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Muscian's Friend? Really??

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Zoffy, Jun 11, 2020.

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  1. Jun 11, 2020 #1
    Zoffy

    Zoffy Supporting Member

    Jun 7, 2020
    Sacramento CA
    So last week I ordered a new Markbass Little Mark 250 Blackline amp head through Musician's "Friend." I was really looking forward to the amp head and even dusted off a place for it (I never dust). Today, I get a plain, brown cardboard box from Guitar Center (#217, Dublin California). "What's this?" I say, as I had not ordered anything from Guitar Center (#217, Dublin California).

    I opened the box to find a clearly used, unboxed, dinged up, Markbass Little Mark 250 Blackline amp head. No paperwork. No invoice. Nothing but bubblewrap and a 'scratch and dent' Markbass head covered in fingerprints from Guitar Center ......#217...... Dublin, California.

    I called Musicians "Friend" and was told that they partner with Guitar Center and that there have been issues with Guitar Center sending floor demos and used items out as new. Wow. I get that I'm not Phil Lesh or Marcus Miller; that I'm just one of the 'unwashed masses' but seriously Musicians "Friend" and Guitar Center (#217, Dublin California) this ain't right.

    So instead of irritating the wife with mediocre bass playing at full volume through my new Markbass amp head, I am wrapping this paperweight back up in its bubble wrap, putting it back in its brown cardboard box and sending it on its way.

    Musicians "Friend" ain't getting any more coin from this guy. I'll stick with Sweetwater, where I have had really good products and service.

    Seriously, I get that a lot of musicians like their guitars and basses to have the relic treatment, but I don't expect a brand new piece of electronic equipment to be relic'd as well. The yellow font on Markbass is bad enough...
     
    Al Kraft, /\/\3phist0, Clark Dark and 34 others like this.
  2. Jun 11, 2020 #2
    jeff7bass

    jeff7bass Inactive

    Apr 9, 2009
    I think there's a shortage of new amps due to slowdowns in manufacturing because of the virus. That doesn't justify what they did to you, which is despicable. I've been seeing lots of "currently not available" on websites like GC, MF, and Amazon for gear that is current. There's probably lots of this going on and they're banking on people not sending the stuff back.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 12, 2020
    MHensleyJr, Zoffy, thetragichero and 9 others like this.
  3. Jun 11, 2020 #3
    mmbongo

    mmbongo I have too many basses. Supporting Member

    Aug 5, 2009
    Upstate, South Carolina
    Musicians Friend and Guitar Center are one and the same. And not that I'm a Markbass fan by any means, but Sweetwater does not sell Markbass..they are Guitar Center exclusive.
     
    ColdEye, jamro217, DJ Bebop and 9 others like this.
  4. Jun 11, 2020 #4
    two fingers

    two fingers Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it. Inactive

    Feb 7, 2005
    Eastern NC USA
    1) Yeah. They tried to get one over on you. Guitar Center and Musician's Friend are the same company.

    2) I've only come across two people who were dissatisfied with Sweetwater (both here at TB). They're awesome to me. Philip gets all of my new gear business.
     
    Milo Spleen, Zoffy, /\/\3phist0 and 14 others like this.
  5. Jun 11, 2020 #5
    Bermuda Ron

    Bermuda Ron

    Mar 13, 2020
    Bermuda and Western North Carolina (WNC)
    GC = debt and junk bond status. Just Google it.
     
    Dynacord, rmayer, Huw Phillips and 3 others like this.
  6. Jun 11, 2020 #6
    And I

    And I

    Feb 19, 2009
    Witchtown, MA
    Bain Capital destroys companies...
     
    bassdeal, berman3313, Dynacord and 17 others like this.
  7. Jun 11, 2020 #7
    BassmanPaul

    BassmanPaul Inactive

    Aug 25, 2007
    Scarborough Ontario Canada
    Look on the positive side. Your marriage is better off from the non irritated woman in your life. They did you a favour!! :D

    I agree it's a pain when you look forward to a new toy and get a disappointment instead. Now you can order a Mesa Subway series amp and be happy. :hyper:
     
    Zoffy, 2cooltoolz, /\/\3phist0 and 15 others like this.
  8. Jun 11, 2020 #8
    JRA

    JRA my words = opinion Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 28, 2013
    Indianapolis and Cincinnati
    :poop: happens.
     
    foolforthecity, HCF, jamro217 and 3 others like this.
  9. Jun 11, 2020 #9
    yonkrz

    yonkrz

    Oct 19, 2013
    I would be nice if they at least gave you the option and gave you the chance to decline before having to go thru the hassle.
     
    Avigdor, jamro217, SJan3 and 1 other person like this.
  10. Jun 11, 2020 #10
    brother21

    brother21

    Dec 26, 2008
    Northwest
    Good decision Sweetwater makes an attempt at good service. Sam Ash is ok even better is your small local carry-out store.
     
    kohanmike and DJ Bebop like this.
  11. Jun 11, 2020 #11
    Peteyboy

    Peteyboy

    Apr 2, 2018
    Los Angeles
    Theres a Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0 on TB classifieds for 250. Just sayin...
     
    berman3313, revroy, SteveC and 10 others like this.
  12. Jun 11, 2020 #12
    TheDirtyLowDown

    TheDirtyLowDown

    Mar 8, 2014
    Sweetwater wins hands down for me -- and, for what it's worth, I'll also put in a word for Elderly Instruments in East Lansing, MI -- a real brick-and-mortar family run music business. I've purchased a couple of instruments from them over the years both over the phone and in person and they do a great job on customer service. Good luck!
     
    Al Kraft, kohanmike, yonkrz and 7 others like this.
  13. Jun 11, 2020 #13
    Killed_by_Death

    Killed_by_Death Snaggletooth Inactive

    Jan 2, 2015
    14 Megameters from Groong Tehp
    MF = GC = Music123.com
    Either take a nice discount for keeping it, or return it for a new one.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2020
    Dynacord, Avigdor, DJ Bebop and 3 others like this.
  14. Jun 11, 2020 #14
    TimboZ

    TimboZ

    Jan 4, 2009
    South of Buffalo
    I ordered something from musiciansfriend.com a couple weeks ago. Took
    over a week for it to ship, and it was shipped from the guitar center 60 miles from me.
     
  15. Jun 11, 2020 #15
    J Gold

    J Gold

    Jun 7, 2011
    Albany,NY
    I had to call MF 5 days in a row a few weeks ago to get someone to pick up the phone to cancel a back ordered item.
     
    DJ Bebop and pcake like this.
  16. Jun 11, 2020 #16
    Jeff Hughes

    Jeff Hughes

    May 3, 2020
    I would ask for a big discount and keep it.
     
    123Nil, jeff7bass, DJ Bebop and 2 others like this.
  17. Jun 11, 2020 #17
    Dominic D

    Dominic D DiCosimo Audio Supporting Member Commercial User

    Mar 9, 2008
    Winter Park, Florida
    DiCosimo Audio
    MARKBASS | Products | Little Mark 250 Black Line
     
    S-Bigbottom, Moosehead1966, DJ Bebop and 1 other person like this.
  18. Jun 11, 2020 #18
    MustangWally

    MustangWally Inactive

    Feb 5, 2019
    San Marcos TX
    Isn't/wasn't that Mitt Romney's company? Seems I have heard that name recently. Ahh, found it - this is Rolling Stone's take on how Bain Capital destroys companies: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital - wonder if that is still going on with places like GC?
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2020
    MordBass, gebass6, jamro217 and 2 others like this.
  19. Jun 11, 2020 #19
    CGremlin

    CGremlin

    Nov 1, 2014
    Palm Bay, FL
    That's seriously no bueno. I'd be pretty upset about receiving used gear when I paid for new.
     
    Zoffy and BassmanPaul like this.
  20. Jun 11, 2020 #20
    Ggaa

    Ggaa Supporting Member

    Nov 26, 2018
    I once ordered a brand new Acoustic head from GC and they sent a used and sporadically defective head in a plain cardboard box with no manual. Don't know why they thought that was OK.
     
    Zoffy, Moosehead1966, DJ Bebop and 1 other person like this.
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