old school fender
Tele-Holic
Yeah, probably one of their "ace" guitar techs working for Guitar Center. LOL
Buying from Musician's Friend
- Thread starter Bruxist
- Start date
Charlie Bernstein
Doctor of Teleocity
Bought a used pedal online from Guitar Denter (same company as Musician's Fiend). It was broken. Got my money back, but couldn't help wonder why they'd sell a broken pedal.
My personal experience has been better with Sweetwater. They also will price match, I believe.
Just bought an item from MF on 3/2/23 and as of 3/8/23 it was still being processed and not shipped ????? I called and they said they were waiting for their partner GC to ship the item. The item came three days later shipped from a GC store in Alpharetta just down the highway from me. I'm going to be a little more clear on a purchase from them. Bought many things from MF this is the first time it was a little off.
SRHmusic
Friend of Leo's
I bought an open-box effects unit on discount, and the packaging was not good, leaving lots of room for it to rattle around side to side during shipping. The unit had come out of the foam end piece on one side. Apparently the original outer box was destroyed or long gone. (But it works and had a warranty, so I kept it.) Seems similar to the stories above about poor packaging for shipment.
Bruxist
Poster Extraordinaire
I was going to do just that but they did not have them in stock. Now they have removed the listing entirely. I think these may be being closed out.
Charlie Bernstein
Doctor of Teleocity
Sweetwater's great. My online gear sources:
- Banjo Ben Clark
- Just Strings
- Pro Audio Star
- Reverb
- Sweetwater
- Woodwind & Brasswind
gitold
Poster Extraordinaire
Great luck with GC and MF over the years.
Had issues with Sweetwater and they wont deal much.
Pro Audio Stars open box and demo stuff is sketchy
Wildwood is great
Sam Ash is easy to work with but the 2 guitar I ordered from them were damaged.
Chicago Music Exchange has been great and will really deal with you.
Used to love Reverb but it’s got to where I’m afraid to buy or sell guitars in it…just pedals. I.M.O.
Had issues with Sweetwater and they wont deal much.
Pro Audio Stars open box and demo stuff is sketchy
Wildwood is great
Sam Ash is easy to work with but the 2 guitar I ordered from them were damaged.
Chicago Music Exchange has been great and will really deal with you.
Used to love Reverb but it’s got to where I’m afraid to buy or sell guitars in it…just pedals. I.M.O.
When did many of you come to understand a new guitar to mean “sitting in an unopened box never touched since it left the factory”?
New guitars have always hung on guitar shop walls, to be (gasp) touched and played by people who may want to - and often do - buy them.
How exactly would purchasers of these pristine untouched units, you know, use them? Isn’t that the point of a guitar?
@backporchmusic a 200 mile round trip return drive is only cheaper than return shipping if you value your time - and gas money - at $0 (or very little). Most retailers will send a return label at their rate even for preference returns. They deduct from the refund and it’s usually around $20-25 insured.
New guitars have always hung on guitar shop walls, to be (gasp) touched and played by people who may want to - and often do - buy them.
How exactly would purchasers of these pristine untouched units, you know, use them? Isn’t that the point of a guitar?
@backporchmusic a 200 mile round trip return drive is only cheaper than return shipping if you value your time - and gas money - at $0 (or very little). Most retailers will send a return label at their rate even for preference returns. They deduct from the refund and it’s usually around $20-25 insured.
Sweetwater is my go to for new stuff. I’ve been checking Chicago Music Exchange as well.
backporchmusic
Poster Extraordinaire
Thanks for putting your value on my time. I live in the middle of nowhere and love an excuse for a trip to the city to shop and eat at a restaurant that's not McDonalds or Arby's. But again, thanks for letting me know what's up.
Never gone wrong with MF and GC. I have to buy online. Even the used items were better than described.
Telecastoff1
Friend of Leo's
I like Musician's Friend, and have bought quite a few items from them over the years.
I think the problem is when they ship you a damaged and/or incomplete item as brand new. At a brand new price. Buying off the rack at a local guitar shop, yes, other people have touched/played those instruments. But generally they aren't majorly flawed and if they are, you would obviously expect a discount.
Also, I mean we're not talking some mom and pop shop here. This is a massive company with hundreds of locations and warehouses around the country. It should not be that hard to ship you an actual brand new item in factory packaging.
MF/GC's online sales practices are shady, at best, imo. Some GC employee did a really good post on Reddit awhile back explaining how there's really no accountability at any level. Employees are given responsibilities for which they aren't properly qualified/trained. So at the end of the day no really cares. They will ship a product they know good and well is damaged or incomplete. Then if the customer complains they will take it back and put it right back on the shelf until somebody else buys it. Rinse. Repeat. Until ultimately someone isn't savvy enough to notice (or care) and they keep the item.
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That’s fair. My bad.
Dismalhead
Doctor of Teleocity
I still like Musician's Friend. Haven't ever had a bad experience.
AMS I've had several bad experiences - couple of things lost in shipping, returning a defective amp became a nightmare one time that took like 3 months to resolve. Last few years I mostly use Sweetwater. I like being able to pick the weight of my guitars. Plus candy.
AMS I've had several bad experiences - couple of things lost in shipping, returning a defective amp became a nightmare one time that took like 3 months to resolve. Last few years I mostly use Sweetwater. I like being able to pick the weight of my guitars. Plus candy.
That’s 110% effort.
beyer160
Poster Extraordinaire
Also owned by Guitar Center, FYI.
Junkyard Dog
Friend of Leo's
Probably been 5 years since I’ve bought anything from MF (or anywhere), but they were typically my go to vendor. Always ask for at least 15% off.
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