Fender Warranty Service If You Buy Online or Out of Town

ksks · March 13th, 2008, 08:04 PM

Looking for first hand experiences with Fender factory authorized service centers (for electric instruments). I am thinking about purchasing online or from a store about 3 hours I am wondering how much of a hassle it is to get service from a business you did not purchase from.

Please advise, thanks,

ksks

jwells393 · March 13th, 2008, 08:13 PM

Perhaps you should have a look at the Fender electric guitar warranty and read what it doesn't cover. After reading that I really don't know what it does cover.

http://fender.com/support/pdfs/FENDERLIMITED64CE6.pdf

pchilson · March 13th, 2008, 09:47 PM

My experience, not with an instrument but an amp. Purchased new from an authorized dealer. The amp quit. The nearest authorized service center is approximatley 80 miles from me. I could have driven it there or shipped it to them. They diagnose and make the call to repair or replace and get it approved by Fender and do the work. My case the amp had been declared "not field serviceable" so no repair, replace only. Since I didn't want to drive the 80 miles I called Customer Care and they said I could ship it directly to them on my dime of course, they would diagnose and take appropriate action. Two days getting to them and they called me that same day and said the order had been already put in for replacement. Received a factory fresh replacement on my doorstep within 10 days of me shipping the original defective unit. My experience was a positive one. YMMV and on guitars the lines are somewhat more gray.

boris bubbanov · March 13th, 2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksks

Looking for first hand experiences with Fender factory authorized service centers (for electric instruments). I am thinking about purchasing online or from a store about 3 hours I am wondering how much of a hassle it is to get service from a business you did not purchase from.

Please advise, thanks,

ksks

I like what pchilson had to say about the amps; that's the part that can crap out without my being able to anticipate it. A little help is always nice if it comes to that.
Basses, I would rest easier knowing if the neck went wrong, I might have a shot at replacement. I don't think it matters where or how you buy, USA.
But as for the electric guitars, my word, you could almost use them for batting practice. If something breaks, fix it yourself. The intrinsic value of the guitar is that regular guys can look after it better than they can look after their own front lawn.

tomi · March 13th, 2008, 11:04 PM

I cooked a Blues Jr. that I had bought online. The local dealers didn't even want to talk to me. I supposed I could have fought it out, but I didn't have the time or the energy. I took the loss and bought a used Pro Jr.

Later I bought another Blues Jr. from the local authorized dealer. The price was the same as the online retailers. The amp was never right--had a loud hum and a burning smell. I took it back to the shop. They gave me a loaner and promised two weeks for the repair. When my amp came back, it still wasn't right. They gave me a brand new one right then and there. No probs with that one.

I still buy stuff online, but not amps. I've learned my lesson.

pchilson · March 13th, 2008, 11:22 PM

It is not an authorized dealers job unless they are also an authorized service center to "deal" with a warranty issue if you didn't buy from them. The way I understand the Fender warranty is you must buy from an authorized dealer to have a warranty and the warranty service is handled by the authorized service centers regardless of where you bought it.

studio1087 · March 13th, 2008, 11:32 PM

1. I bought a Pro Junior from Guitar Center in Madison WI.
2. Two month later a loud crackle started blaring while I played.
3. I went to Fender's web site and printed a PDF of Authorized WI service Centers....one was Cascio Music in New Berlin (20 minutes from my house and about 90 minutes from GC in Madison.)
4. A technician at Cascio said "bring the amp in with your receipt.....all you need is a reciept that matches the serial number on the amp and the amp must be less than 5 years old.
5. Problem was diagnosed as bad tube sockets...tube sockets were replaced and they gave me better tubes at no charge.
6. The amp is perfect now, Bob the technician at Cacsio was a gentleman...he never asked why I bought an amp at a competitor of Cascio...he was a great guy. No worries. I have bought several guitars at Cascio, I now feel obligated to buy an amp there.

The entire Fender warranty process was top notch. I received outstanding customer service and I've told lots of people about it.

John

March 13th, 2008, 08:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
ksks TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: usa Posts: 39	Fender Warranty Service If You Buy Online or Out of Town Looking for first hand experiences with Fender factory authorized service centers (for electric instruments). I am thinking about purchasing online or from a store about 3 hours I am wondering how much of a hassle it is to get service from a business you did not purchase from. Please advise, thanks, ksks

March 13th, 2008, 08:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,494 101 Photos	Perhaps you should have a look at the Fender electric guitar warranty and read what it doesn't cover. After reading that I really don't know what it does cover. http://fender.com/support/pdfs/FENDERLIMITED64CE6.pdf __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

March 13th, 2008, 09:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
pchilson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Loveland, Colorado Age: 51 Posts: 1,035	My experience, not with an instrument but an amp. Purchased new from an authorized dealer. The amp quit. The nearest authorized service center is approximatley 80 miles from me. I could have driven it there or shipped it to them. They diagnose and make the call to repair or replace and get it approved by Fender and do the work. My case the amp had been declared "not field serviceable" so no repair, replace only. Since I didn't want to drive the 80 miles I called Customer Care and they said I could ship it directly to them on my dime of course, they would diagnose and take appropriate action. Two days getting to them and they called me that same day and said the order had been already put in for replacement. Received a factory fresh replacement on my doorstep within 10 days of me shipping the original defective unit. My experience was a positive one. YMMV and on guitars the lines are somewhat more gray. Last edited by pchilson; March 13th, 2008 at 10:48 PM. Reason: fix spelling

March 13th, 2008, 11:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 4,217 36 Photos	1. I bought a Pro Junior from Guitar Center in Madison WI. 2. Two month later a loud crackle started blaring while I played. 3. I went to Fender's web site and printed a PDF of Authorized WI service Centers....one was Cascio Music in New Berlin (20 minutes from my house and about 90 minutes from GC in Madison.) 4. A technician at Cascio said "bring the amp in with your receipt.....all you need is a reciept that matches the serial number on the amp and the amp must be less than 5 years old. 5. Problem was diagnosed as bad tube sockets...tube sockets were replaced and they gave me better tubes at no charge. 6. The amp is perfect now, Bob the technician at Cacsio was a gentleman...he never asked why I bought an amp at a competitor of Cascio...he was a great guy. No worries. I have bought several guitars at Cascio, I now feel obligated to buy an amp there. The entire Fender warranty process was top notch. I received outstanding customer service and I've told lots of people about it. John __________________ JLG Carry On

March 13th, 2008, 11:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
tomi Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 364	I cooked a Blues Jr. that I had bought online. The local dealers didn't even want to talk to me. I supposed I could have fought it out, but I didn't have the time or the energy. I took the loss and bought a used Pro Jr. Later I bought another Blues Jr. from the local authorized dealer. The price was the same as the online retailers. The amp was never right--had a loud hum and a burning smell. I took it back to the shop. They gave me a loaner and promised two weeks for the repair. When my amp came back, it still wasn't right. They gave me a brand new one right then and there. No probs with that one. I still buy stuff online, but not amps. I've learned my lesson.

March 13th, 2008, 11:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
pchilson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Loveland, Colorado Age: 51 Posts: 1,035	It is not an authorized dealers job unless they are also an authorized service center to "deal" with a warranty issue if you didn't buy from them. The way I understand the Fender warranty is you must buy from an authorized dealer to have a warranty and the warranty service is handled by the authorized service centers regardless of where you bought it.