Thomann shipping stress!

MattAttack · 2012-07-13T13:58:19+00:00

So I've just ordered my Kramer SM-1 (White/Duncans) from Thomann. I bought a case for the guitar to be shipped in and also bought several small things that...

Thomann shipping stress!

MattAttack

Giggsy wrote: I think giving them (or any online shop for that matter) detailed packing instructions is like spitting in the rain -

Sounds like what happens when you ask for "no garnish", just asking for trouble!

I just don't understand how if you buy a guitar and a case together, they fail to realise that you'd actually prefer the case to be used for it's purpose you know?

I thought the German's were innovative? :-\

giggsy

MattAttack wrote: I thought the German's were innovative? :-\

:roflmao:

Yeah, I hear you and it is a stress, but sure that everything will be cool - will you be using the case when it gets here or was it just for the shipping purposes?

IceCreamMan

yr guitar should be fine ....shipping cpmpanies know how t odeal with em ...so dont stress .... remember the majority of guitars imported into za are in cardboard boxes anyway

giggsy, photo's please 8)

giggsy

IceCreamMan wrote: giggsy, photo's please 8)

Monday, I promise 8)

Hammeron

Matt, if you phone them just be sure not to mention the War..... ?

MattAttack

Giggsy wrote:
MattAttack wrote: I thought the German's were innovative? :-\
:roflmao:

Yeah, I hear you and it is a stress, but sure that everything will be cool - will you be using the case when it gets here or was it just for the shipping purposes?

Yeah it was just for shipping! Luckily the case was less than R400 though. It looks like a Thomann branded Gator case, identical. If I had known that the case was going to be shipped seperately, I would of went with the flight case I originally wanted, it's like a guitar-safe if you bolt it to the wall =D

If the Thormann case is lighter than my Casket case, I might keep it. Otherwise expect to see it on Gumtree for R600 ?

MattAttack

Hammeron wrote: Matt, if you phone them just be sure not to mention the War..... ?

Sound advice! =D

giggsy

Matt/Reinhard - here are all the details about costs that I paid: http://www.guitarforum.co.za/guitar-gear/buying-used-from-musiciansfriend/180/

Bob-Dubery

I see that Thomann guarantee that everything is shipped in the original factory packaging. Now that's a good thing because it gives you some confidence that the new item you bought really is new.

But here's the thing: If they unwrap the case you ordered, then take the guitar out of it's wrapping and put it in the case then they've broken their own promise.

Yeah... I know you asked them to do it, but it's probably more trouble for them than it's worth. Firstly because somebody somewhere will now take issue with them asking how he knows that this stuff he's just got really is new.

Secondly because they now have to have staff reading every order, seeing which customer wants what placed inside what else, having to get all those bits and pieces together, remove all the factory packing and then assemble the package rather than just take stuff off of different shelves, put a label on it and hand it over to the couriers.

To do it the way you want it would push prices up. And unless they actually lead you to believe they would take the guitar that you ordered, put it in the case that you ordered and ship it like that then I don't think you have a complaint.

chris77

The guitars I've ordered online have all been boxed and packaged really well, but you still worry hey :-[ My biggest concern everytime I have bought online has been that I get a dud ☹.Five out of seven on the guits turned out great though.

Alex-B-Broadway

chris77 wrote: The guitars I've ordered online have all been boxed and packaged really well, but you still worry hey :-[ My biggest concern everytime I have bought online has been that I get a dud ☹.Five out of seven on the guits turned out great though.

What about the other two?

epictring

I've ordered a Takamine acoustic from eBay before. Got here in perfect condition in a factory box, I wouldn't worry too much - there's a risk.. but it's not worth breaking a leg/something over.

chris77

Alex B Broadway wrote:
chris77 wrote: The guitars I've ordered online have all been boxed and packaged really well, but you still worry hey :-[ My biggest concern everytime I have bought online has been that I get a dud ☹.Five out of seven on the guits turned out great though.
What about the other two?

One is a Fender Showmaster that I bought 2nd hand. I had problems setting it up, mainly because a lot of the bloody parts were rusted together as if welded by a pro. Ended up breaking of the anchor of the trem, so I had to drill it out and totally stuffed up the job. Filled up the botched drill job and decided to sommer maar refinish it while I'm at it. So naturally I stuffed that up as well. ? After many hours of cussing and redoing everything over and over again, I finally got it playable and presentable. Leaving only the shitty tone. ? I don't have the time or the will to tackle that any time soon, so she is packed away in her case and stored in our attic type ceiling space.
The other is an Ibanez EW20WNE acoustic, bought new. Sounded kinda good at first, but the more I played it the more it sucked. Really thin and lifeless. And when I got my Breedlove, the difference was just enormous! I finally had to accept just how bad a guitar it actually is. And I tried everything hey. Different guages, different strings, different materials, dropped the action, raised the action, fitted a bone saddle - the works. Still sucked. Ended up giving it away because I couldn't bear selling it to someone else and have that on my conscience.

exsanguinator

online companies dont keep stock as such
so unless they sub contract to the same music retailer(they mostly deal with wholesalers)they just pass on your order
so two seperate wholesalers wont be able to just put this and that into a box for you unless they ship it to the online companies warehouse and get someone to physically open the parcel and combine the final parcel..
Which incurs extra postage and labour,which cuts into their slim profit margins etc etc
Logistical nightmare

Bob-Dubery

exsanguinator wrote: online companies dont keep stock as such

Some do, and Thomann is an actual shop in rural Germany.

My wife seems to know the location of every knitting shop in the known universe. A few years ago she insisted we seek out the famous (in knitting circles) Laughing Hens in rural Sussex. I assured her that
a) They would not open their doors just because two South African tourists came knocking
b) They wouldn't have any physical stock anyway

Wrong on both counts.

exsanguinator

Yes they are big,
in general no.
but why do you think their postage for o/s is EU50 minimum?
even for a plectrum or a guitar pot...LOL

MattAttack

X-rated Bob wrote:
exsanguinator wrote: online companies dont keep stock as such
My wife seems to know the location of every knitting shop in the known universe. A few years ago she insisted we seek out the famous (in knitting circles) Laughing Hens in rural Sussex. I assured her that
a) They would not open their doors just because two South African tourists came knocking
b) They wouldn't have any physical stock anyway

Wrong on both counts.

Wow.
Well I'm sure you were thrilled.

MattAttack

Here's the response I got from Thomann:

"Hi there,

Many thanks for your email. Apologies for the late reply, but we have a high volume of emails at the moment.

You can order a hard case at the same time as the guitar but we cannot place the guitar in the hard case as it has to be shipped in its original packaging.

All shipments are insured against loss or damage in transit, if we take the guitar out of it's packaging then this will void the insurance as the shipping company would claim the damaged was caused when the guitar was re-packed by Thomann.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch."

So there we go, all very understandable.
I'm sure it will land without any troubles.

I'm just frustrated now coz My tracking no. doesn't work on the DHL website, so I have no clue where my guitar is =/

Also, it seems they just use DHL to deliver to SAPO, as stated in the last shipping update I got:

"The shipment will be transported to the destination country and, from there, handed over to the delivery organization. (Homepage / online shipment tracking: <a href='http://www.postoffice.co.za/' class='arrowLink' target='_blank'><span class='arrow'>http://www.postoffice.co.za/</span></a>) (IPZ-Ffm)"

Can any one confirm this?

IceCreamMan

i stand to be corrected on this so await confirmation but the SAPO issue a new differetn number, contact SAPO call centre and ask for the local number, once u have the local number track it on the SAPO website.

MattAttack

IceCreamMan wrote: i stand to be corrected on this so await confirmation but the SAPO issue a new differetn number, contact SAPO call centre and ask for the local number, once u have the local number track it on the SAPO website.

Thanks. I'll confirm this soon as I found out.

What's the chances of me reaching a call center agent willing to pick up a phone on a Friday afternoon? =D