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Sweetwater is stalking me

BassGH

BassGH

Sep 13, 2015
383
691
Washington State
#1
Sweetwater is a tiny bit creepy. First, they call me when there's no reason to. Then it turns out they keep notes about me and ask me how my bands are doing and so on. Can't even remember talking to them about that the other time they creeped. And what's in the toy box they sent me? Candy, for one thing--I kid you not! A bag of gd candy. Do they want me to climb in the back of their windowless van??

But to be fair, they also posted the weight of a $550 5 string bass. Then sent it to me a day earlier than promised, and in highly playable shape. A step ahead of the crowd. I'm a happy new owner of a Yamaha bb435. But locking the doors. And maybe not taking any more calls from Indiana.
 
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#4
Goatrope said:
I bet if I asked them not to call, they wouldn’t.
Click to expand...

Maybe... I don't get random calls (that would piss me off enough to stop buying from them), but my contact is quick to call me anytime I place an order. It actually is pretty annoying and have asked him to stop unless thee is something more than "thanks for the order" to talk about. He's gotten better, but he forgets sometimes. I don't mind too much - it's just that it's almost always at work and after my phone has decided to change my volume settings so that the ring tone just blares....

Overall, very pleased with their service though.
 
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#5
mrcbass said:
Maybe... I don't get random calls (that would piss me off enough to stop buying from them), but my contact is quick to call me anytime I place an order. It actually is pretty annoying and have asked him to stop unless thee is something more than "thanks for the order" to talk about. He's gotten better, but he forgets sometimes. I don't mind too much - it's just that it's almost always at work and after my phone has decided to change my volume settings so that the ring tone just blares....

Overall, very pleased with their service though.
Click to expand...
I was having fun at their expense more than lodging a serious complaint--they do deserve to be hassled some for their weirdness. But like I hinted at, in many respects they produce a retail experience that's much superior to most other large music retailers of the same models of gear. They list weight of the actual instrument you are buying. That's huge for 5ers, and probably the biggest driver of my choice in seller this time.
 
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#6
Yeah, mixed feelings about Sweetwater. Not a fan of the unsolicited calls, which have pretty much stopped, now that they assigned a new rep for me, since the last guy messed up pretty bad. The problem I have with Sweetwater is that they don't negotiate on the price. That said, their tech support is pretty good. For the most part, I buy from Musician's Friend. They will *always* give me a break on price, just for the asking.

*edit - of course, now MF is calling me, unsolicited...
 
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#8
Hahahaha.

I never looked at the calls and candy in that manner. That is funny, but it gets worse now that you have me thinking that way.

I got a tour of the facility from my rep when I happened to be driving through Fort Wayne last year and really appreciated it. Near the end of the tour he showed me the slide that runs from their offices down to the lobby. No, I'm not kidding.

I did a search and found a photo of it, and no, that is not me (or my rep) in the photo. (I love Sweetwater's for whatever it is worth.)

20170420_1134571-1.jpg


slide.jpg
 
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#9
drummer5359 said:
Hahahaha.

I never looked at the calls and candy in that manner. That is funny, but it gets worse now that you have me thinking that way.

I got a tour of the facility from my rep when I happened to be driving through Fort Wayne last year and really appreciated it. Near the end of the tour he showed me the slide that runs from their offices down to the lobby. No I'm not kidding.

I did a search and found a photo of it, and no, that is not me (or my rep) in the photo. (I love Sweetwater's for whatever it is worth.)

View attachment 3086737

View attachment 3086763
Click to expand...
Well there you have it!! Case closed.
 
#10
BassGH said:
Sweetwater is a tiny bit creepy. First, they call me when there's no reason to. Then it turns out they keep notes about me and ask me how my bands are doing and so on. Can't even remember talking to them about that the other time they creeped. And what's in the toy box they sent me? Candy, for one thing--I kid you not! A bag of gd candy. Do they want me to climb in the back of their windowless van??

But to be fair, they also posted the weight of a $550 5 string bass. Then sent it to me a day earlier than promised, and in highly playable shape. A step ahead of the crowd. I'm a happy new owner of a Yamaha bb435. But locking the doors. And maybe not taking any more calls from Indiana.
Click to expand...

I have a great deal of sympathy for modern retailers. Provide a personal touch, and your accused of being "creepy". Treat customers as product, and they lament the days of the local retailer where everyone knew your name. And, no matter how inane the gripe, it will make its way onto the internet.

At some point, you were asked some questions about your bands, and you answered them. They made notes, and now they ask about it. And yes, candy. Not creepy at all. Do you assume that all freebies are given exclusively for nefarious reasons?
 
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#11
guy n. cognito said:
I have a great deal of sympathy for modern retailers. Provide a personal touch, and your accused of being "creepy". Treat customers as product, and they lament the days of the local retailer where everyone knew your name. And, no matter how inane the gripe, it will make its way onto the internet.

At some point, you were asked some questions about your bands, and you answered them. They made notes, and now they ask about it. And yes, candy. Not creepy at all. Do you assume that all freebies are given exclusively for nefarious reasons?
Click to expand...
Just having some fun at their expense, which they kinda set themselves up for. As indicated, i very much appreciate the high quality website they run and services they deliver. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to a prospective customer.
 
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#15
All I get from Sweetwater is about a 3/4" catalog from time to time. Never any candy or a call.

I did get an email from Musician's Friend once on an private deal on Epiphone custom les pauls. Huge discount and jumped on that.

Sweetwater never called or sent candy,
Musician's Friend never called or sent candy,
neither did Guitar Center,
but I did get one call from Guitar Showcase to inform me my order was in.

I guess I'm too old, too ugly, and too mediocre to matter to these guys. Apparently, my money is still sexy to them, at least. Walking street, here I come. ;)
 
#18
I love Sweetwater. I think the candy is a nice touch but I don't eat because I'm diabetic. They called me for quite a while until they realized that I don't need anything. I have been playing for 40 years and have a nice collection of basses, guitars, and amps. I also have a nicely equipped home studio and artist deals with several major guitar, keyboard, pickup and string manufacturers so its rare that I need anything from Sweetwater. They are a great company and if I need anything I call but I haven't purchased anything from them in a couple of years.
 
#20
74hc said:
All I get from Sweetwater is about a 3/4" catalog from time to time. Never any candy or a call.

I did get an email from Musician's Friend once on an private deal on Epiphone custom les pauls. Huge discount and jumped on that.

Sweetwater never called or sent candy,
Musician's Friend never called or sent candy,
neither did Guitar Center,
but I did get one call from Guitar Showcase to inform me my order was in.

I guess I'm too old, too ugly, and too mediocre to matter to these guys. Apparently, my money is still sexy to them, at least. Walking street, here I come. ;)
Click to expand...

They don’t send candy randomly. They throw some in the box when you order something from them. Unless I’m *also* too old, too ugly, and too mediocre to matter to them.
 

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