can you say EBMM did to receive your praise? What exactly did any of them do to receive anybody's praise?
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
With EBMM, there is quite a bit of things. To me, the first new bass I bought was the breast cancer awareness bass they made for me after my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time I did not know they did not do custom work unless you were an endorsed artist but Sterling Ball agreed to build the bass for me. At that point in time, I had spent $0.00 with EBMM. Sterling then went and donated 100% of the money from the bass to our relay for life team out of the kindness of his heart and encouraged other members to do the same. The totaly we raised tha year as a team as a result of that was around 7.5k. Then, I have had some minor issues with my basses on occasion. One was a truss rod issue and they walked me through how to fix it. The issue came back and even though my bass was a few months out of warranty, they offered to still warranty the bass if we could not solve the problem. Fortunately, we were able too. My next one was on my Bongo I just got a little over a month ago. When I ordered it, I wanted an abalone pickguard but knew EBMM no longer carried them as an option. I called them to see where I could buy one and AJ actually took the time to see if they had any spare ones left over. They did so he told me to go ahead and order the bass with the pickguard if I wnated too and he would set it aside for me. I then hado riginally ordered that Bongo to be a 4 H model but decided to add a piezo a little more than a week after the order was made. I called them again to see if it would be too late and they said it wouldn't be. I then called Bass Central, where I order all of my EBMM basses from, and made the change.
What is also pretty cool is every time I call if I have a question about something, they are all very friendly. They all remember who I am and always take the time to either answer my questions or help resolve the one issue I had. They never try and rush me off of the phone or act put out I am calling. They also always ask how my wife is doing too and that is big to me.
The last thing they did too was help raise the money for my wife to have her breast re-construction surgery because we have a high deductible from our insurance. They have also helped others out too is similar situations.
Needless to say, I am an EBMM player for life. If I ever become some huge popular player, they won't need to worry about giving me an endorsement deal because I will endorse them on my own as I do now.
Well, let's see ... A $1,500 American-made instrument is most likely to be a Fender. So let's hear from all you folks who've had great customer service from Fender. (I'm not saying whether they have great CS or not - I just haven't heard a lot about it.)
On the other hand, I have had personal service from Sadowsky, and it's been the best. So I got premium basses and the confidence that I am a valued customer and will be treated well. To me, it's worth it.
Munj,
Just to be clear. I agree with you. Personal service is well worth it. Just not in my budget. My thought now is that if I need to spend $1500 on a new American Made bass and get lousy or nil customer service, then I might as well just get one of the overseas budget bass' and get the same "NO' service for a Lot less. For my gigs and my musical "Career' I really don't know that I am getting my moneys worth. Most overseas budget basses made by the Top Brand names today are very well made and usually for me, the cosmetics are where the quality is lacking.
In terms of great customer service for a cheaper instrument, when I've e-mailed with questions about my Chinese-made MTD Kingston, Mike Tobias responds personally and promptly.
Comparing with the computer industry doesn't work, really. Computers are made to be tools. Most of the people that use computers have no idea how they work, and some people doesn't even want to use computers. This means that more people will be in contact with CS regarding computers. Some of the customers tend to be extremely rude (and in some cases even threatening). Needless to say, the people at CS may not be as passionate about computers at the end of the day.
People who own basses are usually interested and enjoy playing just like the people that make them, so I think CS interactions in the music industry tend to be more friendly from the get go.
I don't have much experience with CS in the music business, but the people at the local music store are always friendly and helpful.
The only bad experience I have had is when i bought some stuff from Beyond Eleven a few months ago. The CS wasn't bad, it was non-existent...
- Jul 11, 2005
- 3,114
- 1,460
- Disclosures
- Gecko Leatherworks
Lakland has excellent.....better than most CS.
Have also dealt with Rick Turner and a rep from Michael Kelly...again very good to excellent CS
Had to deal with a larger company several years ago and can tell you it was not great.....
Have also dealt with Rick Turner and a rep from Michael Kelly...again very good to excellent CS
Had to deal with a larger company several years ago and can tell you it was not great.....
Quick story about Alembic. Mica will probably cyber-slap me for telling this story.....
The last time I made a purchase from Alembic was probably in like 2002 or 2003. And it was something small like instrument polish or a t-shirt or something.
A couple years ago, I decided to buy a bass off of Craigslist - San Jose. Nobody with common sense buys long distance over CL. You HAVE to see the merchandise before you hand over the cash. So I called Mica and asked if I could have the guy drop the bass off at Alembic, have them make sure I was getting what I was paying for, pay the guy, and I'd pay Alembic the price of the bass plus shipping. She was like "Cool! Glad to do it!" Now here's the kicker.....the bass was a 1980 Music Man, not an Alembic. When I received it it was packaged as if it were a brand new Alembic.
When I bought a used Ken Smith Burner 5 back in the late '90s, I emailed the company and asked for details about the bass. They answered all my questions and sent me a wiring diagram and a set of tools.
Hanewinckel, Marchlewski, and Roscoe (Gard is the shizznit) have also provided me top notch service and advice.
Can only speak on the ones I've interacted with and ALL so far have been great.
Peace,
James
These are the companys i have dealt with personally...i put them in a scale for you (1=..worst...10 =best)
Fender=mixed review...my bass(s)=9..my amp(s)=5
Carvin=8
Ibanez=3
Fbass=10
Fodera=going through spec/purchase consultation only =10
Elrick=7
Mesa Boogie=8
Ampeg=8
Fender=mixed review...my bass(s)=9..my amp(s)=5
Carvin=8
Ibanez=3
Fbass=10
Fodera=going through spec/purchase consultation only =10
Elrick=7
Mesa Boogie=8
Ampeg=8
Rubbish customer service:
RIC and Ernie Ball. Absolute shite!!! They couldn't give a crap... Well neither do I. Customer lost!!!!
Top notch customer service:
Rotosound and D'addario.
Strings broke wile installing on my Ricky. Both companies sent 2 full sets of strings, T-shirt and apology. Will always deal with these companies.
RIC and Ernie Ball. Absolute shite!!! They couldn't give a crap... Well neither do I. Customer lost!!!!
Top notch customer service:
Rotosound and D'addario.
Strings broke wile installing on my Ricky. Both companies sent 2 full sets of strings, T-shirt and apology. Will always deal with these companies.
