Zon basses - is everything OK ?

[Clark W]

4 years for a 3 month-quoted repair? And a $1K deposit was already paid for that "repair"? Unbelievable!
This should definitely be a WARNING thread.

Definitely!

Truth is, this thread was started in 2018, it should have been a warning thread years ago. At this point I look at Zon the same way I look at Darin Huff, Oscar Prat, Marc Serio(Dr Bass Cabs), or David Schwab (SGD Pickups). Yes the circumstances vary for each one of them as to what happened, but in the end the results are the same, money taken, promises broken, product undelivered.

 

[TFunkadelic]

Actually yes.

I agree, and I don't understand why the situation with Zon is different.

Many people rely on instruments to make some, or all of their living in much the same way many people rely on a car.

In any event, Zon is holding someone's property (and money) and ignoring communication that would lead to its return.

 

[Andychn]

View attachment 7340581

Sorry, doesn't work that way. The delivery quote is an estimate, not a guarantee. You place an order, you take your chances.

Ok then… the only other recourse the community has is to boycott.
I own two Zons, but thanks to what I’m seeing here I would not go with another. As I posted months ago I was about to ship one of my sonus’ neck to Zon for a refinish but after reading this thread I nixed that. It is NOT worth the wait.
Heck, there’s lots of other bass producers out there making excellent instruments. Why bother with a company that treats its customers this way. Eff that!

 

[Andychn]

Ok then… the only other recourse the community has is to boycott.
I own two Zons, but thanks to what I’m seeing here I would not go with another. As I posted months ago I was about to ship one of my sonus’ neck to Zon for a refinish but after reading this thread I nixed that. It is NOT worth the wait.
Heck, there’s lots of other bass producers out there making excellent instruments. Why bother with a company that treats its customers this way. Eff that!

Heads-up.
I was just in email contact with Martin Peters. He writes they were not aware of this thread and have delivered or will deliver on all orders. I sent him a link to this thread. I would love to hear their side of this story!

 

[31HZ]

Joe himself has responded to this thread (admittedly on the first page, before it got legs), and I've referred to it in my emails to Martin.

Just saying

 

[WG Plum]

Joe himself has responded to this thread (admittedly on the first page, before it got legs), and I've referred to it in my emails to Martin.

Just saying

Was going to say, that doesn’t sound right at all.

 

[OldShark]

I guess that is just another sign of miss-communication (or lack of passive communication): If they would take this thread as relevant, they certainly could have delivered those extremely delayed basses (and the suspended repair, which is even more troublesome IMHO!, or had the unrepaired bass returned), and many readers of this thread would feel way better — and possible further customers might think, well, it took way longer than expected, but at least they DID deliver...

 

[Andychn]

Joe himself has responded to this thread (admittedly on the first page, before it got legs), and I've referred to it in my emails to Martin.

Just saying

Yup… that’s right.
I just did a scan of this entire thread. All eight years. Took careful note of each poster who stated they ordered and when they got delivery.
Frankly, Rumblefishes’ eight year wait including his change of order and his providing his own PUs is now kinda looking a bit strange. It simply does not make sense. For sure Zon is late on their deliveries, but they ARE delivering… except for Rumblefishes’ order. Martin claims no knowledge of this long delayed order.
Hmmm…
So Mr Rumblefish… you got an invoice? Let’s see it. Redacted of course.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Frankly, Rumblefishes’ eight year wait including his change of order and his providing his own PUs is now kinda looking a bit strange. It simply does not make sense. For sure Zon is late on their deliveries, but they ARE delivering… except for Rumblefishes’ order. Martin claims no knowledge of this long delayed order.
Hmmm…
So Mr Rumblefish… you got an invoice? Let’s see it. Redacted of course.

GTF out of here with your accusations. Rumblefisher doesn't owe you anything. @Angus suffered an even longer wait, so there is precedent.

 

[iTzPrime]

Yup… that’s right.
I just did a scan of this entire thread. All eight years. Took careful note of each poster who stated they ordered and when they got delivery.
Frankly, Rumblefishes’ eight year wait including his change of order and his providing his own PUs is now kinda looking a bit strange. It simply does not make sense. For sure Zon is late on their deliveries, but they ARE delivering… except for Rumblefishes’ order. Martin claims no knowledge of this long delayed order.
Hmmm…
So Mr Rumblefish… you got an invoice? Let’s see it. Redacted of course.

There are other that waited longer or very similar time. There is precedent - there is also quite a lot that waited 5+ years

 

[iTzPrime]

This email of mine to Zon, part of a very protracted exchange, was six months into my (quoted 2-3 month, currently at 4+ years) wait to receive my instrument sent in for repair. I was nothing but patient and accommodating until I couldn't be, and then I stopped inquiring.

They know.

View attachment 7342404

To be fair, if I had to wait 4 years to get an instrument back, I would contact a lawyer and demand the instrument back.

 

[31HZ]

To be fair, if I had to wait 4 years to get an instrument back, I would contact a lawyer and demand the instrument back.

Would you be willing to spend thousands of dollars and possibly days of lost work in travel, all in order to receive a fully dismantled (and thereby nearly worthless) instrument that no one else would want to even work on? Serious question.

 

[WG Plum]

Yeah, alrighty then.

 

[Angus]

I don’t blame folks for getting miffed at my insinuation. You can flame me. Go right ahead. I will NOT flame back. But the evidence I am finding is intriguing and worth noting. I’ve managed lots of various forums over the past 30 years and I’ve seen lots of different kinds of Social Engineering online. This smells of it. Not all trolls are blatantly antagonistic.
I do not dispute that Zon has been slow in order fulfillment. But that slow delivery could easily be a motivating factor. I also note how each post is carefully written to not present even a hint of animosity which in turn deflects suspicion. He’s such a nice guy! He can’t be manipulating me. I’ve also seen lots of sock puppets where one user has multiple accounts and names with different personalities.

I went further and scanned all of Rumblefishers posts which are in the thousands. Of this large sample the vast majority of his posts are in classifieds. As such, it’s a good assumption that this person is involved in buying and selling instruments. What I could NOT find was one post that had anything to do with actually playing bass.

Why would anyone do this? Actually I can think of quite a few reasons. Some are extrinsic.
Easy way to prove it one way or another… post the invoice and I’ll forward it (per Martin’s request) on to Zon!

Dude, take this somewhere else. No point to this conspiracy angle.

 

[Andychn]

Dude, take this somewhere else. No point to this conspiracy angle.

If this user is a benign troll, he is defaming Zon. As such, there’s no point to this entire thread.

 

[Angus]

If this user is a benign troll, he is defaming Zon. As such, there’s no point to this entire thread.

Not everything is a conspiracy.

 

[Andychn]

Not everything is a conspiracy.

I could be wrong. If I am I will gladly apologize. But we won’t know if I am wrong unless an invoice is posted of this eight year long order. An invoice that I can forward to Martin who would then have to either state it’s not real or have to defend the lack of fulfillment.
Someone above stated that Martin lied to me… hmmm who would you believe… someone you had numerous successful transactions with… who’ve you’ve met in person and crafted the instrument you depend on or a rando who posts stuff on some forum?

 

[who]

I don't understand what Rumblefisher would stand to gain from this presumed seven year long defamation campaign.

 

[Angus]

Someone above stated that Martin lied to me… hmmm who would you believe… someone you had numerous successful transactions with… who’ve you’ve met in person and crafted the instrument you depend on or a rando who posts stuff on some forum?

This is a hilarious example if you knew the shop well.

Just let this thread get back to normal programming.

 

[Andychn]

I don't understand what Rumblefisher would stand to gain from this presumed seven year long defamation campaign.

Simple… inhibit sales.