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Is Kalium having issues or is this normal?

#21
Probably coincidence, they're just now shipping out the missed orders.

Since they'e a tiny company, 1 full time string winder plus 3/4 part-time staff, for now it may be best they don't get a lot of conventional customers, and serve a smaller number of unconventional customers (extended-range bass and guitar, and sub-bassists). They're almost too successful for their own good. Skip is also a bass luthier and is starting work on amps and cabs too, so is busy enough.
I tend to now encourage players to build balanced sets from their favourite brand, and only go to Kalium if they are extended range or sub-low-B or have other bizarre needs.

Anyway they've innovated and seem to have had an effect on the industry and players. It amazes me when i'm in a guitar shop and the big D'Addario rack has a labelled section for tension-balanced sets.
 
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#27
NoxNoctus, oh man ...
I'm sure they will correct your order if you want them too, they always seem to do so, but of course the communication is unreliable.
I've heard of a few other cases of incorrect orders, seems to be happening more often recently, maybe they have too much custom, it might be best for them if they loose a few customers.
They seem good-hearted eccentrics but a little disorganised and scatter-brained.
 
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#34
Hate to hear they are having issues, I have nothing but praise for Skip, Darren and Kalium strings. Not many companies doing exactly what they do, they cater to a pretty diverse customer base. I've hit a snag or two over the years with them shipping wise, but they always came through or made it up to me.

I spent over 30 minutes on the phone with Skip in June or July for a special set for a friend of mine overseas. I had placed an order right before NAMM, and they were out of the office of course. Because time was of the essence (getting them installed on a bass needing to be shipped out), they over-nighted a set to me free of charge when they got back. They didn't have to do that.

My experience is the shipping is so-so, the customer service is more than I expect, and the product is fantastic. I'm concerned they seem to be experiencing a hiccup at the moment, but I will be a customer as long as they make strings.
 
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#36
That's a long time to delay an email reply. However they do seem to always sort stuff out eventually, and often generously.
They have 1 full time guy who makes the strings and mails them, who has no time for correspondance (although i think he should).
The 1 guy who does order correspondance does it on top of a full time job, and has moved house twice in the last few months, apparently he's been through a rough time.
No excuse of course, but this may be why communication can be so bad, they are obviously under-resourced for that.
Do keep sending emails to the orders address. They rarely check FB messages so directly is the way.
 
#37
ixlramp said:
That's a long time to delay an email reply. However they do seem to always sort stuff:laugh: out eventually, and often generously.
They have 1 full time guy who makes the strings and mails them, who has no time for correspondance (although i think he should).
The 1 guy who does order correspondance does it on top of a full time job, and has moved house twice in the last few months, apparently he's been through a rough time.
No excuse of course, but this may be why communication can be so bad, they are obviously under-resourced for that.
Do keep sending emails to the orders address. They rarely check FB messages so directly is the way.
Click to expand...

I guess that's in keeping with the philosophy that suggests it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to do what you know you should have done to begin with?

My 7-year old niece is a master at invoking that strategy. :laugh:
 
#38
ixlramp said:
That's a long time to delay an email reply. However they do seem to always sort stuff out eventually, and often generously.
They have 1 full time guy who makes the strings and mails them, who has no time for correspondance (although i think he should).
The 1 guy who does order correspondance does it on top of a full time job, and has moved house twice in the last few months, apparently he's been through a rough time.
No excuse of course, but this may be why communication can be so bad, they are obviously under-resourced for that.
Do keep sending emails to the orders address. They rarely check FB messages so directly is the way.
Click to expand...

To me, this is flat out UNACCEPTABLE for any business. It seems there was no planning on their part for the demand of their product and no strategy to deal with such growth. Again, my son and I found their strings and gauge selection awesome BUT they are hell to deal with.
 

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