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Update to the G2220 saga

#61
1 @LowEndLobster called out fender in his pajamas from his basement and got action. Kudos, Sir. Kudos.

2 While we are not really supposed to know the resolution other than the changes specs, I am wicked impressed with Fender’s response here. I know some folks are chafed by the offer, but That is good corporate responsibility in my book.

3 @RustfeatherBass is right - the pre-Lobster singles will be GOLD in 10 years :thumbsup:
 
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#66
MultiScaleMale said:
95% of the people that own the bass don't know the difference between hum bucking and single coil.
Click to expand...

Very true and it probably wouldn't matter to many of them if or when they do know. But regardless, the important point is that the F company knew and did nothing to address the false advertising and deception that had occurred. Maybe it was just considered to insignificant to harm their brand image, only a few thousand cheap basses, (sold mainly to beginners and hobbyists?) but if the mind set is it's OK at one level, does it then eventually become OK at all levels?

Good on the people who made an issue of it, even if it might seem a relatively minor thing. As the saying goes, "the standard we walk past, is the standard we accept".
 
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#70
MultiScaleMale said:
Fender / Gretsch "lying" seems like a made up conspiracy. They made a mistake on the description of a low end bass that nobody cared about for like ten years. "Lying" implies intent and what was the gain? People just want another click on a supposed controversy or conspiracy.
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The OP showed that they knew about the issue for a year or 2 and didn't correct the product description. It took more widespread attention for them to react. This could be due to complacency on the part of the customer service department - maybe they did not follow up and track the issue through to all areas of the company. So you are probably right that at this stage we don't know if there was intentional deception (lying) by people who were in a position to make this right. It could be due to incompetence in the customer service group, or somewhere in the chain of communication.
 
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#71
"Greetings, Loyal Gretsch customer. We apologise that we are too dumb to get our own product specs correct and it apparently took us several years to fix it. As an apolgy, please accept these Gretschbucks, which can be redeemed for your choice of any 2 Gretsch t-shirts. This email box is unmonitored and replies will not be acknowledged."
:thumbsup:

The most insulting part is that their merch game is abysmal. A Gretsch-branded poker set? Cmon.
 
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#74
First and foremost, thank you all! I'm very curious to see what their official statement will be. I have mixed feelings about the $100 of Gretsch Store Gear, but overall I view it as a mild positive. I think it's a GIANT red flag that the complaints from others (and myself) using the correct consumer channels yielded nothing and that my angry video was the turning point here. I am a consumer like everyone else, and I still find it shameful how much the boat had to be rocked to see any meaningful action from Gretsch/FMIC. I'm hoping to see some official statement in regards to this from Gretsch/FMIC next week considering the responses people are getting. I'll definitely make a follow up video to (hopefully) close this story out.

The one thing that I hope is addressed is how this could have been going on for a decade, while receiving multiple customer complaints, and not doing anything. This is the elephant in the room which needs to be addressed. A gift card is nice, but a real explanation would make it even nicer. This is a serious mark on the credibility of Gretsch and FMIC, and in my opinion it will take more than a gift card to get that credibility back.
 
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#76
MultiScaleMale said:
Fender / Gretsch "lying" seems like a made up conspiracy. They made a mistake on the description of a low end bass that nobody cared about for like ten years. "Lying" implies intent and what was the gain? People just want another click on a supposed controversy or conspiracy.
Click to expand...

Legally, it’s misrepresentation, and it can result in fines and litigation.

The gain is people saying, “Oh wow, what a great deal - especially since it has humbuckers.”

A great example of this is when certain foreign beers turn out to not be foreign. I mean, you can say there was no damage, and what was gained…and yet: Can Beck's Be Labeled 'German' If It's Brewed In St. Louis? No, Judge Agrees
 
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#77
g-dude said:
Legally, it’s misrepresentation, and it can result in fines and litigation.

The gain is people saying, “Oh wow, what a great deal - especially since it has humbuckers.”

A great example of this is when certain foreign beers turn out to not be foreign. I mean, you can say there was no damage, and what was gained…and yet: Can Beck's Be Labeled 'German' If It's Brewed In St. Louis? No, Judge Agrees
Click to expand...
Maybe the G2220 pickups were made in the "Dual Mini-Humbucker region" of France.
 
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#78
LowEndLobster said:
First and foremost, thank you all! I'm very curious to see what their official statement will be. I have mixed feelings about the $100 of Gretsch Store Gear, but overall I view it as a mild positive. I think it's a GIANT red flag that the complaints from others (and myself) using the correct consumer channels yielded nothing and that my angry video was the turning point here. I am a consumer like everyone else, and I still find it shameful how much the boat had to be rocked to see any meaningful action from Gretsch/FMIC. I'm hoping to see some official statement in regards to this from Gretsch/FMIC next week considering the responses people are getting. I'll definitely make a follow up video to (hopefully) close this story out.

The one thing that I hope is addressed is how this could have been going on for a decade, while receiving multiple customer complaints, and not doing anything. This is the elephant in the room which needs to be addressed. A gift card is nice, but a real explanation would make it even nicer. This is a serious mark on the credibility of Gretsch and FMIC, and in my opinion it will take more than a gift card to get that credibility back.
Click to expand...

There will be no public statement until such point in time that the lack of a public statement becomes damaging enough that they need this behind them.

The proper remedy is to repurchase the basses, or issue a check to the customer that reflects the economic damage.

Also, every retailer that is using the Gretsch/Fender ad copy in their descriptions needs to update their listings now…and I don’t know how that’s going to happen without Fender issuing something to their entire dealer network.
 
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