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Gratitude, for a place that certainly doesn't get enough...

#21
I've done a lot of business with MF and generally like them. I've gotten some great deals there and lucked out with backstage pass points. My gear guy has been very cool.
With one exception, I have not had good luck with getting instruments from them. I don't know why, but most everything has had some kind of manufacture qc problem. Dents, dings, chips, and chunks. And this is on clearly new instruments. My bad luck I guess.

Back around Christmas time I ordered a new fretless that arrived with a chunk of wood out of the corner of the fingerboard. Not on a new $800 bass. Sent it right back and exchanged it for another of the same. My gear advisor put a service hold on it, where a special dept. will open and examine to make sure there are no discrepancies and avoid me having to exchange again. Ok, very cool. The 2nd arrives, and what do you know? Same problem, chunk missing from the corner, except this is bigger, and the added benefit of a big glob of epoxy shoved right in there. Really p.o.'d now, sent it right back.

I don't blame my gear guy, he did right by me. I blamed this dept. that clearly blew it and didn't do the job they were supposed to do, clearly p'ing me off and costing him business. I also blame the bass manufacturer, they clearly have some qc issues and should be ashamed of themselves.

I'll buy pedals and such from them, but no more basses.

Ok, rant over.
 
#22
bassstrangler said:
I also get new gear from Sweetwater.

You are seriously coming off like you work for MF. In fact you didn't play nice, because you posted your original intended title. That's like saying to a person, "I was going to call you a _______, but I won't, because I decided to play nice."

Joe, I usually enjoy your threads and posts and have even considered ordering your book. But, your overblown affection for MF, is just downright puzzling and I don't understand why you keep shoving your praises of their backstage rewards at us.
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OK. I just deleted 2 posts to respond fully, in one... to your 2 posts.

First, I agree. I didn't play nice posting my original thought for the title, but I buried it - and I also didn't bash Sweetwater. Or say anything negative at all, for that matter.

Second, I wish I were getting a commission, but I assure you I'm not. I sing my praises because what I said is true. Musiciansfriend has saved me close to $10,000 in the past decade. There are no other online stores I know of that offer 20% off, and then another 8% (with Backstage Pass) on top of that. I WANT THEM TO STAY IN BUSINESS!!! I'm simply giving support to a company that's done me right, with the hopes of keeping them forever open. Many people come here doing what you just did in your post, bashing the crap out of them - and, well, I felt it was a good idea to post this thread. Also, Sweetwater advertises like crazy! Google any instrument, and they're the first people that come up. All the ads that show up in my feed are from SW. I'm not knocking them for that. I'm not knocking them at all any more. Just, as I said, doing my best to keep MF alive and well.

There was something else I was gonna say, but forgot now :) .

Sorry if my post upset you. Wasn't my intent. And thanks for the kind words. For real.
 
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#23
Joe Nerve said:
There was something else I was gonna say, but forgot now :) .
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Just remembered.

I've had your experience with getting defective gear. About 4 times out of over 100 purchases (I've been buying from them since they came into existence). Each time they gave me an immediate return authorization, sent me a shipping label, and then sent me a perfect instrument. Sure, it was a little inconvenient, but with each of those purchases I got a killer deal that made it worth it. I pretty much only buy from them if I'm getting a killer deal. Or if I want what I want when I want it and they've got it :).

I've purchased much less gear from other places, and gotten defective gear from them, also. Doing my best though not to go there. No problems returning there either. Just noting that it happens. If there's a problem with gear, most online companies refund and exchange without any hassle whatsoever. They'll even send UPS to your door, if requested.
 
#25
bassstrangler said:
I still think you're on their payroll. I'm glad your happy with them. I think they are not a good company. When I purchase a new bass, it should be a new bass. MF has sent me damaged, used, returned basses three separate times. I returned three separate G&L L2000 basses on one order. All were damaged, fingerprinted, dirty, scratched, dented...obvious returns in their damage protection plan. Before that I received a used SBMM SUB from them, actually It wasn't even the same bass I ordered. It was a SBMM equivalent of the EBMM Sterling that looked like it had been played, used, abused, and had an enormous amount of DNA on the fretboard. I returned it for a SBMM Ray 34, which was also damaged and had obviously been used as well.

MF has the nerve to say that there is no way that this could happen. It did. They suck. It's pretty bad when you receive a "new" bass with the first customer's shipping label and return label hidden under the new shipping label.

I will not deal with them ever again. They lie and misrepresent their products. There's a reason they give discounts, they send out used gear.

I'm glad your happy @Joe Nerve. I still think they pay you to post such complimentary threads on this site.

I love Sweetwater, but I don't post and dote over them like you do MF.

They are certainly not my friend, I'm glad your besties with them.
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I'd say there's good and bad with all companies. I'd ordered some gear from sweetwater, they matched a very low price on a couple items. I was surprised because it was a really good deal. I got the two identical items, one was an obvious repack. Missing literature, and not sealed in the container the way the other new item was. When I tried them out I found it to be defective, nothing horrible, but the kind of thing that someone with a less discerning ear might not have noticed. The return and replacement was quick so I gave them another shot. I always give places one mistake. I'd dealt with AMS, thoroughbred, Sam Ash, Musicians Friend and I don't know how many others over the years. For now I'll Continue with Sweetwater and a new Mail order start up called Riff City.

 
#26
I got an email just last week telling me they were giving me 1000 points. Cool. I now had $25 in Backstage Pass Points so I ordered some DR Hi Beams as well. Never tried them so free sounds like a good time to try them. :cool:

I'm also looking at buying an amp and cab very soon. I'm going to see if Musicians Friend will also give me 20% off and see how many Backstage Points I can get as this purchase is going to be pricey.
 
#27
I love MF. I've actually had more problems in the past with Sweetwater. I think MF gets a bad rap around here because they are owned by GC, and we know how GC is regarded here. I've also had great experiences with GC. I've always liked MF over all other internet dealers because of their rewards program: points + discount = more savings. Add in the 20% they offer every now and then, and I can really save some coin. I can then spend that money I saved on some candy I might actually eat.
 
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#29
BAG said:
Assuming you got 20% off every deal that still means you've spent an average of $5000 per year every year with them.

You're not married are you? :roflmao:
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I am. But I chose wisely with that, too.

She insisted on me allowing her to put my first "real" bass (a Warwick) on her credit card 20 years ago. It was a bass I couldn't afford at the time and didnt have the credit to get on my own.

The way to most men's hearts is through their stomach. My wife knew better than that... :).
 
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#32
ultra60 said:
Joe - how are you getting 20% off Fender?
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I'm never in a hurry to buy, and I'm on their mailing list. A few times a year they offer 20% discounts, and that's when I bust a move.

The codes don't work with online orders though. I always put it in first, and then a window pops up saying sorry, the code doesnt apply to that item, but "...dont worry! Call or chat." I do that, and tell them I'm interested only if I can get the discount. 95% of the time they say, "No problem. I can do that." On rate occasions, they really cant. I tried it with the purchase of my 1st iPad and Apple absolutely wouldn't allow it. Outside of that I only had problems when I tried without having a code. I think the salespeople just can't do that.
 
#36
Joe Nerve said:
A few times a year they offer 20% discounts, and that's when I bust a move.
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#38
Joe Nerve said:
A few times a year they offer 20% discounts, and that's when I bust a move.
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Are they still doing this? I’m looking for a certain Aguilar cab to pop up used, (here on TB, reverb, etc) but it must be a super nice cab because nobody is ever trying to sell one. I remembered something about Musicians Friend having crazy good deals if you sign up for their backstage rewards and came across this pledge to MF thread. Are you still in love with MF? Is the extra spam worth signing up on their email list to wait for a 20% off Aguilar sale?
 
#39
SLO Surfer said:
Are they still doing this? I’m looking for a certain Aguilar cab to pop up used, (here on TB, reverb, etc) but it must be a super nice cab because nobody is ever trying to sell one. I remembered something about Musicians Friend having crazy good deals if you sign up for their backstage rewards and came across this pledge to MF thread. Are you still in love with MF? Is the extra spam worth signing up on their email list to wait for a 20% off Aguilar sale?
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Don't know.

I got off of their mailing list to prove a point a while back when someone said something about it being difficult to get off their mailing list. I haven't gotten an email from them since :) . And I'm just realizing that now. I guess I oughta get myself back on.
 
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