WARNING: Jon Letts/Letts Basses

[JC BASS 91]

Wow...and I thought my experience with a luthier in the UK was bad...this one blows my rotten experience out of the water and smashes it to pieces!

As others have said, you are a far more patient man than I am. I know people that would have already paid him a visit and made sure his legs bent the wrong way over something like this. (I am NOT one of them, and would never condone such actions.)

 

[JenderBazzFass]

Thanks for warning us all. There is no excuse that can be made for 10 years of delays. 10 years!

Sad to say that I knew whilst reading that it was all going to go horribly wrong when he cajoled you into paying in full in advance. These stories often seem to take that turn. And he seemed to want to make you pay for his mistakes, which is a bad sign.

 

[moon-bass]

Dont give him a hard time, it is not his fault. It is "his situation" that is to blame, not him!

EVERYONE has situations. Some worse than others, and coping skills vary, etc. but sh1t happens to EVERYONE.

TEN YEARS!!!!!! A decade! Someone can get an MD in less time than that! In the US, that's kindergarten through starting high school! If someone started kindergarten when the deposit was paid they'd be driving by now!

If I have this correctly, it's 1050 UK? Someone can't come up with 100 a year?!?!?!? Seriously?

I am a very empathetic person, but the excuses are just that - excuses. Like you said, it's a way to shift the blame.

 

[Winky]

About 14 years ago on another music forum there was a similar thread with a similar set of issues regarding a builder who didn't deliver. I'll say the same thing now to Mr. Letts that I did back then to that individual: stop posting. Just stop.

Your efforts to defend yourself are doing no good and every minute you spend typing out responses is a minute you could be gainfully employed earning something to settle your debts and make Eddie whole. It's really quite simple.

 

[Wannabass]

I don’t understand how the legal ruling against him can been ignored. How does that happen? Seems like the consequences for failure to pay should get worse and worse.

It happens a lot unfortunately..
A family member of mine is out 50K on a house project. The contractor spent it on a family vacation for two weeks in Ireland. Did more damage to the house than good when he got back and then disappeared. The system is slow and wages garnered for two other people that were taken leaves little chance of repayment. Some peoples idea of no pot to pi$$ in is a pretty high standard..

Also use caution on reviews. I unfortunately know first hand if you rent a place on ver&0 the person that owns the place has full control of what is posted for feedback. Go figure.

Best of luck to everyone involved for a quick resolution!

 

[Dyerseve14]

EVERYONE has situations. Some worse than others, and coping skills vary, etc. but sh1t happens to EVERYONE.

TEN YEARS!!!!!! A decade! Someone can get an MD in less time than that! In the US, that's kindergarten through starting high school! If someone started kindergarten when the deposit was paid they'd be driving by now!

If I have this correctly, it's 1050 UK? Someone can't come up with 100 a year?!?!?!? Seriously?

I am a very empathetic person, but the excuses are just that - excuses. Like you said, it's a way to shift the blame.

Dude i think your sarcasm radar is broken. If you saw the post I was replying to, as well as all my other posts in this thread, it would be very clear that I have zero sympathy for Letts

 

[moon-bass]

Dude i think your sarcasm radar is broken. If you saw the post I was replying to, as well as all my other posts in this thread, it would be very clear that I have zero sympathy for Letts

Dude, i think *you're* sarcasm(?) radar is broken Did you miss the part where I said "like you said." My post was agreeing with you.

 

[BrentSimons]

Intrigued, and of course it was a Brent. Ready for the next installment!

Hmmm...what was that?

 

[EddieG]

Just to update everyone, as per my earlier post and at his request I have emailed Jon Letts with a proposal for an instrument that would bring matters between us to a close.

The costs for this come in under the outstanding amount but would also provide me with a bass that suits my physical and musical needs. I can break down the costs at a later date if required (and obviously I'll retain the email I sent for possible future use), but it's now in Jon's hands to decide whether he is prepared to accept this proposal and work to the details and specs I've sent him, which are extremely reasonable in my opinion.

 

[Bass Viking]

I can only imagine there must be some type of tutorial for potential scammers excuses to which they’ve all signed up.

LOL! I've wondered about this myself. A how-to-manual for grifters.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

I don’t expect Eddie to just give up. I do owe him money. This kind of thing isn’t helping matters though. Unfortunately.

Man... You're talking like you owe him this massive sum of money. You could have paid him $100 per year over the last decade and this would be taken care of. Just pay the man. Good grief.

 

[tauzero]

Yeah, I saw that earlier in the thread. I don't understand how these legal judgements work. I would think that there are additional legal remedies to pursue when someone does not comply with a court order.

In the UK, after obtaining a judgement in court, bailiffs can be sent in. However, if they can't recover items to at least the value of the debt plus costs, then they take nothing (unless this has changed in the last 35 years, since I tried to get money back from someone who hadn't paid me for a motorcycle).

 

[retroXvertigo]

Just to update everyone, as per my earlier post and at his request I have emailed Jon Letts with a proposal for an instrument that would bring matters between us to a close.

The costs for this come in under the outstanding amount but would also provide me with a bass that suits my physical and musical needs. I can break down the costs at a later date if required (and obviously I'll retain the email I sent for possible future use), but it's now in Jon's hands to decide whether he is prepared to accept this proposal and work to the details and specs I've sent him, which are extremely reasonable in my opinion.

It seems absolutely WILD that you'd still accept a bass from this clown.

 

[Thegreatzambini]

Just to update everyone, as per my earlier post and at his request I have emailed Jon Letts with a proposal for an instrument that would bring matters between us to a close.

The costs for this come in under the outstanding amount but would also provide me with a bass that suits my physical and musical needs. I can break down the costs at a later date if required (and obviously I'll retain the email I sent for possible future use), but it's now in Jon's hands to decide whether he is prepared to accept this proposal and work to the details and specs I've sent him, which are extremely reasonable in my opinion.

R U high?

 

[jid]

To the OP: fool you once, shame on him. Fool you twice, shame on you.

Business transactions can’t be built on hope. Unless there is a delivery within X days clause, you are just letting the can get kicked. Even then, I only think it is semi-ok because you waited 10+ years… what is another 30 days (or whatever you deem acceptable). But still…. Do this and TB won’t be feeling badly for you if it goes south b/c we all told you so.

but we also wish you all the best and we do -hope- for the best outcome!

 

[Danny O Danny]

This has been a fascinating thread to read. Thank you, EddieG, for initiating it. You have done us a service. You have also been beyond gracious with Mr. Letts. Currently, if one Googles "Jon Letts bass" this thread is the fifth item to appear in the search results. Surely that will not bode well for Mr. Letts' reputation or business. Such are the consequences of acting in a profoundly faithless and dishonest manner toward one's customers, as he has done.

 

[J. Crawford]

I'm not gonna read all of the comments, so pardon if I repeat someone else's thoughts.
1. Jon Letts' business model is unsustainable. A custom or semi custom for that price? Ridiculous. Jon, raise your prices... a lot. Your work is worth it. Then you would have the resources to deal with the unexpected.
2. OP should have realized this. Probably did, but arrogantly thought he'd get a "steal". Took a gamble and lost. Suck it up, dude. In the long run, it's a cheap life lesson.
3. OP could have taken either of 2 basses that had mistakes with easy and totally acceptable work-arounds. If he had, he'd be sitting with a nice bass in his hands, instead of nothing. There's what we want, and there's what we get. Not always the same thing. This happens in building construction all the time. Gotta deal with what's real.

I didn't think this thread could have any responses worse than Jon's, but this takes the cake. I physically lol'd and cringed.

 

[Hawk256]

There are additional remedies in the US. I'm not familiar with UK's legal system, but in most states in the US, if you know what you're doing, you can file for a judgment against the debtor/defendant, garnish their wages, attach their bank accounts, and failing all that, having sheriff deputies at your door hauling away anything of value. It's a laborious and technical process but you can sometimes recover some or all the costs in doing so.

Sometimes that doesn't even work. I have a great story to tell but don't want to cut into the thread here. When you get that far along all bets are off.

 

[Micha84]

Just to update everyone, as per my earlier post and at his request I have emailed Jon Letts with a proposal for an instrument that would bring matters between us to a close.

The costs for this come in under the outstanding amount but would also provide me with a bass that suits my physical and musical needs. I can break down the costs at a later date if required (and obviously I'll retain the email I sent for possible future use), but it's now in Jon's hands to decide whether he is prepared to accept this proposal and work to the details and specs I've sent him, which are extremely reasonable in my opinion.

This is your choice, of course, but speaking just for me... no way would I have chosen this option. First off all, you have prolongued the whole thing even further. If somebody is serious about it, you can get $1000 in a month or two, a bass will take him maybe six - and if he shows you some fotos soon, but then after five months there is more delays and excuses, what will you do then?
Second: He screwed up two previous builds. "Third time's a charm" is not a good philosophy when it comes to deals and agreements.
Third: I would absolutely not trust anyone that I have been in such a serious conflict with to use the care and patience that is necessary for building a quality instrument. But once he ships you an instrument, no matter how badly build, I don't see any realistic chance for any further claims from your part.
And last but not least, as others have said: Me personally, I would not be able to enjoy this instrument.

Get your money, buy a good instrument elsewhere.

 

[Katoosie]

Just to update everyone, as per my earlier post and at his request I have emailed Jon Letts with a proposal for an instrument that would bring matters between us to a close.

The costs for this come in under the outstanding amount but would also provide me with a bass that suits my physical and musical needs. I can break down the costs at a later date if required (and obviously I'll retain the email I sent for possible future use), but it's now in Jon's hands to decide whether he is prepared to accept this proposal and work to the details and specs I've sent him, which are extremely reasonable in my opinion.

Are you a glutton for punishment, perhaps?

What in the world makes you think this is a good idea?

This is absolutely mental that you would consider having work done as a possible remedy out of this situation. Take a step back and think this through.



Going back a bit, since the amount of 50£ per month in payments got mentioned before... Think about how much that is. That is in the ballpark of money you'd pay for a phone and a plan.

What reasonable and functioning adult wouldn't be able to make even 50£ in payments during a period of 10 years?

You left it "in Jons hands" before and you got dicked around. Are you willing to let the guy give you a run around, again?!

Whatever this Letts guy has going on, it certainly causes him to be unreliable and untrustworthy. I wouldn't let him take charge of anything in this situation.