my first order (eden 4x10) made the fateful journey from florida to california only to be sent back, as it had had a forklift fork go through it...my second order (another eden) was picked up by fedex, but looks like sam ash forgot to put any info on the package, thus fedex can't find it (this has been the fifth day it has been "lost"). i have been charged for both orders (no record of the RMAed first either). anyone else have these problems with sam ash???
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
ordering from sam ash...
- Thread starter m.oreilly
- Start date
Recieved a bass with a massive dent on bass knob and bass Eq knob didn't work. Returned to sam ash....received bass another month later. 700$ deducted out of my bank with no bass for total "purchase to receive to return to receive" 1 month 1 week 4 days.
p.s. i receive my new bass with small chip on fretboard. I was not going to return again! It works!
p.s. i receive my new bass with small chip on fretboard. I was not going to return again! It works!
I think these experiences speakfor themselves. Sam Ash was a relatively small chain that expanded a little too quickly for their own good and they tend to operate a little backwards especially when it comes to returns and exchanges.
I think I easily speak for 75-80% of people when I say that Sam Ash (and other big chain stores) are a hassle to deal with. They have poorly-educated staff, low diversity in products, and an overall cold (and sometimes unpleasant) manner of doing business. I find that I can buy from individuals online or go to a smaller instrument store when I want something and get better service.
I used to deal with Sam Ash a lot due to their 12 month, no payments card....but after a lot of billing problems with them and having several pieces of equipment be broken or fall apart quickly after using them, I decided to deal with the local shops (even driving an hour or two to go to a store like Rondo Music in New Jersey)
I used to deal with Sam Ash a lot due to their 12 month, no payments card....but after a lot of billing problems with them and having several pieces of equipment be broken or fall apart quickly after using them, I decided to deal with the local shops (even driving an hour or two to go to a store like Rondo Music in New Jersey)
Every experience I ever had with Sam Ash has been bad. I have never seen a store of any kind have so many poorly trained sales people in one place than a Sam Ash store. Not just poorly trained on their products lines, which they are, but poorly trained in basic cusomer service and communication skills. Every employee at Sam Ash stores around me seems to have a really lousy attitude or they have their own agenda. It's almost like the stores are not managed. I can't believe they can stay in business with the people they have working there. They act like a bunch of Carnival workers who are moon lighting at Sam Ash until the Carnival moves to the next town. I wonder if the working conditions are crappy because they sure act like it is. This goes for the three Sam Ash stores I have been in. Ontario, Cerritos, and Hollywood.
I had one guy in the guitar depart make crude comments about my daughter and her friend when they were checking out some amps at the Ontario, California store. He was even trying to include me in the comments. I couldn't believe that this guy was stupid enough to say something like that in front of customers...No Class! I called him on the fact that it's my daughter and her friend he's talking about and that they were 13 years old. He bolted for the acoustic room after stammering through a few , uh, uh "sorry dude" comments. Never saw him come out again, He left the department with no one else there. No manager around...Ahhhhhhh! They lost a sale that day as well as any future purchases. I took my daughter and her friend to Ontario Music and they bought an amp there.
I have never experienced stuff like that at a Guitar Center, not even at a Carnival
.
I had one guy in the guitar depart make crude comments about my daughter and her friend when they were checking out some amps at the Ontario, California store. He was even trying to include me in the comments. I couldn't believe that this guy was stupid enough to say something like that in front of customers...No Class! I called him on the fact that it's my daughter and her friend he's talking about and that they were 13 years old. He bolted for the acoustic room after stammering through a few , uh, uh "sorry dude" comments. Never saw him come out again, He left the department with no one else there. No manager around...Ahhhhhhh! They lost a sale that day as well as any future purchases. I took my daughter and her friend to Ontario Music and they bought an amp there.
I have never experienced stuff like that at a Guitar Center, not even at a Carnival
.i live in a small town in northern california, a good several hours away from any place with
variety of gear. dealing with guitar center online has worked out the best (also musicians'
friend atm) in this regard. i just ordered more eden cabs from another outfit. if they respond
first, sam gets the axe, so to speak...
variety of gear. dealing with guitar center online has worked out the best (also musicians'
friend atm) in this regard. i just ordered more eden cabs from another outfit. if they respond
first, sam gets the axe, so to speak...
The only reason I ever deal with Sam Ash is to utilize their No Payments for 897 Months thing, because I've never had a really good experience with them. Just a series of okay ones like any other huge retailer (except American Musical Supply, they are always great). I much prefer the smaller retailers like Bass Northwest.
The only time i've been to Sam Ash was to buy an Ampeg SVT810E cabinet and a DBX 160A compressor. Well I first went to the pro-audio department and the guy behind the counter said that "That compressor does not exist because I've been running sound for 10 years and I've never heard of it." So after he checked his computer he found out that it did exist. Needless to say I didn't buy it.
After I was done with that moron I went over to the guitar and bass section and was looking around. After about an hour of playing around on an Ibanez SR500, with a mahagony body through a Hartke Kick Back 12 inch combo with a blown speaker, I finally was asked if I needed any help. Well I told the guy what I was looking for and we went and looked through his computer and he said he could get me a brand new SVT810E for $699 directly from Ampeg, now anybody with a brain is going to jump on that deal just like I did. Well a month goes by and I hadn't heard anything as to whether it came in or not so I called them to find out. I was transferrered to 6 different people and finally the last guy, which was the manager, said they no longer deal with Ampeg. I asked him about my cabinet and he said they couldn't get it, but they have a used one in stock they'll sell me for $799. I said no and the guy says ok i'll $50 off, I told him no and to have my money ready in a half hour. Went and picked up my money, went to Guitar Center and bought both the compressor and cab at the same time with no problems at all.
After I was done with that moron I went over to the guitar and bass section and was looking around. After about an hour of playing around on an Ibanez SR500, with a mahagony body through a Hartke Kick Back 12 inch combo with a blown speaker, I finally was asked if I needed any help. Well I told the guy what I was looking for and we went and looked through his computer and he said he could get me a brand new SVT810E for $699 directly from Ampeg, now anybody with a brain is going to jump on that deal just like I did. Well a month goes by and I hadn't heard anything as to whether it came in or not so I called them to find out. I was transferrered to 6 different people and finally the last guy, which was the manager, said they no longer deal with Ampeg. I asked him about my cabinet and he said they couldn't get it, but they have a used one in stock they'll sell me for $799. I said no and the guy says ok i'll $50 off, I told him no and to have my money ready in a half hour. Went and picked up my money, went to Guitar Center and bought both the compressor and cab at the same time with no problems at all.
I have had several bad experiences with sam ash. Most were billing problems, such as charging my card for a purchase only to be out of it.
They would then give me store credit, not credit my charge account.
Once I had to file an attorney general complaint to get my card credited ,2 months later.
The final straw was a highway one jazz that ended up being a namm bass and had a tag from fender saying " finish crack at bridge" . The finish was cracked. I love the bass as it is perfect in every other way( the neck and frets are beyond perfect!) and I wanted to keep it. I asked for $XXX credit and after emailing photos and squabbling they agreed. Two months later no credit. By this time I had passed the return period. They said " send us some photos and we'll see".. I had kept all the names /dates/discussion content/emails from the first time and they reluctantly agreed to give me my credit.
I am done with sam ash.
They would then give me store credit, not credit my charge account. Once I had to file an attorney general complaint to get my card credited ,2 months later.
The final straw was a highway one jazz that ended up being a namm bass and had a tag from fender saying " finish crack at bridge" . The finish was cracked. I love the bass as it is perfect in every other way( the neck and frets are beyond perfect!) and I wanted to keep it. I asked for $XXX credit and after emailing photos and squabbling they agreed. Two months later no credit. By this time I had passed the return period. They said " send us some photos and we'll see".. I had kept all the names /dates/discussion content/emails from the first time and they reluctantly agreed to give me my credit.
I am done with sam ash.
I've actually had pretty good experiences with the folks at Sam Ash...both in the store and online.
I've gotten some amazing deals at the store...about a year ago, they had a 15% off of everything sale (including used gear) "plus a free guitar" (which is actually a pretty nice instrument).
Like others, I was drawn in by the "Backstage Pass Card" and allowed myself to spend way too much...but I paid it off well in advance of the 12 to 15 months and swore never to do "that" again.
It's often difficult to get help in the store...under staffed for sure. However, I went to Guitar Center at lunch today and the young woman at the door was the only one I talked to. I generally just help myself to cables, instruments, move amps around, etc. (and yes, I put everything back exactly the way it was when I'm done).
But, that actually works out in my favor because when I'm ready to buy, I go find the store manager (who seems to like to give me juicy discounts without asking) and have him ring me up...
I've gotten some amazing deals at the store...about a year ago, they had a 15% off of everything sale (including used gear) "plus a free guitar" (which is actually a pretty nice instrument).
Like others, I was drawn in by the "Backstage Pass Card" and allowed myself to spend way too much...but I paid it off well in advance of the 12 to 15 months and swore never to do "that" again.
It's often difficult to get help in the store...under staffed for sure. However, I went to Guitar Center at lunch today and the young woman at the door was the only one I talked to. I generally just help myself to cables, instruments, move amps around, etc. (and yes, I put everything back exactly the way it was when I'm done).
But, that actually works out in my favor because when I'm ready to buy, I go find the store manager (who seems to like to give me juicy discounts without asking) and have him ring me up...
