How do you feel about Sweetwater rep calls?

[SpankBazz]

The guy they've assigned to me says he's "a bass guy".
He called me last year because I took the Sire V5 out of my cart. Sweetwater was backordered and I got it from CME.
I asked him what he plays and he said that he just got an Aerodyne.
I asked him what he was playing prior to that and he described it but couldn't name it.
From his description, it's a Teisco Del Ray bass. A Teisco Del Ray was my first bass.
The only way that's your main axe is if you only play bass as a hobby, you're lying, or you're a guitar player.
He said I can call him just to chat about "bass stuff".

I forgot about him until he called me today about the Sire Z3 I ordered.
He asked me why I bought the bass. I told him because I want the Stingray sound but the Sire has a better price point.
Then he asked me what I was gonna do with it--if I needed it for a specific project or something.
I don't like invasive questions, especially from strangers.
But then it hit me that he was fishing to see if he could sell me anything else.
I gently brushed him off and the call ended.

A lot of people like Sweetwater's customer service.
Are the people who call you from there more sincere than this guy?
The guy is doing his job and everybody's gotta make a living. so I guess it's cool.
Do you guys enjoy talking to your Sweetwater reps?

 

[SoulReflection]

Unsolicited sales calls, to me, are just the same as those uninvited idiots that come knocking at my door. They are invading a person's privacy and should be banned.

It has been my experience that the good sales people with SW and MF quickly move on to other jobs and those contacting me are their replacements with no idea what I am interested in.

I don't mind those, who I have dealt with, sending me texts or emails, provided they are not excessive and in keeping with my interests.

Then there are those who email or text, lying that they had dealt with me before. I am not allowed to express on TB what I think about them...

 

[kodiakblair]

Do you guys enjoy talking to your Sweetwater reps?

I don't get any, data protection is taken seriously here in Europe. Companies doing unsolicited call face pretty heavy fines.

 

[tb-player]

Just note the phone number and don’t answer. They’ll leave a message. That’s their job.

I like my guy. We always take a few minutes to chat gear. I always ask questions. He’s very helpful. And if I tell him I was just browsing, he’s cool with that. If I don’t have time to chat, I follow my own advice and let it go to voicemail.

I find my Musicians Friend rep to be much more aggressive than the Sweetwater rep. But even then, I try not to make him feel bad for doing his job.

In the end, they both give me discounts, so I’m fine with their calls when they save me money.

 

[SoulReflection]

I don't get any, data protection is taken seriously here in Europe. Companies doing unsolicited call face pretty heavy fines.

Great!...hope that gets over here sometime soon, like other things that can't be mentioned .

 

[bassicmike]

I was polite, but firm, and told my rep "NO calls".

 

[JumboJett35]

My Sweetwater rep doesn't bother me at all. At first when I bought some gear he would follow up very briefly. Then one day I was messing with my account settings and turned the option for them to call me off. Since then I get nothing. Honestly it felt weird at first hearing how others reps would bother them but I think it's a rather nice relationship. I just bought my Rickenbacker from him and I got a great price. No follow up call or email. He knows I'll reach out when I want something and that I'm very likely going to buy it shortly after. We both know our role.

 

[pglaser01]

1) Are you sure these are unsolicited? Any chance during a previous purchase, login, or account setup that you clicked a box that was an agreement to allow calls?

2) If they’re new sales reps it might seem intrusive, but if they’re really good they’re actually trying to learn more about you personally and what your preferences are, then making notes. Yes they are trying to sell you. Yes that’s their job. The good ones may be trying to develop long term relationships with you by simply figuring out who you are, what you like, what you may not know you like, and what type of info gets you engaged into a conversation. It’s a tough gig so hopefully those are the people that are calling (it’s a pipe dream for sure but hey….looking on the bright side here)

 

[sovereign_510]

He asked me why I bought the bass. I told him because I want the Stingray sound but the Sire has a better price point.
Then he asked me what I was gonna do with it--if I needed it for a specific project or something.
I don't like invasive questions, especially from strangers.

i get what you mean about this my rep doesn't contact me that often but the questions can feel a little invasive

 

[Shepsdad]

I’ve got a few calls from my rep, but usually only when I’ve emailed a question and tell him to feel Free to call with his response. Maybe two other calls at random times when I haven’t contacted them first, and I just don’t answer.

Years ago I quit answering calls from numbers not already on my contact list in my phone, nowadays I rarely get spam calls at all.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

I don't want any unsolicited calls about anything, and I won't respond to any of them.

 

[BrentD]

I don't usually care for the "heads up you might want one of these" emails and calls, but I don't mind the sales followups. I almost never get a discount, though some people seem to get them pretty regularly. I have gotten a break on a damaged item rather than returning it, though.

I actually do really like my rep. I've known him for probably 15 years. Maybe since he was in high school. He used to work at a local music store and decided he really liked gear and selling it. So while other people around the store might look for careers in different fields or go off to school, he moved to Fort Wayne, did the training thing, and got a job at Sweetwater. He treats it like the career it can be with the right attitude and dedication. He is in it because he loves it and he knows for the most part what I like and own - even enough to give my wife a decent recommendation if she calls and asks.

I still prefer to buy locally, especially after Sweetwater opened the Arizona warehouse. But if I mailorder it's my preferred place. I'm glad whatever commission I generate goes to my rep.

 

[lowplaces]

Called them to order a bass head and cabs along with speaker cables. We discussed if I choose the right cables (I had the part number written down and gave it to him)

He said my choice was fine. 2 days later I get my order and they sent me instrument cables. Caught it before I even open the package.

Checked the invoice and it wasn't a shipping department hack. The rep added the wrong ones.

Now what would have happened if I had not caught it and hooked everything up and the amp was damaged ? I can hear it now, "it's not our fault you used the wrong cable".

Second amp I ordered a couple of years later. I just ordered it online. Monday before Easter. I did call first to make sure it would be delivered before the weekend and was told it should be there about Thursday at the latest.

So I ordered it online and when it wasn't there by Wednesday I checked online and my email and there wasn't a tracking number.

So I call Thursday early morning and my new rep they assigned to me to said it hasn't shipped yet because my shipping address, the local fedex location, wasn't the same as my previous orders and he wanted to make sure I didn't make a mistake.

I calmly told him that I placed the order online and it should be quite obvious that if the shipping address had changed it had to be intentional.

He apologized and said it was to ship out that day which is again Thursday. No offer of a discount, a free set of strings, nothing.

Got the amp delivered Monday after Easter.

At the time, that was 2 of my first three orders from SW that were messed up.

zZounds on the other hand have always been flawless. About 15 orders Iirc.

 

[ajkula66]

I don't want any unsolicited calls about anything, and I won't respond to any of them.

This. Times a zillion.

 

[SpankBazz]

Just note the phone number and don’t answer. They’ll leave a message. That’s their job.

I like my guy. We always take a few minutes to chat gear. I always ask questions. He’s very helpful. And if I tell him I was just browsing, he’s cool with that. If I don’t have time to chat, I follow my own advice and let it go to voicemail.

I find my Musicians Friend rep to be much more aggressive than the Sweetwater rep. But even then, I try not to make him feel bad for doing his job.

In the end, they both give me discounts, so I’m fine with their calls when they save me money.

I wouldn't mind talking to a cool and knowledgeable sales rep about gear I may be interested in.
The fact that this guy keeps lying about being a bass player makes me not trust him or want to deal with him.

 

[SpankBazz]

1) Are you sure these are unsolicited? Any chance during a previous purchase, login, or account setup that you clicked a box that was an agreement to allow calls?

This is most likely the case.
I probably forgot to uncheck a box somewhere.

 

[tb-player]

I wouldn't mind talking to a cool and knowledgeable sales rep about gear I may be interested in.
The fact that this guy keeps lying about being a bass player makes me not trust him or want to deal with him.

I used to have a different rep at Sweetwater. He was a bit of a wank. For some reason, we did not get along. I eventually asked to switch to a bass player. Much happier now. My guy’s name is Andy Rice. He plays upright and electric bass and he’s great.

 

[sovereign_510]

I wouldn't mind talking to a cool and knowledgeable sales rep about gear I may be interested in.
The fact that this guy keeps lying about being a bass player makes me not trust him or want to deal with him.

im pretty new to making music, and especially new to electronic instruments so i try my best to not get talked into buying every little thing not that my sweetwater rep in particular does that, but i try to be aware of it

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I ran call centers for years. I'm Guessing telemarketers (let's be honest, we're discussing telemarketers here) don't enjoy calling me.
"What did you have for breakfast? Are you married? I like Sci-fi. Are you giving away free basses today? Amps? Are your calls monitored for excellence? No free basses? What are you wearing, Jake From Sweetwater?".

 

[G Aichele]

Mine seems a nice guy. Not intrusive, always polite. And he has been pretty helpful a couple of times. So no complaint from me.