Am I being too picky?

[Bluplirst]

Originally Posted by jhun1976

I had a similar but different experience. A buyer wanted to send me a shirt because of we had a couple good dealings but I said no coz in my opinion I should be the one sending him a shirt but he insisted so I said ok. The shirt was great. Another guy sent me a wine all the way from Portugal.

Well I thought it was a lovely story. And you tell it so well, with such enthusiasm

[SKATTERBRANE]

I think that if a person says they are going to do something, they should. It would have been cooler that he did not mention it, but simply included a T-Shirt as a surprise.

But, it has been my experience that customers are just as likely to not do something they say they are going to do, as people in business are.

It is not easy to find people who follow through.

[tspoon5150]

When some one ask you if you want a free T-shirt run like hell,

that means they are about to f**k you real slow......

You might ask that he did not send the fricking shirt ain't fair,
well fair is what you pay when you get on the bus.......

Ask him if he used to be a politician.......Sorry MF, keep tha GD thing........

[Rollingrock]

I'll take the girl's butt shirt.

[Sharky]

Originally Posted by SKATTERBRANE

I think that if a person says they are going to do something, they should. It would have been cooler that he did not mention it, but simply included a T-Shirt as a surprise.

But, it has been my experience that customers are just as likely to not do something they say they are going to do, as people in business are.

It is not easy to find people who follow through.

I run a business also and I measure my business partners how they deal with 1. promises they make and 2. even more important, how they handle problems they have caused

[Eric Duane]

A little picky but a deal is a deal. I once but a pair of nike's from an eBay seller for s very resonable price. (dirt cheap in fact), I asked if he could include another set of laces in a different color, he said he would. The shoes arrived with no extra laces. No big deal, like I said, DIRT CHEAP, however I did feel that I got shamboozaled. Lol. He shouldn't have mentioned the shirt, and because he did he should have sent it. Afterall a shirt with his shop's name on it is free advertising for him anyhow.

[tele52]

Originally Posted by Eric Duane

A little picky but a deal is a deal. I once but a pair of nike's from an eBay seller for s very resonable price. (dirt cheap in fact), I asked if he could include another set of laces in a different color, he said he would. The shoes arrived with no extra laces. No big deal, like I said, DIRT CHEAP, however I did feel that I got shamboozaled. Lol. He shouldn't have mentioned the shirt, and because he did he should have sent it. Afterall a shirt with his shop's name on it is free advertising for him anyhow.

Yes, I have lot's of shirts, I can afford to buy shirts. But we made a deal, the 2 shirts are on the invoice. They didn't keep up their end of the deal, I paid what they asked for the guitar, I didn't haggle, he said part of the deal was 2 shirts. They didn't keep up their end. That's the problem these days, people put up with this crap. I kept my part of the deal, they didn't. I'm not letting this go, I don't, never have. Screw me, i'll call you on it. I'm writing the owner of the company to tell him, his business is maybe not being run the way he'd like. I didn't want to get anyone in trouble, so I contacted my rep, he ignored me. So, let the chips fall were they may. The owner could tell me to "piss off" I'm okay with that. I just want them to man up. There are lots of dealers that will happily take my money. Maybe I'm picky, but I'm not a pushover.

[Eric Duane]

Agreed, another shop will gladly give you the service and respect,(for that matter), that you deserve. There has been a steady decline in customer service everywhere and it's really getting old. There was a time when shops would actually set up the guitars so they were ready to play before you buy, now they just unbox them and assume it'll be fine. Don't get me wrong, high end guitars are mass produced now and always need a setup to ones taste but for shops to not offer great service and further more hold up there end of the bargain is BS. I spend a lot of money on guitars and related equipment and I used to do it all at the same shop. I once was trading in a Marshall bluesbreaker that they gave me $700 for. I went back a week later to discover my amp being sold for $1700 and haven't gone back to the shop since. I understand making a buck, but it's the principle. They shouldn't have made that much money off of the trade considering they've made a small fortune off of me in the last 3 years. A deal is a deal and good service is suppose to make people like us buy off of them again. When they can't deliver that I can spend my money else where and probably get a better deal anyhow.

[Lemonhead]

Just to be fair to all the people who answered, in your original post, you didn't mention the shirts were on the invoice, so it seemed more like a bonus than actually part of the deal.

If it was on the invoice, I agree you should let them know and set things straight.

[Callaway]

I think if your going to get this worked up over not getting a lousy t-shirt you better get set for a hell of a lot of disappointment in your life.

[tele52]

Originally Posted by Callaway

I think if your going to get this worked up over not getting a lousy t-shirt you better get set for a hell of a lot of disappointment in your life.

It's not a lousy Tshirt, it's a promise made, and a promise broken. It's lousy customer service. I'm 60 and I've had a lot of disappointment already. You miss the big picture, if they don't seem to give a crap about their customers and I have a problem with my very expensive guitar, can I feel secure on service after the sale? I want to give them one more try to make it right, before it's three strikes you're out. In this economy, there are lot more guitars than money. If they don't want to help I'll quietly move on, no hostilities, to another shop. I can assure you I'm being very calm and polite in my dealings with these gentleman.

[Fireproof]

Sweetwater tosses a handful of candy in the box when you order something. I ordered an amp from them, got a great deal, and asked the sales rep if he can make sure to include Bit-o-honey candies (I had heard others making similar requests, so I thought I'd try it). He laughed and said "oh - sure - I like those too! I'll give you lots."

Well, I got the amp, and just got normal random candy. No Bit-o-honey like he promised.

Should I have complained?

I don't think so. It wasn't "part of the deal." It was a kind gesture. Sometimes mistakes are made.

So yes, I think you are being picky. But if the t-shirts are that important to you, I'm sure if you CALL them and talk to the guy nicely and explain that your wife was kind of looking forward to the shirt, they would make it right. I can't imagine a store that would not as long as you are nice about it.

[Fireproof]

I posted the earlier reply before I read that it was indeed on the invoice. In that case, I would consider it "part of the deal" and just like you bought the shirts with the guitar, even if they were free.

So since it WAS on the invoice, it's more than a "kind gesture" like I indicated earlier, and I'd expect them to fix it.

But still keep your cool. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill.

[S_I_N_13]

Originally Posted by tele52

It's not a lousy Tshirt, it's a promise made, and a promise broken. It's lousy customer service. I'm 60 and I've had a lot of disappointment already. You miss the big picture, if they don't seem to give a crap about their customers and I have a problem with my very expensive guitar, can I feel secure on service after the sale? I want to give them one more try to make it right, before it's three strikes you're out. In this economy, there are lot more guitars than money. If they don't want to help I'll quietly move on, no hostilities, to another shop. I can assure you I'm being very calm and polite in my dealings with these gentleman.

Good lord, a small fyi: disappointment does not go away with age. Apparently neither does belly aching over trivial things. It seems to me that If you feel this strongly about missing a couple of free shirts then move on and find a new dealer. If you like your deals, put on your big boy pants and call them till they fix your problem. If they don't then you still have your answer. I have found more often then not people forget things they say in passing over the phone seconds after they say it. I think in this case the dealer screwed the pooch twice, but personally as long as I got the guitar I wanted at the price I wanted to pay everything else is meh. Your logic though I can see how you might draw your conclusions but other than a shipping problem (dealt with by the shipper in most cases), or receiving the wrong guitar what service are they obligated to provide for you?

[Herbie74]

Unfortunately attention to detail is no longer something you can count on. I would say switch to another dealer or call the salesman. When I was in sales I always appreciated a call because it allowed me to handle it right then and let the customer know I appreciated his business.

[neuronic]

Anytime anyone is wondering if he's too picky, he is.

[jamman]

When a seller has an inattention to details , it always makes me wonder what else has been "over looked" . I'd call and let them know why I won't be returning to purchase anytime soon .

That shirt sounded pretty lame to me (even if the pic was of a great Butt ,How about a pic. ?) .
As a buyer , it's not to much to ask for, to be treated well . You are paying them and they are not doing you a favor.

Many great Vendors on this forum who treat people right.

[tele52]

An update:
I wrote the owner a letter, he personally called me today to tell me I'm right, and they're very sorry. They have a new guy in shipping, but in their word's "that doesn't excuse it. He went on to tell me how much he appreciated my letter and the chance to make it right. That my guitar buying experience should be enjoyable all around.
I feel better about my deal, they have a happy customer.

The owner doesn't think I'm too picky.

that works for me.

[Guitarhack]

The dealer is a smart businessman and he knows to keep the customer happy, "The customer is always right."

[journeyman73]

no offense, but i can only hope that when i am 60 i have more significant things to ruminate about than being screwed over two free t-shirts...lifes too short

[marantz1300]

Glad to see it turned out OK.I'd have taken any future business elsewhere.
That T shirt would be a very expensive mistake for him.
If we have a deal,both sides should honor it.

[major]

Is this thread still going....????

Send me the T-shirts and have done with it.......

[OBX351]

Originally Posted by tele52

I've bought several high end guitars from this one dealer. The deal I did before last, we agreed on a price, and he said, "i want to give you a T-shirt" I thought great, I give them to my wife, I get the guitar, She gets the shirt. The guitar came, no shirt, I emailed them, no answer. I just bought another guitar from them, great price, he said "i want to give you a T-shirt" I said, great, but last time you said that, you didn't send it. He said "i'll send two!", well, the guitar came with a t, an old Gibson V T with a picture of a girls butt on the back. This annoyed the hell out of me. To me a deals a deal. I sent back the shirt, with a letter explaining what has gone on. No reply, I'm thinking of taking my business elsewhere, am I too picky?

Yes...good deals on guitars are worth more than t-shirts. Sorry dude but you just need to get over it.

[Lex]

Picky or not, I would say that you're doing well if you have found a dealer who has continued to deliver on the guitar front. I recently had a terrible experience ordering from a small guitar shop with an on-line storefront.

[tele52]

Originally Posted by OBX351

Yes...good deals on guitars are worth more than t-shirts. Sorry dude but you just need to get over it.

read the rest of the story, you can have both if you're polite and you communicate professionally. I am over it, I contacted the owner. He said I deserved better, and he wants my future business.

[tele52]

Originally Posted by journeyman73

no offense, but i can only hope that when i am 60 i have more significant things to ruminate about than being screwed over two free t-shirts...lifes too short

No offense, but maybe when your 60, you'll realize what's important and what isn't. You can fight for what you believe in, or you can take what life hands you.

[JMJ]

give me the guitars I'll give you a ton of shirts all sizes

The dealer knows your fetish for free shirts and you buy guitars from him.... everyone has their weakness

[BrianM]

Originally Posted by tele52

No offense, but maybe when your 60, you'll realize what's important and what isn't. You can fight for what you believe in, or you can take what life hands you.

Indeed! Screw the stress and high blood preasure! If you stroke out over it, then you can haunt them rotten dirty bastards for all eternity!

[shesrealfine]

Originally Posted by tele52

No offense, but maybe when your 60, you'll realize what's important and what isn't. You can fight for what you believe in, or you can take what life hands you.

Man, it isn't about whether or not you're being too picky. That's up to you to decide.

What I find a little scary is that it's important enough to you to post about on a generally pretty serious public forum.

Of course, then again you have generated nearly two pages of discussion (including my post) so what do I know?

By the way, I'm 63...