Double Bass GC Screw-Up...What Now?

[jazz5757]

Okay, so I was on the hunt for a used Eden 210XLT or a 210XST.

I checked GC's online nationwide listings for one and low and behold I find a sweet deal out west.

I called the store to verify exactly what it was (an XST) and the price. All systems go. I buy it.

A week later (last Friday) the cab arrives at my local GC. However, they did not inspect it and simply helped me load in into my car.

I get home late that evening, unbox her and something doesn't look quite right.

Yep, it's not an XST, it's not even a XLT, it's an Eden 210T. Quite a mistake.

Called the store on Saturday and spoke with the manager. He asked me "what do you want" and I tell him that "I'd like what you advertised and sold to me."

He hasn't gotten back to me yet. Anyone have an experience like this? Can they just be pissy and say they'll give me a refund and leave it at that? I made a 70 mile round-trip to get it and assume I'll have to do the same to send it back, plus they've had my money for over a week.

Thoughts?

 

[Jake deVilliers]

If I'd driven over an hour to get it, I would have looked at it first - maybe even plugged it in.

 

[jazz5757]

Well, hindsight is 20/20. However, whether I discovered it there or at home it's still the wrong model cabinet.

The question is what obligation to they have at this point if any, other than a straight refund?

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I don't think they owe you anything more than a refund/trade.

 

[jazz5757]

Probably, unless the store doesn't give a rip about negative reviews and a nasty letter sent to their Regional Manager explaining that my experience was entirely due to a lazy-a** employee who didn't bother to read the model number clearly displayed on the back of the cabinet, and then failed to do so a 2nd time when I asked for confirmation that it was the model that they described online. But hey, that's just me.

 

[kdrabbit]

It's like the old saying, "trust but verify"; suggest you call and speak to the regional manager to get it cleared up. In my experience, GC has been pretty good about customer service screw-ups, they have always made it right.

 

[bolophonic]

No offense, but if this exact model of cab was so important, it seems like a big part of the mistake was paying for it, loading it into your car and driving home without checking to see what it was you were buying. Guitar Center owes you a refund and maybe an apology for their mistake, but you had an opportunity to look it over, no?

 

[jazz5757]

No offense, but if this exact model of cab was so important, it seems like a big part of the mistake was paying for it, loading it into your car and driving home without checking to see what it was you were buying. Guitar Center owes you a refund and maybe an apology for their mistake, but you had an opportunity to look it over, no?

Yeah, the model of the cab IS important since I bought and GC represented to me I was getting the 450 watt XST cab. What they sent me was the 250 watt T cab.

"Mistake in paying for it"? Well, here's how this works - they won't ship it half way across America without you paying for it.

"Loading it into my car and driving home without checking to see what it was you were buying"? Correct. Stupid me believed that if a reputable business sells you something then it is what it is - plus, I asked them to check the model before I made the payment. I guess I foolishly assumed that GC employees were required to be able to read.

 

[Rosebud]

Mistakes happen, but the 210t is rear ported I think and handles less wattage, so yeah I understand if that was not what you were looking for. You should have checked but you didn't. Move forward, get a full refund, which shouldn't be a problem and keep trying to find the cab you want.

 

[jazz5757]

Yeah, it'll be fine in the end. What sucks is that I sold my Trace cab to buy this one and I have a gig this weekend. I'm sure I can find a bass buddy to loan me a cab, it's just a hassle. I'm not worried about GC making good on it - just a bit surprised about the carelessness in describing the cab. I'll update this upon resolution. Thanks.