Still problems with Hermida

The good news is that my wife ordered my a Hermida Reverb pedal for my birthday. The bad news is that it was ordered in mid May and we haven't gotten anything but a boiler plate email thanking us for the order.

I never did any research on his ability to deliver before I suggested the pedal to my wife. I read so many good reviews on the pedal that I never thought to see if he delivered in a timely manor. All of the bad things that I have since read are true. Email only and no responses.

The worst part is that based on the reviews I still really want that pedal. If anyone knows him could you suggest that he hire a high school student to box and ship pedals for minimum wage?

I'm not embellishing in any way (just venting). PayPal was processed 5/14 and we haven't gotten anything but the one email at the time the order was placed. I really debated on whether or not to post this but I would have appreciated this information before I thought about placing an order.

Similar experience. USPS showed it was delivered. It was not. Finally received the pedal (zen drive) and love it. Since ordered the reverb, received it and love it. Best of luck.

Peter

Cancel that order, and get your money back...

Then order the Neunaber Wet Reverb. He is the guy who designed the chip in the Hermida reverb.

The Wet Reverb is awesome. Look up reviews here, thegearpage.net and elsewhere. Watch youtube demos of it. People rave about. I'm RAVING about it.

As for customer service, I've ordered Wet Reverbs twice, and received each in 3 days. Yes, THREE days shipped USPS priority mail.

The secret to life is joining forced with people that are good at what you aren't. He hasn't found the secret yet.

I checked with PayPal and the payment was made on May 12th (not the 14th). I'm going to wait until June 12th and if I haven't gotten at least a response from him I'm going to open a PayPal dispute.

I feel bad for my wife. She ordered this weeks before my Birthday and she was bummed when it didn't come in. She's a keeper.

That does stink, and you will probably get the pedal soon. If I got a reverb pedal, it would be the Hermida or the Wet. There might be some reason like an illnesss, or death in the family, etc. So, even though frustrating, just realize everything will work out but who knows what's going on. The Hermida is the best sounding reverb pedal, gotta admit. Maybe he'll send you that plus something else if you're understanding. Just keep being persistent.

I tried the WET and it was not my thing. Would like try the Hermida.

That does stink, and you will probably get the pedal soon. If I got a reverb pedal, it would be the Hermida or the Wet. There might be some reason like an illnesss, or death in the family, etc. So, even though frustrating, just realize everything will work out but who knows what's going on. The Hermida is the best sounding reverb pedal, gotta admit. Maybe he'll send you that plus something else if you're understanding. Just keep being persistent.

People seem to be me making excuse after excuse for Hermida lately. As if it takes weeks to add a simple note to your website that you're out of town.

If your normal job was a 9-5 deal and you had something come up, you'd get fired for just not showing up anymore. It only takes a minute or 2 to let someone, anyone know, that you've got something that's come up.

I think these guys are great at building, but HORRIBLE at managing the rest of their business (when these threads come up). Time to stop giving people free passes simply because they made a good product (when they manage to deliver the goods).

I think these guys are great at building, but HORRIBLE at managing the rest of their business...

Not to defend "these guys" (although I will go a little further for Alf because I think he truly deserves it), but they are just not heavy on the businessman role. They primarily want to just build great pedals, and the business aspects kind of become a problem sometimes.

Yeah, it does suck. It would be cool if they were all attentive to emails and phone calls. Some of them are so "non-marketing/corporate" that they border on being kind of like hermits, long hours in the shop just trying to stay on top of orders, and possibly exhausted when it comes to returning potentially hundreds or thousands of emails.

Alf could use a little help, maybe a PR guy or someone who is good at the slick marketing stuff, but again these are usually the last people on earth who do that, so it might take some more negative feedback before it actually happens. And I'd imagine he is successful enough to afford it, but don't ever want to assume what someone's actual situation is.

I like the Wet, too. But for a lot of folks, Hermida is "the answer." And I respect that. So sorry for your woes, and hope that things get straightened out.

There is a reason that top touring professionals use Line 6, Boss, and TC Electronics. It is because you can get them anywhere and you can get them cheap in a pinch.

People around these parts think they are entitled to something because John Doe builds a pedal in his basement for you. Get over it. You are not Van Halen. :grin:

Crazy cork sniffers... What do you expect from a guy that runs the show all on his own? If anything the boutique market is nothing more than someone saying that they have something that no one else has. Indie rock for the pedal board! :lol: Its way out of hand.

If you want the Hermida, all the more power to you. But obviously, the wait is something that comes with wanting it. Furthermore, if this is the service that he provides, well you best hope that Reverb doesn't take a dump on you down the road.

Me? I'm sticking with the big corporations. Why? Its just easier for me as a giging musician.

There is a reason....... etc etc

Some do, some don't .......... I have a ZD, its the only essential on my sparse PB ......... as a gigging musician.

You are entitled to an opinion ............ doesn't make me a booteek using dick. :grin:

ggg has it in kit form and it's an easy build.

If it makes you feel any better I have dealt with Alfonso for years and he is truly a good guy. I am sure he is busy as all the pedals are getting more popular. I ma sure everything will work out. Just need to be patient. Most hand wired pedals from smaller builders take a good 4 weeks...

But is the GGG kit as good as the Hermida 2? I know they both use Belton brick but I would 'assume' Hermida has something more going on? True? False?

But is the GGG kit as good as the Hermida 2? I know they both use Belton brick but I would 'assume' Hermida has something more going on? True? False?

The GGG kit is the same as Hermida's v1, and Hermida himself has said that there is no sonic difference between his v1 & v2 reverbs... the only difference is in the size of the Belton Brick used & the enclosures.

The GGG kit is the same as Hermida's v1, and Hermida himself has said that there is no sonic difference between his v1 & v2 reverbs... the only difference is in the size of the Belton Brick used & the enclosures.

So that should make things easy to decide, if they are actual options for someone. Some folks can't or won't get something completed from a kit, even if it means a little aggravation dealing with a hand builder completing something that is not a kit.

'Verbs with the Belton Brick and delays with the PT2399 can obviously be built affordably with kits, and have the same functions as the pre-assembled "boutique stuff" in most instances. There are a lot of cool Rebote 2-augmented things that clever DIY people have come up with. You name it, they have augmented the base design for it. Lots of stunning videos that would almost make me swear off anything pre-packaged, but it just might not be an option for the average pedal user.

But for many of us, it comes down to having "our chosen guy" build something for us. So then it is decision time - is some potential aggravation worth it? Lots of folks simply want the Hermida 'Verb and nothing else, so that means dealing with a bit of that.

Someone quoted 4 weeks to get his stuff built - not too bad for a guy who is as well known as Alf is. Remember that there are other guys with waitlists from 6 months to "near infinity" for their wares. Just be glad it isn't a EchoCzar or KoT that you've ordered! Get a cheap Boss or Zoom 'Verb pedal in the meantime, and you'll enjoy Hermida's that much more when it arrives!

Spend your hard earned money somewhere else. Bottom line!!

Spend your hard earned money somewhere else. Bottom line!!

Bottom line - if you have no positive experience of a Hermida product (which most who have bought one do). There's no suggestion that you will lose any money.
Those posters above who are either in the business or in possession of an Hermida product, appear to advocate expending a little patience. I certainly do.

I saw his update on his website and it looks like he's doing his own "marketing" (my apologies to the marketers out there). He says a three week delay but I've already been waiting four plus weeks. This is crap. If he is that far behind on his email then he really has no idea how far behind he might be so he is just pulling a number out of the air. If he put the truth up there a lot of people would order from someone else.

I will extend patience where I fell like I'm being dealt with honestly. I don't feel that way anymore. Lying on his website to protect his business is not cool, it's just not honest. I know that he has friends out there and I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but I don't feel like I'm being treated fairly.

Sorry to hear you're going through a rough time...hoping everything works out for you. The Hermida Reverb is a great pedal. When I ordered mine, I got it within 2 weeks and an AC adapter was even included. Seems like a nice guy, so I'm hoping this works out for you.

It takes a while with Hermida. Waiting time on most of his pedals is several months.
I decided not to wait until Hell froze over and just bought my Zendrive off Ebay. I paid
a bit more for it, but I had it in 4 days.

I decided to go ahead and open a dispute with Paypal. The update on his website is just doesn't sit well with me. I would never have ordered the pedal if it weren't listed as "in stock". I did mention in the dispute that I do want the item but he may not take my opening a dispute well.

It is what it is.

I'd phone him, it's a more effective way to communicate than e-mail or paypal. When i'm swamped in work e-mail is the last thing i want to do. A 2 minute conversation can take ten e-mails to replicate.
If they were listed on the site as in stock, then you should have it by now. If there's a wait that should be made clear.

Based on everything I've read he doesn't provide a phone number. Which I understand because he would be swamped.

Sorry to hear you're having a bad experience. Sounds similar to mine...took way longer than expected, not responsive, fishy shipping "confirmation", etc.

FWIW, when I DID finally hear from Alf, he was a super nice guy, the reverb pedal eventually showed up at my door, I love it and it's been on one of my boards ever since. Things worked out and I'd buy from him again (with adjusted expectations) in a hot second.

Based on everything I've read he doesn't provide a phone number. Which I understand because he would be swamped.

PM sent with number.

Hope it's still extant.

@ OP

So, did you call him, resolve anything?

Hi there,
I am in the same boat so to speak. I ordered and paid for a Zendrive over 5 weeks agao now and have had no response other than what appeared to be a boilerplate email in response to the successful payment. I have sent 3 emails but received no response. Very disappointing. The alerts on the Hermida website say 'up to 3 weeks'......

Well, the OP hasn't seen fit to update this thread or confirm whether the number I sent worked or if he continues his dispute or even received his pedal so - let alone how to best resolve the issue ......... not much point posting here - other than to sling *****.

Do you think living in Australia might delay arrival of your pedal?

It took at least a month for my Hermida Reverb to arrive, but I'm very happy with it.

Nope I didn't call Hermida. It made me rather uncomfortable to call based on both how I came across his number and because I had already registered a dispute with Paypal. It's been seven weeks now and no response to emails or to the Paypal dispute (now a claim). The Paypal claim resolves on Tuesday if he doesn't respond. Obviously he's got something serious going on. I hope he's OK because I don't want to see anyone unable to do whatever they do.

I haven't replied to the thread because I've been really busy with family and some problems of my own. Thanks to all for your input. I'll post pics of the pedal I hope to build with the GGG reverb kit.

Sorry to hear you're having problems with Hermida. About 6 months ago I found a used V1 reverb for under $100 and it's absolutely slammin'. They do come up used on a fairly regular basis.

And the plot thickens... The folks at GGG are out of stock because they can't get parts from AH. My third choice was BYOC (because I liked the simplicity of one knob) but they are out of stock too. I'm waiting for a reply as to when BYOC might be back in stock.