Muscian's Friend? Really??

[Zoffy]

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...

 

[jeff7bass]

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.

 

[mmbongo]

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.

 

[two fingers]

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.

 

[Bermuda Ron]

GC = debt and junk bond status. Just Google it.

 

[And I]

Bain Capital destroys companies...

 

[BassmanPaul]

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...

Look on the positive side. Your marriage is better off from the non irritated woman in your life. They did you a favour!!

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.

 

[JRA]

happens.

 

[yonkrz]

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.

 

[brother21]

Good decision Sweetwater makes an attempt at good service. Sam Ash is ok even better is your small local carry-out store.

 

[Peteyboy]

Theres a Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0 on TB classifieds for 250. Just sayin...

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

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!

 

[Killed_by_Death]

MF = GC = Music123.com
Either take a nice discount for keeping it, or return it for a new one.

 

[TimboZ]

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.

 

[J Gold]

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.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I would ask for a big discount and keep it.

 

[Dominic D]

You know the amp is not a bLackline, right?
MF = GC = Music123.com
Either take a nice discount for keeping it, or return it for a new one.

BTW, BACKline is what it's called when there's gear onstage for every band to use.

[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[MustangWally]

Bain Capital destroys companies...

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?

 

[CGremlin]

That's seriously no bueno. I'd be pretty upset about receiving used gear when I paid for new.

 

[Ggaa]

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.