BIG.J Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 Well, Still no replies to call / Emails!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnacleBob Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 That is a PITA! I can see your order under the GB/custom list and although its quite specific and custom to the max I find the lack of contact with you astonishing! Just shows a fancy website dont mean much! hope it all works out. BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 I wouldn't even call it fancy, it's the most confusing and convoluted website I've ever seen! Who cares about looking up the progress of their instrument when the guy obviously spends more time doing that than actually conversing with the client! If you'd ordered a Shuker (as one example).....you might not have had many pictures....or an update on the website....but you'd probably be holding the bass by now lol Good luck with it Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Sibob' post='577437' date='Aug 22 2009, 11:00 AM']I wouldn't even call it fancy, it's the most confusing and convoluted website I've ever seen![/quote] The site might have been considered fancy in the mid-nineties, but it looks like a crappy hobby site to me. This site comes up high on a search for the bloke: [url="http://www.guitarsite.com/database/Guitars/rec/7433/"]http://www.guitarsite.com/database/Guitars/rec/7433/[/url] From the comments there it appears he has been ripping people off like this for a long time: [quote][b]Never Again[/b] Posted by One-Time Customer on November 25, 2007 at 03:32:21: I found this "luthier" in an internet search by accident when looking for a custom guitar builder. Although he seems like a pretty nice guy, his workmanship is horrible. Any monkey with a bandsaw and a sander could keep right up with him, and probably even deliver a finished product alot faster. It took him well over a year to finish mine. I was NOT happy with the end result to say the least. I'm even embarrassed enough that only a few people have seen the guitar. I'd rather not advertise for him. I see he now has a CNC machine. I believe he had to go this route because his "by hand" work was nothing to speak of... I'll never bother with the guy again and all my guitar playing friends that saw my finished product and will not do business with him either.[/quote] [quote][b]guitar work[/b] Posted by Still Waiting on May 03, 2007 at 13:51:13: I would place an order but he isnt finishing any of the work he has.[/quote] [quote][b]Slowest mudder fudder I have ever bought from[/b] Posted by Tonga on April 15, 2007 at 13:51:26: Took 9 months for a simple fretboard.[/quote] [quote][b]Christopher Woods - Rip-off artist[/b] Posted by Ruben on February 14, 2005 at 17:52:40: I ordered a custom Strat body from this guy (Christopher Woods) - he took a $95.00 deposit and led me along with emails for about a year, then stopped answering my emails, even though he is still advertising for business on his web site. Don't order from this guy - he rips people off! You have been warned![/quote] Edited August 22, 2009 by Jean-Luc Pickguard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 I really hope this works out for you mate, but....it doesn't look good from those quotes from past customers. It sounds like he's in over his head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG.J Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 Good News!! Christopher woods must have been contacted by someone in the UK for a custom build! When the potential customer carried out a few internet searches he came across this Thread on Basschat? This link was sent to him and within 24hrs he has replied to the customers Email, sending a copy to me. He has made it quite clear to him that i am not being ripped off and that things have taken a little longer to complete but my name is on the list. I am not the type to complain or kick up a fuss, Just wanted some sort of reply to say things were ok and that things were taking a while to complete. Having watched my name on the list for months & months i hope Mr Woods can understand my need to post this thread. Mr Woods has now updated his Blog and my name seems to be moving in the right direction? I still haven't had a personal reply in response to any of my concers other than the Email copied from that customer quoting "BIG.J" (Justin) has not been ripped off! Mr Woods must be snowed under with work and i understand responding to Emails takes up valueble hands on time. Many thanks to Basschat and its members for your support so far, Justin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 [quote name='BIG.J' post='579753' date='Aug 25 2009, 12:40 AM']... This link was sent to him and within 24hrs he has replied to the customers Email, sending a copy to me. He has made it quite clear to him that i am not being ripped off and that things have taken a little longer to complete but my name is on the list. ...I still haven't had a personal reply in response to any of my concers other than the Email copied from that customer quoting "BIG.J" (Justin) has not been ripped off! Mr Woods must be snowed under with work and i understand responding to Emails takes up valueble hands on time.[/quote] Glad it's moving in the right direction. Personally, I'd be rightly p*ssed off that he takes time out to 'reassure' a new customer who presumably hasn't handed their money over yet, but hasn't bothered to contact you directly. And, unless I'm mistaken, he still hasn't given you a firm completion and shipping date. Communicating with paying customers is as valuable as getting the work done. If he'd got back to you in the first place, he wouldn't have had to waste the time reassuring the new customer that he could have spent on finishing your job. It's not good for his business and the quicker you get your neck, the quicker threads like this will subside. Handsome is as handsome does. I'm sure he's a lovely guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG.J Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 Well, 15 months on? Still no Email, Pics or update on progress. My name hasn't moved since he last updated his current orders list a few months back. Just don't understand how my neck (No matter how complicated) can take so long to construct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Ridiculous. It all sounded like it was moving in the right direction back in August Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Again, using Shuker as an example (other luthiers are available!), I ordered a custom neck from him. 4 months later I was on tour with it! I'd be asking for my money back in this instance, regardless of how far down the line the build is. Principle is an important thing! I'm also not one for complaining, or rushing things, but communication is extremely important in a transaction that is as personal as this! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG.J Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 [quote name='BurritoBass' post='683045' date='Dec 13 2009, 03:03 PM']Ridiculous. It all sounded like it was moving in the right direction back in August[/quote] Tell me about it, All i wanted was a little proof that something was getting done = (Pic of neck in process etc) Just hope 2010 brings me some luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG.J Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 [quote name='Sibob' post='683053' date='Dec 13 2009, 03:11 PM']Again, using Shuker as an example (other luthiers are available!), I ordered a custom neck from him. 4 months later I was on tour with it! I'd be asking for my money back in this instance, regardless of how far down the line the build is. Principle is an important thing! I'm also not one for complaining, or rushing things, but communication is extremely important in a transaction that is as personal as this! Si[/quote] Thanks Si, Having paid via Paypal i did look into a dispute etc, As it's been so long there's no record of the transaction ? Cheers J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 [quote name='BIG.J' post='683060' date='Dec 13 2009, 03:18 PM']Thanks Si, Having paid via Paypal i did look into a dispute etc, As it's been so long there's no record of the transaction ? Cheers J.[/quote] Have you not got the email from paypal saying the payment went through? Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Not being funny but do you honestly think you'll get a positive result from this? I've followed your trials and tribulations and it seriously looks like the guy has your money and he knows you've now got no chance of getting a refund from paypal so he's simply washed his hands of you. I'd love to be proved wrong but the tale has all the signs of an unhappy end on your part. Saying that I wish you the best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 What some people have done on US Talkbass is "outed" slow suppliers: that could be an option to try and apply some pressure? Dr Bass cabs got very bad press on TB and they have held up their hands and acknowledged the issues and have brought in more staff to totally restructure the business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG.J Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 Points Taken, Yes Si i should still have the Email as i never delete any messages, I will have a search for it. I will also try and post on the other US Bass forum's. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 [quote name='yorks5stringer' post='683083' date='Dec 13 2009, 03:46 PM']What some people have done on US Talkbass is "outed" slow suppliers: that could be an option to try and apply some pressure? Dr Bass cabs got very bad press on TB and they have held up their hands and acknowledged the issues and have brought in more staff to totally restructure the business.[/quote] I would agree; looking at my last post it looks very 'defeatist' (for want of a better description). However, I would suggest that you up your game considerably, contact paypal to look at the possibility of a refund and probably start a thread over on TB are some of the obvious ones. I can't see that waiting any longer will bring much benefit and will likely as not just drag this drama on even longer for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 However I'd be very careful about what you put on Talkbass, just keep it to the facts and avoid opinions as there are people who post on there who'd cause an argument in a graveyard.......! You could always ask if anyone else in the US has used this guy and if he has in fact fulfilled their orders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG.J Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 This was the Email i recieved once Christopher Woods had been drawn to this thread, Again not a direct Email to me but one to a potential UK customer which was copied to me? In the time it must have taken him to type this Email he could have atleast sent some sort of update directly to me? = Christopher Woods wrote = Paul, (Potential UK Customer) No worries and good luck with your endeavor for a custom bass. Though I would like to respond to your comments and maybe some of the comments posted in the forum that you linked me to. First off Big J or Justin who started that thread is on my Current Orders list and is the 7th name down shown here: [url="http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog/Current%20Orders/gbgncstm.html"]http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog/Curre...s/gbgncstm.html[/url] He is not being ripped off it is just going to take a while longer to complete his order. Due to this and some other un-happy customer comments like this I have set up a schedule which is clearly written on my website. It is on the NEW ORDERS page and there for all new customers to know what to expect for turnaround times. [url="http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog/neworders.html"]http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog/neworders.html[/url] I don't give out my phone number because for one all the info that I can give as far as completion times is already on my Current Orders pages. And secondly,,, already with the couple dozen people that do have my direct phone line, I am on the phone about 1-2 hours a day. I would like to be able to take phone calls but at this point, I know that I would not get any work done. Better to build guitars then to talk about building them. And my last point is that I do know that there are some complaints out there. And as always 100% of un-happy customers will complain. Only about 10% of happy customers will wave my flag. But some do email me after getting their order so I post those comments here: [url="http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog/New%20Orders/customercomments.html"]http://homepage.mac.com/bigvelvetdog/New%2...ercomments.html[/url] Read Mirko's comment. It is applies to these kinds of situations. The best case scenario is when customers read the info that i have posted on scheduling, and policies. Submit their specs. (and don't change them every few weeks) and let me do what i do best without interruption. I know that that doesn't sound very customer service oriented but until I am getting $4k per order and can take all the time in the world with one person, this is the way it works. And it is really not a bad system for those people who know what they want. I spend extra time in the initial consulting to make sure that I have answered all the questions that a customer may have but after the order is place and specs are set, I really need to just build the order. Anyway, I am going to copy this email to "Big J" Justin. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamapirate Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 sounds like you're in for the long haul wait. I'll just try not to die of old age before he gets it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) Reading that guff about "Only about 10% of happy customers will wave my flag" ... "let me do what i do best without interruption" and knowing what's [i]really[/i] happened prompts me to think this guy is 100% full of his own sh*t. Only one line from that mail is relevant: [quote]after the order is place and specs are set, I really need to just build the order.[/quote] So meet your commitments and get on with it. Edited December 13, 2009 by skankdelvar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Get on Talkbass and put a thread up airing your issue. That'd be my next move. Why can't people just hold their hands up and be straight? If there's a problem, just a quick message to fill you in is all it takes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 What a weird website. Who puts the list of current orders and state of completion on the web? It all seems very amateurish to me. He's not doing himself any favours generating all this bad publicity. Yes - unhappy customers generate the biggest amount of publicity. Now he's spotted that basic rule of marketing he might want to think about acting accordingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Sorry to hear that this hasn't resolved itself during my absence. I agree with the TB option. It's time to start making a little noise about this I think! P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgsonk Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Those web pages are now coming up as "not found". Has he moved hosting provider? Or just taken his page down completely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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