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How long is too long (for Guitar Center to order something)?

How long is too long?

  • 2 weeks

    Votes: 53 33.1%

  • 1 month

    Votes: 53 33.1%

  • 6-8 weeks

    Votes: 29 18.1%

  • 3 months

    Votes: 25 15.6%
  • Total voters
    160
Melvin7822

Melvin7822

May 11, 2004
1,471
376
45
Broomfield, CO
#1
Ok, so I had ordered two Markbass items from my local Guitar Center back in the beginning of October '08 and still no phone call saying that they have arrived.

If you're curious I simply just ordered the amp stand and the bass holder. I've waited a long time before for things, but never this long. What do you think?
 
#2
Two months is too long without any contact from the store. Since it's a SPO you probably had to put money down on it. I suggest you contact the sales person for an update. If you don't get an answer you like, ask to speak to the GM. Tell him politely that you want the product, a realistic delivery time on the product, or your money back. It's also not unheard of for your items to be sitting on the shelf in the w/h that's used for these things and no one called you. Other scenarios are the order got lost, it's out of stock at the DC and they're waiting on a shipment from the factory.

In any case, the next move is yours and I suggest you make it as soon as you can.
 
#3
Just call the dealer and find out what's up.

It's very possible that the items are on back order, which usually means there's nothing the sales guy can do. You could cancel your order, but what are the chances someone else is going to have these items in stock?

Trust me, the guy wants to get you your stuff, I doubt he gets paid before you receive the items.
 
#6
One month with no word is max for me unless it's a complicated custom order from a boutique builder.

I placed a small order (about $300) in late October 2008 at a very large midwestern mail-order music biz usually noted for their strong customer service. The order included an item marked as "due to arrive" on November 14, and so the whole order sat unshipped as that date came and went.

With no word from the merchant, I cancelled in late November and bought the unattainably back-ordered piece from the classifieds here.

I'd have been happier if I'd had some word from the merchant in November that they wouldn't fulfill my order. If the merchant had notified me when I ordered that they had already pre-sold their entire next shipment, I'd have been happier still.

Communication's the key. Of course, real boats rock. And I also know shops don't want to be harrassed with constant status inquiries from customers. So if the deal is going to run on significantly different terms or schedules than those promised, I want to hear from the merchant.
 
#8
As soon as I saw the question and before I clicked to open the topic, I knew it was going to be about a Markbass product. Things are always backordered. They don't have constant regular deliveries to the US. It seems that they ship to the US every few months, and deliver lots of stock, and then nothing for another few months.


Guitar Center doesn't really know when they'll get delivery. They have an expected delivery date, which may or may not be good. They can tell you anything. It's not GC's fault, that's just the way that Markbass does business here.

All I can say is, that if you want that product, you will have to wait, and wait you will.
 
#9
I gave GC the upfront price for a users manual to some recording software once. They said that they'd order it and it should be in in two weeks. Two weeks later I called. Not in yet. Called after a monthwent by. Still not in. I call them every freaking month and make trips down there specifically to pester them about that manual three different times over the next entire YEAR. Finally I got an employee to fess up that they never ordered the item. It would've been simple for them to tell me it hadn't been ordered when I was right there watching them look up my account/order. They plain lied to me. I took a couple after market texts that were worth about three times what I had paid and told them to shove the extra charge up their bum.

I will never, EVER buy anything from that store unless it is in stock already again. Matter of fact, I really avoid that store in general. Not saying I don't shop there, just that I'll go out of my way to go somewhere else first. Cancel the order and get the money back. Then go shopping elsewhere. I know markbass is a GC only thing, but an amp in the hand is worth far more than one floating in limbo in some warehouse inventory.
 
#10
I get the feeling that Mark Bass is some what the victim of their own success. I think that their products became so well received that demand far exceeded their ability to supply them at the time. I've read that they are ramping up their US distribution network so things should improve soon.

Paul
 
#11
maestrosteve said:
As soon as I saw the question and before I clicked to open the topic, I knew it was going to be about a Markbass product. Things are always backordered. They don't have constant regular deliveries to the US. It seems that they ship to the US every few months, and deliver lots of stock, and then nothing for another few months.


Guitar Center doesn't really know when they'll get delivery. They have an expected delivery date, which may or may not be good. They can tell you anything. It's not GC's fault, that's just the way that Markbass does business here.

All I can say is, that if you want that product, you will have to wait, and wait you will.
Click to expand...

I have been in the importers warehouse over here in the Netherlands. It's loaded with Gallien Krueger, Markbass and Hughes and Kettner. I don't understand the irregularity (Is that a proper word lol?) of shipments...
 
#12
Don't ever order from GC. They wait to receive "enough" orders to make it worth their while, shipping/volume discounts.

In my case I ordered an EMG pre and 3 months later nothing. They couldn't tell me what was going on. I got my $ back thankfully, I was going to put it in a crappy bass.

In the case of a single manual it'll simply never get ordered or delivered.
 

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