Sweetwater Scam

[-Stingray]

Here is a picture of the document I got with mine. You probably already have one or two of these with all the instruments you bought from sweetwater.
View attachment 5458871

Yeah, that looks familiar. TBH, in my case most paperwork gets overlooked in favor of pulling the instrument out of the box. As you can see "inspect and polish body" and" neck and neck joint" are clearly listed, and they absolutley didn't check those (or checked with their eyes closed) on at least a few of the instruments I've purchased over the years. I'm not saying Sweetwater is terrible. I'm just saying the 55 point inspection is a ruse.

For the record, I still use Sweetwater as they are still one of the few retail outlets that list weights. But the "55 point inspection" is BS.

 

[Jantelagen]

You still threatened to fight someone over a business transaction. I don't find that acceptable in the slightest.

Yeah, but that’s how @Gorilla Monsoon handles business!

 

[Dirk Rockbottom]

Honestly and this is my opinion but this is why I miss the MOM & POP music stores that I grew up with since I started playing music in grade school.
When I started playing trombone in 5th grade all the way thru 12th grade in high school I went to all the local music stores to buy what ever I needed.
My 12th grade year I took up the electric bass and the local music stores we had also sold electric guitars and basses and amps, it was seriously a no pain in the ass situation, now with online buying sometimes it can be a gamble for sure and yes a few years ago I bought a MXR Stereo Chorus from Sweetwater which came to me with no wrapping on it it and it looked used and I called Sweetwater on it and they told me they only sell brand new products so I just blew it off but cause the chorus was working fine but it was always in the back of my mind in the back of my mind that Sweetwater does turn around and sell returned products as new and then a buddy of mine had bought a Ibanez 6 string bass from Sweetwater and the nut was cut way to low which I thought Sweetwater does a full inspection on instruments before they go out the door but my friend had to send the bass back and Sweetwater sent him another Ibanez 6 string but then my friend noticed that the original bass he bought was back up on Sweetwater's site being resold as brand new so that proved it right there that that is what Sweetwater does on product's returned and I'm sure Musician's Friend does exactly the same thing as well.
God I miss the Mom & Pop music stores!!!!

We have a couple of Guitar Centers near me that are very good with a large selection of basses. One is on Sunset boulevard in Hollywood and the other is in Northridge (California). They even have a back room in the Hollywood store that has classic basses that are way over my price range but fun to look at. Too bad they're having problems now. I hear they are closing many stores.

 

[ElliottStrong]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I wanted to give folks a heads up. I ordered a Sadowsky, 24 fret modern, metroline from Sweetwater a couple of weeks ago. The bass came. I took it out and could niot for the life of me adjust two of the bridge pole pieces. Took a good look and they appeared stripped. This, to me, was not acceptable for a $3500 bass - so I asked to return it.

Got the return label. Took it to UPS - even paid to have the fragile pack it (extra $100).

Then I get an email from Sweetwater that they got the bass, but there is a ding on it, so they are charging me $600 anyway.

I took the bass out for a total of maybe 20 minutes. It sat on my lap the whole time. No way any dings happenned with me. But they're trying to screw me over anyhow for the extra cash.

I've bought a lot of gear from them in the past (including other basses) but will NEVER use them again. And if you are considering buying a high end bass from them, beware - you may end of paying hundreds of dollars simply for the priveledge of touching the bass for a few minutes.

I had the same thing happen years ago with Alleva Coppolo and he swore up and down that I damaged it. It turned out to be the brand of cases that he used had a design flaw and it caused the damage.

 

[wiscoaster]

"Sweetwater" and "scam" in the same sentence is totally contrary to my own experience with them. In my experience with vendors of all types of items, musical and otherwise, Sweetwater has got to be one of the best musical instrument vendors there is out there. And I'm totally volunteering that opinion. I'm not shilling for them or getting paid anything for it. You've got to experience some of the other vendors in the same business to know that Sweetwater is one of the better ones. And labelling them with the tag "scam" is totally inappropriate, IMO. If there was something not right in your experience with them, I do think they'll make it right, and especially if you connect with your account manager.

 

[Bonafide]

I don't work in that department. It's possible we missed it.

That is the point. It is missed often. Unless you are saying it's possible you didn't miss it but sent it anyway? That has been my own experience in 10 or so out of the last 40 orders with SW. There is no 55-point inspection, there is little more than a cursory once-over. Video unboxing is essential. Every return but one, was due to serious defects.

I don't know what the tolerances are for Fender or Ibanez. I'd always recommend calling your SE and obviously, if you aren't happy with it send it back.

You mean like the OP? He was not happy with the 'inspection miss' and sent it back at SW's recommendation. And according to you there was no miss, and yet over and again in this thread we see it is a regular thing. And you just said, 'It's possible we missed it' when referring to another customer's bass. But it is not possible you missed the OPs?

The word 'scam' really took out any chance of the OP being taken seriously by a few people, which is unfortunate as he probably did feel that way, but it does not translate well. Still if it weren't for his terrible word choice when describing the scenario that followed, there would not be so many others sharing their similar stories with SW's terrible QC.

I realize you will continue to make yourself and Sweetwater the hero in this scenario and garner support from other TBrs, but none of us get to have it both ways and cherry-pick the scenarios that work for us and discredit those that don't. All credibility with SW has been lost in this thread.

 

[Goatrope]

The word 'scam' really took out any chance of the OP being taken seriously by a few people, which is unfortunate as he probably did feel that way, but it does not translate well.

I just wanted to highlight this one comment and ask that the OP request a title change to replace "scam" with something like "issue" or "problem".

I've had my share of mostly good and some bad experiences, but wouldn't characterize any of them as a "scam". I agree it takes away from the OP's story. Every time I see that word I cringe.

 

[Bass Viking]

Why is the OP being so silent? 17 pages and he's hardly posted. Is there some kind of deal being worked out behind the scenes?

 

[CryingBass]

I think that the title word Scam is why this barely-important post is on 17 pages now.

EOT

 

[Geri O]

I think that the title word Scam is why this barely-important post is on 17 pages now.

EOT

Yup.

Kinda sad, ain’t it….

 

[SBassman]

I don't have the time to read the whole thread, but - it got my attention.

In my book, Sweetwater is the best musical online retailer out there.
Having said that, I think it is totally feasible that this situation occurred. Stuff happens.

Still, I'd trust the integrity of Sweetwater above any other online retailer selling music goods.

 

[wvbass]

Seems to me that Sweetwater (and the specific rep involved) and the OP all believe their account of events. All seem to be acting in good faith, but the rep had the weekend off and then had to take an extra day off, and this situation escalated in that timeframe.

In my experience, communication breakdowns are very commonly where things start to go south, and I think that is what happened here.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

Yup.

Kinda sad, ain’t it….

Yep.

 

[Taustin Powers]

That is the point. It is missed often. Unless you are saying it's possible you didn't miss it but sent it anyway? That has been my own experience in 10 or so out of the last 40 orders with SW. There is no 55-point inspection, there is little more than a cursory once-over. Video unboxing is essential. Every return but one, was due to serious defects.

You mean like the OP? He was not happy with the 'inspection miss' and sent it back at SW's recommendation. And according to you there was no miss, and yet over and again in this thread we see it is a regular thing. And you just said, 'It's possible we missed it' when referring to another customer's bass. But it is not possible you missed the OPs?

The word 'scam' really took out any chance of the OP being taken seriously by a few people, which is unfortunate as he probably did feel that way, but it does not translate well. Still if it weren't for his terrible word choice when describing the scenario that followed, there would not be so many others sharing their similar stories with SW's terrible QC.

I realize you will continue to make yourself and Sweetwater the hero in this scenario and garner support from other TBrs, but none of us get to have it both ways and cherry-pick the scenarios that work for us and discredit those that don't. All credibility with SW has been lost in this thread.

Woah there. Did you even read the whole thread?

The „inspection miss“ the OP claimed to be the reason for returning the bass was not there. There were no stripped screws. You can‘t miss a flaw that does not exist.

„All credibility with SW has been lost in this thread.“

Speak for yourself there. As a general statement, this is far from accurate.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Funny thing about human nature. Put up a thread damning someone or something and you’ll get folks coming out of the woodwork with similar thoughts and comments. People tend to hold on to perceived slights for decades. I know i do. A positive experience is seen as something expected. I could have ten positive exchanges with an outfit but that 11th one? The bad one?…yeah, ima remember that one.

 

[Bonafide]

Woah there. Did you even read the whole thread?

The „inspection miss“ the OP claimed to be the reason for returning the bass was not there. There were no stripped screws. You can‘t miss a flaw that does not exist.

„All credibility with SW has been lost in this thread.“

Speak for yourself there. As a general statement, this is far from accurate.

LOL...woah there! Did you? Seems you misinterpreted the point if so. Sorry if you are bothered or disagree with another person's experiences or perspective, but I find it very accurate. I find it frightening how many people in this thread may serve on a jury someday.

I know where the thread started, how it progressed, and where it is now. I added my commentary along the way, so no reason to repeat it.

And of course, I speak for myself. Who else could I speak for? As a 24-year customer of Sweetwater, I find SW's representation in this thread contemptible. Publicly outing the OP, for what? His dissatisfaction with a very questionable outcome? His only mistake was using the word 'scam'. That triggered a lot of people. Brad's attempt, on Sweetwater's behalf, to gain support as a known member of the community is the most suspect. For what, shame him with community pressure, discredit him publicly? To 'prove' SW is justified for the $600 return fee? Whatever it was, it doesn't hold water for me. None of that should have been public.

There is zero documentation that the screws were not stripped, just a tech's word or Brads commentary serving the same agenda, a word I and others know from experience is very often less than 'integral'. The fact is, none of us know what happened, but it just seems really convenient for people to take SWs side or find fault in the OP. I find it meaningless. Unboxing videos and repacking videos have proved it time and again.

Many people have shared their own similar experiences in this thread, my very recents ones included. You are happy to call me out for my honesty and my interpretation, please do, I am not offended by it. We all have a valid voice.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Since many feel using Video can avoid this type problem

How about Sweetwater Email Detailed Video of 55 point inspection on actual Instrument Customers purchase to them

 

[Taustin Powers]

And of course, I speak for myself. Who else could I speak for?

When you said SW has lost all credibility in this thread, maybe there was an implied "to me" that I missed. It sounded like a general statement to me, and I simply do not see that this thread resulted in a loss of all credibility for SW. The result is at best mixed, with quite a few members being very skeptical about the OP's account and their positive attitude towards SW not being affected by it at all.

The rest we can just respectfully disagree on, no biggie. I don't have a horse in this race, as I have zero personal experience with SW.

 

[Bonafide]

When you said SW has lost all credibility in this thread, maybe there was an implied "to me" that I missed. It sounded like a general statement to me, and I simply do not see that this thread resulted in a loss of all credibility for SW. The result is at best mixed, with quite a few members being very skeptical about the OP's account and their positive attitude towards SW not being affected by it at all.

The rest we can just respectfully disagree on, no biggie. I don't have a horse in this race, as I have zero personal experience with SW.

All good, this thread has been interesting, to say the least. As you said, you have no experience with SW. I have 96 orders. I can relate to the OP. 'All credibility lost in this thread' means this thread. In this scenario, SW should have kept it private and steered clear of manipulative justification and weasel words. The skepticism grew exponentially after Brad's public discrediting post.

The timing of it, having experienced the precise scenario as the OP only 1 week prior, is what caught my interest. Otherwise, I have never engaged in such a thread and generally don't offer perspective. The personal difference between myself and the OP was likely my sales engineer and I have a long history and my unboxing and pre-packing videos cannot be disputed.

My sales engineer was always exceptional. Very responsive, it is the rest of the chain that is the current hiccup. He knows I don't buy gear to return it so he understands why it is an issue. I hope the OP gets taken care of.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I had the same thing happen years ago with Alleva Coppolo and he swore up and down that I damaged it. It turned out to be the brand of cases that he used had a design flaw and it caused the damage.

I've run across this a few times. I do a police-tactic "pat down" on the upholstered interiors of my cases. The velour lining may LOOK really nice but I've run across under-padded supports, exposed staples, you name it. Even a torn desiccant pack can leave B-B's embedded in the lining with matching dents in the finish.

Riis