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Rickenbacker finish issue (Resolved by RIC)
- Thread starter Wolfenstein666
- Start date
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- rick
Also, as much as I love my Rick, if OP gets screwd, im never buying another one.
I know what you mean. It's almost like a chemical reaction pushing the "Layers" apart. I suspect more of them are having this problem the we realize.
Of course they are. You can tell by this thread alone that they probably get calls on this issue regularly.
John Hall, the CEO and and his replies at the Rickresource Forum demonstrate that he isn't concerned about social media slamming, and will back talk anybody who confronts him on RIC policy. The way he sees it, he has a continual 2 year backlog on orders, so he is set.
Well hopefully he will see that this is a real situation and not some crap talk. Also, just pointing out, warranties are enforceable in court.
I would suggest that, unless one truly is prepared to take RIC to court, there isn't much to be gained in this kind of talk. Does anyone really want to spend more than the instrument is worth just to take a gamble on having a day in court?
I believe the problem with threads like this, as Mr. Hall sees it, is that the customer first posted here about the instrument's issues rather than first contacting RIC. How helpful do you expect a company to be after you've made a public spectacle of it? Give the manufacturer first crack at it and give them a fair shot.
Believe me, I've had issues with my Rickenbacker instruments and I've found their customer service to be somewhat lacking, but I never saw any benefit to be gained from posting about specific issues. I either returned the instrument, fixed it myself, sold the instrument, or decided that I could live with the problems.
Good luck to the original poster on receiving an acceptable solution to this issue.
OP is sharing his experience and getting advice from TB. Nothing wrong with that. I'm glad he did. The fact is, warranties are enforceable in court and OP should know that in case they start running him around. I'm not forming any fixed opinions at this time about Rickenbacker CS but how this plays out will affect that. OP seems legit to me.
I wonder if there actually is a two-year backlog. I've seen it mentioned on this forum many times. But at any given time, Wildwood and Chicago Music Exchange (maybe Potr, too?) usually have at least a half dozen of the basses in stock.
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There use to be, not anymore. Actually I dont think so for a long time. As the OP said he bought his 4003 months after it was made. December 2011 I bought my 4003 which was made in September that year. Which makes me think they're really just keeping up with what they can sell for at least the past 5 years. Retailers may be bloated with them as in 2011 MusiciansFriend blew out the blue ones for $1100, which is barely over cost. FYI musiciansfriend pays right around $900 for a 4003.
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So a company can sell you a defective product and when you complain about it their reply is: "We have more than enough business and we don't care about your problem." That's not ok.
18 months. Source - I work at a guitar store and had a customer cancel his order today after being told by Ric a year ago 12 months then being told a month ago it would be at least another 6 months. In stock instruments at any store were likely ordered 18 - 24 months before delivery to them.
Just thought I'd make an account and pop in here on this. I bought a Fireglo 4003 at Sam Ash and when it came it had this exact bubbling problem. I asked them to find me another one (in ruby) as I know things happen sometimes. What I didn't expect was another Ric bass to be delivered and have the same issue. Now I'm not knocking on natural or walnut finishes because fact is they look damn good sometimes (I have a 77 Ripper with it) but I wanted this bass to have a special Ric color. I'm currently deciding if I even want a Ric anymore after this because it's either natural or walnut or I keep rolling the dice until I find a Ric without a screwed up finish. Also this happened recently, like 3 hours ago and both were manufactured this year.
I just looked at my warranty card and it says it has to be mailed in with receipt within 10 days of purchase to activate warranty. I have the receipt but I am not mailing it in at this point. The manual says a receipt will work.
Just to clarify to everyone; I came and posted this thread to try to receive some advice on how to deal with the finish problem myself. I have given RIC due diligence and contacted them and am waiting for a response. They have done nothing wrong yet besides a sort of shady phone call, apart from that everything that has been done is well within their rights as a company.
I am at this point simply chronicling my experience with warranty and will try to provide an unbiased, factual account of what happens. Again, my intention was not / is not a hate thread in any way, shape, or form. I'm not calling anyone out because no one has started the hate (yay!) I just wished to clarify my intentions to keep the scope of the thread relevant.
Again, thanks for everyone who chimed in with advice and kind words. I will keep this thread updated as I continue to correspond with RIC.
I would look up the original invoice and all other pertinent paper work if I were you, just to be extra safe. So far it has paid off for me.
I am at this point simply chronicling my experience with warranty and will try to provide an unbiased, factual account of what happens. Again, my intention was not / is not a hate thread in any way, shape, or form. I'm not calling anyone out because no one has started the hate (yay!) I just wished to clarify my intentions to keep the scope of the thread relevant.
Again, thanks for everyone who chimed in with advice and kind words. I will keep this thread updated as I continue to correspond with RIC.
I would look up the original invoice and all other pertinent paper work if I were you, just to be extra safe. So far it has paid off for me.
I will. My warranty is only good til may anyway. Good luck.Hang on to that receipt like its the golden ticket.
