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Shipping Damage: Lost For Words

#381
Tewest86 said:
Update!

Well, I don't really have an update. I'm just waiting on my bass to be finished. However, I am a little afraid that I made a mistake. I took it to a local guy here in Houston who everyone says does great work. As I started reading all his reviews they all had the same main complaint. He takes a very long time on his work. They all praised his work but they all said it took longer than quoted. I'm talking months and some people stated they waited over a year. He is a one man shop and he runs it out of his home. I was quoted to be completed by this week. I've asked for progress reports but he only responds with "not finished yet". I'm giving him a month past his quoted completion date then I'm going to just go pick it up no matter it he finished it or not.
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Hmm, I have been taking basses to a guy locally to be set up, bone nut, frets dressed etc. I started this time last year & he basically had each bass for 4 months. Likewise he does great work. I guess it just depends on how patient you're willing to be. I definitely understand the frustration given your situation though.
 
#382
Tewest86 said:
I'm giving him a month past his quoted completion date then I'm going to just go pick it up no matter it he finished it or not.
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I understand your frustration, but don't put yourself in a worse situation by getting stuck with an unfinished bass. If he hasn't started the work yet that's one thing, but if its in progress then you're better off staying patient and getting the job done right. Seems like it'd be more of a hassle and expense to have someone else finish the work.
 
#383
Pat C. said:
I understand your frustration, but don't put yourself in a worse situation by getting stuck with an unfinished bass. If he hasn't started the work yet that's one thing, but if its in progress then you're better off staying patient and getting the job done right. Seems like it'd be more of a hassle and expense to have someone else finish the work.
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I guess that’s true. It’s just I have an entire custom bass built in 3.5 months. I don’t see have refinishing could take that long. I was quoted 2 months at another place for a fret level and set up. I’m thinking about starting a side gig doing setups.
 
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#386
Tewest86 said:
I guess that’s true. It’s just I have an entire custom bass built in 3.5 months. I don’t see have refinishing could take that long. I was quoted 2 months at another place for a fret level and set up. I’m thinking about starting a side gig doing setups.
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Hang in there, Brother.

If he is the best, locally for the job, and this is not your only bass, let it ride a little bit more. Don't let the anticipation gnaw away, at you.

Also, what you are experiencing quite common with the really good Luthiers. It goes with the territory.

Peace.
 
#389
Sid Fang said:
...many folks won't agree to that sort of thing because they've been burned by holding slots for people who don't show up.
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I hear you on this, that is an argument I've heard as well.

But that's not really sound reasoning. Because if they have a 4 month waiting period, one person dropping out of their slot doesn't matter at all, they can just move on to the next person in line. If they were organized with good time management and had solid estimation skills of their repair docket they could contact people a few days in advance of their slot opening up, "hey, drop your bass off within 3 days and it'll be complete in a week from drop-off". Or whatever. The idea of up to 4 months worth of instrument repairs sitting around a shop is insane.

I understand that sometimes parts need to be ordered, and that some repair processes take an extended period due to bouts of glue/paint/stain curing/drying. But for many typical instrument repairs the whole process can be measured in hours, not days/weeks/months.
 
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#390
I sold an electronic drum kit to a co-worker acquaintance 2 years ago. I delivered it to the guy's house, and sensed buyer's remorse the second I got there. He was telling me about another kit at a similar price. He said, "No worries," and made the exchange anyhow.

15 minutes later he calls and tells me they don't work. At all.

They worked fine when I checked them before packing them up.

When I got to his house they didn't work. I gave him his money back. To this day I feel near certain he messed with them, but I didn't have it in me to fight or argue.

I haven't sold a thing since, and refuse to - unless someone comes to my house, checks it out, and gives me cash knowing its a final sale.

Period.

I don't trust anyone anymore, and we're pretty defenseless when it comes to this kind of thing.

I only read the first post. I hope you came to some sort of fair resolution.
 
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#391
fakeneckplate'65 said:
It doesn't take him 4 months to finish my bass, it takes him 3 months & 3 weeks to get to it. There's a line ahead of me.
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well, that's a lot of setups and a lot of storage space!

There's a very good local guy I've sometimes used. He gets busy. If I need something and the waiting is long he'd just say "bring it over in 3 weeks" or something like that. It seems a bit much to just store instruments in your workshop for months before you even touch them.
 
#393
mcnach said:
well, that's a lot of setups and a lot of storage space!

There's a very good local guy I've sometimes used. He gets busy. If I need something and the waiting is long he'd just say "bring it over in 3 weeks" or something like that. It seems a bit much to just store instruments in your workshop for months before you even touch them.
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Yeah, I'm probably exaggerating a little. I don't believe he doesn't touch the thing until the last week. If there's something he can do while he's waiting, he does it. It wouldn't be a very cost effective business if it truly took him that long. He's not just doing setups, he's doing full restoration etc. He works from home & is known inside the community. No signage or store front or anything else for sale. He's busy enough as is.

I guess my point is it pays to be patient.
 
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#394
Tewest86 said:
Update!

Well, I don't really have an update. I'm just waiting on my bass to be finished. However, I am a little afraid that I made a mistake. I took it to a local guy here in Houston who everyone says does great work. As I started reading all his reviews they all had the same main complaint. He takes a very long time on his work. They all praised his work but they all said it took longer than quoted. I'm talking months and some people stated they waited over a year. He is a one man shop and he runs it out of his home. I was quoted to be completed by this week. I've asked for progress reports but he only responds with "not finished yet". I'm giving him a month past his quoted completion date then I'm going to just go pick it up no matter it he finished it or not.
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Tell him you’re going on tour.
 
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#396
UPDATE:

Still waiting on my bass. I’ve received no updates. Any decent business would provide updates along the way letting you know the progress. Not this guy. He’ll leave you in the dark for months and won’t tell you anything or even answer calls.

If you are in Houston avoid (PM ME) unless time is not Import. There is absolutely no customer service what so ever. I would be emailing my clients progress pictures and keeping them updated. Not this guy. He’ll quote you a time and then won’t even try to get in contact with you when he’s two months pasts the time he quotes you.
 
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#398
Tewest86 said:
UPDATE:

Still waiting on my bass. I’ve received no updates. Any decent business would provide updates along the way letting you know the progress. Not this guy. He’ll leave you in the dark for months and won’t tell you anything or even answer calls.

If you are in Houston avoid Ron Pace Guitars. There is absolutely no customer service what so ever. I would be emailing my clients progress pictures and keeping them updated. Not this guy. He’ll quote you a time and then won’t even try to get in contact with you when he’s two months pasts the time he quotes you.
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Can you go down and get the bass? Hopefully you didn't have to pay him yet.
 
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#399
Tewest86 said:
UPDATE:

Still waiting on my bass. I’ve received no updates. Any decent business would provide updates along the way letting you know the progress. Not this guy. He’ll leave you in the dark for months and won’t tell you anything or even answer calls.

If you are in Houston avoid Ron Pace Guitars. There is absolutely no customer service what so ever. I would be emailing my clients progress pictures and keeping them updated. Not this guy. He’ll quote you a time and then won’t even try to get in contact with you when he’s two months pasts the time he quotes you.
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Well... that should speed things up. Or will it? "Intstruments left 60 or more after completion will be sold to cover the cost of the repair" Hmmmm.
 
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