chris77
As mentioned before I got a set of Tonerider Rocksongs for my Ibanez Ajd. Because its a Semi-Hollow and I have never swopped pups on s.h before I took it to a local Guitarshop to install them. So Yesterday I got a call to collect. So far, so good.
Got there and the guy tells me what a nice guit it is and how awesome she sounds, heck they even did a minor set-up (intonation and action) and oiled my fingerboard for me. The Price for a full instalations and set-up? R399.00. Pleasantly suprised at this modest total I pay with a smile. I thought it would be about double that.
Get home plug her in and theres sound allright, but she doesnt sound so lekker. (Also, my strings now buzz when i hit em hard.) Fiddle around with the tone and volume and it just doesnt quite sound right. So I have a decent look and notice that the Neck pup was put in upside down. The pole screws are on the bridge side instead of the neck side. A liitle light dawns... strip her down and I now see that not only was the neck pup upside down, but they had the mounting rings swopped as well! Big problem on a carved top. Fix that as well, restring her and still the pups are behaveing badly. Adjust the height and fiddle with the balance to try and see if I can get them to behave when low and behold, what will I notice next... Th pick-up selector switch is eitrher upside down or wired incorrectly. Serious, you flip it up and its the bridge pup, flip it down and its the neck-pup. So I just put her back in the case and went to bed.
R400.00 bucks down the drain and no, I will not take her back to them to fix the F-up. The guy they have doing their work is either a novice or a total incompetent. The trust has been broken. Jirre I am so dissapointed.
Jack-Flash-Jr
It is your duty to sh*t them out. I had to read that three times to let it all sink in WTF WTF WTF! Go get your money back.
In light of the constructive criticism requests that have been going around, go and constructively criticise them so they don't knowingly or unknowingly rip someone else off. R400 is R400.
Gearhead
I honestly think you should tell them. There can not be so many guitar shops in Kimberley, so you might need their assistance at some point.
BTW I also think that all shops in SA should be member here so they could read about the feedback that they're not getting in the shop.
AlanRatcliffe
Geez.
+1 on at least telling the manager/owner. They can't improve if they don't know.
I think you'll be hard pressed to find anyone else to do it in your area so your choices are to take it back to them and say "fix" or do it yourself. I favour the latter approach, even though an archtop is a bit of a cow to work with. You need any help, just shout.
But honestly if the guy can't get the rings or switch the right way round, I'd be extremely sceptical of any wiring work done - total noob mistakes and any experienced tech should be able to see the pickups are backwards at a glance. I'd also be reluctant to take it back for more work - the chances of someone of that calibre getting it right even the second time around are slim IMO..
Bob-Dubery
IMO the moment you noticed the problems you should have taken the guitar back to them and pointed out the errors.
If you'd seen that the pickup was in the wrong way round and taken it back to show them they would have had the opportunity to refund you or to make good. OK... you don't want them touching your guitar again and may not have accepted their offer anyway, but at least they'd have had the chance to try to repair the situation and the relationship. If they brushed you off or tried to smoke you THEN you would have done the best that you could do.
I have the same instincts as you, but I've learned that it's better to discuss the matter because they may come to the party. They don't always, but if they do then my estimation of them generally improves and that's a good thing all around.
Bob-Dubery
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
But honestly if the guy can't get the rings or switch the right way round, I'd be extremely sceptical of any wiring work done - total noob mistakes and any experienced tech should be able to see the pickups are backwards at a glance. I'd also be reluctant to take it back for more work - the chances of someone of that calibre getting it right even the second time around are slim IMO..
And poor QC too. They clearly didn't plug the thing in and check the pickups because if they had they'd have noticed the selector switch weirdness.
Gearhead
The selector switch can be rotated 180 degrees without rewiring or fiddling inside; just unscrew the top nut a bit and rotate by the lever.
PeteM
You certainly did not get what you paid for. I would insist on getting my money back if I had to rectify the problem.
DonovanB
if you can do it yourself, why not offer the service in Kimberly? ?
Tell them at least so they know they need to pay more attention to detail
chris77
Had a big think this morning and went for the diplomatic approach, and actually I feel better now for doing it.
Phoned them up and asked who worked on it. He asked why and I told him, but nicely. ? So then follows the crux of the story of how the owner is on holliday and he ussually does all the repair work, but they will gladly have him fix her when he's back, all the time appolgising profusely. Told him its fine cause I had already fixed most of the faults last night, but I just thought I'd phone and bring it to their attention that they have now lost a customer. Some more appologies and a promise that the owner will phone me back. The clerk, but not the owner, just phoned and said again how sorry they are that I am not happy with the work and that I must please come by when I have the chance to collect something as a way of saying sorry. (Hope its a Tube Amp, hehe ?)
Will try and rotate the Selector switch tonight. If that fails I might maar just wait for the owner to get back and have him redo the whole thing.
Jack-Flash-Jr
There we go, diplomacy works every time. Well done and I hope it's a tube amp too!
Bob-Dubery
Cool. You feel better too.
baseline
I totally agree with Alan, South Africans are soft on retailers, But they are starting to question service levels. Like the guys all say R.400 bucks is R400 bucks. You in all fairness paid someone to do a job, that in fact was not done properly. I even wonder if they gave it a test drive. If the guys knew what they were doing they would have picked up the switching problem as well as the poor sound form the pups.
I would demand the problems to be fixed by their ” EXPERT” in front of you sometimes watching can put them under pressure but it Also brings out the capabilities of the individual doing the job. If they can’t sort it, ask for a refund or at least some form of compensation.
When I was in the motor industry one of my guys did not fill in the service check sheet, the customer quite rightly said that we had not done the service as per the unfilled in sheet, I explained that it had been done but human error had crept in and the tech had omitted to fill in the sheet, he explained that based on the facts presented he could not bring himself to pay for something he felt was part of a service and he omitted to pay. A hard lesson but one that was quickly addressed. Nothing motivates like lost revenue .so ask the guys to sort it out,
i listened to the new wakhead cd there is a call centre joke on the but besides the joke the extent the call centre would go to is brilliant!! we have a long way to go, but here hoping. ?
baseline
well done CHRIS. to slow on the trigger finger, it's a bi%^h typing with one finger He HE 8)
PeteM
Good one Chris - that knot in the stomach as left the building eh? ?
Seventhson
Got my new guitar a full set up for free when I bought it. And they did a fine job. Got it set up at music connection very good people there.
tonerider
>☹ I feel like driving up there and rewiring the guitar myself - for free! They should have told you in advance that the REAL repairman was on holiday.
I have to salute you for being diplomatic though!
Please make sure that they actually fit the "bridge" humbucker in the bridge position and the "neck" humbucker in the neck position. If this is incorrect your guitar will be completely unbalanced.
Come to think of it - I wonder whether they're actually aware that it is a calibrated set of pickups that they're installing ???
AlanRatcliffe
Good point Andre. Chris, I'd tell them that you want the owner to doublecheck all the wiring completely when he gets back too.
Bob-Dubery
Seventhson wrote:
Got my new guitar a full set up for free when I bought it. And they did a fine job. Got it set up at music connection very good people there.
Yep. Mando Silva is running their workshop now. He's a nice guy and a good technician.
chris77
Went there yesterday after work and sadly, no free tube amp. ? Did get another set of apologies and store credit though, which is good. Have a bad case of summer flu to boot so didnt tinker with her last night. The owner is back on Monday, so if I can resist the temptation of doing it myself over the weekend I'll take her back to him. Thanks for the advice and sharing my dissapointment hey.
