I've never been able to find the strings I'm looking for every time I try to use them.
What are you looking for? We are always adding to our inventory and manufacturers we carry from. Many items that we do have are not added on the website yet as well! Shoot me a message glad to find what you are looking for.
For my needs up here in Canada, I've switched to JS. In part it's because I play a number of stringed instruments other than bass. Mostly, though, it's a great difference in delivery times. By whatever means, my JS orders arrive in just a couple of days; my BSO orders have taken much longer for nominally in stock items. USPS, Canada Post, and customs are all mysterious organizations. However, JS seems to negotiate those hurdles better and speed is worth something to me.
I am glad they are working out for you. For general information and if you would like to try, we do carry more than just Bass Strings. Our BassStringsOnline.com website is dedicated to Bass Players though. I put together orders for customers all the time with Bass Strings, Guitar Strings, Banjo Strings, Uke Strings, Orchestral instruments, etc... If you would like send me a PM or eMail with the products you are interested in and I can put together a package deal for you. International shipping can be on and off no matter who you purchase from. I have shipped to Canada and parcels have gotten there in 3-5 days via standard First Class Mail service. I have also shipped to Canada, seen the parcel pass through Brazil and other countries and in two months eventually reaching the customer (of course they were taken care of before the original shipment that was obviously mis-routed by the postal service could reach them).
I'm don't know if thats what happened to my order but yeah it takes a long while to be processed and stuff, I may not order strings from them anymore but I'll still get picks for a great price. Strings are something I would like toreceive within a 3-5 day period so I'll order from Amazon. But I don't need picks in a rush so I can get the from them (BSO)
I am glad it is working out for you that way. If we have the product in stock there is no reason why our orders should be getting to you any slower than Amazon's. Orders are usually processed and shipped the same day or within 24 hours. Orders are processed in the order they are received so if you order first thing Monday Morning we are doing the weekends orders first, but they still should get out the same day. I would love to hear what strings you are purchasing so I can make sure those are kept on hand for future customers needs.
I too have been ordering from Jason/BSO online for a couple years. Ive never been let down by him. I think he has the best if not highly competitive pricing around. Plus hes a great dude to do business with. Up until recently though, I too have been getting some holdup on what my string of choice is, D'addario Pro Steels. I get an order confirmation email but then nothing. Im used to getting a shipping notice either the same day I ordered or the next. Hes always been great with it. But since they went through that big switch, moved to a different place and started carrying different things, it seems like that has changed. I havent had a set of strings ship the same day or day after in the last few months.
Now, Im not sure if the expansion has caused certain things to change a little, Im sure they have. And its expected. I still love BSO, I still continue to buy my strings from them. I guess I felt I should speak up being a regular customer and someone who is used to their regular ord and shipping times. I know Since I've ordered the last few months, I haven't gotten a "backorder email", I just get an order notification email. Then nothing. I usually end up emailing Jason to ask. He always gets back to me with the quickness and has made any issues with customer issues totally right. And again, quickly. So in other words, I have noticed a slight delay/change in the way my orders have been getting to me, but all I did/do is/was reach out to Jason and he always takes care of me. Top rate guy running a great business. I hope BSO is around for years to come. What a great resource for bassists. Plus, his prices rock! If I have to wait a week or two for strings, I could. Well, most times.
So, THANKS JASON AND BSO!! You guys rock.
I am really sorry to hear that your D'Addario ProSteels orders are not shipping the same day. They very well should be or at latest the next day. I do thank you for bringing this to my attention because obviously you can not always count on employee's telling you they are not getting their job done when they are supposed to. I'll be sending you a PM requesting your email address so I can look at your orders and investigate why there were delays. There should not be with this brand any more delay than 24 hours unless there are a few specific products purchased.
I just went to JS. Great prices. But man, shipping sucks. I thought I was getting a great deal on the Pro Steels. Go to check out, they're as much if not a little more than what I can get them at in a local GC. Thats another cool thing about BSO, shipping is "free" so to speak, with most small orders. Not saying JS sucks, they look like they have great prices, but shipping dissuaded me from buying from them.
We strive to have the best prices service and availability. We are always working to improve!
Last FRIDAY I ordered LaBella tapewounds. I received an order confirmation right away. I opened my mailbox on MONDAY and lo and behold, the set has arrived - I live in Virginia, it was shipped from California, and I received the set in one business day!! I've ordered pizza that took longer!!! Well, not really, but you get my point. I think BSO is fantastic. I've ordered 3 times and had great service each time.
Glad they got to you so quickly! ENJOY!!!
I seriously don't understand??????? You can get the same strings from Amazon.com for the same price OR LOWER, 5 - 7 day shipping is free (personal experience - usually gets to me in 3 - 5 days) and no taxes. Why endure crappy service when you live in America?
I am glad you have something you are happy with. If it works for you awesome!
No, you can not get custom string sets on amazon the same way. The service is good, far from crappy, and prices competitive. Of course, if you're satisfied with the cheapest mass produced standard sets, you'll get them anywhere, but this kind of specialisation you simply don't find in an online bookstore with extras.
I really try to keep an eye out and make sure I have the lowest prices. If you ever feel our prices are higher than elsewhere please let me know and I will do what I can to beat them!
I had ordered a set of DR neons. BACKORDERED!!! Got all the right info from Jason, I just got impatient. I waited two weeks, DR just couldn't seem to get the product shipped. So I contacted Jason, he had my order ready to go, (they came in that morning) but put it on hold until he got a solid answer from me, I had inquired about the possibility of changing my order.
At this point I had changed my mind on my order. I had ordered a white set specifically for Easter Service @ my church. Didn't really want the white ones as my regular strings. Not only did he have no issue changing my order, he was totally pro about me being indecisive.
I don't change strings often, I really only play two of my basses, and I prefer a slightly used string. So my business is minimal but I get treated like one of the big boys!!
Really sorry about that one. I am not sure why your particular set took so long. I am working on resolving some things internally. Since this thread has started I have already increased my DR inventory. DR products should not be taking that long from us with the amount of volume and inventory we hold of DR.
I ran into a little trouble with some sets of DRs. The problems really seem to be focused around them.
I've learned to give BSO a little more lead time because I too am buying custom sets and I can't really do that as easily with JS. It probably is growing pains, which I can appreciate since I know how small the company is.
They have what I need, their prices are good, and once they get something in the mail I have it the next day. I'm sticking with them.
If you were purchasing singles then that may have been the delay. Since we implemented the real time inventory I am no longer breaking sets to complete single orders when needed. We are increasing our on hand singles inventory but at the same time we try not to keep too many on hand as they do not move as quickly as sets. We want to assure the freshest products get to our customers while at the same time getting them their orders as quickly as possible.
if Jason has to keep addressing this thread BSO may fall off
I've cancelled orders and I've reordered cancelled orders and I've ordered strings that were in stock that got delivered while backordered strings waited for his vendors to deliver product. And there have been times when he pulled together a string set for me by cannibalizing another set.
I've seen this 'just in time' multiple vendor inventory control system implemented where I worked once and believe me BSO is going pretty well.
In the face of some business model changes and difficult conditions, he's obviously intent on providing the best service he can.
And he readily explains his situation with honesty and grace. All that is the epitome of the best practices of independent business.
BassStringsOnline.com has NOT fallen off. I am glad all of this has been brought to my attention so I can make the appropriate changes. Changes are constantly happening we are always trying to improve.
From what I'm reading from this thread (6 pages in), service is far from good, but my idea of what service should be are evidently different from yours.
There is a mix of both. Every post I am looking into to make sure those situations do not happen going forward.
What you don't see to the same extent in threads like this are the success stories. We tend to be quicker to complain when something goes wrong than to praise when something is right. I do not mean you should praise ordinary service, but true service is shown when something is off. When something is lost in the mail, when a string is defect, when a something is on backorder. I have complained to bassstringsonline a couple of times, and service has always made it for the best for the customer in the end. And believe me, that is not always the case in internet shopping.
We do everything we can to make our customers happy! Always will.
We are the only company that carries many of the sets we do stock.
+2. I limited myself to what I could find on Amazon for months when I came back to playing. I won't be doing that again.
Glad we are getting you what you need!
