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How to deal with a slow-to-respond cab builder?
- Thread starter AaronHuff
- Start date
I just roll my own.
I just do not understand why people pay someone to build them a cab that you can get the plans to build for free.
It isn't rocket science. Some one that knows a lot about speakers already did all the hard work that I can not do.
Some good plywood, a few screws and some glue.
People ordered from Robbie/AoN because he offered lightweight construction and we bass players are becoming "weight weenies", to borrow a phrase from ::Bassist:: Also because he put up pretty pictures of appeared to be really nice looking cabs.
Then he started to get complaints about structural problems with his builds and I think got overwhelmed to the point that he just threw in the towel without being able to repay to money he'd collected.
Small claims action, even if it's cost effective in your area, has limited value. Getting a judgement is one thing; actually collecting on it is another.
Then he started to get complaints about structural problems with his builds and I think got overwhelmed to the point that he just threw in the towel without being able to repay to money he'd collected.
Small claims action, even if it's cost effective in your area, has limited value. Getting a judgement is one thing; actually collecting on it is another.
If he did bite off more than he can chomp down on, he should at the very least level with people, not string them along. Do the best he can to make it right is just the right thing to do.
Robby Hoinsky of Art of Noise Audio is not to be trusted. I spent hours and hours fixing the mistakes on the cab I bought from him. Then he agreed to send me a replacement cab but I waited and waited... and waited for 6 months. Then I gave up and built my own. I wasted alot of money, time and effort on that guy. Not a fun experience.
I really agree that there should be a sticky on top of the Amps forum warning people about AoN. His fEARful website has been up since he lost his AB status last Spring (2012). There is no excuse for him not taking it down. I think he is still taking orders and ripping people off... someone reported recently that he sent an inquiry email about a month ago and Robby was very aggressive trying to get his business.
I prefer to try to see the good side of people, but actions speak louder than words with this fella.
I really agree that there should be a sticky on top of the Amps forum warning people about AoN. His fEARful website has been up since he lost his AB status last Spring (2012). There is no excuse for him not taking it down. I think he is still taking orders and ripping people off... someone reported recently that he sent an inquiry email about a month ago and Robby was very aggressive trying to get his business.
I prefer to try to see the good side of people, but actions speak louder than words with this fella.
If I in any way gave the impression that I was defending Robbie, I apologize for that. It was not my intent. I was just relaying some of the backstory as I understand it.
If he's still taking orders for cabs, greenboy, BFM or other, that's even more despicable than his earlier shenanigans.
I'm only going to speculate here, but I'd like to think that these builders didn't start out wanting to rip people off. It takes a lot of money to just get the business off the ground and you can't take orders and buy parts with only the money you make off of each individual order. If things don't go according to plan, and the customer wants a refund, then the business owner has to be able to afford to take the hit on the materials cost they've already paid. This is not something taught in high school Econ or Business 101 in college.
No, they start out thinking they will make good money and slowly realize that to do that takes a lot of hard work, meticulous planning and some luck. Then they may take a shortcut or 2 and get pinched. At this point, some choose to fold, others evolve, learn and find ways to become successful honestly, and a minority discover there's some cash to be made by lying, cheating, and generally sinking to the level of the green stuff under rocks:scowl:
Humans: just intelligent enough to be dangerous to ourselves and other living things.
Humans: just intelligent enough to be dangerous to ourselves and other living things.
It's a shame to hear all of this. He had lots of issues early on. I took a chance with him about a year ago, and he did a really good job on my 15/6, and a few others in that time window. Then, I guess it all went to heck again. Seemed like a nice guy who meant well and just got overwhelmed.
Luckily, Mike Arnopol stepped in, and his composite builds are a pretty big step above of the AoN build. Highly recommended for those looking for a composite Thunderchild or fEARful. I'm very pleased with my Composite TC115.... small, about 35 pounds, and puts out 212 volume with more true low end than most.
Shame to hear that Robbie folded. No excuse not to refund money, even if you have to run up personal debt to do it. NO excuse. I guess he got a second chance and blew that. I assume he is done at this point.
Luckily, Mike Arnopol stepped in, and his composite builds are a pretty big step above of the AoN build. Highly recommended for those looking for a composite Thunderchild or fEARful. I'm very pleased with my Composite TC115.... small, about 35 pounds, and puts out 212 volume with more true low end than most.
Shame to hear that Robbie folded. No excuse not to refund money, even if you have to run up personal debt to do it. NO excuse. I guess he got a second chance and blew that. I assume he is done at this point.
It may not be rocket science to you, but, if you are all thumbs like me when it comes to hand tools, or lack the space to work in, or don't have the time, a custom builder is the way to go, although, they don't come cheap, especially the fEARful builds. I recently inquired about an " Old school " custom build, nothing fancy, no intricate crossover, exotic build material, etc., and it was'nt THAT much cheaper than a " boutique " build. That's why I'm always lurking in the TB classifieds.
It's not rocket science. It's simple math. My time is worth more to me than the cost of having the cab built. Period. Thanks to people like Mike Arnopol and Don who make astounding cabs for mediocre hacks like me
I suppose so, to a certain extent. I specifically mentioned custom builders, because typically if there are any delays/funny business with a custom bass/amp/cab order, it is going to happen after PayPal's 60 days. If you were to buy something that is already built, it is not that vital to use a CC because any issues are going to come up well before that 60 day time frame is over.
Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man. Threats and harassment worked for me. As far as I'm concerned, Robbie was a criminal until I received everything back from him.
Sure. But a lot of people who are custom ordering gear are doing it because they desire something that's not readily available from the retail market. A few flaky builders shouldn't be the deterring factor that prevents you from buying something you want. After I sent back my AoN cab, I placed and order and received my Dually from Don Barry in less than two months and I'll probably own it until I die.
Unfortunately it is way past that at this point.
Sometimes medical or other problems get in the way of accomplishing one's goals. Maybe that's what happened to him?
Since he's still collecting money from people on an on-going basis and not building cabs, the money is obviously going somewhere for him support himself or possibly other such medical problems.
Seems that the AoN may need a Dr. Bass type thread to keep track of all the dissatisfied/unsatisfied users.
No medical problems that anyone is aware of.
If he's still taking orders, I'm sure greenboy would like to know about it. As would a few others.
If he's still taking orders, I'm sure greenboy would like to know about it. As would a few others.
when AoN first started building these cabs, i did a quick search and found this... in hindsight it was quite telling. i found it interesting that he made a quick move from car audio to bass cabs.
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