GK MB 212 II Rant. Not Happy

[StudioGC]

it's coming out with the apparent sale of misrepresented old stock. Doesn't explain how Jason came to claim you told him in email it was a 2013 sale.

Ya, could have been a typo on my part in my email to him. But the receipt says it all.

 

[StudioGC]

I didn't say "major" I said substantial. Might be a good idea to email a photo of your receipt showing the S/N to Jason. Did you have/send in the warrantee card or register it on the G-K site? I hope they didn't resell a used unit, but it could be a NOS or Demo (floor) unit.

Nope, wasn't a floor unit or demo. They did knock a few bucks off because it had a screw hole blemish.

 

[40Hz]

I'm assuming GK's 2 year warranty is in actually based the date of manufacture, and not date of purchase since this amp was said to have been sold as new in 2015, but was built in 2013.

I've run into a few "covered under warranty" issues in the past (not with GK) over the "freshness" of my purchase. Despite things being new and in an unopened factory-sealed box, I've had to go through hoops to establish it wasceligibke because the manufacturer had trouble believing one of their products could remain unopened and in somebody's stock for more than two years from date of manufacture.

 

[B-string]

Nope, wasn't a floor unit or demo. They did knock a few bucks off because it had a screw hole blemish.

Well here your receipt is your best friend for proof of purchase.

Did you send in the warrantee card?

 

[StudioGC]

I'm assuming GK's 2 year warranty is in actually based the date of manufacture, and not date of purchase since this amp was said to have been sold as new in 2015, but was built in 2013.

I've never heard of that. I would assume a warranty is "date of purchase".

 

[Al Kraft]

I've never bought any item that I can remember from cars to vacuum cleaners to a house where the warranty started on the day of manufacture. Most warranties start on the date of the sale.

 

[nutdog]

I've never heard of that. I would assume a warranty is "date of purchase".

Same here. Wonder what the "B" in quotes means. Also, nice price. They're advertised at $799 online.

 

[B-string]

I'm assuming GK's 2 year warranty is in actually based the date of manufacture, and not date of purchase since this amp was said to have been sold as new in 2015, but was built in 2013.

Nope date of purchase, from the G-K site:

USA ONLY: This limited warranty applies only to products purchased in the United States. If this product has been purchased outside of the United States, refer to the GK distributor in your country for warranty information.

ORIGINAL PURCHASER: This limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship applies only to the original purchaser.

ELECTRONICS: Electronics are covered for 2 years from the date of purchase.

 

[StudioGC]

Same here. Wonder what the "B" in quotes means. Also, nice price. They're advertised at $799 online.

I think the "B" refers to the fact it had a extra 2 screw holes drilled in the top. There were a few apparently from the factory like this. That's why they knocked off a few bucks.

 

[tbirdsp]

I'm confused - how did a new amp get 2 extra screw holes in it!?

 

[Al Kraft]

Now that all the facts and a "proof of purchase" are on the table, I would expect GK to provide the type of customer service that I have known them for. In my mind there are a lot of options on the table now that it's clear that the unit was purchased new and is well within the warranty period.

I also accept that GK can't police all the repair shops, but being an "authorized GK warranty repair center" should mean more than luck of the draw. I would expect those places to have some level of quality and integrity that they feel accountable to GK to uphold. I would also expect GK to feel a responsibility to hold them accountable - and just so it's clear I'm not picking on GK, you can substitute any company's name in the previous sentences.

 

[StudioGC]

I'm confused - how did a new amp get 2 extra screw holes in it!?

I was told a manufacturing mistake. Thats why they were shipped "B"

 

[B-string]

I think the "B" refers to the fact it had a extra 2 screw holes drilled in the top. There were a few apparently from the factory like this. That's why they knocked off a few bucks.

Well there is/was only ONE factory in 2013 and that is in Stockton, Ca so seeing as Jason was head of service at the time he can confirm this.

 

[40Hz]

I've never heard of that. I would assume a warranty is "date of purchase".

Not saying anything about GK. But I've run into a few situations where the issue of "freshness" came up with some ither manufacturers. In my case the manufacturer had trouble believing (despite dated receipts with serial numbers, and a submitted warranty card) that any product of theirs could sit in somebody's stockroom in an unopened factory-sealed box for three years prior to it being sold to someone.

I had to go through hoops to get them to handle my problem under warranty. And even with that, they only agreed to process it as a "special exception" rather than a straight warranty repair.

I dumped it on eBay as soon as I got it back and saw it checked out.

Needless to say, I never bought another one of their products.

 

[B-string]

By the way there are empty holes (now at the sides) on the coth front G-K combos to insert a tool (like a phillips screwdriver shaft) to help release the grill if the need arises.

 

[StudioGC]

This is Jason from GK. I don’t frequent this site often but I received an email from a user that notified me of a thread going around related to me so I figured I would chime in.

I have reviewed my previous emails with Gunnar ( Studio GC ). I responded to his initial email the same day he inquired about the delay. I did explain that we don’t run the service centers ourselves but work with them to supply parts and reimburse them for warranty service etc. Unfortunately, I had no knowledge of any delay with his unit until he emailed me. I notified him we had shipped the requested part previously but the service center had lost it and reordered it recently and had received it two days prior. At that time I bowed out since the service center had the part that was apparently holding up the repair and his issue was being addressed.

When he contacted me after he received it back with the same issue, I immediately called the tech. at the service center and gave him the information regarding the other possible things to check and asked him to get back to me if he needed parts so I could get the amp back up and running asap. I let Studio GC know that I had already spoken with the tech. and supplied him additional information to help determine the issue and offered my assistance. Had SGC requested to send it here I would have been happy to have it checked out but he had already returned the unit to the service center when I called them. Since they had the unit, the information to further diagnose the issue and my offer to assist to get this guy up and running, I felt that was the reasonable approach.

One important thing to note is.... According to Gunnar’s initial email to me, the amp was purchased in 2013 and the early 2013 serial number that was supplied would also indicate this as well. Its not a warranty covered unit and pretty far beyond a replacement option at this point. This does not lessen my interest in getting it back up and running but there does come a point that a replacement is not possible.


I work hard to support the stuff we make and may have even dealt with some of you before. As a player myself, I always try to help guys out whenever possible. In this case I did what I felt was reasonable and within my power to do but you cant please everybody I guess. Like I said, I don’t frequent this site so if anyone has any questions related to this or any other GK service related issue I can be reached at [email protected] .


Jason

GK

So, looking at the shipping label from GK to Chuck Levins, you can see you're right in the fact it is a 2013 amp (see the lower right hand corner of the UPS label). But of course the receipt proves it was purchased new October 2015.

Intersting they (Chuck Levins) sat on this amp for so long. (You can see the "2013" on lower right of the label.)

 

[B-string]

It certainly could be a case of trying to get an inflated price at that time as they were an even hotter combo back then. G-K like most offer an "MSP" price, but unlike Mesa and direct sell Cavin, do not "fix the price" at which the units must be sold. They may have been caught by their own greed? I think this does qualify as a NOS (New Old Stock). Like selling a 2013 car as "new" in 2015?

 

[StudioGC]

NOS it appears to be, but when I asked for a new amp this is what they gave me. I was happy to have the "B" stock discount, but might not have been so keen to buy it knowing it was a 2013.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Have you looked up your email for the typo yet?

 

[GK Bass]

Ok, I see what is going on now. I was not made aware of the proof of purchase info until now so the email that stated a purchase date of October 2013 combined with the serial number reflecting a 7th week of 2013 production date threw me off.

Needless to say, I will be on this first thing tomorrow when I get back in the office and will contact StudioGC directly with a solution to get him up and running right away.

Jason
GK