Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender Troubles...big time
- Thread starter Big Mike Ipp
- Start date
this might be kind of drastic. TO clarify my point earlier, I don't think GC should be expected to fix it themselves, but they are required to be your point of contact with Fender in getting it resolved IMO. That to me is just standard business, and if they are not willing to help I owuld put them in the pile with Fender as a company you will no longer give money to
I bought a MIA Telecaster in 99 and a couple of years later noticed the skunk stripe developed a gap. Fender sent a local shop (authorized Fender repair shop) a new neck, paperwork about the serial number, and paid for installation & setup.
As has been mentioned, the better the authorized shop, the better for you. The way Fender sets up their warranty work sort of requires the purchaser to do due diligence on the shops. They are not created equal.
Find a good local shop and let them take care of you. This isn't GC's forte.
BTW, I have one of the "blow-out" jazz basses (blizzard pearl/rosewood board) and it's just about perfect.
As has been mentioned, the better the authorized shop, the better for you. The way Fender sets up their warranty work sort of requires the purchaser to do due diligence on the shops. They are not created equal.
Find a good local shop and let them take care of you. This isn't GC's forte.
BTW, I have one of the "blow-out" jazz basses (blizzard pearl/rosewood board) and it's just about perfect.
I've had nothing but success with my MIM Fenders
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to somebody.I agree, it all comes down to the shop. If you have a good one, you're all set. If not, you'll have problems.
Ok, so 10minutes ago I was collecting my notes and my thoughts before contacting fender and when I picked up the phone I noticed I had a missed call. I opened up my voicemail and surprise surprise, it was my fender support guy. He left a brief message that he was wondering how the bass situation was going and for me to call him back. Well I did just that and we chatted for a little and he told me that he researched the highest rated/recommended fender shop in my area and he'll let them know the situation when they call and that I should go down there to get it looked at. (its a little out of my way, but I'm willing to give it a shot). After we talked for about 5 minutes he left me with, don't worry, we will cover all costs and will not stop till your bass is fixed. Despite some mis-communications, this rep has been nothing but top notch with customer relations.
I wonder if this thread got to anyone at Fender...
I wonder if this thread got to anyone at Fender...
I recently talked to my friend who ownes a music store, he told me there was a problem with a few Fender necks but not many. I had a MIM '60s jazz neck problem, but Fender sent a replacement within a couple of weeks I'd have to say its who sold you the bass as to their relationship with Fender on how difficult is is to get another neck in a timely manner. I've been playing Fenders for fourty plus years and have had only 2 problems in that time.
LilRay
Commercial User
- Dec 27, 2007
- 4,166
- 39
- Disclosures
- Owner: Cockeyed Cow Custom Leathercraft
I hope so, I'd like to think companies would keep an eye on "The real world" in terms of their customer base.
I'm also hopeful that they are concerned about the smaller shops turning out instruments at or above their quality standard for the same or less money, reguardless of QC mistakes. Their CS should be second to none, as they are the largest in the industry. It would be a much larger impact on guys like Valenti, Sadowsky, Skjold etc, to have to correct such an error.
Keep us informed.
God Bless, Ray
Fender really needs to help you out quickly. I have owned several Fenders and they were and are all good, but this is the kind of story that gives Fender a bad reputation.
I have to tell you he's not alone. I tried multiple multiple J-Basses with problems before I switched to Music Man. I love the sound of both MMs and J-Basses, but I went Music Man because at least their quality is consistent.
I finally found a nice P-Bass - but it took a lot of looking. Fender needs to step up their quality control.
I've ownend a few of these over the years, MIM, MIK, MIJ, MIA, currently three in my stable, and nothing but great dependability out of them all. Yes they have needed setup at some point during their life with me but, no diffrent then any other model on the shelf.
Fender like any company who mass produces a product will have a few that make it out to the public which due to whatever the circumstances, are sub standard in perfomance. It's what all manufactures face, also the main reason they all have a customer service department, or tech support.
I do believe by the sounds of your last posting. Fender will look after the issue and restore your faith in their product.
Good luck.
Fender like any company who mass produces a product will have a few that make it out to the public which due to whatever the circumstances, are sub standard in perfomance. It's what all manufactures face, also the main reason they all have a customer service department, or tech support.
I do believe by the sounds of your last posting. Fender will look after the issue and restore your faith in their product.
Good luck.
Glad to hear Fender is stepping up to the plate for you....
Well, here's my ONLY Fender story.....The dealer makes all the difference....I don't own any Fender products other than one amp.
I bought a Fender Rumble 100 bass amp about 3 years ago. Never once gave me an ounce of trouble. I purchased it from a small local mom & pop shop.
One day, it just started losing volume all on its own, so I bring it in for repair. The fellow at the shop said "we'll get it serviced and back to you in a few days".
A few days later, they call me and inform me it is still under warrantee. I had no idea it even had a 5 year warrantee....BUT, he said the amp was "non-servicable". I've never heard that before....he said he contacted Fender and they will be sending out a BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT, but I may have to wait up to four weeks for delivery.....Three days later, the guy calls me and said it's in.
That's it, brand spanking new in a box just waiting to be picked up. Like Fender or not, ithat kind of service blew me away. The kicker, they gave me an additional FULL 5 year warrantee.....Sure sold me on Fender.
Well, here's my ONLY Fender story.....The dealer makes all the difference....I don't own any Fender products other than one amp.
I bought a Fender Rumble 100 bass amp about 3 years ago. Never once gave me an ounce of trouble. I purchased it from a small local mom & pop shop.
One day, it just started losing volume all on its own, so I bring it in for repair. The fellow at the shop said "we'll get it serviced and back to you in a few days".
A few days later, they call me and inform me it is still under warrantee. I had no idea it even had a 5 year warrantee....BUT, he said the amp was "non-servicable". I've never heard that before....he said he contacted Fender and they will be sending out a BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT, but I may have to wait up to four weeks for delivery.....Three days later, the guy calls me and said it's in.
That's it, brand spanking new in a box just waiting to be picked up. Like Fender or not, ithat kind of service blew me away. The kicker, they gave me an additional FULL 5 year warrantee.....Sure sold me on Fender.
This is why I did not post in this thread! I have contacted Fender a number of times and have been nothing short of thrilled at timely responses by email or top notch customer service by phone! If I ever have a Fender question or problem with any of my 10 Fenders I email or call them!
What experiences are you basing this on?
Anyways, I have dealt with Fender a few times on repair issues and they were great to deal with. Not Sadowsky or Roscoe great, but great for such a large company.
The issue IMO is that the retailers you are dealing with are morons. Get Fender to recommend a reliable retailer (even a GC would likely be better) and take/ship it to them.
Fender IME always stands behind their products while under warranty but remember than they don't generally do warranty work direct. They can only do so much to ensure their network of mom and pop music stores have a clue about their products.
Basing it from my experience as an employee of Sam Ash. Special orders that would never ship. Special orders that come in the wrong color. Special orders of common items that take months to arrive. Amps that ship missing tubes. A noticeably deteriorating level of QC overall. Virtually non-responsive support. RIDICULOUS pricing that's constantly increasing.
I'm not saying the products themselves suck, but I hate having to deal with Fender the company.
This kind of stuff in particular just infuriates me. In this economy, for anyone to think they can cop that kind of an attitude with a customer is the height of both arrogance and stupidity. The repair guy did not have control over the fact that he couldn't fix the neck, but he certainly had control over how he responded to your question about the setup. He should have been fired on the spot and the store put on notice that any more incidents like this would put their Fender distributorship at risk. Marketing 101, EVERYONE associated with your product is an extension of your company/brand. Doesn't matter if it's the CEO or the front desk receptionist or a subcontracted repair shop. If their talking to your customers, they're representing your company.
That's what I thought, too. The tech put on a replacement neck, didn't do a setup (a setup should be an automatic with a neck replacement), and then gave the customer a ration of feces for asking about it? If it were I who was treated that way, I think I'd tell that story to Fender; the shop could lose its approved service center status over something like that.
If you read the OP you'd see that I've called them several times and have gotten no where! He's repeated several times in the past he'd help but the service and communication has been kinda iffy, I'm hoping we're on the right track now to getting it completely taken care of with no miscommunications. Him calling is a fantastic sign and I am going to trust him at his word, hes been friendly and super courteous this entire time!
I did tell the fender rep about my distaste in with the repair service and I believe he wrote it down in the notes hes keeping on my bass. I am also considering taking it up or filing a complaint with the better business bureau down here, however Im just satisfied knowing that he'll never receive my business ever again.
P.S. thanks for all the support y'all!
