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Reed James Custom Pickups - Delivery and communication issues

For people that have bean waiting for so long for pickups are for some reason your order got misplaced I apologize. my phone number is 209-271-3937 .I have bean working 15-20 hr days trying to get ahead and I am just about there. This started out as a hobby but now has become a business and is growing faster then exspected. I would never seek out to purposely take any ones money and not deliver. I am one guy serving a lot of customers and the stress load is huge. I am working very hard to get every thing in order .The longer then expected wait time is not expected . but working very hard to work out a way to make things run smoothly. most of you that bash me here never worked with me. and a lot of people that do bash me never let the form know they got there pickups .I do take it very personalty to get pickups out to people that have bean waiting , and want to resolve all problems any one has. So please contact me, give me a call are contact me on facebook. if you send me an email and i do not answer keep sending tell i see it they get pushed back fast. So for all that have waited so long I humbly apologize. please get a hold of me ASAP.I want to add that i have some of the best customers that support my product and some step up to the plate and come to bat for me here. thank you
 
For people that have bean waiting for so long for pickups are for some reason your order got misplaced I apologize. my phone number is 209-271-3937 .I have bean working 15-20 hr days trying to get ahead and I am just about there. This started out as a hobby but now has become a business and is growing faster then exspected. I would never seek out to purposely take any ones money and not deliver. I am one guy serving a lot of customers and the stress load is huge. I am working very hard to get every thing in order .The longer then expected wait time is not expected . but working very hard to work out a way to make things run smoothly. most of you that bash me here never worked with me. and a lot of people that do bash me never let the form know they got there pickups .I do take it very personalty to get pickups out to people that have bean waiting , and want to resolve all problems any one has. So please contact me, give me a call are contact me on facebook. if you send me an email and i do not answer keep sending tell i see it they get pushed back fast. So for all that have waited so long I humbly apologize. please get a hold of me ASAP.I want to add that i have some of the best customers that support my product and some step up to the plate and come to bat for me here. thank you
 
I got custom wooden Neos from Jim. They took longer than I was told, but they are simply the best pickups I've ever heard. I got exactly what Jim said he could make me. Sounds like some growing pains for a small business. I hope Jim can work it out. He has a really special product. I'll definitely buy from him again.
 
After dealing with a few of these custom pickup makers (not Reed James though) my rule is now as follows:

You have 43 days to get my pickups delivered. Day 44 = Paypal dispute. Five weeks to wind a pickup should be more than enough.

+1 I never knew it took more time to make pickups than it does a bass? and I can never for the life of me understand why small business owners never plan for sudden expansion what happens if your product takes off? there's hardly ever a plan in place and they all get bogged down in orders and flop around like fish out of water. If it takes two months tell me two months not two weeks especially when you know full well they won't be done.
 
It sounds like James got behind, but at least he was humble, and excepted responsibility for being late on orders. It seems like he is back on track and is looking to hire help to get production times under wraps. This seems like a totally different situation than the other infamous thread.
 
Jim just posted pictures of my completed custom pickup. It's a Vintage Vibe Neo Nbucker done in a reverse P configuration and with a custom cream cover in a Bartolini BC size.

VVN_reverseP_zps831805f2.jpg


Jim is a good dude who makes innovative and custom pickups. And beyond that he does practically everything in house. On Facebook you can see a video of him CNC'ing the cover for my pickup, cutting the flatware and setting up the bobbins and soon (today?) a video on winding and finishing the pickup. Completely custom and for a reasonable price.

Again, if you're having trouble with Jim I'd advise giving him a call. Yeah, written/online communication isn't his forte but he absolutely knows his stuff and wants to do right by his customers. I think any issues anyone has experienced are due primarily to pickup building going from a hobby to a job and the large increase in orders he's received. So yeah, there are some growing pains and maybe some delays as he's getting things worked out but give him a call and talk to him if you have concerns or issues.
 
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Jim just posted pictures of my completed custom pickup. It's a Vintage Vibe Neo Nbucker done in a reverse P configuration and with a custom cream cover in a Bartolini BC size.

VVN_reverseP_zps831805f2.jpg


Jim is a good dude who makes innovative and custom pickups. And beyond that he does practically everything in house. On Facebook you can see a video of him CNC'ing the cover for my pickup, cutting the flatware and setting up the bobbins and soon (today?) a video on winding and finishing the pickup. Completely custom and for a reasonable price.

Again, if you're having trouble with Jim I'd advise giving him a call. Yeah, written/online communication isn't his forte but he absolutely knows his stuff and wants to do right by his customers. I think any issues anyone has experienced are due primarily to pickup building going from a hobby to a job and the large increase in orders he's received. So yeah, there are some growing pains and maybe some delays as he's getting things worked out but give him a call and talk to him if you have concerns or issues.
That's a nice looking pup
 
Are those
Jim just posted pictures of my completed custom pickup. It's a Vintage Vibe Neo Nbucker done in a reverse P configuration and with a custom cream cover in a Bartolini BC size.

VVN_reverseP_zps831805f2.jpg


Jim is a good dude who makes innovative and custom pickups. And beyond that he does practically everything in house. On Facebook you can see a video of him CNC'ing the cover for my pickup, cutting the flatware and setting up the bobbins and soon (today?) a video on winding and finishing the pickup. Completely custom and for a reasonable price.

Again, if you're having trouble with Jim I'd advise giving him a call. Yeah, written/online communication isn't his forte but he absolutely knows his stuff and wants to do right by his customers. I think any issues anyone has experienced are due primarily to pickup building going from a hobby to a job and the large increase in orders he's received. So yeah, there are some growing pains and maybe some delays as he's getting things worked out but give him a call and talk to him if you have concerns or issues.

Are those going in one of your hollowbodies?
 
Are those going in one of your hollowbodies?

No, it's for a new build. I'm selling a pair of basses now to cover moving costs but it got me thinking I should go back to only four string basses so I'm going to sell a couple others and have Chris build me a modern take on a Pbass using a modified version of his ODB shape. Alder/rosewood with a burgundy mist finish & tort guard. With the Reed James pickup and the East P-Retro it should be pretty slick.
 
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Hi all,

I've ordered a set of pickups from Jim at Reed James Custom on october 14th 2013, and other than a few emails lacking anything vaguely apologetic or viable shipping information, I am left hanging, 5 months later, lacking 335$ and still seeing no pickups.

My efforts to communicate with Jim have made absolutely no difference.

Is anyone else in this situation? What course of action do you recommend, knowing I'm overseas? At this point I just want my money back.

My new bass has been sitting pickup less for 5 months, so I just bit the bullet and ordered from a more reliable manufacturer.

Thanks for your input,

NL
I know this is late, but like you, I'm awaiting delivery from Jim Reed. I've been given numerous ship dates and gotten apologies and excuses, but no pickup. He emailed me a photo of the cover and said it would be finished soon. For all I know, he might just have a collection of photos of different wood types and dimensions. I don't know. I just wish I had looked around in these forums before placing the order with him. As of now, the charge is under dispute. I hate to say it, but I think the money is gone and I don't ever expect to see the pickup. It's sad... I'd pay much, much more for the same pickup to give my business to someone with some honor and integrity.
 
Smart restaurants will quote a guest longer then expected wait times so that they NEVER exceed the quoted time, and rather, they please the guest by seating them in a more timely manner than was expected. Under Promise, and Over Deliver. That is my advice to James, who likely makes great pickups, but does not have a lot of customer service training or experience.

Barney Fife...I certainly hope your $ is refunded. Keep us posted.