They’re finishing/delivering enough basses every month to pay the bills without the income of more deposits.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Zon basses - is everything OK ?
- Thread starter Rumblefisher
- Start date
I guess THEY have a good accountant who can tell them the difference between cash flow and profits. It's not rocket science but you need to be organize and willing to manage your business. I have a feeling the "end" for Zon is not going to look pretty with many people will just lose the deposit, plain and simple
My itch for a 34 inch 5 strings Zon is still strong though
I doubt any small shop has an accountant. Fodera probably does but they’re a big operation in terms of high end basses. I think Wal is a 2-3 man operation and Zon is likely about that size as well. Doubt they can afford one.
I HOPE they have a CPA to assist them, yeah i did not meant an internal finance organization. If i can hire a guy to do my tax return i guess the Zon shop can have one. And with long lead time, inventory management and deposit management you better have clean books!
Last edited:
I emailed Zon a little earlier today and indicated that their reputation was going downhill rapidly. I received the prompt response from the email account of Martin Peters. He was unaware there were any negative feelings.
He expressed concern that there was negative information circulating and indicated there were issues with their ISP.
I also included a link to this thread.
He expressed concern that there was negative information circulating and indicated there were issues with their ISP.
I also included a link to this thread.
What I meant was that there's more motivation to deliver an order with an outstanding balance, because it'll bring in additional money. On the flip side, there's less incentive to build an order that's paid in full... especially when finances are strained.
Now, that's for the average customer. Celebrity endorsees will of course be prioritized over everyone else... I think we all accept that as SOP for all businesses, and don't mind as long as we aren't noticeably inconvenienced.
Joe Zon posted on page 1 of this thread, back in February 2019. I doubt he's been here since, though.
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,010
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
The concerns have been relayed to them numerous times. "Unaware" can mean "blithely ignoring". I wish that I did not think that were the case.
Martin is a good guy. Joe is a good guy. They build great instruments.
The way in which they are blowing off @Rumblefisher (and blew off the others in this thread for years before finally completing those instruments) is pretty reprehensible.
The fact that you got a quick reply and he does not is ... instructive.
I didn't buy anything he was saying. I sent the email strictly out of curiosity to see what, if any, response I would get. And I had the same reaction with the quick reply. The whole situation is pretty slimy. Martin seemed like a nice guy, but then the best at the game present themselves as nice guys.
Apparently the internet has been broken for them for 6 years while rumble tried to get his bass. So many sad and pathetic excuses. My 5 year old grandchild comes up with better ones.
Every response from this company and every response solidifies fhe damage done to this brand. I would never waste my time with this company. Ive said it again and again.
Definition of insanity..
People who still put down money and expect a different outcome must really feel like they going to be one of the lucky ones. I think I'd have better luck winning the lottery than getting a zon bass in an acceptable timeframe at this point.
This thread is a disaster. They aren't aware that people have been blowing them up with no response for years while they disappear and ghost people? Not sure if that is worse than the delay on the basses or not. pPleading ignorance is not a good look ontop of all the other bad ones.
The ostrich head in the sand technique has played old.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,074
- 9,790
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Interesting that Joe (and Martin) respond pretty quickly regarding issues about their online reputation, but cant respond to current customers who cant seem to get any information after repeated emails and calls about the status of their orders, that are months or years overdue. I guess the ISP kicks in when its a reputation issue that might affect future orders.
I used to dream of a Legacy Elite four string. Not anymore. I'm on the list for when Wal opens up orders again. Seems like I'd be more likely to get a Wal sooner than if I ordered a Zon today.
Serious question: how does this help this thread? Or did you just say this to make yourself feel better/superior because of something unrelated going on in your life that makes you feel inadequate?
There's a lot of speculation going on here and very little facts. As one of the people who has a deposit down on a past due order I'll probably stay subscribed to this thread, but now that it has turned into a bunch of rants from people who don't have a dog in this fight, I'm far less likely to pay attention.
It was late June/early July 2021 that I put my deposit down and was quoted 12-14 months. I've been in touch with Joe many times, including recently. I understand what the delays are for my instrument, and I could guess that they extend to several others as well. But now that this thread is getting overrun by people who feel like they need to say something negative about a situation that they're not a part of, I quit sharing information here (never feed the trolls!). But I've had some nice conversations with some frequent posters here over PM, including some folks that have put down deposits recently.
I can't defend Joe's lack of communication. But I'm still certain he's the only one who could build the bass I commissioned, and I'm willing to put up with what comes along with that. In the days of ordering from Amazon and expecting it the next day, this is not that, and I think people forget that. I understand that other builders have more robust communication with their customers, but I never thought the intent of this thread was a comparison, just a place to talk about the issues that have come up dealing with Zon Guitars.
Jefus out.
I can't defend Joe's lack of communication. But I'm still certain he's the only one who could build the bass I commissioned, and I'm willing to put up with what comes along with that. In the days of ordering from Amazon and expecting it the next day, this is not that, and I think people forget that. I understand that other builders have more robust communication with their customers, but I never thought the intent of this thread was a comparison, just a place to talk about the issues that have come up dealing with Zon Guitars.
Jefus out.
Hey, kinda wish you hadn't done that...there is no negative feeling on my end, and I don't want them perceiving it that way. It is what it is, and this was meant as (initially) an earnestly concerned question regarding the health of either the people or company of Zon Guitars (it turns out that circumstances beyond their control - a fire, family emergency, and pandemic - contributed to the backlog). The thread morphed into a support group I think more than anything else, which was ok and even comforting at times.
As I mentioned earlier, I don't want them to slap a bass together hurriedly just to get something like this to go away.
If it's not too much trouble, please send them a follow up that the original poster (me) harbors no bad feeling, has not slandered them in any way (ive been careful about wording) and is not connected to or promoting the idea of 'downhill rep.'
I would appreciate it please.
Last edited:
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,010
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
@Rumblefisher at the end of the day I am pretty sure they won't "slap together a bass" - once it goes out of the shop it has their name on it, and unless something has changed (because communication was never Zon's strong point) they won't send something half-assed out.
OTOH the folks here who have actually gotten basses seem to be the ones who didn't wait quietly (most recently @Gfkfloyd )
Just my observations.
OTOH the folks here who have actually gotten basses seem to be the ones who didn't wait quietly (most recently @Gfkfloyd )
Just my observations.
Last edited:
True on both counts. I think I'm just...non confrontational, probably to a fault. The only things that rile me are things that would pose a threat to the well being of another human being. Then...im loud. Otherwise, especially when it comes to myself, meh.
The sqeaky wheel gets the grease is your point, and you are right. It just puts a knot in my stomach even having to speak up on my own behalf.
The sqeaky wheel gets the grease is your point, and you are right. It just puts a knot in my stomach even having to speak up on my own behalf.
Mod here.
We keep these threads open because they serve a purpose, or perhaps multiple purposes, or perhaps a purpose for multiple people. Threads like this are part informational, part warning to those who are thinking of placing an order, part support group for those who are waiting, and perhaps part motivation for the manufacturer/builder/company involved to do the right thing.
If none of these apply to you, feel free to wander away or observe quietly or even offer your sympathy. But slagging on folks, whoever they are, is just bad behavior and could be considered disrespectful or trolling. I'm not planning to delete any posts, because sometimes it's worth it to leave stuff alone when people reveal their character.
We keep these threads open because they serve a purpose, or perhaps multiple purposes, or perhaps a purpose for multiple people. Threads like this are part informational, part warning to those who are thinking of placing an order, part support group for those who are waiting, and perhaps part motivation for the manufacturer/builder/company involved to do the right thing.
If none of these apply to you, feel free to wander away or observe quietly or even offer your sympathy. But slagging on folks, whoever they are, is just bad behavior and could be considered disrespectful or trolling. I'm not planning to delete any posts, because sometimes it's worth it to leave stuff alone when people reveal their character.
