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Pedal repair drama... Is this normal procedure?
- Thread starter handofseven
- Start date
I wouldn't sell it if it's a good pedal just because the guy who runs the company is a horse's ass. I would, however, tape over the logo and never tell anyone who makes it a la Jeff Berlin and his TC chorus
My thoughts exactly. I'm pretty good with the ol' paint and brush...Rattlecan... Or maybe even a little etching... You can bet no one will be hearing about PEI in a positive light from this Charlie.
If you read my response to his request, I had no real issue with paying the money, I just thought it was strange that I should have to front such a large deposit after paying to ship my pedal. I think if I'm willing to pay the money to ship a pedal for repair, that is commitment enough, considering the technician will be in posession of my pedal until I pay for the repair. A deposit on a potentially difficult diagnosis could be in order, but I think over 1/3 of the price of a brand new pedal is steep. A new one is, I think, $265, with an additional $10 for shipping to Canada... Man, he didn't even bother to answer any of my questions... Still, I do love the pedal.
Shipping to Canada can definitely be on the expensive side... I get quoted anywhere from $7 - $25 when trying to buy pedals from the TB classifieds...
I normally don't have any problem fronting money, especially if the technician has, like you, a good reputation. If you told me you need a deposit to have a look through my GreyStache, I'd have no problem sending it to you. I'm pretty sure you'd at least answer my questions as well ( I do love my GreyStache as well, BTW... Nice work.
)... I get the idea from this PEI guy, though, that perhaps he'd have taken my money and sent me back my pedal "when he got around to it"...
+1
That would be my guess too, I have recently dealt with a similar situation and it was a bad solder joint.
If it's of any use, I tried a Depth Charge side-by-side with a ZVex Mastotron in a music store, and walked out with a Mastotron. It was close, both pedals can make dirt of a very similar character. So there's an alternative you may like as much or better than the Depth Charge.
Great fuzz pedals are dime a dozen. Dump it and that horses ass of an owner and find a builder who actually wants to provide customer service.
Thanks for the recommendation... I'm diggin' at a mountain of dirt, with only a spoon to work with... Good thing I'm in no rush, yeah? I'ma add me a Mastotron and a W&C PPB to the list. B3K is also on the list, but I've been just a bit too slow to nab one off TB.
Damn, CHARLIE! That's some terrible service...
You have to take a class to drive a car, but any D-Bag can own a company, I guess!
You have to take a class to drive a car, but any D-Bag can own a company, I guess!
Bwahaha! I can always count on Big Red for levity, yeah?
Terrible service? Man, I didn't even make it to the service part! I think that's probably a good thing.
Yeah, it's one of my favorite pedals. I LOVE the Depth Charge and will buy a second at some point.
That said. I don't know why you would need to send the pedal and money. Seems like he could look at it and tell you what's going on first since he does have the pedal as collateral. Maybe he doesn't like the used market... I don't know, but it is disappointing though.
The only reason he would want that much money is for safety reasons, you won't believe how many people end up not wanting to pay for services/return postage after everything has been agreed with. I know a luthier even with a closet full of finished works which have not been paid for, some of them back date to 4 yrs ago. That's insane lol.
I don't think there's very much risk involved when:
A. The customer spends the money to ship the pedal to you.
B. The pedal remains in your possession until the balance for the work is paid.
It's not like I'm asking him to build me a custom pedal without any deposit, and at the risk of non payment on completion of the project. In the end, if I default on paying what I owe for the repair, he can sell the pedal as refurbished. I'm pretty sure he'd have no problem getting the $160 I paid, easily covering the cost of what he put into repairing the pedal. Apparently this does not occur to Jack, and I am a KNOWN NO KNOW NOBODY delinquent Charlie... Or something to that effect. Wahoo!
While I think his other behavior is reprehensible, the phrase "Sorry, Charlie" is actually a reference to some old commercials. I wouldn't have known it if my mother hadn't said it to me for years growing up. Behold:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_the_Tuna
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_the_Tuna
Count me in the "he shouldn't need money up front" group. That used pedal is worth more than the repair job if he sold it used (and since it's his pedal, it should be EASY to sell it used the next time someone calls him for one). It's ridiculous to make you pay that up front.
For any repair I never ask for money up front. After it's done I invoice the customer for repair cost and shipping. Once the invoice is paid, I ship it out.
I recently sent a Maxon compressor to Godlyke for repair along with a $40 bench fee and $10 for return shipping. I don't think paying up front is an issue but they did guarantee to fix it or replace it for that price. $100 and a bad attitude doesn't seem right. I sent a Bassbuddy to PJB and they didn't ask for a cent until it was fixed IIRC. Both companies were very courteous.
