The bass cellar - denmark street

[lowhand_mike]

well i haven't managed to get out of the office yet today, i fact doesn't look like i will till i go home and they'll be shut then, maybe tomorrow.
i would like to hear their side of it. i'm sure it will be along the lines of "we have hundreds of satisfied customers...." etc blah blah blah

[Happy Jack]

I went down to Denmark Street an hour ago, spoke to the manager in one of their shops (NOT the Bass Cellar, obviously), took him to this thread on the shop computer and suggested that he alert the appropriate person/people in the Music Ground organisation.

He told me that the Denmark Street Manager is on holiday this week (which is fair enough) and that the Area Manager is elsewhere in the country but due in Denmark Street on Thursday.

I suggested that, rather than wait for Thursday, he might wish to alert the Area Manager by phone/email more or less immediately.

I emphasised that this sort of anti-Bass Cellar thread surfaces every few months, that I personally agreed with many of the comments made, and above all that many of the posters were actively seeking some sort of "right to reply" from Music Ground.

If and when we get a response here from Music Ground, can I humbly suggest that no one leaps straight in to flame the guy?

[Dubs]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='265570' date='Aug 19 2008, 03:08 PM']If and when we get a response here from Music Ground, can I humbly suggest that no one leaps straight in to flame the guy?[/quote]

Definitely. There’s no point in ranting to someone from Music Ground who has come on here to give their point of view when it would have been very easy for them to ignore us. I’d have a lot more respect for the company if someone did come on here to either try to resolve the bitterness that many of us have developed with the Bass Cellar’s apparent lack of customer service, or give their perspective of the discussion and try to somehow justify it. Keeping it civil should be a priority though.

Edited August 19, 2008 by benwhiteuk

[Stylon Pilson]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='265570' date='Aug 19 2008, 03:08 PM']If and when we get a response here from Music Ground, can I humbly suggest that no one leaps straight in to flame the guy?[/quote]

Agreed. If we're seeking to be treated with a modicum of respect, we should act respectably.

S.P.

[budget bassist]

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='265579' date='Aug 19 2008, 03:20 PM']Definitely. There’s no point in ranting to someone from Music Ground who has come on here to give their point of view when it would have been very easy for them to ignore us. I’d have a lot more respect for the company if someone did come on here to either try to resolve the bitterness that many of us have developed with the Bass [color="#FF0000"][size=5]Cellar’s[/size][/color] apparent lack of customer service, or give their perspective of the discussion and try to somehow justify it. Keeping it civil should be a priority though.[/quote]
fixed, bit of a typo there

And yeah i agree, there's no point flaming the guy, it would just make situations worse.

Edited August 19, 2008 by budget bassist

[geilerbass]

Good work Happy Jack!

I'm genuninely interested to hear their viewpoint (if they bother feeding back), since this is not really a case of customer disatisfaction as many of us who've had bad experience are not customers - we've been put off becoming customers by rude and condescending staff.

[lowhand_mike]

cheers jack saved me the massive 5 minute walk

[DirkThrust]

Reading through this thread, it all seems horribly familiar

My first experience of the Bass Cellar would have been sometime in the 1990s. This was pre internet so I guess I would have heard of them through printed advertising, probably Bassist Magazine.

I phoned them on several times probably over a period of a couple of years enquiring whether they had something in stock. The response on every occasion ranged from indifferent lack of interest to outright rudeness and I vowed never to set foot in the place. I reckon I've spent probably £15,000 to £20,000 on bass gear over that period so it's a hell of a lot of business to lose.

I would have thought that with the Bass Centre only doing mail order there would be an opportunity to raise the profile of the Bass Cellar into something like the bass mecca that The Bass Centre used to be in the 1990s, the only other well known shop in London now being The Gallery.

With all the bad PR they get from such a large part of their potential customer bass it seems like a missed opportunity to me.

Edited August 19, 2008 by AndyMartin

[Machines]

[Marky L]

[quote name='budget bassist' post='265517' date='Aug 19 2008, 02:08 PM']I was there on the friday, though that does sound like me! I can't remember seeing you though..

EDIT: i am actually sending them an email now.[/quote]

Yeah I was def there on Thursday.. Maybe you have a sort of doppleganger who is like a whole day ahead of everything you do?

[geilerbass]

[quote name='AndyMartin' post='265620' date='Aug 19 2008, 04:12 PM']Reading through this thread, it all seems horribly familiar

My first experience of the Bass Cellar would have been sometime in the 1990s. This was pre internet so I guess I would have heard of them through printed advertising, probably Bassist Magazine.

I phoned them on several times probably over a period of a couple of years enquiring whether they had something in stock. The response on every occasion ranged from indifferent lack of interest to outright rudeness and I vowed never to set foot in the place. I reckon I've spent probably £15,000 to £20,000 on bass gear over that period so it's a hell of a lot of business to lose.

I would have thought that with the Bass Centre only doing mail order there would be an opportunity to raise the profile of the Bass Cellar into something like the bass mecca that The Bass Centre used to be in the 1990s, the only other well known shop in London now being The Gallery.

With all the bad PR they get from such a large part of their potential customer bass it seems like a missed opportunity to me.[/quote]

You wonder why they even bother answering the phone when that's how they feel about it. Baffling.

Though I don't think it's necessarily a large part of their potential customer bass. It must draw in lots of tourists, based on it's location. And no doubt there're plenty of heavy-pocketed, casual players, with money to throw around, who choose to throw it in the direction of over-priced bass equipment. That's the only conclusion I can draw on the subject of how they're still in business.

[budget bassist]

[quote name='Marky L' post='265630' date='Aug 19 2008, 04:22 PM']Yeah I was def there on Thursday.. Maybe you have a sort of doppleganger who is like a whole day ahead of everything you do?[/quote]
Possibly!

[Marky L]

[quote name='budget bassist' post='265640' date='Aug 19 2008, 04:30 PM']Possibly! [/quote]

Find out who he is, follow him, watch what mistakes he makes, and then save yourself the bother
I like logic me

[Stag]

[quote name='fleamail' post='265501' date='Aug 19 2008, 01:47 PM']I was at Vintage and Rare a month ago and I asked them if I could try a fuzz pedal! Not only they let me to choose any bass that I wanted (a 1973 p bass was my choice) they also let me there at my own to play as much as I wanted! I end up almost buying the bass, which I would if it didn't have changed pickups! The guys there and the nice lady where more than helpful and friendly![/quote]

This was exactly the same experience I had in V&R, very nice guys who were happy to let me try anything out. And I hadnt walked in carrying a handful of £20's either...! By the end of my trip id spent a lot of money on a Les Paul bass (See Gear Porn or the "Music Shops in London" thread for more details) - goes to show good customer service gets you a sale.

+1 to Wunjo's as well, very nice guys. Tried out another LP in there and had some other nice looking kit, approachable staff who knew their stuff as well. I felt a bit guilty when I bought V&R's LP instead of theirs, but the one I bought was 4 years older than Wunjo's and in better nick.

Bass Cellar? Didnt even get looked at in there! Mind you they had absolutely nothing to interest me so they were never going to prise any cash out of me.

[fleamail]

[quote]It must draw in lots of tourists[/quote]

You know in some other countries, like Greece for example, where there is no such thing as a Vintage market, Denmark street is like a mythical place that you always hear about from people (musicians) that travelled to London. I'm sure lots of people travel to London just for Denmark Street and I'm sure that those who have nothing to do with the internet and the real vintage market prices, purchase instruments from there and pay almost double the money.

I've lots of friends who've been there several times including me and we like to call Denmark Street museum street. Because not only the prices are museum prices you can't even touch anything!

[Ant]

With regard to music ground; i have hit and miss experiences in there for me (leeds shop), but once they had a pedal in and i asked to try it, they gave me some thing about it being really expensive so i just said "yeah i know, but someone is selling one for like half your price on some forum and i just want to test it out" and they had a giggle and let me have a go.

but sometimes i hate being in there; when i asked for a onespot type power supply in music ground leeds, one guy told me it couldnt possibly exist and all this other stuff, and the same guy once told me he couldnt sell me a speakon to jack lead because that also didnt exist.

i get much nicer responses and help from soundcontrol, so now if i need a quick lead or something ill go there.

music ground has let me down loads, i dont even bother browsing in there anymore.

One of the main annoyances is that certain members of their staff have always come across as automatically assuming that i know less than them, and when they're telling me that certain things dont exist (when i have it at home!!!) is ridiculous.


sorry for the bad grammar! i cant type properly if i get in a bit of a rant.

[budget bassist]

[quote name='Stag' post='265672' date='Aug 19 2008, 04:55 PM']Bass Cellar? Didnt even get looked at in there! Mind you they had absolutely nothing to interest me so they were never going to prise any cash out of me.[/quote]
See i saw a lot of things in there that i really liked, a lot of musicmans, a lot of warwicks, it's just a shame that the service there is so poor and that the prices are so ridiculously high.

[Stag]

[quote name='budget bassist' post='265716' date='Aug 19 2008, 05:34 PM']See i saw a lot of things in there that i really liked, a lot of musicmans, a lot of warwicks, it's just a shame that the service there is so poor and that the prices are so ridiculously high.[/quote]

i was lookin for old Fenders / Gibbos that day...

I would like a Warwick one day... oh man... no GAS now... im too poor....

[DirkThrust]

[quote name='Ant' post='265708' date='Aug 19 2008, 05:23 PM']One of the main annoyances is that certain members of their staff have always come across as automatically assuming that i know less than them, and when they're telling me that certain things dont exist (when i have it at home!!!) is ridiculous.[/quote]

Quite a common experience in music shops.

Even more annoying if you're an old fart like me and the spotty oik doing the patronising looks about 12

[Dubs]

[quote name='budget bassist' post='265592' date='Aug 19 2008, 03:41 PM']fixed, bit of a typo there [/quote]

thanks, what a muppet...

[NeonMig]

I promise to be civilised when the MG guy checks in. As we should all.

[ARGH]

[quote name='Ant' post='265708' date='Aug 19 2008, 05:23 PM']With regard to music ground; i have hit and miss experiences in there for me (leeds shop), but once they had a pedal in and i asked to try it, they gave me some thing about it being really expensive so i just said "yeah i know, but someone is selling one for like half your price on some forum and i just want to test it out" and they had a giggle and let me have a go.

but sometimes i hate being in there; when i asked for a onespot type power supply in music ground leeds, one guy told me it couldnt possibly exist and all this other stuff, and the same guy once told me he couldnt sell me a speakon to jack lead because that also didnt exist.

i get much nicer responses and help from soundcontrol, so now if i need a quick lead or something ill go there.

music ground has let me down loads, i dont even bother browsing in there anymore.

One of the main annoyances is that certain members of their staff have always come across as automatically assuming that i know less than them, and when they're telling me that certain things dont exist (when i have it at home!!!) is ridiculous.[/quote]

I find that has lessend somewhat as I got older,but it shouldnt happen at all,Ive bought a rig in the Leeds shop,and had to basically 'Duke it out' to get a deal on head AND cab,out of those guys,basically,what I thought I'd got off,was what other shops were selling it for....and I went to Electromusic in Donny to get the matching 1x15 (My Tech 21 rig)...But no-one else had them in at the time,nor could I get one....not unless I went to London,and I wanted a full rig..like...yesterday!!!

Saying all that,there IS good advice in there,depending on who you deal with,and at what time of day....The fat Kid there is a bullsh*tt*r,and I wont even make eye contact with him,The older guy is ok,and knows his oats as does the other one,which often says "Hi" when you walk in,but It was an eye opener whenthe old old old guy,8 years back (who runs the show...Music Ground itself) once took me literally by the hand and spent an hour explaining describing,and showing examples of and differences between Gretsch Filtertron P/Us and the design of the 'Horseshoe' pickup by Rickenbacker...its history,and examples in music. He also showed me what "We were running around with in my day..." Handing me a Hofner Beatle Bass with Flats...


I find if you dont want to get 'Attitude' in a shop,look them square in the eye,ask questions,have a 'Spot the bullshit' question (Mines Tulipwood on Luthiers) and dress well..being a scruffy cnut aint gonna get anyones attention..there are exceptions,but if you look like you have cash,then they will kiss your arse and call it ice cream

[budget bassist]

You make a good point, and i'm sure if someone like john paul jones or lemmy or the late john entwistle walked in then they would probably treat them like royalty, but the fact of the matter is, we shouldn't have to look like we have cash for them to treat us properly, even if we're only going to spend £20 and come back later and maybe buy a bass later on in the year, it all counts. If they don't treat me properly when i'm not going to buy a bass that instant, then i'm certainly not going to come back and grace them with my cash later on! And i was thinking of buying a bass of up to about £750 later on in the year, but i know now that it wont be from them unless they make some drastic changes.

[Dubs]

[quote name='ARGH' post='265793' date='Aug 19 2008, 06:51 PM']...I find if you dont want to get 'Attitude' in a shop,look them square in the eye,ask questions,have a 'Spot the bullshit' question (Mines Tulipwood on Luthiers) and dress well..being a scruffy cnut aint gonna get anyones attention..there are exceptions,but if you look like you have cash,then they will kiss your arse and call it ice cream[/quote]

If you have to look like you have cash to get any attention, then f***’em, I’ll spend my cash elsewhere. You’re walking into their shop with the potential of being a big spender, whether you look it or they know it or not. You wouldn’t get discriminated against in a car showroom or Dixons under the same principles, so why should you in a music shop?
In all honesty, what proper muso isn’t a scruffy cnut anyway?

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='265806' date='Aug 19 2008, 07:16 PM']If you have to look like you have cash to get any attention, then f***’em, I’ll spend my cash elsewhere. You’re walking into their shop with the potential of being a big spender, whether you look it or they know it or not. You wouldn’t get discriminated against in a car showroom or Dixons under the same principles, so why should you in a music shop?
In all honesty, what proper muso isn’t a scruffy cnut anyway?[/quote]

+1

A mate of worked in a Ford dealership in the 90's, a rasta guy walked in wear overalls no one served him and my mate being the junior was told to 'deal' with him, my mate was honest with him walked over and said " I'm sorry about the slow service but the a**holes over there see your black and dressed a bit shabby so they won't waste there time with you, anyway what can I do for you?" the guy laughed thanked him for his honesty, turns out he was starting a driving school and bought 5 fiestas of the lot there and then and always went back to my mate time after time after.