Warmoth Order Disappointment- RESOLUTION UPDATE IN OP

[JeezyMcNuggles]

So I tend to agree with all of the opinions here. I very nicely contacted customer service by phone, and they asked to see pictures. I sent them photos, along with the comparison photos I showed here. Their CSR’s initial response:

“We cannot guarantee the flame figuring in any of our products. Wood grain varies piece by piece. We will have multiple eyes look at this to see if we are at any fault here. If we decide we’re at fault, we’ll rebuild your neck with a 20% restock fee for the first one. But if our builders say it looks fine, you’re welcome to reorder a neck to your liking for the cost of the new neck, plus the restock fee for the first neck.”

Oof.

I missed this one.

Bull

 

[buldog5151bass]

I would not take their offer, and would not give up on getting a better deal.

 

[Topkat13]

There is obviously a level of disappointment/dissatisfaction with your purchase or you would not have posted. IMO no amount of approval by other TB’ers will minimize or eliminate your dissatisfaction. I’m sure they would be happy to work with you.

 

[captainofsmooth]

I joined TB to reply to this (although have been wanting to join TB for months and months now) as it makes my blood boil when people get screwed over by any corporate entity. First off, that really sucks. On that note, here is a email I fired off to Warmoth after reading your post:

Ok…. While I appreciate your support, comradery, and enthusiasm, that may have been a bit much. Kind of angry and insulting, which I’ve not been toward Warmoth thus far. I feel you’ve probably done nothing but make the situation worse, as they won’t be too thrilled to receive that email. Thanks for that.

 

[Topkat13]

Oooops just saw their offer…wouldn’t be happy with it. But…remember you’ll catch more flies with honey.

 

[captainofsmooth]

Oooops just saw their offer…wouldn’t be happy with it. But…remember you’ll catch more flies with honey.

Coming from the South, that has been my approach. Although it seems like others are taking it upon themselves to get angry for me.

 

[retslock]

Ok Bassists, I want some opinions. I recently ordered a custom neck from Warmoth for a bass build I’m doing. It arrived today. It’s a gorgeous, well built neck. BUT- I ordered roasted flame maple for the shaft, and I made it very clear ordering on the phone that the flame was of utmost importance to me. The CSR agreed and mentioned how my gloss choice would make the flame pop. After seeing all of the RFM in their stock showcase priced under what I spent, seeing their hundreds of RFM necks in Instagram posts, putting my order into their site builder, etc I thought I knew exactly what to expect. Well after a 12 week wait (on week 18 waiting for my body), it arrived today, and the flame is so underwhelming. Like, even my 65 year old mother (who’s listened to me talk about this build for 6 months) said, “Where’s all the stripes?” Not at all what I was led to expect. I know all wood is different, and they can’t guarantee the amount of flame styling, but am I wrong to be bummed about what I received? It’s like 75-80% not flamed on the shaft. Would you contact them? Should I suck it up and enjoy this beautifully made neck even though it’s not what I paid for? I feel like I was very misled. Here’s a picture of what I received vs what the site builder showed my specs as, their current showcase offerings priced hundreds less than what I paid, and a recent IG post showcasing their flame maple options.

I understand your disappointment but without actually hand picking the wood yourself, ordering online is a lottery. I recently bought a second neck from a company I have found to produce very good quality necks. The second neck is very well made - stable and plays well. But - although it’s marketed as the same model it’s thicker with a slightly different profile. This suggests hand made. I’m on the other side of the world so I accepted it. Fortunately it came raw so I shaved and sanded it to make it more like the first one which feels so nice. It worked out well for me and I’m happy with it. Wood being organic and unique it will always vary. I probably would also be a bit disappointed but I think I’d accept it if it was a good neck.

 

[SgtHulka]

I joined TB to reply to this (although have been wanting to join TB for months and months now) as it makes my blood boil when people get screwed over by any corporate entity. First off, that really sucks. On that note, here is a email I fired off to Warmoth after reading your post:

Your Company Does Not Care About The People That Pay Your Salaries, Your Loss

Thu 7/22/2021 7:54 PM
To: [email protected]

Just read and viewed what a customer received vs. what they paid for (a flamed maple neck) on talkbass and all I can say is holy f***. You provided the customer with a sub-par/inferior product that isn’t what they paid for (and specifically noted via the verbal purchase), then have the nerve to hassle them and charge them multiple fees to remedy your shortcomings and inferior product. Again, HF. I’ve been to your website multiple times recently eyeing my next purchase, but not anymore. Your company will never receive a penny from me after reading and viewing this customer’s horror story, and I’m just one of thousands upon thousands of members of this community.

I wasn't really a member upon sending the email, but am now. I know my words are of no importance to Warmoth, as I've never purchased anything from them, but someone getting screwed over by corporations really angers me (from personal experience). I hope for a good outcome from your misfortune.

Before the advent of the internet, and I was in sales, I remember reading a study about the potential damage done by one complaint. There was a statistic about the potential monetary damage done by one. Back then, a single customer would on average tell 10 people, who in turn would tell 3 others. I have no doubt that their hardball approach in this matter, has already costs them in 1,000's if not 10's of thousands of dollars in future orders.

Welcome BTW.

 

[Fender_Bender]

On a scale of A to AAAAA, I would put this at A to AA at best.

 

[Selta]

Ouch, that is unfortunate. I'd be very disappointed at that, especially after glancing at what prices they charge for necks.

I find it funny that folks think TB has any real sway over these companies. Even if every individual in this thread ended up talking and causing 10 sales to not happen, they wouldn't notice or care. TBs leverage and importance is vastly overstated, especially here on... TB. Maybe for a small upstart it could have some sway, if that.

Hopefully somehow you can get an agreeable resolution @dopejohnpaul. The few basses I've got to handle built from their parts have all felt/played nicely, but, if that neck isn't going to make you happy, even a partial refund wont cut it, as you'll think about it each time you play. The 20% restock fee is quite bogus, imo.

 

[Uncle Walt]

I realize that lumber supply is constrained right now but they charged you for something they didn't give you and don't want to make it right. You've asked nicely and tried to "catch flies with honey" but they don't want to play ball. Public pressure is a great way to hold corporations to account and I would be flaming them all over social media because a negative tweet storm will cost them far more than a replacement neck.

Ok…. While I appreciate your support, comradery, and enthusiasm, that may have been a bit much. Kind of angry and insulting, which I’ve not been toward Warmoth thus far. I feel you’ve probably done nothing but make the situation worse, as they won’t be too thrilled to receive that email. Thanks for that.

 

[2F/2F]

I’m just surprised that we’re 3 pages into this thread and I haven’t gotten a single “STFU!” I’m proud of you guys

Ok Bassists, I want some opinions. I recently ordered a custom neck from Warmoth for a bass build I’m doing. It arrived today. It’s a gorgeous, well built neck. BUT- I ordered roasted flame maple for the shaft, and I made it very clear ordering on the phone that the flame was of utmost importance to me. The CSR agreed and mentioned how my gloss choice would make the flame pop. After seeing all of the RFM in their stock showcase priced under what I spent, seeing their hundreds of RFM necks in Instagram posts, putting my order into their site builder, etc I thought I knew exactly what to expect. Well after a 12 week wait (on week 18 waiting for my body), it arrived today, and the flame is so underwhelming. Like, even my 65 year old mother (who’s listened to me talk about this build for 6 months) said, “Where’s all the stripes?” Not at all what I was led to expect. I know all wood is different, and they can’t guarantee the amount of flame styling, but am I wrong to be bummed about what I received? It’s like 75-80% not flamed on the shaft. Would you contact them? Should I suck it up and enjoy this beautifully made neck even though it’s not what I paid for? I feel like I was very misled. Here’s a picture of what I received vs what the site builder showed my specs as, their current showcase offerings priced hundreds less than what I paid, and a recent IG post showcasing their flame maple options.

Did you order a specific grade of flamed maple, by which you can objectively argue that you didn't get what you ordered? If so, you have a solid argument. If not, your argument is much weaker, and you're pretty much stuck with it. Wood is variable, they state as much, and you didn't order anything THAT specific.

At this point, I'd just play the bass. The flame is on the back of the neck. Nobody will ever see it, or give a hoot, including you, when the bass is doing what really matters: kicking out the jams on stage or in the studio. Compromise on the flame, move on to other companies in the future, and let this thread do some work on their business. Better option than paying a $100+ restocking fee just to have the same lame-ass company make you another...IF they decide to self police themselves in such a manner.

Although, with the PR stink this thread raises, they'll probably end up making an exception just for you, in order to save themselves from the public debacle.

 

[captainofsmooth]

Oh trust me, I can start a social media storm when I need to… this doesn’t warrant that at all.

 

[SgtHulka]

Ok…. While I appreciate your support, comradery, and enthusiasm, that may have been a bit much. Kind of angry and insulting, which I’ve not been toward Warmoth thus far. I feel you’ve probably done nothing but make the situation worse, as they won’t be too thrilled to receive that email. Thanks for that.

I understand your feelings - you don't want to make a bigger deal than you need to. But you don't owe them anything - you are just another number to them. And the feelings he expressed won't be limited to just him. This is what happens when you treat people poorly. Word spreads. At least now the pressure is on.

 

[Lammchop93]

Can you dispute it on a credit card? You didn’t get what you paid for

 

[arbiterusa]

Right or wrong, the least they could have done was provide you with a photo of the neck before taking your money.

They give you that option. He chose not to pay for it.

 

[captainofsmooth]

@2F/2F
If you read the above comments, you’ll find the answers to those questions. Obviously, I ordered what they showed me in my mock-up, which is not what I received.

“Nobody will ever see it.” I WILL. And I’m the one who paid for it.

Move to what other companies? As I’ve stated earlier, only Warmoth provided the options I desired.

 

[captainofsmooth]

@arbiterusa

They give you that option. He chose not to pay for it.

Everything about this statement is false, and can be counter-proved if you read through this thread.

 

[Durham52]

I've had a few necks from Freestone and have been very happy with them, they are easy to deal with and their workmanship is very good from what I've seen. Here's a couple with more flame than yours along the length of the shaft and they were on necks less than a quarter of what yours cost. (Though they didn't have the flashy inlays etc. that would have added a fair bit to the price of your neck.) There are certainly other option besides Warmoth, some might not offer as wider range of options, but it all depends on what you're looking for.

 

[Uncle Walt]

Administratior edit: this forum is not to be used to promote protests/campaigns elsewhere. Please do not do this again