I asked them simply every time they called and they simply kept calling. They stopped eventually. It shouldn't have taken more than one simple request. Getting them to stop sending me a five pound paper catalogue took even more simple requests.
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Done with Sweetwater
- Thread starter minddrain
- Start date
I've had great experiences with them. The hi-res photos of the instruments is a plus. Didn't get any candy with the last one, so might have to look elsewhere.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
And it's your choice which you prefer. But at times they have been willing to give a discount or throw things in. When I bought a Rumble head a few years ago as a backup, they gave me a quarter inch/speakon cable and the footswitch.
No I do not. This is personal experience. Since November, I bought:
Ashdown EVO 120: it was missing the connector for the AmpKit. It had obviously been unpackaged and repacked. I called to inquire about the packaging and missing price and was told that they “Never for all long as I’ve been here unpackaged anything”
Resolution: I had to email Ashdown and wait for the piece to come from England.
MXR Carbon Copy: order was “lost” while being processed. Had to call back after several days to find that out.
Resolution: order regenerated.
TrueTome OneSpot ProCS12: actually no issue with this order.
DarkGlass Hyper Luminal, Source Audio Aftershock, and Ernie Ball flat connector: sent email to sales to purchase, Day 1, no response, day 2, no response, day 3 no response. I finally call. My sales engineer is on vacation and no one is checking his orders.
Peavy Vypyr 20w(for my son): called sales engineer left message, day 1 sent email, day 2, sent email. Day 3 called to ask why they don’t want to sell me things.
MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe: emailed new sales person to order. 24 hours later invoice is generated. 24 hours later item is pulled to ship. 12 hours later item arrives in Atlanta, 3 days later Post office received from UPS. 2 days later pedal arrives. Has incorrect manual and is defective. I am told that someone has to call me the next day. Someone finally calls. I am told I have to ship the item back, wait for it to get there. Then wait for it to be inspected, then wait for the return to process before a replacement will be shipped.
Resolve (so far): told a replacement will be shipped today before I return the defective one
Schecter Stiletto Extreme 4: sold item over the phone and told that it will be 5 days before they receive their shipment from Schecter. While I am talking to Customer Service about the MXR issue, I am informed that it may be October before they get a shipment, they’re not certain. My credit card has already been processed, I have to make payments before I get the item. Before they get the item.
Resolution: ordered suspended until they figure out if they will receive any.
musician's enemy has tried to screw me several times. they commonly send out returns and B stock as new - completely unethical. on one occasion i ordered a $2500 amp head and never received it despite calling them four times. finally canceled the order, ordered elsewhere, and had the amp 2 days later.
conversely, i've bought a lot of gear from sweetwater and never ever had any problem, literally not even one problem. sweetwater has:
- helped me with out-of-warranty repairs
- had stuff drop-shipped to me direct from the manufacturer when i needed it in a hurry
- offered me discounts when i didn't even ask
i'm a sweetwater guy for life and recommend them without hesitation. i am not affiliated in any way.
p.s. zzounds are also very good but their selection can be limited.
conversely, i've bought a lot of gear from sweetwater and never ever had any problem, literally not even one problem. sweetwater has:
- helped me with out-of-warranty repairs
- had stuff drop-shipped to me direct from the manufacturer when i needed it in a hurry
- offered me discounts when i didn't even ask
i'm a sweetwater guy for life and recommend them without hesitation. i am not affiliated in any way.
p.s. zzounds are also very good but their selection can be limited.
Like others reported, my main issue was the continuous phone calls and answering machine messages, which my wife would normally intercept and confront me. (I always let her know when I order something.)
Another minor issue, I asked for a price match on an item and the sales rep advised me it is Sweetwater's policy to not match competitor prices. No problem; I ordered from the other company.
Another minor issue, I asked for a price match on an item and the sales rep advised me it is Sweetwater's policy to not match competitor prices. No problem; I ordered from the other company.
Yeah, this has been my experience as well. It's all about the price. I think most of the on-line retailers provide pretty good support.
this. customer service costs money; you get what you pay for. i would rather pay the asking price and get stellar support; i think of it the same way as insurance or an extended warranty. i never even ask for a discount because the peace of mind is worth it.
Although I typically buy from the used bass market, I have ordered from them a few times. The only calls I ever get are to let me know something is on the way. No problems.
Their prices are nothing special, at least not the things I have purchased but they do ship fast and have always had what I needed in stock. That's all I really care about.
Their prices are nothing special, at least not the things I have purchased but they do ship fast and have always had what I needed in stock. That's all I really care about.
I’ve always had good luck with Sweetwater.
A couple of years ago I ordered a pedal for my Fantom synth and received two in the shipment. I called to ask how they wanted me to send it back to them. They just said don’t worry about it.
I ordered a Fender combo bass amp, late in the week, last year and was excited to get it before for the weekend. They said it would require the express shipping as opposed to the regular, free shipping. I agreed to pay the additional, but was pleasantly surprised to find they covered the express shipping cost.
A couple of years ago I ordered a pedal for my Fantom synth and received two in the shipment. I called to ask how they wanted me to send it back to them. They just said don’t worry about it.
I ordered a Fender combo bass amp, late in the week, last year and was excited to get it before for the weekend. They said it would require the express shipping as opposed to the regular, free shipping. I agreed to pay the additional, but was pleasantly surprised to find they covered the express shipping cost.
Can’t beat the 48 months interest free promos tho!
I recently took advantage of this promo, they gave me a 50.00 gift card just for signing up, I bought 2 Speakon speaker cables with it for the new amp I ordered, if I don’t like any of this gear I just send it back, no problems, I’ve done it before with a Mesa D800+...
I recently took advantage of this promo, they gave me a 50.00 gift card just for signing up, I bought 2 Speakon speaker cables with it for the new amp I ordered, if I don’t like any of this gear I just send it back, no problems, I’ve done it before with a Mesa D800+...
That's uncommon of Sweetwater and that sucks man.
I choose Sweetwater first, or Chicago Music Exchange (CME) via Reverb
I choose Sweetwater first, or Chicago Music Exchange (CME) via Reverb
I bought a strap there once. I kept getting calls from a service rep to make sure everything was OK, and that I didn't have any questions. It's just a strap, what questions could I possible have?
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Your experience is unusual. Their service is the gold standard for large gear retailers. Sorry to hear about your situation.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
If you get one of the reps that continue to call you after you tell them not to, call and tell them you no longer want to be handled by that representative.
Sweetwater is my "go-to" for <$100 items that I don't need "today". I don't mind the follow-up from my "sales engineer". We've actually chatted beyond the "did you get what you ordered and does it work the way you expect?" level. I have never experienced a problem, other than my own mistake of ordering the wrong thing.
I actually have an order in with them right now, and one item isn't in stock. I got a call from another guy (my S.E. was out of the office that day) to check and see if I wanted it shipped together or not.
I actually have an order in with them right now, and one item isn't in stock. I got a call from another guy (my S.E. was out of the office that day) to check and see if I wanted it shipped together or not.
