Kalium strings and great CS

[ampeg82]

Hey everyone just wanted to drop a line on here since there’s been some threads on poor service with Kalium strings. I can’t speak for the past but these guys have went above and beyond to help me on questions about string sets recently, I did have one pop on install and the issue was quickly resolved by skip. They seem to have any kinks worked out and the strings play and sound great on my ric. I went with the BH-106BS set.

 

[ZachM]

I think things are much better there now.

In the past I've had orders take several days to process and over three weeks to arrive, but the last couple times I've ordered have been very prompt and the strings arrived much faster, within the week. They might've been short staffed, or having issues with supply chain, who knows. There's a lot that can go wrong in any business and the smaller operations don't have that much manpower oftentimes.

The strings are worth waiting for though, I'm always pleased with the tone and feel. They seem to last a relatively long time as well, and I dig balanced tension so Kaliums are my string of choice.

 

[michael_t]

Kalium strings and CS

When I saw the thread title, my initial reaction was, "Oh no, not another thread about how bad the Kalium CS is!"

You might want to modify it to something like, "Kalium Strings and their much-improved CS". Just sayin'...

 

[ampeg82]

When I saw the thread title, my initial reaction was, "Oh no, not another thread about how bad the Kalium CS is!"

You might want to modify it to something like, "Kalium Strings and their much-improved CS". Just sayin'...

Good Idea!

 

[Systolic]

I wish I was in the same boat. I've had some horror stories with them in the past and moved on to different brands. They were recently running a sale so I figured i'd give'em a shot again hoping they'd improved. We're at 1 week since my order now and they haven't even been shipped.

 

[ezstep]

Just received my order and placed the new strings on two basses (one was a replacement, so I want Kaliums on both basses). Very happy with the result. No horror story here. Just a happy camper.

 

[Systolic]

Ha. I just tried again. Placed an order last Thursday, and waited for over a week while the order just said "processing." Sent a couple emails...no response. Finally called, but it sounded like they knew nothinv about my order even though I was charged. Told them to ship or refund. Took a couple days but just got my refund.

I'm done.

 

[SBassman]

I tried a first order 18 days ago. No shipment. No responses to emails.

Beyond disappointing.

 

[SBassman]

The story ends with me posting on their Facebook page - which, unlike their email accounts, they actually monitor. I got a refund. No mas.

 

[KB5]

Weird. I have been using their Hybrids for two years. Never had an issue with their service.

 

[kbr]

I'm about three weeks in to waiting for my Kalium strings order. I've contacted them three times asking about it via various means. I've got multiple email address for them. The last time I blasted all of them just in case. I've never gotten a response. I don't have a Facebook. They haven't even printed a label.

Not sure what to say. The Christmas season is coming up and it's my busiest season for bass playing. I'll have to buy something else, set and get my bass set up for different strings before the gigs pick up again. I had figured a month early would be plenty of time. I was wrong.

 

[groovaholic]

I placed my order on October 25th.
After 3 weeks, I sent Kalium a note.

I didn't get a direct reply, but what I did get was a shipping notification from "Stamps.com".
When I checked status, it said:"November 15, 2018 at 11:09 pm Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item"

There have been no updates to that status in the 5 days since...

I'm trying to give Kalium the benefit of the doubt -- wildfires in California, week before Thanksgiving, etc.
But my experiences is aligning with that of too many other people: great strings, but REALLY unreliable service.

 

[SBassman]

I placed my order on October 25th.
After 3 weeks, I sent Kalium a note.

I didn't get a direct reply, but what I did get was a shipping notification from "Stamps.com".
When I checked status, it said:"November 15, 2018 at 11:09 pm Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item"

There have been no updates to that status in the 5 days since...

I'm trying to give Kalium the benefit of the doubt -- wildfires in California, week before Thanksgiving, etc.
But my experiences is aligning with that of too many other people: great strings, but REALLY unreliable service.

They tried pulling that with me, too. Sending a Stamps notice in response to one of my emails.

I don't know what the deal is with them. Don't understand how a company puts energy and tooling into setting up, only to have a broken process for actual fulfillment.

The only way you guys are going to get anywhere is to get on Facebook and message them there. Somehow, they are occasionally very responsive via Facebook, but far less so through the email addresses they set up.

I just don't have time for that. I bailed out, and I won't be trying again unless I see dozens of TBers here down the road saying the process is fixed.

 

[ixlramp]

I mentioned these complaints to Skip on FB, i seem to remember he's banned from TalkBass so probably can't post here, he asked me to convey a message:
"perhaps you can apologize on my behalf. I broke my site and have been playing catchup for two weeks as a result. All should be attended to within days."
Please note i convey this completely neutrally.

 

[tom-g]

I mentioned these complaints to Skip on FB, i seem to remember he's banned from TalkBass so probably can't post here, he asked me to convey a message:
"perhaps you can apologize on my behalf. I broke my site and have been playing catchup for two weeks as a result. All should be attended to within days."
Please note i convey this completely neutrally.

Yeah right, the dog ate my homework.

 

[groovaholic]

I mentioned these complaints to Skip on FB, i seem to remember he's banned from TalkBass so probably can't post here, he asked me to convey a message:
"perhaps you can apologize on my behalf. I broke my site and have been playing catchup for two weeks as a result. All should be attended to within days."
Please note i convey this completely neutrally.

It's up to Kalium and PayPal at this point; it's been a month and I've requested a refund.

 

[groovaholic]

It's up to Kalium and PayPal at this point; it's been a month and I've requested a refund.

Got my refund.
I’d have preferred to get the strings, but I can walk away now...

 

[Systolic]

Got my refund.
I’d have preferred to get the strings, but I can walk away now...

Done that same dance maybe a half dozen times now. I'm done for good.

 

[groovaholic]

Done that same dance maybe a half dozen times now. I'm done for good.

It’s a disappointment because I play a Dingwall bass and there just aren’t that many people who make suitable strings for it.

 

[iiipopes]

Ordered and paid for a stock 4-string set: the Hybrid balanced 110's. Ordered Nov 23. Not relying on Stamps. Plugged the tracking number into USPS directly. Still listed as pre-shipment. Fortunately, I don't need them immediately, because the bass on which I will put them on is for one of my groups that does not have gigs until 2019. But then I will be leaning on them if I don't have them at that point.