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ThePerfectBass? Not this time...
- Thread starter MusicMan810
- Start date
I just had a minor issue with a shipment made through The Perfect Bass. Not only did they address the issue, they resolved everything quickly and went beyond what was required of them. I would highly recommend them.
However, I have had my difficulties with both FedEx and UPS before (as was the case with my problem). That is beyond the retailer's control. They can do as much as possible to package the shipment properly and follow up on any claims, but they cannot deliver it for you so they are at the mercy of the shippers in many cases.
However, I have had my difficulties with both FedEx and UPS before (as was the case with my problem). That is beyond the retailer's control. They can do as much as possible to package the shipment properly and follow up on any claims, but they cannot deliver it for you so they are at the mercy of the shippers in many cases.
ibanezcollector
Yoyo's Hurt When You Crank It Into Your Face
I understand you say they dont, but until you dealt with the process you wont understand where I am coming from.
Some day someone is going to have to go thru it and they will see a vision of me in there head when the big corporate guys start talking fast and telling you what there going to cover and what there not going to..
Ever deal with a inspector? They try to weasel it out right there on the spot. Its there job to find things so they can refuse a claim. And they will find things from the way it was taped, packing material used, etc.
They will find something that is against your favor of getting the item replaced and will offer a check to get it fixed.. a Broken pot costs $10 and a few bucks in labor. They will offer that before they offer a $1500 refund.
Some day someone is going to have to go thru it and they will see a vision of me in there head when the big corporate guys start talking fast and telling you what there going to cover and what there not going to..
Ever deal with a inspector? They try to weasel it out right there on the spot. Its there job to find things so they can refuse a claim. And they will find things from the way it was taped, packing material used, etc.
They will find something that is against your favor of getting the item replaced and will offer a check to get it fixed.. a Broken pot costs $10 and a few bucks in labor. They will offer that before they offer a $1500 refund.
FWIW, I build Digital Audio Workstations for a living... and thus ship a lot of items via FedEx.
Packages can get damaged in numerous ways without the box being caved in. It's happended to me numerous times over the last 14+ years.
First, The packages get end-over-ended via conveyors. What if your bass falls off the conveyor 5-6 feet and the box lands fairly square? You won't see much (if any) damage to the box... but the bass could be cracked in half.
This stuff happens...
FWIW, I've bought from The Perfect Bass... and they took excellent care of me. Talk to Brandt or Jim... and I'm sure they'll take care of the situation.
If they are accepting $4000 of insurance on the package, how can they deny the claim and payout a max of $500. They would have to refuse to accept to insure it in the first place. Once they've accepted the insurance payment, I cannot see how they'd be off the hook, regardless of what their rules are. This is all assuming you have not lied about the contents of the package.
It's too bad they make things so hard.
ibanezcollector
Yoyo's Hurt When You Crank It Into Your Face
Well its supposed to be the job of the employee of said companys drop off to inform you.
Also all items over $500 are supposed to be opened and inspected by said employee which they dont do either. Which is also in there rules..
I worked for Fedex for 6 years. I know what goes on there. I also know how they handle things physically and mentally. You dont ever want to see what happens to your package once you drop it off LOL.. They storys I could tell.
Also all items over $500 are supposed to be opened and inspected by said employee which they dont do either. Which is also in there rules..
I worked for Fedex for 6 years. I know what goes on there. I also know how they handle things physically and mentally. You dont ever want to see what happens to your package once you drop it off LOL.. They storys I could tell.
In your shoes, I would call TPB back and tell them that you'd like for them to take back the item, refund your money, and settle up with UPS. It is the sender's responsibility when shipping UPS. I've found that when dealing with customer service issues, if you don't get the response you want you're often best served to simply call back and try to get someone different on the phone.
10% off of a Spector Legend is probably comparable to or more than return shipping would be. It sounds like they just don't want to bother dealing with it.
It's one relatively inexpensive instrument and minor headache for TPB vs. bad PR. For a boutique I would think that the choice would be obvious.
10% off of a Spector Legend is probably comparable to or more than return shipping would be. It sounds like they just don't want to bother dealing with it.
It's one relatively inexpensive instrument and minor headache for TPB vs. bad PR. For a boutique I would think that the choice would be obvious.
Actually they were very prompt. They sent me a UPS label with a tracking number so I could see when the returned bass made it back to their warehouse, and within a day of receiving it they sent the replacement.
I did not mention in the first post, the box looked fine. It was even double boxed and packed well inside. Well whatever happened I decided to take the loss. Its pretty minor so Im not going to go through all the hassel to get another one.
I am sorry about your misfortune with your bass.
I do have to say I have purchased multiple basses, an Eden head and many accessories from The Perfect Bass. I deal with Brandt on a regular basis and I have always received great service! The reason I continue to do business with them is that they care about their customer and they give a nice discount to TB Forum members.
It sounds like they attempted to help with the situation which is what I would have expected from them.
I do have to say I have purchased multiple basses, an Eden head and many accessories from The Perfect Bass. I deal with Brandt on a regular basis and I have always received great service! The reason I continue to do business with them is that they care about their customer and they give a nice discount to TB Forum members.
It sounds like they attempted to help with the situation which is what I would have expected from them.
I don't think TPB is to blame. Their response was pretty standard for ordering items online. They seem to be fair in helping you out with 10% off.
I know dealing with it sucks, but these things happen.
I know dealing with it sucks, but these things happen.
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
I feel for you, it sucks to get a new piece of equipment only to have it damaged during shipping. My dealings with TPB have been awesome, they are a great bunch of guys. To some 10% may not seem much, but you have to take in consideration that for the Month of June Special, TPB offered 15% off the price of Spectre. Add another 10% and that is 25% off plus Free Shipping and No Sales Tax.
$549 - Player Price
-$82.35 - 15% June Discount
Free Shipping
No Sales Taxes
$466.65 - cost of bass
-$46.66 - 10% off for damage
$419.99 for the bass delivered. It comes down to can you live with the damage for this price? That is the decision only you can make.
$549 - Player Price
-$82.35 - 15% June Discount
Free Shipping
No Sales Taxes
$466.65 - cost of bass
-$46.66 - 10% off for damage
$419.99 for the bass delivered. It comes down to can you live with the damage for this price? That is the decision only you can make.
I don't agree with the sentiment that TPB did everything right. The bass *could* have been damaged in shipping, but if there is no damage to the box or packing at all, that might not be the case. It is very possible that it was this way before they sent it out. Do they not have a return period? I'm very surprised that they aren't letting you return it for a full refund if they do have one, especially if it's damaged. If it was damaged before it got sent to you, that's their responsibility to fix the problem. If the bass was damaged in shipping and they didn't insure it, that's strike #2 for them. If it was insured, I don't see why they're not helping you more to try and resolve this through UPS.
I would not settle for a damaged bass, regardless of what you paid for it because it's not what you thought you were getting. You didn't buy a blem, you bought what you thought was a new bass. To me, them only offering 10% or offering store credit only is just doing enough to shut you up and insure that they still have your money.
I would not settle for a damaged bass, regardless of what you paid for it because it's not what you thought you were getting. You didn't buy a blem, you bought what you thought was a new bass. To me, them only offering 10% or offering store credit only is just doing enough to shut you up and insure that they still have your money.
You are close but not exact, it was $500 then take off the 10% to get $450. The $50 hasnt been credited to my account yet... if it doesnt they will be getting a phone call and it will be the last time I deal with them.
The crack at most is 2 inches long with a surrounding dent area about the size of a peanut. I can live with this, you really kinda have to look for it. I dont feel its worth the hassell of phone calls, shipping, and waiting just to have it replaced. So I will be happy with the $50 off (if that happens).
Anways... last night was the first time I was able to play the new bass with the band. It was awesome! Its so much crisper and punchier than the OLP bass was. It really cut threw much better in a band setting.
They would not be in business very long if that was the case. Judging by the positive feedback (including my own) that The Perfect Bass has received, I'd be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I am giving them the benefit of the doubt too. As soon as I sell my vintage Jazz and my CIJ P bass I will be calling Brandt at TPB for a new Lakland. They have always taken care of me in the past and I have no doubt they will do so in the future.
Well you never know. I bought a Tobias Growler from a reputable online dealer (one of the biggies, but I won't say the name so I don't start anything). It was used, but described as great condition. When I got it, the neck was so twisted and the frets so out of wack that it was downright unplayable. Even after a fret leveling it just still wasn't right and it was either have all the frets ripped out and replaced and something done to the neck to make it more stable, or take a loss selling it, and I took a loss.
Yes the bass was used, but based on how it was described and just how downright BAD the neck was, there is no way that any honest, reputable dealer would have let that bass go out, let alone say it was in great condition.
Often, when we purchase something, we want SO BAD for it to be just perfect and when something unfortunate like a little damage happens we get upset. This is understandible.
But often, things happen that aren't the result of negligence on anyone's part. We're so hell-bent in society to always find fault with a party when something is less than ideal. That's unfortunate.
TPB made a 10% restitution offer, should the buyer decide to keep the bass (that's fair). They also offered to receive back the bass (that's fair, too). Unfortunately, either way, the buyer does not get what he set out to get (a perfect bass, now). Unfortunate, but there's nothing anyone can really do to rectify that situation, it's just not possible.
I recently damaged a bass in transit. It was my fault, I failed to pack it properly...it has a nice battle scar on the back as a result. It's there now, will ALWAYS be there, the bass must wear it. So must I.
Accept your dissapointment, face it, and move on.
But often, things happen that aren't the result of negligence on anyone's part. We're so hell-bent in society to always find fault with a party when something is less than ideal. That's unfortunate.
TPB made a 10% restitution offer, should the buyer decide to keep the bass (that's fair). They also offered to receive back the bass (that's fair, too). Unfortunately, either way, the buyer does not get what he set out to get (a perfect bass, now). Unfortunate, but there's nothing anyone can really do to rectify that situation, it's just not possible.
I recently damaged a bass in transit. It was my fault, I failed to pack it properly...it has a nice battle scar on the back as a result. It's there now, will ALWAYS be there, the bass must wear it. So must I.
Accept your dissapointment, face it, and move on.
It sounds to me like that is exactly what TPB did. He got the bass he ordered, the one pictured like TPB does. At least I assume so as the OP did not say wrong bass, wrong color etc...
I dunno, there seem to be a ton of posts here and a lot of my experience with big box stores that say otherwise. I suppose if you are one of the few who falls within their guidelines or have a specific store that does really try to serve the customers needs....
While I too share your sentiment, I think TPB and a lot of other online sources very clearly state their return policies in plain English. It is up to the person doing the buying if the return policies are cool or not, IMHO.
As far as the offers TPB has made, I think the 10% is over the top and a great add on. Also, if the bass they shipped was the last one they had (Make, model etc..) they cannot just fire one out of their backside. If they have to wait to get them, sadly so does the customer.
Oh and Lefty, I don't mean to sound like I am singling you out, you just had a lot of great points that were easy to work from...I respect your position and just have to re state, the return polices, good or bad are, or should be known to the buyer.
We vote for retailers with our wallets, if TPB truly was so bad, no one would buy from them.
It seems to me the whole issue being hacked about here is the return shipping, I don't see the big deal in that, personally.Especially with the 10% off offer...Rondo has return shipping paid by the buyer, so do a lot of others.
Just some thoughts....
