Quote:
Originally Posted by trdlasvegas
Not to defend the Service Center because I don't believe they treated you properly, but I would put the blame on Fender. Did you ever ask them why they allow a service center that is only open 2 days a week represent their products? It is Fender that authorizes Service Centers like that. Just because the Service Center is attached to a large guitar store is no reason for them to be properly qualified to repair their products.
-Tony
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Tony,
I asked the Fender rep that VERY question and at first the guy danced around the answer. He even said that they are at the mercy of these repair shops. But I kept pushing. I said that if this is the type of place Fender wants representing them in my area, then as much as I like Fender products I may be very reluctant in purchasing more from them. In a roundabout way the guy told me that this place being as popular as it is and the history this place has is the reason. I know of 2 other luthiers (not sure about amp repair places?) in my area that our outstanding but their store fronts are small which in turn makes for less sales. The place I went to has been around since the early 1970's or earlier I think. They are well know to musicians around the country and have had MANY famous musicians come to them from all over. Basically their reputation is better than the actual service. I feel that now the place is more of a museum than a store. You walk in and it's dark and dreary in there, guitars covered with dust...none of them are in tune...amps stacked very sloppy. But the place is a show place and I can appreciate that. I know a lot of people that tolerate all this because they can say they bought their guitar there...it has a "romantic" feel to it. The store itself has some very polite people that work there...I have no beef with the store itself...but the repair shop is attached to them. They give preference to people who buy from them and the guy even said that if Fender didn't tell him he HAD to work on my amp he would have turned me away.
I am sure if you ask others on this board that live in my area about this place you'll get mixed answers. I know people who swear by them...and others who won't set foot in the place. I have been there 3 times in my 7 years living in this area. It was more of a novelty to me to look around. As much as I may complain about Guitar Center, at least I can walk in there and take a guitar off the wall and play it and the service isn't that bad. When the nut in my Artcore cracked 1 week after I bought it from GC they were very happy to repair it for me while I waited...however, they didn't have the correct nut in stock at the time so I had to wait 3 days but I think that's fair.
Anyway, sorry for the long reply...