NZGuitars.com

Molly wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:14 am

robthemac wrote: ↑Thu Aug 12, 2021 10:15 pm Good to hear. If Whangarei's Cali Tweed isn't working on my fourth visit, he might get a call about his.

What's the story with that? You wouldn't want to buy one that'd had to be fixed, eh?

I had that with a Bluesbreaker combo once. After buying it I learned it'd been through the workshop for a repair. The thing never did have the sort of output you'd expect.

Will find out what needed doing. Sounded like a dodgy preamp tube to my ears, but that doesn't explain why it took 3+ months to get it sorted. If it's anything more than replacement of consumables, I'll be wanting a significant discount.

robthemac wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:30 am

Molly wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:14 am

robthemac wrote: ↑Thu Aug 12, 2021 10:15 pm Good to hear. If Whangarei's Cali Tweed isn't working on my fourth visit, he might get a call about his.

What's the story with that? You wouldn't want to buy one that'd had to be fixed, eh?

I had that with a Bluesbreaker combo once. After buying it I learned it'd been through the workshop for a repair. The thing never did have the sort of output you'd expect.

Will find out what needed doing. Sounded like a dodgy preamp tube to my ears, but that doesn't explain why it took 3+ months to get it sorted. If it's anything more than replacement of consumables, I'll be wanting a significant discount.

It's strange when retailers make it hard to deal with them.
I made a special expedition to a retailer yesterday; 2 1/2 hour round trip. Another customer arrived at the same time. The store guy told me not to touch anything then chatted with the other guy for 20 minutes while I waited patiently (timed it). When the other guy left, I was completely ignored which I found myself quite aggrieved by. I timed another 5 minutes then offered the gentleman some uncharacteristically sharp observations of my treatment.

All in all, a major disappointment. We could have had ongoing business and he had the perfect amp for my bandmate, but I can get the same level of service online without the inconvenience and parking fees.

Slowy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:48 am

All in all, a major disappointment. We could have had ongoing business and he had the perfect amp for my bandmate, but I can get the same level of service online without the inconvenience and parking fees.

I've had that. Being left standing there with a pocket full of plastic whist the 'guru' holds court with a bunch of kids; impressing them with his knowledge of all things metal and bragging about his 'endorsement' (free t-shits).

As Oldie discovered just yesterday, you can order from Andertons and have it on your doorstep inside a week.

Molly wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:54 am

Slowy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:48 am

All in all, a major disappointment. We could have had ongoing business and he had the perfect amp for my bandmate, but I can get the same level of service online without the inconvenience and parking fees.

I've had that. Being left standing there with a pocket full of plastic whist the 'guru' holds court with a bunch of kids; impressing them with his knowledge of all things metal and bragging about his 'endorsement' (free t-shits).

As Oldie discovered just yesterday, you can order from Andertons and have it on your doorstep inside a week.

That would give me t-shits too.

Molly wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:54 am

Slowy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:48 am

All in all, a major disappointment. We could have had ongoing business and he had the perfect amp for my bandmate, but I can get the same level of service online without the inconvenience and parking fees.

I've had that. Being left standing there with a pocket full of plastic whist the 'guru' holds court with a bunch of kids; impressing them with his knowledge of all things metal and bragging about his 'endorsement' (free t-shits).

As Oldie discovered just yesterday, you can order from Andertons and have it on your doorstep inside a week.

I want to shout-out Gear4Music too, also from UK. They had my studio monitors here in 4 days.

NippleWrestler wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:21 am

Molly wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:54 am

Slowy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:48 am

All in all, a major disappointment. We could have had ongoing business and he had the perfect amp for my bandmate, but I can get the same level of service online without the inconvenience and parking fees.

I've had that. Being left standing there with a pocket full of plastic whist the 'guru' holds court with a bunch of kids; impressing them with his knowledge of all things metal and bragging about his 'endorsement' (free t-shits).

As Oldie discovered just yesterday, you can order from Andertons and have it on your doorstep inside a week.

I want to shout-out Gear4Music too, also from UK. They had my studio monitors here in 4 days.

I guess with no passengers on the planes they can fill up all the seats with guitars.

Well it was sent by DHL Express. Not sure how many people they carry other than the crew but stranger things have happened.

NippleWrestler wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:39 am Well it was sent by DHL Express. Not sure how many people they carry other than the crew but stranger things have happened.

Lucky it didn't end up with Tom Hanks and that volleyball on that island.

hamo wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:41 am

NippleWrestler wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:39 am Well it was sent by DHL Express. Not sure how many people they carry other than the crew but stranger things have happened.

Lucky it didn't end up with Tom Hanks and that volleyball on that island.

That'd be my idea of hell. Stuck on an island with one guitar and no means of selling it.

Molly wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:51 am

hamo wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:41 am

NippleWrestler wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:39 am Well it was sent by DHL Express. Not sure how many people they carry other than the crew but stranger things have happened.

Lucky it didn't end up with Tom Hanks and that volleyball on that island.

That'd be my idea of hell. Stuck on an island with one guitar and no means of selling it.

I've been the point of one of those situations. Customer came in and I had another customer who had said he was coming in at 2pm and he did. So I had to leave the other customer with someone else whilst I worked with the guy who had come in specially at 2pm.

The original customer didn't want to talk to my colleague - just wanted to talk to me. So he waited. And when I was finished I went looking for him. Couldn't find him. Looked up his number and rang his mobile to see what he wanted and he said rudely, "Im sitting in the guitars department - you walked past me twice and ignored me". He then got up and walked out of the shop muttering about worst customer service in the world.

As for overseas purchasing ... don't get me started.

NZRS-Dave wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 11:59 am I've been the point of one of those situations. Customer came in and I had another customer who had said he was coming in at 2pm and he did. So I had to leave the other customer with someone else whilst I worked with the guy who had come in specially at 2pm.

The original customer didn't want to talk to my colleague - just wanted to talk to me. So he waited. And when I was finished I went looking for him. Couldn't find him. Looked up his number and rang his mobile to see what he wanted and he said rudely, "Im sitting in the guitars department - you walked past me twice and ignored me". He then got up and walked out of the shop muttering about worst customer service in the world.

As for overseas purchasing ... don't get me started.

Yeah, there's two sides. The shop was small so he knew I was there. He said he didn't like to hassle customers which is fair enough, but I think an acknowkedgement when he was free would have been simple courtesy.

Looking at my reaction in retrospect:

I had been looking forward to visiting this shop for a long while.
It was an incredibly inconvenient location from my perspective.
His first words to me were 'Please don't touch anything'.
I quickly identified two modest and one significant purchases.
The other guy was a customer, but for 15 minutes, they were just shooting the breeze while I waited.
I was expecting him to approach me the moment he was finished, but he didn't even look at me.
So a combination of indignation and disappointment means I will never put myself out to return, which is a real pity.
And because I never mentioned the amp I saw there, my bandmate purchased something else this morning.

Slowy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 12:16 pm
His first words to me were 'Please don't touch anything'.

Red rag to a bull. I'd have touched EVERYTHING.

That sucks, Slowy.

I wasn't meaning to infer that the lack of service was in some way related to you. Apologies.

Having grumpy customer is great training but so frustrated as for many customers - there are other options - people can purchase elsewhere and overseas so we do need to work harder to keep the customers we have.

Molly wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 12:22 pm Red rag to a bull. I'd have touched EVERYTHING.

Like you need an invitatiomn, Molly

It'd be like "Sir, please don' tou ..." oh you've already fingered the Soldano. Nice.

JB - settle down.