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Kalium Strings Alive and Well
- Thread starter Mike U
- Start date
I wasn't on a VPN, but it does appear to be back UP now! (2:20 EST).
Hybrid Bass Universal .106" Balanced Four String Set ordered. Will updated when they arrive (CA -> NH).
I placed an order on 12/21, was marked as “complete” by printing the shipping lable on 12/29, hasn’t had any update since. Emailed them last night but not expecting a response any time soon. I live about an hour and a half from where they’re being shipped… would rather just pick them up then wait another two weeks.
Seems like they’re still up to their old ways. I think I’m done with Kalium after this.
Seems like they’re still up to their old ways. I think I’m done with Kalium after this.
I actually got two replies from Skip yesterday. Turns out that when they switched to "Universal fit", instead of having regular scale sets available, they changed when the tapper occurs on the tuner end of the thicker strings (.106 and up?). I had no issue with the A, D, G strings, but the .106 E string no longer fits in my (Gotoh?) Drop-D tuner (see my avatar). Previously the tapper started before it reached the tuner. He suggested I could file the tuner slot, but I'm not willing to mar a chrome plated D-tuner. I'm seeing if he'll send me .102 as a replacement as that should fit even without the tapper. Note that I don't have this issue on my 5-string Valenti with clover style Hipshot tuners.
Just an update that I received my replacement Universal fit .102 string after contacting Skip that the .106 did not fit in my D-tuner.
I'm trying a couple different sets of strings to see what I really like on a 7 string. Ordered 2 sets from Kalium, and 2 sets from Newtone on the same day two weeks ago. Paid a little extra for expedited shipping from Kalium.
My Kalium order status still shows "We have your order and are getting ready to ship." I emailed Skip saying that I'm just wondering when the strings might head out the door. No response.
My Newtone order? Well it's on the way. And I'm pretty sure they will get to me first. Not to mention they were super responsive when I emailed with a couple of questions before placing an order. They were much cheaper too.
I know it was NAMM this last week, so I'll cut Skip some slack. That being said, this isn't rocket appliances...it's simple communication and proper setting of expectations. If I don't hear back from Skip in the next day or two, this will be my last order with Kalium.
Visiting the Sushi Box website, there's a simple banner up top that says he'll be out till 1/30 due to NAMM. I understand not being available or shipping for a week if you're heading to NAMM, but how hard would it be to drop a similar banner on the Kalium website? Pretty 101 level stuff here...not really any excuses to fail on this basic of a level.
My Kalium order status still shows "We have your order and are getting ready to ship." I emailed Skip saying that I'm just wondering when the strings might head out the door. No response.
My Newtone order? Well it's on the way. And I'm pretty sure they will get to me first. Not to mention they were super responsive when I emailed with a couple of questions before placing an order. They were much cheaper too.
I know it was NAMM this last week, so I'll cut Skip some slack. That being said, this isn't rocket appliances...it's simple communication and proper setting of expectations. If I don't hear back from Skip in the next day or two, this will be my last order with Kalium.
Visiting the Sushi Box website, there's a simple banner up top that says he'll be out till 1/30 due to NAMM. I understand not being available or shipping for a week if you're heading to NAMM, but how hard would it be to drop a similar banner on the Kalium website? Pretty 101 level stuff here...not really any excuses to fail on this basic of a level.
It's been like this since Circle K's inception. I truly do not understand why people look at the long history of the company and continue to support them given the lack of basic care Skip has shown for paying customers.
There's always an excuse, too. The website, or the email system, or or or... at a certain point, it comes down to the man not knowing how to run a frickin' company. If you have that many issues with your systems, you need to replace them.
I just called Kalium. No Answer.
I just emailed asking to cancel and refund my order.
It's too bad. I've used Kalium in the past years ago and had no issues. Really liked the strings too. I just have a feeling that this isn't going to end well. Starts bad, ends bad.
I'm guessing I am not going to get a response to my request to cancel either. Thats what charge backs are made for.
And literally nobody has that many issues with their systems. At some point all the excuses just become noise.
Well today I got tired of no response to my emails and filed a chargeback. Wouldn't ya know, literally an hour later I get a shipping notification that my order is complete. As soon as the strings show up, I'll cancel the chargeback. I'll also update this thread.
The point is....why does it have to be this way? Why did it have to take me filing a chargeback for the first time in my life to get any response? Just a simple reply to my email saying something like "sorry man, your order fell through the cracks / I'm underwater and running behind" and I would have been all good. Simple communication...thats all it takes.
I wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt at this point. He's either equipped to run a business, or he's not. And it's clear that he's not. It's been excuse after excuse for years.
It would be better if he sold off the business to someone who gave a damn about providing good service.
It would be better if he sold off the business to someone who gave a damn about providing good service.
I too have been a Kalium devotee since their Circle-K days, and I can say that I have never had a problem with getting my strings in a timely manner. I only order from them once or twice a year though, so I can understand how probability would favor me not running into those issues even while others do. I did recently place and receive an order for both bass and guitar strings, and had zero issues. I hope Skip can get back to a consistent output, and that these issues he says he's running into can be overcome. The product is phenomenal, and hopefully the order fulfillment part can come to match that.
Always sorry to hear about these negative experiences. I'm in the group that HASN'T had problems with Kalium delivery--no idea whether that's a minority or a "silent majority"--and Kalium remains the only place I know of where I can get great-sounding strings in the exact gauges I like reasonably quickly for a reasonable price. Still, that in NO way invalidates the bad experiences other folks have had.
FWIW, I have tried Newtone. They ended up costing slightly more than my usual Kalium set, but not a lot more. They did sound good--all except the .136 low B, which I found couldn't hang properly with the rest of the set. This held true across three separate sets. If you need custom gauges but use a different low B gauge, or perhaps don't even use a low B at all, Newtone could be an excellent choice.
FWIW, I have tried Newtone. They ended up costing slightly more than my usual Kalium set, but not a lot more. They did sound good--all except the .136 low B, which I found couldn't hang properly with the rest of the set. This held true across three separate sets. If you need custom gauges but use a different low B gauge, or perhaps don't even use a low B at all, Newtone could be an excellent choice.
I started ordering when the were still called Circle K and I didn’t have any problems or complaints at all. Everything worked out like a charm. Then I started reading about problems. I thought nothing about it until I was affected. I would probably still be their costumer if someone would have communicated with me, like “we are sorry, but …” or if there are general problems put something up on your web site. With me it’s not like I can’t wait. See I live in Germany and the strings I ordered usually sat in customs for at least 2 weeks anyway. With things as they are, living in Germany, I am not taking any chances. I will order my strings locally.
