pablomigraine
Commercial User
Sorry to hear about your troubles man... this is terrible when this sort of thing happens... but it's getting more and more common, especially with instruments. The Hi-End home audio and Pro Audio people have been dealing with this sort of thing for years... it's just now reaching our side of things. These scammers set up very legit looking websites and advertise all types of stuff at very good to "too good to be true" prices and once they have your money the best possible case scenario is getting some of it back weeks or even months later.
Being in the industry, I hear more and more about this happening with Amazon purchases as well. What many if not most people don't know is that very often when buying off of Amazon, you are not buying FROM amazon... you know how when you enter something in the search at Amazon and it says "available from Amazon and 12 other sellers" well..... all those "sellers"? They are NOT authorized dealers for these companies... When you see for example a Fender Am Std Jazz bass from amazon for at or near the same price as MF and GC.com, and then a few sellers at that same price, and then 2 or 3 with prices ranging from slightly to much much less.... these are just individuals who set up Amazon seller accounts. People don't realize that it's just like eBay, only without the bidding... All it takes to be a seller on Amazon is filling out the webform, a few other things and a Stock photo of whatever they're claiming to have for sale pulled off the web.
Look at it like this... if someone is offering a Gibson bass for hundreds less than anyone else, they are definitely NOT an authorized dealer.... Gibson requires a nearly $100,000 up front franchise fee to sell their stuff and nearly all manufacturers require some big buy-in... so if "Aunty Grandma's Ole Timey Strings" the seller on Amazon isn't a dealer... where did they get the instrument? If they even have the instrument in their possession at all it's either factory B-stock, reconditioned, used or worse. In many cases these sellers collect your money and then go to a store and attempt to buy the piece you ordered for a hundred or two hundred bucks less than what you paid with a tax exempt form. Sometimes getting a refund from amazon is a piece of cake, sometimes a nightmare.... and with these individual websites, you're lucky to get anything back at all....
Bottom line... the best way to go is still to go to your local Mom & Pop or local GC or Sam Ash, make nice with somebody there and get the best deal you can.... The economy will thank you, the Mom & Pop's need your business, and whatever your feelings are about the big boys like GC, the people working there are still your neighbors and need to make a living too... plus you cant beat the ease of return & exchange with big box places.
Again sorry to hear about your trouble and hope everything turns out ok... thanks on behalf of all for the heads up!!
