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Poor Website management

scubaduba

scubaduba

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Staff member
Gold Supporting Member
Dec 23, 2003
14,526
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33,378
Michigan
compressorpedalreviews.com
#1
On three different occasions now I have called to purchase basses listed as for sale on the site. In all three cases the basses were already sold though they were not marked as sold. One of the basses I called on several months ago is still listed as for sale.

Even more concerning is the pics and descriptions. Example: there were 5 G&L Blueburst L2500 basses listed as for sale. When I called only one was actually really still available for sale. Problem was the serial number didn't match the description on the site. Pics showed wood binding and description said included Kswitch option. In reality the bass in question had no binding and no Kswitch option.

So don't make a trip to BassCentral until you call first if there are particular instruments you are interested in.
 
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#3
What I've done in the past with BassCentral is this: Whatever brand/model of bass that I'm interested in, I will send an email asking what they have in stock. They have a database that they can easily look up and send a list of what they have. It's true the website isn't up to date but I guess it's more of a showcase of what they might have.

I stopped by there about a month ago when I was in the area. They literally have thousands of basses in the back room. It was incredible. They didn't hesitate to volunteer to go back and pull out whatever I was interested in trying out.
 
#5
Freddels said:
I stopped by there about a month ago when I was in the area. They literally have thousands of basses in the back room. It was incredible. They didn't hesitate to volunteer to go back and pull out whatever I was interested in trying out.
Click to expand...

I had the same experience when I stopped by the shop, the showroom is extremely small but the warehouse is huge and the staff was very helpful and was willing to show you any number of basses.

A couple years ago I thought I was buying a Roscoe off the website only to get a call the next day to say it was already sold. They did offer me a discount on another Roscoe, but it wasn't the one I wanted. It was frustrating but I ended up getting a better deal from a TBer on a Roscoe that was very close to the one I was going to buy from BC.
 
#6
From the Home page of their website.

"About our web page

*With our expanded staff, we'll be updating the Bass Central Web Page weekly in order to keep you informed of what we have. However, as inventory changes daily, it's virtually (pun intended) impossible to keep it absolutely accurate. If there's anything you're interested in but don't see it on our page, please contact us via
email
or our toll-free 800-545-8813 number to see if we have it in stock, on order, or a lead time if needed to be ordered.

*While attempting to stay current, we intentionally leave many basses up even after selling them in order to act as "catalogue" pieces to show various models, wood and finish options that are available."
 
#7
Freddels said:
What I've done in the past with BassCentral is this: Whatever brand/model of bass that I'm interested in, I will send an email asking what they have in stock. They have a database that they can easily look up and send a list of what they have. It's true the website isn't up to date but I guess it's more of a showcase of what they might have.
Click to expand...

I do this as well; they really took care of me on my purchases.
 
#8
It was unfortunate that my first dealing with BC was purchasing the bass from the website just to find out it wasn't available, having learned that lesson I will call and just order over the phone. Great bunch of guys and hopefully their website will be more up to date to showcase what they have on hand.
 
#9
At least they have pics of instruments and prices. I really hate those sites that either don't have pics of the instruments (just a link to the brand website) or the "call for price" which I rarely ever do (I just move on to the next site).
 
#10
You definitely don't want to do the buy online thing before calling or sending an email. They are very helpful and will give you info to include weight, serial number, etc. Then you use the buy online and include all the info you got.

They've always been very helpful and responsive in my experience.
 
#11
Freddels said:
At least they have pics of instruments and prices. I really hate those sites that either don't have pics of the instruments (just a link to the brand website) or the "call for price" which I rarely ever do (I just move on to the next site).
Click to expand...

I always look at "call for price" as I can't afford that mug. Either way I never call either in those cases. Go ahead and give me a price and let's see if we can go a little lower. :)
 
#12
I like that they leave the pics up on the site because it lets me know what's obtainable. If you've ever been to the shop, you would see that this really is a company built on some very interesting people and it's a personal business to them. They'd really rather talk to you on the phone or have a dialogue to fill your needs and they are actually good at that.
 
#14
scubaduba said:
If pics are going to be left up on the web site then basses that have sold should NOT be able to be placed into a cart and purchased.
Click to expand...

I understand your frustration. It is not always intentional on their part though. Understand that they move tons of basses daily around the world and simply cannot update their website as one sells. I have known those guys for about 3 /12 years now and they are all wonderful people. If they had a way of doing what you suggested, they would. What they do try and do though is update as often as possible.
 
#16
It's 2013, not 1996. This web stuff is not that difficult anymore. Whatever costs are associated with putting their inventory online would surely be offset by the people completing sales that right now turn away because they have to call to make business.
 
#17
I also had a bad experience with the BC website...I mentioned it here and someone pointed out the website disclaimer (which was also posted in this thread earlier) and ...the disclaimer doesn't apply to my situation or what a few people have been talking about.

I tried to order a first run Lakland skyline that was advertised online...advertised specifically as having no SN. This would have indicated that it was in the first 30 that Lakland had made. Super cool! So I emailed them and probably on 5 occasions asked them to confirm that it was the one with no SN. They kept saying it would be...but at the same time, said they were having the bass shipped from Lakland. Which made no sense. If it was the one being advertised, wouldn't it be on the showroom floor? But I wouldn't know for sure until the bass showed up. And, for the record, I was being made to wait much longer than I should have: if they had the bass, they would have shipped it immediately. They didn't bother to tell me that they didn't have it until I asked them where my tracking number was 3 or 4 days later.

And, not to my surprise, they had already sold the bass advertised. I specifically asked for that exact bass, and they told me they were getting Lakland to send the advertised bass when they were really getting Lakland to send a new bass, not the one listed.

That's a huge problem in my opinion. Some people have weight issues: they find a bass listed at say, 7.8 pounds, ask for it...BC could send them one that's 8.9 pounds and not bat an eye. Simply pretend like it didn't happen or the customer wasn't trying to buy a specific bass.

I live near a guitar store that's much smaller but still have a very large inventory. They run an online store as well. When something sells in store, the online store is immediately updated. I know the owner, he isn't a computer whiz..he just cares about being upfront and honest with his customers. It would be nice if BC operated in the same way.
 
#18
It creates traffic for them.....and gives an idea of what can be purchased.....in many cases they can order another identical bass if a bass is sold....unless it is a one of a kind like Lee wanted.

I like the way some sites keep the basses up but note they ate sold...
 

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