Is Andertons a reliable shop?

[SteveCS]

Hm, maybe I'm missing something. Almost looks a bit high in price to me for a "standard" (not American Standard) especially when converting to dollars. Have I missed something?

EU tariffs on non-EU goods?

 

[jd56hawk]

Like any other big seller, a hundred happy customers and two or three dissatisfied ones.
I’ve heard people say the same about Sweetwater.

 

[pcake]

Well I run a business and we make sure everything is checked before it is sent out regardless of price. This is not good business practice by Andertons especially with the first Bass which had noticeable marks on the Bass which had not been visually checked. If they want to waste money on return postage then that is their problem.......Not Good!

that's not normal, and not everyone prefers to have their stuff opened - some prefer sealed in the factory box. but it does make sense to me to inspect before shipping. i got a bass at AMS that had to be replaced due to a manufacturing error, and they paid return shipping, inspected the replacement at my request and then overnighted me the replacemtn. while i quite appreciated the shipping upgrade, it would have saved them return shipping and replacement shipping to inspect before sending.

a few stores that don't open and inspect every piece of gear they sell include guitar center, sam ash, AMS and musicians friend. and AMS and MF didn't open and inspect before they were purchased by GC.

 

[Mosfed]

Hm, maybe I'm missing something. Almost looks a bit high in price to me for a "standard" (not American Standard) especially when converting to dollars. Have I missed something?

Yes - the UK market is insanely expensive

 

[Mosfed]

EU tariffs on non-EU goods?

Absolutely not. Fake news.

 

[mcnach]

I purchsed one of the new Player Series P Basses about a month ago, the first arrived with a very poor finish having black like scratches on the Bass so I phoned them to tell them they should have checked the Bass before sending it out which they agreed with. I asked them before they send out the replacement to check it out and they assured me that they would. When the replacement arrived I found that the pickguard hole nearest the jack had been drilled too large so when the cable was pulled out the pickguard would lift up from the body. I returned the Bass and got a full refund. The original problems were not Andertons fault, but they should check over all Basses especially those made in Mexico for possible faults, which is normal for any retailer to do. So it looks like mass produced Basses like the Player and Standard series are not checked over by Andertons before sending them out which is very poor service. As for you buying a Standard from Andertons,the difference in price has got to be something to do with quality issues so you are taking a chance in purchasing one. If I was you I would forget about the discontinued Standard and for a further £70.00 you could purchase one of the new Player series which are better than the Standards. But going off my experience in buying a Player Series Bass from Andertons I wouldn't be too confident.

With the profit margins they have, I think they just ship the boxes (as do most others), and if there's a problem they deal with it, including shipping.

So you returned a bass because a pickguard screw hole was too big? I guess you didn't really want it as it takes 20 seconds to fix for good.

To the OP: yes, Andertons are a reputable shop and they're legit, and if you don't like what you buy mail-order, you can return it without issues, as our friend above illustrated.

 

[mcnach]

Hm, maybe I'm missing something. Almost looks a bit high in price to me for a "standard" (not American Standard) especially when converting to dollars. Have I missed something?

Yes, you're missing that in the UK we pay a lot more than you for Fenders and many other makes...

 

[mcnach]

Absolutely not. Fake news.

So, you're suggesting there are not added import costs, taxes, etc, when bringing things from outside the EU?

 

[Briton]

So you returned a bass because a pickguard screw hole was too big? I guess you didn't really want it as it takes 20 seconds to fix for good.

That is a crazy statement........
So you buy a new Bass from a dealer, one of the pickguard screw holes is too big therefore pulling up the pickguard when removing the cable and you would suggest for customers to repair it themselves, which in this case would mean filling the hole. That is definetley not right!

And wrong for the second time, I did want the Bass so I got my refund and purchased it from PMT at the same price.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Yes - the UK market is insanely expensive

For what, in particular? The Little Mark 250 I recently bought is more expensive on Thomann than any of the big UK stores...

 

[eccles77]

For what, in particular? The Little Mark 250 I recently bought is more expensive on Thomann than any of the big UK stores...

It all depends on what you are buying. Some retailers get end of line stuff, special offers etc. But buying in the UK is way more expensive than the US. As for Thomann, I have used them in the past but on some products they are more expensive, it just depends. You need to shop around more now than ever before.

To the op, yeah Andertons are good, if you don`t like it you can send it back. And that is a good price for the P bass.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

It all depends on what you are buying. Some retailers get end of line stuff, special offers etc. But buying in the UK is way more expensive than the US. As for Thomann, I have used them in the past but on some products they are more expensive, it just depends. You need to shop around more now than ever before.

We are more expensive than the US for most musical stuff I guess (unless you are buying a Wal ) but absolutely not more than mainland Europe. 10 years ago I could rely on Thomann to be the cheaper source for most things but that's long gone.

 

[mcnach]

That is a crazy statement........
So you buy a new Bass from a dealer, one of the pickguard screw holes is too big therefore pulling up the pickguard when removing the cable and you would suggest for customers to repair it themselves, which in this case would mean filling the hole. That is definetley not right!

And wrong for the second time, I did want the Bass so I got my refund and purchased it from PMT at the same price.

I understand your disappointment and in an ideal world, no, that's not right. But when facing such a small issue, you can play the "right" card and return stuff and have hassle... or be pragmatic and do it yourself. I'm not even talking a high fret or whatever... I'm talking... a screw hole being slightly too big: a drop of wood glue and a toothpick, insert, screw, wait to set. Done.

I'm not saying it's the 'right' course of action. I'm just saying that if I like a bass I would just deal with it and play it... or go to the store in person if it has to be perfect.
For me it's much less of a hassle than returning and ordering again. But you're entitled to your expectations and to deal with stuff as you see fit, of course Not my problem

 

[Mosfed]

For what, in particular? The Little Mark 250 I recently bought is more expensive on Thomann than any of the big UK stores...

Sorry - I should have said “the UK and Europe are insanely expensive when you compare their prices to generally available prices in the US”

 

[Mosfed]

So, you're suggesting there are not added import costs, taxes, etc, when bringing things from outside the EU?

There is sales tax in Europe and the UK just like there is in the US. If you buy something from outside that area, that tax is charged. Business are not charged that tax but are forced to charge that tax to consumers. Just like in the US.

The post I was commenting suggested some logic of Europe is putting tariffs on American or Mexican guitars and that is just not the case. If you think that, I would suggest changing the media you listen to.

 

[TrevorR]

Hm, maybe I'm missing something. Almost looks a bit high in price to me for a "standard" (not American Standard) especially when converting to dollars. Have I missed something?

Welcome to bass life in the UK. So if a Bass is $1000 retail in the US it’s pretty much £1000 retail in the UK... shipping, customs, taxes, distributors, middle men.

But maybe American guitars aren’t really that expensive, but it’s just our fault for living so far away from Corona and Ensenada.

Then again, every time we Brits and Europeans see posts going on about how ridiculously expensive MarkBass/Ashdown/[insert European brand here] gear is (in the US) we all think, “Yeah, but you’re also paying shipping, customs, taxes, distributors, middle men... it’s just YOUR fault for living so far from Europe!”

 

[tfer]

I purchsed one of the new Player Series P Basses about a month ago, the first arrived with a very poor finish having black like scratches on the Bass so I phoned them to tell them they should have checked the Bass before sending it out which they agreed with. I asked them before they send out the replacement to check it out and they assured me that they would. When the replacement arrived I found that the pickguard hole nearest the jack had been drilled too large so when the cable was pulled out the pickguard would lift up from the body. I returned the Bass and got a full refund. The original problems were not Andertons fault, but they should check over all Basses especially those made in Mexico for possible faults, which is normal for any retailer to do. So it looks like mass produced Basses like the Player and Standard series are not checked over by Andertons before sending them out which is very poor service. As for you buying a Standard from Andertons,the difference in price has got to be something to do with quality issues so you are taking a chance in purchasing one. If I was you I would forget about the discontinued Standard and for a further £70.00 you could purchase one of the new Player series which are better than the Standards. But going off my experience in buying a Player Series Bass from Andertons I wouldn't be too confident.

Your complaint is with Fender, not Anderton’s.

If the finish, or manufacturing tolerances are within Fender specs, what is the retailer supposed to do, rebuild it for them...?

 

[Briton]

Your complaint is with Fender, not Anderton’s.

If the finish, or manufacturing tolerances are within Fender specs, what is the retailer supposed to do, rebuild it for them...?

Read the post again carefully and digest!.........I stated the initial problems were not Andertons fault, but the problems there after were.......Yawn!

 

[tfer]

Read the post again carefully and digest!.........I stated the initial problems were not Andertons fault, but the problems there after were.......Yawn!

Anderton’s sent you a Fender bass. The bass had problems. Anderton’s accepted the return, and sent you another one. The bass had problems. Anderton’s accepted the return...

If I were you, I’d shop Anderton’s and stop buying Fender.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

There is sales tax in Europe and the UK just like there is in the US. If you buy something from outside that area, that tax is charged. Business are not charged that tax but are forced to charge that tax to consumers. Just like in the US.

The post I was commenting suggested some logic of Europe is putting tariffs on American or Mexican guitars and that is just not the case. If you think that, I would suggest changing the media you listen to.

There is import duty on all goods coming into the EU, and that applies to businesses/importers. No such thing as free trade Sales tax (in our case VAT) is an additional tax that is applied at the point of retail.