• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I'm a patient man, but ****

#41
This is exactly why places like GC are running the mom and pops into the ground. I don't know what it is, but many of these smaller places have to remember what century we are living in and get on the ball with customer service. There are three music stores that can be said are upstanding within a 30-60 minute drive from me. Wanna know how many more there are that are overpriced, dishonest and downright scummy? Alot. It's unfortunate that many small music retailers are irresponsible, practicing poor business and ripping little kids off for half @$$ music "lessons" from some dope with a mullet wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt from 1987. Places like this give the small guys a bad name and gives more business to GC, Sam Ash and other corporate bigs. It's sad that you could have just called Musicians Friend and had one shpped to you the next day with zero hassle. Heck, they even give you 45 days to return it. As an employee of a "mom n' pop" retailer that does fairly well, I can say that if you have good customer service, a good reputation and the ability satisfy a broad customer base, then the sky is the limit and they will keep coming back...even if there's a GC across the street.

I encourage buying local...but research the locals first.
 
#42
What some of you seem to be ignoring is that he traded in gear to cut this deal. Ordering from MF or Music 123 or whoever wasn't an option. Having owned Sterlings for awhile now, I find it difficult to believe it couldn't fit into a band's mix, but the multitude of available options are what make GAS so bedeviling. At the very least they should give you SOMETHING to play while you wait.
 
#43
You can shake the Fender bass tree at any time and dozens of P's will fall out. It's not NAMM or paint or any other Fender fault. The dealer has taken your money and used it for something else and now doesn't have enough to place your order. Waiting hasn't done you any good but you're in an unfortunate place because of your trade-ins. Maybe it's time to involve Fender management to put some pressure on the dealer. After all, this reflects poorly on Fender too.
 
#44
I called Fender.

Sounds like the stories are true, they are having major back orders :atoz:

Now I'm bassless, I don't want to wait until the end of March, and I don't want one of the gazillion MusicMans they have in stock or Yamahas.

They do have a Marcus Miller bass I'd be interested at the warehouse, but then again I've gone through a Valenti, Sadowsky, and a Fender Road Worn J and never been satisfied with that...

Ahhhhhhhh why did I buy new?
 
#46
Well, now we know the dealer's being honest with you and Fender is really backed up on orders. What's the dealer's policy on cancelling an order?

I'd ask for my cash, minus the cost of the pedal, and my Strat back and go shopping elsewhere if you don't want to wait. Sucks for the store that they'll lose the sale, but that's not your problem.
 
#51
I'm asuming that you are talking about JB's in London?
I would go get my money back, hop on a bus/train for the two hour ride to T.O., walk into either L+M or Steves, buy your bass and go home.
If you have to, sell the stuff you have traded in, locally and use that cash to buy in T.O. ...
or use it to buy used, locally.
Fishheadjoe
 
#52
Just be patient. There is a wait for Am Std. basses! Mine was ordered early November and I'm not even thinking about it arriving until late February. The only mistake the dealer made was with the turnaround time. These things are hard to predict! It's something I do for a living with electrical parts.
 
#55
After following this thread, I finally realized that the guys suggesting the OP wait it out, generally live outside the US. Since I can't speak for what you guys have at your disposal, it's really unfair of me to comment further. I suppose for us Yanks, the thought that securing a Fender P/bass, whether new or used, should prove difficult seems incomprehensible.
 
#57
Jazzbassman23 said:
After following this thread, I finally realized that the guys suggesting the OP wait it out, generally live outside the US. Since I can't speak for what you guys have at your disposal, it's really unfair of me to comment further. I suppose for us Yanks, the thought that securing a Fender P/bass, whether new or used, should prove difficult seems incomprehensible.
Click to expand...

Well, as a Canadian in a less populous part of the country (Manitoba), I don't think it should be too hard to get your hands on one either, depending on the specifications of course.
 
#58
crispygoat said:
But why would the store even want to screw me? It's not like it's at their advantage... I wasn't even being picky - I want a Fender American Standard Precision Standard in 3 tone sunburst or olympic white with a rosewood fretboard.

I sent an email to Fender, let's see what they have to say.

Edit: Seriously, what do they expect? I change my mind and grab one of their in stock basses? Won't happen. The only other bass I'd be interested are Fender Marcus Miller, or Lakland Jazzes - they are not a Lakland dealer, and don't have the MM in stock.
Click to expand...

It's not to their advantage to screw you over but no one said you had to be a good businessman to run a business. Perhaps they used the money to pay off some other debt instead of sending it to Fender in hopes some other payment would come through before you took your business elsewhere. You being a "reasonable guy" only extends your wait time since we all know the squeaky wheel gets the bass.

This occurs every day in every industry. And I have firsthand experience with such a situation since the local shop used to do business this way. It lasted for years until some guy wised up and had a PI look into it and ended up suing the shop since he kept getting the run-around when he wanted to know when his guitar was coming in. The shop went out of business because of it.

What do they expect? Yes, money is money regardless of what it was spent on. They expect you to keep waiting or take another bass they have in stock.


TimWilson said:
to each, his own... But there's not a Fender bass in this world (or any other) that I'd trade for any MusicMan StingRay or Sterling. You should have spent a little more time with the Sterling and gotten accustomed to it. In the long run, it will have been a better investment...

But again, just my humble opinion...
Click to expand...

In the famous words of Les Claypool, it's only a matter of opinion! ;)
 
#59
TimWilson said:
to each, his own... But there's not a Fender bass in this world (or any other) that I'd trade for any MusicMan StingRay or Sterling. You should have spent a little more time with the Sterling and gotten accustomed to it. In the long run, it will have been a better investment...

But again, just my humble opinion...
Click to expand...

Many people would say the opposite of a Fender and Musicman bass.

Myself, I like/own both, but I find my Fender/Fender style basses more suited to getting the sound I'm after these days.
 
#60
All hope is not lost guys!

I went down to the store today to see what my options were. He told me I could get my money back but that the guitar would be worth less than $500, or he could make a few phone calls to Fender dealers in the adjacent towns to see if they had any AM STD. P bass in 3 tone sunburn or olympic white with rosewood fretboard.

After a few calls, he found one in candy cola with a maple fretboard, a "black on the outside orange in the inside, with a dark fretboard, and a serial number starting with M American Precision" :scowl: , and a real one in 3 tone sunburst with rosewood.

And the guy is ready to make a deal with the store :D He's just making sure it's in mint condition, and if so, I shall have it on Saturday!

I'll keep you guys posted!

Fishheadjoe - It's not JB's, it's the other one downtown.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back