From: ttesta@kali.enet.dec.com (Tom Testagrossa)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: guitars by mail?
Date: 28 Jul 92 14:04:20 GMT
Reply-To: ttesta@kali.enet.dec.com (Tom Testagrossa)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Ma.


	I ordered my first Rickenbacker 360/12 (Before I got my own Rickenbacker
dealership!!!) through Musician's Friend...
	I was a bit leery about buying a guitar mail order, but they reassured
me that:
1) if there was any problem, they would make it right...

2) Rickenbacker was one of the BEST guitar manufacturers as far as consistant quality goes, and they had not had a problem with them...

	I also know if I still wasn't happy, I could get my credit card company to help out (under their buyer assuance plan!!!)
	So, I ordered one...it was (at the time) the BEST price in the country for a RIC 360/12...(but now *I* have the best prices...Set mode=SHAMELESS_PLUG - ask me about saving a few $$$ on Rickenbackers...) and then waited for the results...when it finally came in (RIC's take a LONG time to get from the factory!) I was THRILLED. It played beautifully, there was not a single mark on it (Like you sometimes have from a guitar hanging in a music store, being played by every schmuck that can't afford it, can't pla








y it, and has NO intention of really buying it!)
	I was lucky to have had a VERY positive experience, and I would do it again, but (being older and wiser) I would consider the following: 
	I would buy mail order ONLY if I had some assurance (in writing)
that if I wasn't happy with the instrument I could get a no hassle refund!
(Yes, if *I'm* not happy with it...FOR ANY REASON...not just if there's a HUGE defect...Hey, even if I don't like the shade of color used for the finish, I need to know that it's OK to send it back and try again, after all *I'M* the guy spending the money...don't take my money and then tell me I get what I get...)
	That means *I* have to do *MY* utmost to get (in writing) the refund policy, BEFORE I buy (That's just being a smart consumer!) I don't want to find
out later that they have a "no refund" or "just credit" policy on returns...I've heard too many horror stories to want that.
	I based my own RIC dealership on dealing in an up front manner, with a
100% satisfaction guarantee (in writing) within an agreed upon trial period. If you don't like the instrument FOR ANY REASON, return it (in its ORIGINAL condition) for a full refund, but you pay shipping...)
	That was also based on the policies of the biggist Vintage Guitar dealers in the country...because buying an instrument is very subjective, so a good mail order place (vintage dealer, etc...) must understand that and have appropriate policies in place to deal with it...otherwise I'd advise against dealing with them...you'll be risking a lot of time and aggravation!
	There are probably some reasonable exceptions...for instance, I've never had to "Special Order" a custom intrument (which requires pre-payment upon order), but in that case I would expect to spell out beforehand (in as great a detail as possible) all the requirements...

	If I trusted the quality of the company and its products, I would not be afraid to mail order...but there are some companies products which I have typically found were "varied" due to the way the guitars are built...(Fender's come to mind, however it's nothing against them, this is just the nature of the beast with any "bolt on" neck guitar!)
	Here's a case in point...I bought a Squire strat from a music store at one of their "by invitation only" sales (I was looking for a Red 50's re-issue Strat, REASONABLY priced) I tried every Strat in the store and ended up buying a Red Squire Strat instead because the price was unreal, and it felt better...some of the "real" strats played/felt worse than this Squire...
	(No flames please, I LOVE Fenders...I know the pickups and machines are much lower quality on my Squire, changing those will give me a good, roadworthy axe which doesn't give me a broken heart every time I hit a mic stand...)
	I'm still looking for a Red 50's re-issue Strat...but I will probably
play quite a few more before I find the one I want...so I guess trying to
mail order one would just NOT be a good idea...
Just my opinions
Tom T