Uh huh-- but you didn't sign up here just to post the review-- you were a member so naturally you posted-- makes sense. Cool with that. Look at what's gone on with the other guys, though.
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Double Bass Discussion/argument thread about String Emporium
- Thread starter HughFosterWood
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Uh huh-- but you didn't sign up here just to post the review-- you were a member so naturally you posted-- makes sense. Cool with that. Look at what's gone on with the other guys, though.
+1
As for the rest, let's please not air any unfounded suspicions about shills. if you see something that looks suspicious to you, please just report the post and we'll look into it and make a record of it. If there's no evidence, talking about this stuff out loud in a public forum is just feeding the rumor mill, which doesn't really help anyone. Reported posts, on the other hand, leave an e-paper trail, and give the net ninja detective types (I'm not one, by the way, but i sometimes refer matters like this to the ones I know if my spidey sense is going off) some things to check in on. I must say, my spidey sense isn't telling me anything about String Emporium other than they have a lot of satisfied customers who probably found out about good starter basses with good CS at decent prices and wanted to share the info with as many people as possible. Just my .02c
Never said a peep about shills... never... in fact said I don't question that they're real happy customers. Maybe you missed that. Anyway, my point was that the nature of all the reviews seemed a bit "encouraged." Even said nothing sinister suspected. Check out posts 4, 10, 12.
Stop trying to fool us into thinking that you didn't sense anything suspicious, you're just tip-toeing around the subject, now. Saying something is "'encouraged'" is a really nice way of saying "Hey, I think someone is doing something fishy here that we're not seeing." Nice or not, you're still putting some kind of accusation, even though very half-assedly, out there.
But hey, I would say they are encouraged, literally, because the String Emporium does actually have really good service, and products, or at least one product that I know of. I bought a Finale carbon fiber bow, was going to sell it to someone and buy another, it's a long story. I called them up and ordered another one. They didn't have what I wanted because they had just run out and it would be weeks until they got another shipment in, and I ended up never getting a new bow from them. However, It was mainly their supplier for their Finale carbon fiber bows' fault, and my growing apathy towards the situation. As I got a call every 4 weeks telling me they almost accidentally sent me the wrong thing and they didn't have what I specifically wanted, eventually both parties (Me and the man who runs the String Emporium) stopped caring altogether, mutually. I stopped getting the calls, and I never got charged, sort of, plus I never really called back and just ended up holding onto my bow. In fact they charged me for something I didn't want by accident, called me up to tell me, then told me they refunded it, and then explained that I would still see the charge on my bank statement, along with the refund. It worked out, in the end, anyways. I wasn't dissatisfied with the service, I mean what could they, or I, do? Plus, I still had the bow I originally bought from them, so it didn't really matter. I thought they handled the situation impeccably, and couldn't have been any nicer about it. This is just my experience, though.
But hey, I would say they are encouraged, literally, because the String Emporium does actually have really good service, and products, or at least one product that I know of. I bought a Finale carbon fiber bow, was going to sell it to someone and buy another, it's a long story. I called them up and ordered another one. They didn't have what I wanted because they had just run out and it would be weeks until they got another shipment in, and I ended up never getting a new bow from them. However, It was mainly their supplier for their Finale carbon fiber bows' fault, and my growing apathy towards the situation. As I got a call every 4 weeks telling me they almost accidentally sent me the wrong thing and they didn't have what I specifically wanted, eventually both parties (Me and the man who runs the String Emporium) stopped caring altogether, mutually. I stopped getting the calls, and I never got charged, sort of, plus I never really called back and just ended up holding onto my bow. In fact they charged me for something I didn't want by accident, called me up to tell me, then told me they refunded it, and then explained that I would still see the charge on my bank statement, along with the refund. It worked out, in the end, anyways. I wasn't dissatisfied with the service, I mean what could they, or I, do? Plus, I still had the bow I originally bought from them, so it didn't really matter. I thought they handled the situation impeccably, and couldn't have been any nicer about it. This is just my experience, though.
Whoa down boy...maybe you have a reading problem. Maybe you missed page 1 of this thread. Yup, I was saying exactly that and didn't hide it. Even titled my post "Something's up." Not exactly trying to fool you. I even said I can't blame Steve if he's encouraging-- just thought he's overdoing it. That ain't tip-toeing. Even said s.e. seems like a good place. So get off the high horse and take a chill pill. After you do, take your little mouse and click back to my posts-- read 'em this time. Read post 12 about five times... maybe it'll sink in.
Great little consumer affairs story you told there.
I have been wanting to bring this issue to light for awhile, but was hesitant. Now I will chime in. A couple months ago I was in the market for a ply and was seriously considering the Thompson, so I naturally wanted to gather as many reviews as possible before making a purchase. I've looked at at least 15 threads in which someone who "bought a Thompson from String Emporium" posted a review. The unsettling thing was that every single (with the exception of 1) thread was started by a brand new member, and usually that was their only post, unless they responded inside their own thread. The post count of 1 popped up so many times that I immediately decided I would not be buying a Thompson, great deal or not. I assure everyone I'm not being slanderous here, just wanted to share my experience.
Here's a thought....maybe people who buy a Thompson bass from String Emporium (which is the only place I could find that sells them) are so thrilled that they were able to get such fine instruments for a great deal less than they hoped for that the new bass owners feel the need to spread the word. I am new to this website, and spend more time reviewing posts than posting as I'm still learning and am taking in all the information that other's post.
I highly doubt that every single person who reviews a Thompson coincidentally also decides not to post elsewhere on TalkBass... ever.
I was going to chime in with pretty much this VERY same thing. This is so obvious....it happened more frequently around here with the advent of another recent and now recently departed dealer and his obvious team of "fans". Same trip, IMO, and newer posters like Ideal and Hugh (to me) are making clear and concise statements about bass dealers who are obviously using this site for their personal business gains. I just left a post on this very same crapolla.
I'm getting really tired of this self serving BS around what was, at one time a great site for newer and pro DB players.
If I was a noob and wandered in here for some solid, good information on our instrument I would be confused at best and completely alienated at the worst.
Paul, if i were a noob i'd look to the various posts and i'd take into account the opinion of people who know what they are talking about, with established TB contributions through all these years. Personally i do not see a scam into all these reviews. Nonetheless they are coming from people with unknown qualifications in double bass, usually in their first venture in the DB world, so this fact definitely would make me at least careful. I would definitely prefer to hear opinions from seasoned players, in order to deside.
Mike
Mike
If somebody would take the time to report the posts that are making everyones alarms go off, I'd appreciate it, and will take to the mod/admin panel for discussion. Thanks!
i dont own a wan bernadel. i've never bought from steve at string emporium. i've been a member of talkbass for a long time. i've been playing bass for about 25 years. (shameless plug: Link Removed ) and i have to say the wan bernadel that i've played (steve laspina's) is a very fine instrument and i would not mind owning one myself. from what i understand steve now owns 2 and plays them live and records with them as he's stated publicly on this forum.
I've bought TWO American Standard PLYWOOD basses. One built around 1939-1940, I had to wait a bit over 60 years on that one.
The second bass was bought in November of 2005. It was built in the mid to late 50's. Whew, I only had to wait about 50 years before I could actually get my hands on that one.
They were so long in getting to me that I forgot (actually, never did know) who the original dealers were on EITHER one of them.
Now, remind me, help out if you will....
Is this talkBASS.com or talkDEALER.com?
Sorry folks....I couldn't resist and I wasn't as adept as Fitzgerald at finding the quick, easy, funny, pointedly so, on-topic picture to insert at this point.
The second bass was bought in November of 2005. It was built in the mid to late 50's. Whew, I only had to wait about 50 years before I could actually get my hands on that one.
They were so long in getting to me that I forgot (actually, never did know) who the original dealers were on EITHER one of them.
Now, remind me, help out if you will....
Is this talkBASS.com or talkDEALER.com?
Sorry folks....I couldn't resist and I wasn't as adept as Fitzgerald at finding the quick, easy, funny, pointedly so, on-topic picture to insert at this point.
I think this is a bit of making the mountain out of a molehill. A little bit of enthusiasm for a new instrument or some good customer service is not the end of the world. A couple dealers seem to really bring out this response in customers who then post--I don't see it as problematic, just move on. Sometimes the whining is more annoying than the cheerleading.
Mountain out of a molehill? I think not. Like IdealWay and PW, I hesitated to weigh in on this. Indeed, a little bit of enthusiasm is just fine. A great deal of enthusiasm is just fine too. I'd have no problem with a detailed and even glowing review from an established member or even from a new member who wished to join this community and contribute to and interact with it. I think Hugh and Idealway are quite on target that the reviews sound remarkably similar and are, with few exceptions, posted by folks we never see again. Think about it. A new player buys a bass and is so happy that he looks for internet fora so that he can spread the word. He/she signs up for TalkBass, posts a review devoid of detail but full of superlatives, and then disappears. Don't think so.
Yes, some dealers seem to engender loyalty and satisfied customers. As Hugh pointed out, we have seen customers of other dealers post glowing reviews but the reviews are all quite different, usually have more detail, are not nearly as gushing, don't usually contain a plea that others go and check out the product/dealer right away, and are from folks that have been around here or tend to stay around here. Think New Standard, AES, Upton, Nick Lloyd, etc. customers.
I'll also agree with Hugh and others that the Thompson reviews are likely posted by actual customers who are actually happy. In addition, so far as I can tell, the Thompson basses may be a nice bass for the money. It really comes down to appearances and what has been going on just doesn't look good. It appears to be strategic.
May be a good point. On the other hand.....I see that you are a more recent poster here, welcome, BTW.
Admittedly, some of us older posters are over sensitive to the possible free advertising issues on these pages. Banning happened, several important and very cool members had to leave for reasons of their own, but were obviously part of this particular situation though there was no intent involved on their part....at least IMO.
On the surface, it might look over bearing and as you point out "whining". It does work both ways, give us some slack and speaking for myself, I'll do the same. I will add that if you look around on some recent threads here you'll see some rather weird back and forth stuff that isn't at all the "norm" around TBDB.....once in a while, but not like the last few days. That makes members get a bit edgy.
Right....you'd be calm too if you had just popped a handful of 10 mg Valiums because of all the weirdness around here lately. Night now, Les. 
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