From: rath@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Subject: Re: guitars by mail?
Reply-To: rath@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 23:12:55 GMT

In article <1402@sousa.ltn.dec.com>, ttesta@kali.enet.dec.com (Tom Testagrossa) writes:
>
>	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 
>
>
> (stuff lost due to inability to hit enter--maybe ought to go to a computer
store and play with the computer and bug a salesperson to show him where 
that button is and how it works, even though he's not interested in buying it)
>
>
>
>
Original poster wrote and lost Something about a schmuck in his store 
banging up his stuff who doesn't know how to play...
>y it, and has NO intention of really buying it!)

Hey I *used to* shop in in a place with a guy in it who sounds like you!
Your not him, are You?  Nah, he wentr out of business--Or maybe
your....Nah, he had to close up and get a factory job to pay bills...
A lot of guitar salespeople/storeowners scare away a lot of customers with 
the display of genius and virtuosity when somebody justs wants to check out an 
axe to log away for future reference (to buy at a discount at the guy down the
street's place who doesn't hassle and gets good deals buying up guitars 
from people who have lost their guitar store...).  I dawdle around with 
no intent of buying sometimes, and if somebody gives me the paternalist show, 
I do one of two things--I leave and don't shop there even for strings, or I
talk the talk if I am truly interested--Ive bought enough stuf to know how--
and then leave and don't shop there even for strings.  When I am buying a
guitar, I like to check things which have little to do with my ability 
and sound awful--like checking for dead spots on the neck and playinbg 
chords in different positions to check intonation and setup--I don't ever 
remember banginmg them around--say was Pete Townsend a customer of yours?
Anyway, when I buy a guitar or other equipment, I always check it out 
and go hom,e and come back a day or two later.  Generally this takes the 
shape of dawdling around on a guitar a few times without being bothered
and then simply realizing that I *had* to have it.  I stay out of stores 
when funds are low for fear that I'll see one  i gotta get.  Ohwell...my
two cents worth--sorry for the flame, cause you seem to know your stuff, but
put away the attitude, dude.  Maybe then you can buy out all those great
buys when a hi-hair rocker whose gone through mom's savings account to
open a guitar store which will be totally awesome has to clear *his*
inventory so ma can keep the house...
--rich

>	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 mone
>	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 t
>	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 th
>
>	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 
>	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 inste
>	(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
Newsgroups: alt.guitar