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Mikeyswood - BUYER BEWARE
- Thread starter Alex Xander
- Start date
- Status
Thanks Maurizio,
You're right about the trust, you know. I would have just had no problem ordering an uber-j from you 2 years ago. Now (in spite of the fact that for all intents and purposes you appear honest and genuine) I might hesitate to send money your way.
As for the refund and getting parts back, you've read the facebook chat. The guy is a brick wall. A few emails back he claimed to have spent $1750 on parts; today it's $3200. There is no way he will refund me or send me parts.
There is the smallest amount of hope that I will see the bass I asked for at some time. With that said, since I will only be consulted when he deems it appropriate, that amount of hope is dwindling. How I will ever go about trusting payment etc is a whole other ballgame.
As for lawyers, they are expensive. I could blow $1500 with a lawyer in one day, making it a zero sum game at best. As a matter of principal though, I guess could have a go
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
That last fb chat transaction seems so unnecessary........ Take a job, honor the job until it's completion, playing a victim to a customer is a big no no.
I've never done it and would not stand for someone else doing it to me. It would also appear to me that the relationship dynamic is beginning to degrade, so
finding the best way to end this would be in your best interest, pick up whatever you can and cut your losses.
There is one and only one reason why this will not work out right: Both parties must be 100% in agreement for this to work.
I've never done it and would not stand for someone else doing it to me. It would also appear to me that the relationship dynamic is beginning to degrade, so
finding the best way to end this would be in your best interest, pick up whatever you can and cut your losses.
There is one and only one reason why this will not work out right: Both parties must be 100% in agreement for this to work.
Back away and consider yourself lucky you didn't send more money than you did.
If I were you- I wouldn't want the bass even if he sent it to you finished tomorrow. It would be the equivalent of eating a meal made by a serial killer. Bad juju. That's just me.
Boy, did I dodge a bullet when I ordered my custom from another TBer.
Sorry for your situation.
If I were you- I wouldn't want the bass even if he sent it to you finished tomorrow. It would be the equivalent of eating a meal made by a serial killer. Bad juju. That's just me.
Boy, did I dodge a bullet when I ordered my custom from another TBer.
Sorry for your situation.
I've never been in this kind of situation myself but isn't there some kind of official body that can look into it for you? I don't know if he's set up as a business but surely this kind of thing counts as theft or fraud. Would it be worth speaking to the police maybe? If he's done this a few times he could have made quite a lot of money out of it.
Ive met Mike and spent a week with him at wootens camp. He was a super nice guy to me and drove me and a friend back to the hotel at the end of the week. I am absolutely shocked at how he is conducting himself in this situation. He never ever gave me the impression that he was untrustworthy. I hope you get this issue resolved.
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
Now after my previous statement, I do not believe that Mike is a criminal.
I just believe he may have bit off way more than he can chew, due to the flurry of things
he is involved in (chrome dome, politics, auto mechanics and chemestry), beyond building and now the time has come to pay the piper.
I have had a few hardware transactions without issue, talked to him many times on the phone too. I don't think he's a bad person.
I just believe he may have bit off way more than he can chew, due to the flurry of things
he is involved in (chrome dome, politics, auto mechanics and chemestry), beyond building and now the time has come to pay the piper.
I have had a few hardware transactions without issue, talked to him many times on the phone too. I don't think he's a bad person.
The part about you paying for his time (and that his time doesn't come cheap) is BS. Time is time and you either have it or you don't. And besides, he will have to put the necessary time in to build the bass regardless of when he does it - the bass won't build itself! For whatever reason, you're not comfortable with the arrangement in place (though the arrangement doesn't seem to be agreed upon by both parties involved). In light of how things have turned out Mike could, at the very least, agree to send you the parts and call it a day. But even if it meant losing every dollar I'd already invested, no way would I give this guy another dollar.
Musiclogic
Commercial User
- Aug 6, 2005
- 6,505
- 75
- 60
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder: HJC Customs USA, The Cool Lute, C G O
The parts and wood are yours Alex, NOT his. They were purchased with YOUR Money. There is no way the parts and wood cost $1750, that is a load.
This bass which I did for a customer with hipshot hardware, custom wound pickups, Aguilar OBP3, Mac Ebony board, Custom wood knobs, 1/2" thick lace Burl top, wenge and purpleheart neck through cost just under $1000 in parts and materials including frets nut and finish.
I want to know where he spent $1750???
This bass which I did for a customer with hipshot hardware, custom wound pickups, Aguilar OBP3, Mac Ebony board, Custom wood knobs, 1/2" thick lace Burl top, wenge and purpleheart neck through cost just under $1000 in parts and materials including frets nut and finish.
I want to know where he spent $1750???
Me too. I don't see that as a reasonable number at all.
That's a nice bass BTW JC. fine work there.
That's a nice bass BTW JC. fine work there.
Thanks Maurizio,
You're right about the trust, you know. I would have just had no problem ordering an uber-j from you 2 years ago. Now (in spite of the fact that for all intents and purposes you appear honest and genuine) I might hesitate to send money your way.
As for the refund and getting parts back, you've read the facebook chat. The guy is a brick wall. A few emails back he claimed to have spent $1750 on parts; today it's $3200. There is no way he will refund me or send me parts.
There is the smallest amount of hope that I will see the bass I asked for at some time. With that said, since I will only be consulted when he deems it appropriate, that amount of hope is dwindling. How I will ever go about trusting payment etc is a whole other ballgame.
As for lawyers, they are expensive. I could blow $1500 with a lawyer in one day, making it a zero sum game at best. As a matter of principal though, I guess could have a go
A phone consultation with an attorney in the builder's city should not cost you much. Even 30 minutes on the phone could inform you on your rights and approach. I tend to prefer larger law firms with a good rep. I think it could be worth it.
Regardless, I agree with those who are saying you should stop the project and cut your losses. If you can get him to send you the parts, all the better. This is a deal gone bad and feels like it is not going to get any better.
Given the builder's attitude towards this project and his customer, I really don't see how this can have a happy ending. If he'll ship you the parts, take it and run like hell.
Yeah, I don't think he did all this on purpose. I think he just has no realistic perspective on what he can actually handle, and has put himself in an untenable place.
Unfortunately, he is to arrogant to admit he made a mistake and instead of doing the right thing and owning his....miscalculation, he is attempting to shunt responsibility to the customer.
On the other hand, I think he might have a real future in politics.
Unfortunately, he is to arrogant to admit he made a mistake and instead of doing the right thing and owning his....miscalculation, he is attempting to shunt responsibility to the customer.
On the other hand, I think he might have a real future in politics.
Feel really sorry for you, Alexander. The pictures of work done so far don't impress.
I say, don't accept the parts back and demand a complete refund. Two years is way too long. It's like an ebay seller saying stuff shipped to another country could take more than 4 weeks to arrive, maybe even two years sometimes. Utter BS.
This builder has clearly reneged on the contract by not delivering what you made half-payment for. And he is now attempting to raise the price of the product.
You can clearly see for yourself he has no interest in building that bass to the spec you ordered. I find it offensive that he talks about your money like it's chickenfeed and the "wisecrack" about losing your job in that facebook chat is offensive.
As someone else mentioned, I'd also be worried that he now bears you some kind of personal animosity for not "respecting his authority". If you do get that bass, make sure it is to your specs and what was discussed. I'd rather you didn't and serve legal notice. It's expensive, but you're on the right side.
All the best.
- Jimmy Rage
I say, don't accept the parts back and demand a complete refund. Two years is way too long. It's like an ebay seller saying stuff shipped to another country could take more than 4 weeks to arrive, maybe even two years sometimes. Utter BS.
This builder has clearly reneged on the contract by not delivering what you made half-payment for. And he is now attempting to raise the price of the product.
You can clearly see for yourself he has no interest in building that bass to the spec you ordered. I find it offensive that he talks about your money like it's chickenfeed and the "wisecrack" about losing your job in that facebook chat is offensive.
As someone else mentioned, I'd also be worried that he now bears you some kind of personal animosity for not "respecting his authority". If you do get that bass, make sure it is to your specs and what was discussed. I'd rather you didn't and serve legal notice. It's expensive, but you're on the right side.
All the best.
- Jimmy Rage
"A complete spec list - list of all inventory and wood layout. If there is stuff that needs ironing out still, I can spit out a dwg showing laminates etc for your consideration "
Mike - "NO"
That is extremely rude and incorrect..!! Your being way to nice to him Alex, but then again being hot headed and countries away isn't gonna do you good either.
Whatever materials have gone into the bass has been payed for with your money. Simply take all the materials off him and get it made from someone close to you. He is taking advantage of being worlds away. I can bet money that he wouldn't behave this way with anyone who could pay him a visit. Hope it all works out for you.
Mike - "NO"
That is extremely rude and incorrect..!! Your being way to nice to him Alex, but then again being hot headed and countries away isn't gonna do you good either.
Whatever materials have gone into the bass has been payed for with your money. Simply take all the materials off him and get it made from someone close to you. He is taking advantage of being worlds away. I can bet money that he wouldn't behave this way with anyone who could pay him a visit. Hope it all works out for you.
I remember that he showed this pic every once in a while with 4 or 5 basses on it, all without hardware.
Someone once asked him why they are all unfinished.
" I have a problem with buying hardware...it's expensive..." something like that was his answer....
He clearly still has.....
Someone once asked him why they are all unfinished.
" I have a problem with buying hardware...it's expensive..." something like that was his answer....
He clearly still has.....
His business ethics are horrible. Wait. No. His personal ethics and morality are out the damn window. What a horrible person.
Alex, you are the customer and should be treated with absolute respect and the business (the horrible "luthier") should treat you with such and should adhere to any request you make whether it be as small as sending you weekly updates or as large as wanting to handpick the top woods.
I have quite a few bad things to say about this builder that would surely get me booted off of TB.
If this deal ends badly, I'm sure this community with ruin this guy's day.
Alex, you are the customer and should be treated with absolute respect and the business (the horrible "luthier") should treat you with such and should adhere to any request you make whether it be as small as sending you weekly updates or as large as wanting to handpick the top woods.
I have quite a few bad things to say about this builder that would surely get me booted off of TB.
If this deal ends badly, I'm sure this community with ruin this guy's day.
- Status
