Musiciansfriend does it again...

[Joe Nerve]

I haven't bought anything from MF in a while.

I was searching for something I needed the other day and lo and behold, MF had it for a price $20 cheaper than anywhere else ($42 was the final price, which included free shipping). I placed the order.

When it arrived today I found it was the wrong size for what I needed it for.

I called to return it.

I immediately got someone on the phone, they asked no questions, said no problem they'll email me a return label, and then said...

"Oh, wait a minute. I can't send you a label. But no worries..."

I asked why, and they said that it would be better for me to just keep it than ship it back. And they gave me my refund.

I said... "Wow," hung up, And quickly found another use for my unreturnable purchase.

I really don't want to bash MF's competition, but the last time I tried to return something at that other place, I had to talk to several people, prove my problem over the phone, and do a fair amount of convincing -- despite the fact that what I purchased was clearly defective.

 

[E2942]

From many many reports out there, they enjoy shipping out used gear as new.
I guess they have a creative approach to what counts as new & are selling demo models from Guitar Center & things that have been returned in poor condition.

 

[ShadowGroover]

Given shipping costs, handling and restocking overhead at highest volume time of year, and relative low cost item, they've simply cut their loss. Common smart retail practice

 

[JRA]

my experiences with MF has only been positive: prices and service. that said, i'm not spending a lot there, or anywhere for that matter.

but i gotta believe that you've got some 'status' there, joe --- a V.I.P.

 

[roccobass]

I think too the shipping costs are a defining factor. @ShadowGroover.

Some used items may have come back and shipped out more than once.

 

[Ostie]

It’s common for Amazon to not require you to ship an item back. Their logic is, Why spend $30 to ship a $10 item? However, there is an authorized Amazon return center nearby, and when I take an item there, they always take the item from me. I have no idea what happens to it after that.

 

[DwaynieAD]

It’s common for Amazon to not require you to ship an item back. Their logic is, Why spend $30 to ship a $10 item? However, there is an authorized Amazon return center nearby, and when I take an item there, they always take the item from me. I have no idea what happens to it after that.

I did returns for Amazon for 5 years if youre really interested in what happens.

 

[Joe Nerve]

From many many reports out there, they enjoy shipping out used gear as new.
I guess they have a creative approach to what counts as new & are selling demo models from Guitar Center & things that have been returned in poor condition.

I've spent probably close to $50,000 at MF since their opening. I'd say maybe 3 of my purchases were items I know had been returned. I called. They apologized. And they either sent me a new one or issued me a refund, no questions asked.

I purchased 2 guitars only from Sweetwater. One (a Fender bass VI) had a defective bridge that I didn't notice until after the return period (I wasn't using it). The other was a Dano that had a clear grounding issue, and I had to jump through a couple of hoops I'd rather have not had to, to get it returned. Both these issues were AFTER their supposed 48 pt check (or however many points they claim).

Anyhow... I've had other issues with other non bass purchases from Sweetwater that I beat to death here already over the years. Never a single problem with MF, and ALWAYS got the best price from them. Plus 8% credit on future orders.

 

[ShadowGroover]

I did returns for Amazon for 5 years if youre really interested in what happens.

Please do tell

 

[ShadowGroover]

I purchased 2 guitars from Sweetwater.. had to jump through hoops to return.. I've had issues non bass purchases from Sweetwater that I beat to death here already.

Never a single problem with MF, and ALWAYS got the best price from them. Plus 8% credit on future orders.

Sweetwater has gone from bad to worse. If I want something from their stock that I can't get elsewhere, I go to Amazon or Reverb and buy from "Geartree." That gear comes from the same warehouse as Sweeteater, often with a Sweetwater label.

If needed, "Geartree" returns through Amazon or Reverb are far superior to Sweetwater, where customer service is now an oxymoron.

Like you, I've received far better deals and customer service through MF. I only look elsewhere when they don't stock what I seek.

 

[E2942]

I had a retailer do this recently but in a different way.
The items they shipped were only worth $36, & when I complained that their delivery date had passed several days ago, they just shipped me another of the same.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I've had Amazon do that many times, but never Musiciansfriend or any other online music store. I was surprised. It usually only happens with things in the $20 area, also... what I purchased goes for $59.00 in every other store I checked. I'd say what it was, but not looking to encourage anyone ... It would be useless to most people anyhow. I was fortunate to have another use for it. Something I was considering buying, too, but didn't feel it was worth the purchase.

 

[Winton]

I did returns for Amazon for 5 years if youre really interested in what happens.

Do tell, please.

 

[salmon256]

Personally with MF, I had bad experiences, I find when they sell cheap instruments on sale, they are selling open box. (I know it's a conspiracy but it's my conspiracy) and all my sales reps were rude to me. I personally do not deal with them anymore, Sweetwater while pricey is so much more better to me and just small shops on Reverb who are kind and helpful.

 

[MynameisMe]

Chewy does the same thing for dog/pet purchases.
They'll just give you your money back.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Please do tell

Do tell, please.

https://www.mac.bid

they buy the returns from amazon for pennies on the dollar and then liquidate them. buy a treadmill for 30 bucks, might not work but it's 30 bucks.

 

[kbakerde]

Sweetwater has gone from bad to worse. If I want something from their stock that I can't get elsewhere, I go to Amazon or Reverb and buy from "Geartree." That gear comes from the same warehouse as Sweeteater, often with a Sweetwater label.

If needed, "Geartree" returns through Amazon or Reverb are far superior to Sweetwater, where customer service is now an oxymoron.

Like you, I've received far better deals and customer service through MF. I only look elsewhere when they don't stock what I seek.

I have had the exact opposite experience. I find returns quick and easy when I ask for them. I do understand that in returning I loose the free shipping, and I usually ask for a return label and take that cost off the price of the refund. I get it as to why they have this policy, I am sure it infuriates some but I accept it. With my new customer service guy at Sweetwater, I can just text him and get a return label in an hour or so. Real easy to do anything IME.

 

[Chrisk-K]

I have been buying from MF with no issue for 20 years or so. My last two purchases from MF were American Fender basses.

 

[BobKos]

I like MF. My sales rep there treats me very well. I have my own Sweetwater bash story that I will spare everybody from. Suffice to say I have no use for them.

 

[DwaynieAD]

https://www.mac.bid

they buy the returns from amazon for pennies on the dollar and then liquidate them. buy a treadmill for 30 bucks, might not work but it's 30 bucks.

Yeah that's the final stop for some things

It's really nothing crazy.

Some items can't be resold for whatever reason. Those items are returned to the vendor or destroyed.

Items that can be resold are either transfered to a dedicated returns center to be graded and put back up on the warehouse deals section or they are graded in house. Normally more complicated items were transfered and simpler items graded in house. A cell phone is going to the returns center, a plate is getting graded in house.

The grading is kind of at the discretion of the person doing the grading. So if you ever got something from warehouse deals that was all but brand new but said it was fair quality at best, you're welcome.

Now what this link is talking about is liquidations. Liquidations are from things that are supposed to go back to the vendor because Amazon won't resell them for whatever reason but the vendor won't take them back for whatever reason. These things are then placed on pallets and the pallets are sold to liquidation companies by weight.

Most memorable thing I had for liquidations was a vintage modified squier jazz. Liquidation company was paying 4.5 cents per lb. So they payed at worst 60 cents for that thing... I tried to get the manager to figure out a way to sell that to me. No dice.

So yeah nothing crazy but way more moving parts than "they just send it away to the link above."