Bass Direct

[chevy-stu]

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1466622326' post='3077377']
I met Mark at an event and I felt that I did not really gel with him and his general attitude put me off going to BD maybe I got it wrong and he is a really nice guy
[/quote]

Kind of what I found. I thought he seemed very close minded and opinionated for someone in sales, particularly in music instrument retail which is so individual taste and subjective driven.. ... I still bought from him as he had let me try a few amps/cabs and sold it at good prices and in stock.

[Machines]

[quote name='chevy-stu' timestamp='1466673329' post='3077717']
Kind of what I found. I thought he seemed very close minded and opinionated for someone in sales, particularly in music instrument retail which is so individual taste and subjective driven.. ... I still bought from him as he had let me try a few amps/cabs and sold it at good prices and in stock.
[/quote]

That's because he wants to sell you what you need, not necessarily what you think you want. If you go with GAS and buy on a whim, then end up flogging it weeks later on the forum, it devalues the brand (of which he has a few exclusively). As such, he may not tell you what you want to hear, an honest salesman if you like.

[NJE]

I am sure I have commented on Bass Direct before having done a few commission sales with them and bought some amps and general bits and bobs. The last time I was in the shop it was only Mark working there and I found him challenging but in a very enjoyable way.

Let me explain, I guess most of us go into shops with pre-conceived ideas of what we want, basically whatever is causing us GAS at that moment in time. I would guess that a lot of the time we are basing these desires on images and hype rather than physically playing the bass/amp/cab. Look how much stuff gets churned around on the for sale thread here.

I was in Marks shop trying things I thought I would like and ended up very underwhelmed, Mark grabbed a load of basses, sat me down and made me play stuff I wouldn't look at normally. It worked, I needed up being blown away by and Elrick and a Roscoe and a Nordy at the time and was on the verge of buying the Nordy. It was also fairly early days for Dingwall in the UK and the one I played was incredibly good too.

While chatting to Mark at that time, he told me how he has guys coming back over and over again buying and selling the kit they so desperately wanted a few weeks earlier. They didnt listen to any advice from someone who spends their life around the gear and a lot of these people ended up not happy with the purchase. Yes it was probably good for business but he was more interested in finding the right bass/amp for me and customers in general than have people trading in and swapping gear all the time.

Yes he has some heavy preferences on gear, Bergs and Roscoe at the time, but that is (I'm guessing) based on experience and probably a result of him seeing those instruments come back for trade-ins and re-sale less than a lot of other brands.

Its simple, if you don't like the way he does things, go somewhere else, but I liked what he had to say. My final example of something simple Mark said to me. At the time I had a 5 string and a 4 string bass, and was swapping between for some reason, I think I felt like I had to have a 4 string. In conversation he just said "why have you got a 4 string and a 5" I honestly couldn't give him a sensible reason. He smiled and said that you can do everything you need on a 5 but not the other way round (for my particular playing situation) so I basically gave up 4 string after that.

[bonzodog]

Only been in there once for some cabs and whilst I am very happy with purchase the experience of being in there was not good. I just felt like I was in the way and annoying them. There were two people working there and it took them ages to come out of the office into the shop. I popped my head round the door and they weren't even on the phone , just sat at computers. They knew i was there as they heard me walk in. The one thing that really wound me up was when I came to pay via card, the one guy passed me the card reader without looking up from his computer screen. Made no eye contact with me at all during sale.

Would never dream if returning.

[spongebob]

I've bought a couple of basses and other bits from BD in the past. Been watching this thread, and debating whether to share my tale or not.

Wanted to sell a bass last year, and arranged a commission sale through the shop. Told I could get it back at any time, just pay the return postage. Fine.

I left it in the shop for quite some time - it was priced too high IMHO - and wasn't shifting. Asked about getting it back, but was reassured enough to leave it for longer, which I did.

Anyway, more time goes on, and I spoke to Mark about reducing the price, which he never did after I asked him to.

Upshot was, I eventually rang the shop and asked for the bass to be returned. Chap I spoke to was great, no problem, and we began to arrange details.

However, with the chap in mid-flow, Mark grabs the phone and begins to give me a rather angry telling off for wanting my bass back! How I was wrong, unethical, etc. This was after no interest, and a reluctance/refusal to reduce the price.

Even his employee seemed a bit shocked. After what I've read here, I wasn't too surprised - but sadly, after previous successful purchases, it left a rather sour taste - and I would now shop elsewhere.

[Musicman20]

Some very opposing recollections on here. I think if I got asked why I wanted a 4 as well as a 5 string, well, I'd say it was my choice. IME there is a difference in the E tone on a 4 and 5 string, and a HUGE feel difference.

[LewisK1975]

Funny how peoples experience can be so different, I've done a few deals there, buying outright, PX'ing, warranty repairs, never had any issues with Mark or Marcus. Both of them know their stuff and will give you good honest advice. I've never been in there and told I was wrong for wanting something.

I also find them excellent at email communication, they always reply really quickly with any queries I've had..

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1466694739' post='3077963']
Some very opposing recollections on here. I think if I got asked why I wanted a 4 as well as a 5 string, well, I'd say it was my choice. IME there is a difference in the E tone on a 4 and 5 string, and a HUGE feel difference.
[/quote]

And I bet if you told Mark that, he'd be fine with it.

Whilst I agree that they dont suck up to you just becasue you may spend some money there, I don't mind that at all, I find the whole smarmy sales technique [i]more [/i]off-putting if anything..I'm happy to have my ideas challenged, it's healthy! And you never know, you might learn something new!

Edited June 23, 2016 by LewisK1975

[gingerfish]

So this story is a year and half old but I wanted to pass it on as it seems to go along with some other comments.

I pre-ordered an NG2 Dingwall through BD about 2 years ago. Was delayed, and delayed. Not BD fault but I wasn't given much info of this delay from BD. Only from lurking on Dingwall forum and on here did I get any info on it.

I finally get a call to say its going to ship and to confirm delivery address, which was my work address as there would be no one in at home. Bass arrives next day and all is good. The same day I get home to find a card for a delivery from the same company that delivered the bass to work, parcel waiting for me at the depot. They will not delivery to an alternate address and there depot is open the same hours as my works hours, only on a Friday when i finish early could i get out there to fetch the parcel. The depot is in Rotherham and I live on the opposite side of Sheffield so 20 odd miles away to fetch it on the one day of the week that I finish early. And what is in the parcel? They had shipped another bass. Lovely for me some might think, but knowing I had waited so long for the bass and that someone else was probably sat on the edge of their seat waiting for their bass to arrive and I had two, I couldn't bring myself to even contemplate keeping it. I let Mark know as soon as I got home. He arranged collection of the bass and it was sent off.

Might sound like this was all very much a mere accident and no real issue at all, my gripe is that at no point was there any real thanks or gratitude for me helping them locate a £1250 odd bass that they had shipped to the wrong address. It had put me out wasting 1.30hr of my day fetching it when it was not my error. It might be me being a little petty but I know a lot of people would not have been so honest. So although everything was very professional, it definitely lacked some charm and tact. Again, just my 2 cents but wanted to share as it has bugged me.

[Leonard Smalls]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1466694739' post='3077963']
I got asked why I wanted a 4 as well as a 5 string, well, I'd say it was my choice. [/quote]

When I went in for some FX, we had an entertaining if robust discussion...
He wanted to know why I stuck with a heavy, 30+ year old 4 string Wal when "5 strings are so much better"? Having tried a Dingwall 5-er I discovered that it felt weird with all those extra strings (!), it didn't have the killer mid-range tone and the Wal just played better (spose I'm very used to it!).
His response was "but 5 strings are better!", to which I responded "if 4 are good enough for Bootsy, they're good enough for me! And besides, I'm confortable with 4".
And then we got onto amps... And cabs... He was appalled to hear I had an enormous bass horn (!) and a 25 year old Marshall jubilee at 30 and 22kgs each. "But this ones lighter" etc
Still, we agreed to disagree, I bought an excellent distortion and an envelope follower and everybody was happy...

[Thunderbird]

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1466693733' post='3077954']
I've bought a couple of basses and other bits from BD in the past. Been watching this thread, and debating whether to share my tale or not.

Wanted to sell a bass last year, and arranged a commission sale through the shop. Told I could get it back at any time, just pay the return postage. Fine.

I left it in the shop for quite some time - it was priced too high IMHO - and wasn't shifting. Asked about getting it back, but was reassured enough to leave it for longer, which I did.

Anyway, more time goes on, and I spoke to Mark about reducing the price, which he never did after I asked him to.

Upshot was, I eventually rang the shop and asked for the bass to be returned. Chap I spoke to was great, no problem, and we began to arrange details.

However, with the chap in mid-flow, Mark grabs the phone and begins to give me a rather angry telling off for wanting my bass back! How I was wrong, unethical, etc. This was after no interest, and a reluctance/refusal to reduce the price.

Even his employee seemed a bit shocked. After what I've read here, I wasn't too surprised - but sadly, after previous successful purchases, it left a rather sour taste - and I would now shop elsewhere.
[/quote]Wow that is a shocking story

Edited June 23, 2016 by Thunderbird

[chevy-stu]

[quote name='NJE' timestamp='1466683045' post='3077844']
Let me explain, I guess most of us go into shops with pre-conceived ideas of what we want, basically whatever is causing us GAS at that moment in time. I would guess that a lot of the time we are basing these desires on images and hype rather than physically playing the bass/amp/cab. Look how much stuff gets churned around on the for sale thread here.


While chatting to Mark at that time, he told me how he has guys coming back over and over again buying and selling the kit they so desperately wanted a few weeks earlier. They didnt listen to any advice from someone who spends their life around the gear and a lot of these people ended up not happy with the purchase. Yes it was probably good for business but he was more interested in finding the right bass/amp for me and customers in general than have people trading in and swapping gear all the time.

[/quote]

See, I was the opposite, I had no pre conception of what I wanted and had done no research, or had GAS.

I wanted some newer lightweight gear, but was used to big heavy older school stuff, and have a very particular sound in my head that I'm used too from an amp.. He kept on saying 'the amp is just a stage monitor, and only there to amplify the sound of the bass', much to my annoyance as I said I virtually always rely on the amp sound as part of what I'm used to, and wanted a slightly cranked valve pre-amp sound from the amp ... I accepted compromises may need to be made but he kept showing me Genz, Markbass, etc amps, all very clean, not what I wanted... Eventually I asked about the Orange Terror bass, but he said it was way worse and 'too coloured'.. Of course I ended up buying it.

[chickenjames]

I'd vote very much in favour of BD.

I've bought a Spector bass and a Markbass rig there, including a part exchange.

Stock in the shop is exceptional, world class.

Trade in was pain free, agreed price immediately by email, no fuss about handover.

Yes Mark has quick opinions and can be a tiny bit abrasive - he can be quite clear in saying no if you try to haggle, for example - but clearly knows his stuff and cares a lot about getting people lined up with good gear.

Take this as a strong positive recommendation!

[visog]

My Two Note Le Bass developed a fault. Dropped it into BD and got the chaps to reproduce the fault.

Unit replaced and sent to me when a new batch appeared from the distributor. No fuss.

[mentalextra]

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1466680545' post='3077818']
That's because he wants to sell you what you need, not necessarily what you think you want. .....[/quote]

The 'salesman's' always right!

[Mike]

Well, I had my first experience with Bass Direct recently, and sadly it wasn't the most positive one. I had contacted Mark the night before to check they were definitely open as I was taking a detour on a trip to N.Wales to visit them. He was very friendly and responded quickly and positively and confirmed they would indeed be open, and also let me know they had in stock what I was after - a like for like replacement for my trusty 10yr old Markbass 1x12 combo. I was also potentially in the market for another bass, and probably a mono double bass gigbag - so around £800-900 of business.

Mark wasn't there the next day, and I found the guy running the shop to be fairly disinterested. He set the amp for me after finishing some jobs he was doing in the shop, and got me a bass I wanted to try but it didn't feel welcoming or appreciative of my custom. In fact, when I asked if I could grab my original combo to A/B them, he looked irritated and said 'What for? They're the same" (when actually, there are differences). I was pretty taken aback at this - at other stores, particularly Wunjo Bass, Bass Merchant (when it was going) and Bassgear, I've felt very 'looked after' - for example; offered a coffee, pleasant chat, suggestions on other gear/basses to try - but this was a very sterile, uninviting experience.

I had been looking forward to visiting and perhaps spending an hour (and maybe hundreds more pounds) trying some gear but it was quite disagreeable so I didn't. Ultimately I did buy the amp and mono case (around £800 total) as they were as good a price as I could find and I needed them, but I wish I had got them somewhere else. Somewhere where the face of the shop was more welcoming. While I was there an older guy came in with a Wal and the guy in the shop perked up and was pretty friendly to him.

It's a shame as I've been looking at JV Squiers, and saw that they had a couple at around £800....but I don't really feel like going back. This is no reflection on Mark as my communication with him over email has always been friendly and helpful, but perhaps he could remind staff about the importance of customer care.

Edited August 29, 2016 by Mike

[Captain Rumble]

I have been planning to visit Bass Direct for a while now as their website shows they have a good variety of basses compared to any shops near me. Unfortunately its a 260 mile round trip so I have waited until I had another reason to be going that way and on Friday I am driving up to Scotland via the lake district and decided that an extended lunch in Warwick would be just the ticket. I have decided to treat myself to new/another bass but have no idea what I want beyond 4 strings and light and as such decided that Bass Directs range of stock would give me a good chance to try out various basses at various price points. However having read through this thread I wonder if I really need to spend my time being ignored or dictated to or just told I'm wrong or have I misinterpreted the jist of whats been said here. Is it worth warning them of my intent to visit and why or not. Ho hum I will probably go anyway but the reassurance i was expecting to find from this thread is sadly lacking

[ambient]

I can honestly say that I've always been extremely well looked after every time that I've been in.

[Mike]

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1472501348' post='3121664']
I can honestly say that I've always been extremely well looked after every time that I've been in.
[/quote]

That's good to know. I was surprised and disappointed and hoped that it's not the norm. Maybe it's me being sensitive - or just having gotten used to really good personal service at other specialist establishments.

[BassTractor]

[quote name='Captain Rumble' timestamp='1472500697' post='3121654']
the reassurance i was expecting to find from this thread is sadly lacking
[/quote]

Hm.
Some people who are not you like Mark.
Some people who are not you dislike Mark.
Some people who are not you like Mark's employees.
Some people who are not you dislike Mark's employees.

It's all in this thread - both the positive and the negative - so why not just try them?
There is nothing lethal going on there. All you might experience is an opinionated owner or a disinterested employee, or you might go from there with a big happy grin on your face.
Also: you have a mouth.

[Painy]

Not talking about high value goods admittedly but I bought a 5 string pack of strings from BD's website last week which was the first time I've dealt with them (and my first time trying these particular strings). Unfortunately the E string was dead straight out of the pack - obviously no fault of the shop's - so I phoned to let them know. Spoke to Will who asked me to email it to Mark so they had it in writing to show the supplier and they would send me a replacement.
I didn't get a chance to send the email until gone 10:00 that evening but even at that time of night still got an email straight back from Mark to confirm a full new set would be sent to me straight away.
I phoned them the next day to say thanks for what I felt was excellent service and spoke to Mark. Wasn't sure what to expect having read through this thread previously but he was friendly, helpful and on hearing I was trying new strings, offered a few suggestions for possible alternatives to try if these didn't suit me.

[Mike]

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1472503237' post='3121685']

I didn't get a chance to send the email until gone 10:00 that evening but even at that time of night still got an email straight back from Mark to confirm a full new set would be sent to me straight away.

[/quote]

I got a late night email back too, which was really nice!

[Kev]

Thousands of pounds have gone the way of Bass Direct from me over the past 5 or 6 years, almost always Mark has dealt with me personally when I have came in with a handshake and a chat, can't ask for more really. He is opinionated and he has his own views, but I like that about him. Plenty of shop owners could just let you buy something that would clearly be unsuitable. Sure, he wont always be right, but ultimately its your choice to ignore his recommendation if you wanted to!

By contrast, a couple (not all) of his members of staff I have dealt with when he hasn't been in shop did seem pretty disinterested nor keen to talk bass, which is a shame.

[markstuk]

Generally my experiences with Mark (and all of his staff) have been pretty good.. It's a given that Mark is Mr Opinionated, but that is somewhat refreshing IMHO. I think it is a challenging place to go into sometimes, and you can be left alone twiddling your thumbs a little, but other times it's very welcoming..

[bartelby]

Popped to Bass Direct today. I wanted to get a TC Electronic HyperGravity pedal and some flatwound strings.
But I wanted to see what Mark could recommend string wise.

He wasn't there.

Instead I wander into the shop and was in there a couple of minutes before someone shouted from the office.
Young lad walked out "What do you want today?"

me: "Erm, a TC Electronic HyperGravity please"

Him: "right..." *shouts to other kid in the office "OI! Draw up an invoice for a HyperGravity!"

Other: "We aint got none!"

Him: "Yes we have, just do it!"

At this point I guess talking about strings would be pointless. So I pay and leave.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1477487461' post='3162537']
Popped to Bass Direct today. I wanted to get a TC Electronic HyperGravity pedal and some flatwound strings.
But I wanted to see what Mark could recommend string wise.

He wasn't there.

Instead I wander into the shop and was in there a couple of minutes before someone shouted from the office.
Young lad walked out "What do you want today?"

me: "Erm, a TC Electronic HyperGravity please"

Him: "right..." *shouts to other kid in the office "OI! Draw up an invoice for a HyperGravity!"

Other: "We aint got none!"

Him: "Yes we have, just do it!"

At this point I guess talking about strings would be pointless. So I pay and leave.
[/quote]

*face palm*