Marky L Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Hi all Just wondering if anyone has bought from PMT recently and what they are like regarding customer relations? They quote online as offering a price match and they have a cab I want that I have seen significantly cheaper elsewhere. I want to use them as they offer a Saturday delivery y'see Thanks Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 (edited) I can't speak for their online service, but I have regularly used their Birmingham store, and in my experience customer service is first rate. Edited January 17, 2012 by simon1964 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 (edited) I was expecting this to be a wives-and-girlfriends post... Edited January 17, 2012 by ras52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Never had reason to complain about their customer service, neither has anyone else I know who's ever dealt with em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I`ve bought a couple of things from their Northampton store. On my initial phone-call, neither item was in store, so they ordered them in for me from their other branches. Received a confirmation call from them each time the items arrived at the store. Good customer service in my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 Thanks, soiunds promising. I'll test them out on their price match later then and see how that goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-ic Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 PMT in Bristol are bloody awful. Absolutley rubbish service. Mostly surly and unhelpful. I bought an amp from the store. The amp was price matched to the web site. I think that because the staff were sellling something cheaper than they wanted, they didnt care a rats ass about my money. I asked one of teh staff about the amp, and was told that they didnt know much about it. I was directed to another member of staff who asked me to wait while they finished talking to someone else. No problem there but once I had talked about the amp and the price match, I pretty much got ignored. Staff member wandered off and then I had to go and find him. I then got tol sthat I couldn't have the box and I had to reall hassle to get a mains lead for the amp. There was no paperwork and I had to demand a receipt. if the amp hadnt been quite so cheap, then I wouldnt have wasted either my time or my money there. It's a real shame they dont have much competition in Bristol. I think it would be better to go to Mansons that use PMT if in the South West. You have been warned. Cheers Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 (edited) I dealt with a chap called Andy (name and shame!) in their Leeds store a few years ago. I bought my Orange AD200b Mk3 and Orange cab from them. That wasn’t so bad, although they were a little heavy on the sales technique. A week later, I wanted the Orange 1x15. I called Andy to ask if they could order one in, and the cab covers. They had the cabinet in, but it was well abused. Tolex rips, black marks, and people using it as a seat. It had gone beyond the ex-demo stage! Anyway, they refused to order in, and said ‘Orange will force us to sell this one’. I laughed, and walked away. I called Orange and found out that is a total lie; they will always supply new/boxed stock, and there is no upcharge (which is exactly how it should be). At around the same time, Andy ordered me a new 2008 Fender Jazz. It was the new revised models, and I was expecting a lot. As I’d bought the 2 Orange items, I asked them to price match GAK. They did, JUST. Bass came in….I asked to look at it before buying, to which they didn’t seem happy about. Opened the case…full of scratches in the paint. Looked more than ex-demo to me. Looked absolutely like a well used bass. Loads of marks all over the pickups, the sticker had been stuck back on, the scratchplate film was missing, etc. Basically, it was used. I asked for another…the manager looked at it. He said no problem. Went back 2 weeks later, (bear in mind I did all the chasing and travelling!) they presented me with my new bass. Guess what, it was EXACTLY the same one, but they had tried to have it polished. How do I know? Serial number…and the amount of marks on it. Manager basically gave in, didn’t admit it, but he knew I wasn’t stupid. I asked for my cash back, and there we go. I spoke to Fender about it, and they said they would investigate. Never EVER done business with them again, and I was thoroughly disappointed with their staff, in particular this Andy and the manager. This Andy chap is in a really good band in Leeds, and they have a large cult following in the underground, but all that ‘DIY hardcore’ means nothing if you are trying to fob people off. Don’t deal with their Leeds store. PMT also have the worst website and mailouts known to man. It looks like its back in 2000. This experience led me to use basschat for advice on which stores to use. From my experience, for the mainstream gear, use GAK and speak to Mike Fallon. He will deal with everything very quickly and will DEFINITELY give you a really low price. For the more boutique or specialist equipment, Id say Mark at Bass Direct is your man! Edited January 17, 2012 by Musicman20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoesThisBassLookBigOnMe Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Regarding PMT in Bristol: Although now trading as a PMT store, they are basically the same bunch of people who's business has gone under many times in recent years (I'm not so certain this has anything to do with the recession either!) and each time the store returns like a phoenix from the ashes. They have an OK selection of equipment (not so much for bass players though) but never once have I been satisfied with the staff at their store. To be fair I have noticed a slight improvement in attitudes since they have become PMT though I recognise many of the faces from previous incarnations and I guess this may be where things are going wrong. In a previous incarnation of their store I asked to try some equipment out and was told they don't allow demos anymore because people try their equipment out and then go home and buy it online. Never once have I personally done this to them - instead I have spent thousands in their store on equipment for a home studio. Recently I parked near their entrance with the intention of nipping in and literally spending about £1000 in their store as I knew they had something I wanted. Unwittingly I contravened some unsigned rule about health and safety by parking near their entrance. The manager came out and asked me to park elsewhere. Lucky for him he gave me a b****y good discount so retained my custom. I go there regularly enough to know that there is basically no parking space in their store and most of the spaces that exist are taken up by their staff. In short, not a very professional bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 PMT Birmingham I have used a few times and they are a good bunch of guys, PMT in Northampton have taken LOTS of my money over the years, staff always very helpful and seem knowledgeable. Still try and show off by slapping any bass I want to play though......grrrrr ( to be fair I thinks thats in their job description, 'must act like a dick and slap any bass thats picked up') Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackers Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I live right next to PMT Oxford, and they are all very friendly helpful guys. I bought my Ashdown MiBass and audio interface there, and they have been great at helping me with any questions I have (especially Fi, their bass guy). They have a pretty decent selection of bass stuff, and I have never had a problem with asking to try stuff out, even the 1600 quid MMs, lol. My only issue with them is that for some odd reason they don't keep a regular stock of short (i.e. under 10m) speakon cables, which is quite annoying sometimes. I can't comment on the online service, as I have never had to use it, but I have ordered stuff into the store before, which has always arrived quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 PMT took over a few of the sound control's who's staff i found were always a bit stiff until you get to know them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 [quote name='blackmn90' timestamp='1326797640' post='1501979'] PMT took over a few of the sound control's who's staff i found were always a bit stiff until you get to know them [/quote] I think this is a good point. I think the ones's cited above in the "good category" are part of the original PMT chain (Birmingham, Northampton). They took over several of the old Sound Control Stores a few years back (certainly Leeds and Norwich, probably Bristol?). Sound Control were never as user friendly in my experience... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 (edited) [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1326788294' post='1501816'] I was expecting this to be a wives-and-girlfriends post... [/quote] Yup, I know what you mean. I'm not sure if the name abbreviation was intentional when the shop was started, if not it's pretty unfortunate. Edit: Seems pmt was started 20 years ago by a couple of essex boys. I can't decide whether it's more likely that the alternative meaning for pmt wasn't around then, or whether they thought it was funny. Edited January 17, 2012 by ZMech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 HAve used them once on-line - no problems - and have been to the Oxford shop a few times, again, no problems. Always helpful, even though I've not yet purchased anything from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 Ah now, this is my exact worry. When it comes to price matching, all interest in professional customer service seems to go out the window. The fact that you have dared to take them up on their offer seems to automatically remove you from the "valued customer" bracket and you are reduced to something stuck on the shoe status. Adding the fact that I'd be buying remotely and not actually seeing the item I'm buying, I would be concerned that I'd end up with a scabby ex-demo foisted on me that then becomes a nightmare in waiting as I try to return it..etc!! Pity, it's the convenience of a Saturday delivery that really attracted me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I don't know if it's still there but I used to visit the Southend store from time to time, actually bought quite a bit of stuff from them over the years. Never had any problem with them. I remember popping in once and Phil Jupitus was in ther buying a guitar. The staff were all being very helpful and attentive and he was treating them all like dirt. Arrogant tosser. But I digress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 The guys at the manchester store couldnt be more helpful, they even sent on by post my daughter's bear that she'd dropped behind an amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Interesting thread. Doubt its the same at PMT, byt the well known hi-fi store i used to work in I used to hate price beats. It meant extra faff and that the money the customer saved by having me faff around ringing up other places and getting arsey with me when they didnt have it, or more often they read the model no's right etc was the money I would have made from selling it. So I'd done more work for no money, and they'd often act all 'I'm giving you a sale' Whereas you were thinking, 'yeah a sale for no money whereas I could have sold it to the next guy at no price beat and made myself a tenner' or whatever. Just a glimpse behind the counter. That's life 'n all. So glad to be out of retail hell!! The old sound control crew in Leicester were one of those 'stiff till you know em' crowds. Nice eventually though lol. Offered me the deputy job once-turned it down. I'd just moved out of retail. Funnily enough I used to do the sound for Phil Jupitus quite a lot, we got on pretty well, free tickets and stuff and he always asked after the Mrs etc, I did see him be arrogant to others though. I worked at Jongleurs DI with loads of famous telly types. Did the sound for Jasper Carrot once lol. Worst was that long haired Irish chap off the phone ads, name bizarrely escapes me, he was utterly vile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keving Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Also had very good experience of PMT in Northampton. Nearly 2 years ago I was in the market for a small combo. I went in and they set me up in one of the booths and went and fetched every model I might be interested for me then left me alone to play for a while. No pressure, just very helpful and pleasant. No surprise then that they made a sale that day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 [quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1326810607' post='1502216'] Worst was that long haired Irish chap off the phone ads, name bizarrely escapes me, he was utterly vile. [/quote] Dara O'Briain?.....no...wait........... Ed Byrne? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Been using PMT Birmingham for about 8 years and have always had good service (when I can find someone that is - don't go there on a Saturday afternoon !). They've chopped and changed (Dave Sheriff moving away from bass to PA) and there are a couple of flamboyant looking egotarts (but they play guitar) but they don't pretend to know about bass and have always found someone who does to help rather than try and BS their way through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 [quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1326810607' post='1502216'] The old sound control crew in Leicester were one of those 'stiff till you know em' crowds. Nice eventually though lol. utterly vile. [/quote] that was my local, i used to go every week for bass lessons but because of the train times i was always there 30 minutes early so used to just chat with them. I can see why working in a music store can be a pain though. Expensive equipment yet little kids run around like its the disney store, not a good idea. The sound control in MK was especially bad for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 PMT in Oxford are friendly, helpful and efficient. No complaints although I haven't used on-line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1326788294' post='1501816'] I was expecting this to be a wives-and-girlfriends post... [/quote] same as...(( )) (( )) (( )) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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