Anyone know if Bassdirect is trading?

[Sweeneythebass]

Bass Direct are great I’ve bought a number of things from them and often pop a speculative email to Mark/team about a possible purchase. We have to remember that small independent Bass specialists are very few and far between and they simply don’t have the resources of a chain of general music shops like PMT/Andertons  etc. 

I’d say if you don’t get a response via email give them a call and chase it up. 
 

As a bass community I feel we need to support Bass Specialist retailers. 

Edited February 11, 2021 by Sweeneythebass
Typo

[Doddy]

5

2 hours ago, Sweeneythebass said:

I’d say if you don’t get a response via email give them a call and chase it up. 

This. 

I think emailing is fine of you're dealing with Thomann or somewhere, but for a UK based shop I think it's far better to actually speak to someone before making a big purchase.

[Woodinblack]

1 minute ago, Doddy said:

I think emailing is fine of you're dealing with Thomann or somewhere, but for a UK based shop I think it's far better to actually speak to someone before making a big purchase.

These things are personal. I never ring, can't stand using the phone,  I prefer to get things down on email. if they don't want people to email they shouldn't give out an email address. Obviously its up to them how they do business.

[bloke_zero]

2 hours ago, Sweeneythebass said:

As a bass community I feel we need to support Bass Specialist retailers. 

Having followed the thread and made some negative comments - I think I have changed my mind and will try and support.

[BigRedX]

2 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

These things are personal. I never ring, can't stand using the phone,  I prefer to get things down on email. if they don't want people to email they shouldn't give out an email address. Obviously its up to them how they do business.

This.

Also if the communication is done by email there is a written record of everything that was said just in case something goes wrong with the transaction. For my business any important phone calls are followed up with a summary of what was discussed in an email so that can be no confusion at a later date.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

These things are personal. I never ring, can't stand using the phone,  I prefer to get things down on email. if they don't want people to email they shouldn't give out an email address. Obviously its up to them how they do business.

They also advertise a phone number. The point is if you want an update and you want it now, pick up the phone. Not every business is sitting at a computer, waiting for your enquiry. Who said anything about them not wanting to reply to email? Far more likely they overlooked it. 

[Hank Scorpio]

I've not had bad experiences with them, overall - once I tried to buy strings and it wouldn't work on the website so gave them a call, they were friendly and helpful then. Another time I bought 4 Ultralites and they only had 3 in stock, after some back & forth I ended up changing it to 3 & an Xtender with a very slight discount. 

Minor annoyances, but nothing major. The website is awful, stock levels not being updated isn't ideal in this day and age, and I don't like the momentary wait to see if they even have what I ordered - but like a lot of others have said, they're one of the only places that offer a lot of brands, so are ultimately worth supporting.

Edited February 11, 2021 by Hank Scorpio

[thodrik]

14 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Also if the communication is done by email there is a written record of everything that was said just in case something goes wrong with the transaction. For my business any important phone calls are followed up with a summary of what was discussed in an email so that can be no confusion at a later date.

In my opinion this is a very good policy to have. It enables any misunderstandings in terms of what was agreed to be ironed out at an early stage. 

In my work I am constantly making file notes of phone calls. It is annoying and time consuming but worth doing as it might be that one of those file notes can save the day in the event of a future disagreement. 

[Woodinblack]

18 minutes ago, FDC484950 said:

They also advertise a phone number.

That was in no doubt anywhere, so not sure of your point.

18 minutes ago, FDC484950 said:

The point is if you want an update and you want it now, pick up the phone.

Where did I say that I wanted or expected a reply now? I want a reply at some point. And as mentioned, I don't pick up the phone. If the only way of doing business is via the phone well, then fine, its not like any of this stuff is essential. I probably don't need it anyway.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

That was in no doubt anywhere, so not sure of your point.

Where did I say that I wanted or expected a reply now? I want a reply at some point. And as mentioned, I don't pick up the phone. If the only way of doing business is via the phone well, then fine, its not like any of this stuff is essential. I probably don't need it anyway.

Your loss.

[BigRedX]

20 minutes ago, FDC484950 said:

They also advertise a phone number. The point is if you want an update and you want it now, pick up the phone. Not every business is sitting at a computer, waiting for your enquiry. Who said anything about them not wanting to reply to email? Far more likely they overlooked it. 

If you are a business if you advertise a means of communication then you should also make sure that you are on top of keeping in touch with that particular method of communication for the sake of your customers. If you don't want to deal by a particular method do not publish it.

As an example, I no longer give out my mobile number for my business. When I first went self employed, I got a mobile phone because I thought it would be expected of me. I quickly discovered that it was actually of very little use. When I am in my "office" I have a perfectly good landline phone sitting right there on my desk, and when I am out of the office I am almost definitely not going to be in a situation where I can do anything about your call other than acknowledge that you have called me. Very important customers will be given my mobile number, but along with that they will also be informed that it a method of last resort communication. My mobile voice mail message actually tells any caller to email me if their call is important. 

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

If you are a business if you advertise a means of communication then you should also make sure that you are on top of keeping in touch with that particular method of communication for the sake of your customers. If you don't want to deal by a particular method do not publish it.

As an example, I no longer give out my mobile number for my business. When I first went self employed, I got a mobile phone because I thought it would be expected of me. I quickly discovered that it was actually of very little use. When I am in my "office" I have a perfectly good landline phone sitting right there on my desk, and when I am out of the office I am almost definitely not going to be in a situation where I can do anything about your call other than acknowledge that you have called me. Very important customers will be given my mobile number, but along with that they will also be informed that it a method of last resort communication. My mobile voice mail message actually tells any caller to email me if their call is important. 

Which they do for the vast majority of customers if the replies are anything to go by. A few people haven’t had a reply. I’m not one of them. Once again, who said anything about them not wanting to reply? Human beings sometimes make mistakes. The whole thread would have been solved by the OP picking up the phone. FFS how hard does this stuff need to be?

[Sweeneythebass]

2 hours ago, thodrik said:

In my opinion this is a very good policy to have. It enables any misunderstandings in terms of what was agreed to be ironed out at an early stage. 

In my work I am constantly making file notes of phone calls. It is annoying and time consuming but worth doing as it might be that one of those file notes can save the day in the event of a future disagreement. 

I agree that having a written record of dealings is a good idea and email is fantastic for that but sometimes you will get a faster more accurate response over the phone.

Not replying to an email at all as a business is poor practice but mistakes do happen and perhaps emails are not received at the other end? 
 

Anyway bassdirect is open and trading ! I know they are working on a less clunky and more up to date website. Fingers crossed it will have an accurate stock count 😁

[thodrik]

26 minutes ago, Sweeneythebass said:

I agree that having a written record of dealings is a good idea and email is fantastic for that but sometimes you will get a faster more accurate response over the phone.

Not replying to an email at all as a business is poor practice but mistakes do happen and perhaps emails are not received at the other end? 
 

Anyway bassdirect is open and trading ! I know they are working on a less clunky and more up to date website. Fingers crossed it will have an accurate stock count 😁

I don’t disagree. However, sometimes making a brief note on what was actually discussed on the phone is a good habit and can help prevent/solve disagreements later on if people have different recollections over what was said on the phone.

It obviously depends though. I’m not going to make a note about a two minute call asking about whether  they had some  flat wound Labella strings of a particular gauge. I probably would if I had a custom bass order for an expensive bass and I was told it should be completed and delivered ‘in 4-6 months’. 

[skej21]

Written record aside, I did speak to Bass Direct once on the phone and was basically made fun of for wanting something too “mainstream” - at the time I’d been working in a non-specialist music retailer and knew what I wanted (just couldn’t get it through the shop I worked in!) and  was spoken too like I was buying my first bass from Argos for £20 and that I wouldn’t know quality if it slapped me in the face.

From then on, I thought trying an email might make things a little more business-like but then got no response...

I’m all for supporting independent stores and bass specialist stores but equally, you’d hope they would try and meet you half way and support you if and when something doesn’t work out!

[nilebodgers]

3 minutes ago, skej21 said:

Written record aside, I did speak to Bass Direct once on the phone and was basically made fun of for wanting something too “mainstream” - at the time I’d been working in a non-specialist music retailer and knew what I wanted (just couldn’t get it through the shop I worked in!) and  was spoken too like I was buying my first bass from Argos for £20 and that I wouldn’t know quality if it slapped me in the face.

From then on, I thought trying an email might make things a little more business-like but then got no response...

I’m all for supporting independent stores and bass specialist stores but equally, you’d hope they would try and meet you half way and support you if and when something doesn’t work out!

This is why I don't like trying instruments in music shops, that kind of sneery snobby superior attitude is pretty common. (the Bass Centre back in the 80s in Wapping is the honourable exception, they were great)

[Sweeneythebass]

1 minute ago, nilebodgers said:

This is why I don't like trying instruments in music shops, that kind of sneery snobby superior attitude is pretty common. (the Bass Centre back in the 80s in Wapping is the honourable exception, they were great)

Yes I’ve found trying out basses in shops to be a bit hit and miss in terms of snobbery sometimes you get that snobbishness that is quite unpleasant and puts you off going back. To be honest I think to hell with your snobbery! I’m trying out this bloody bass whether or not you like the sound it’s making!  For me I really like to try out a bass before purchasing because you never know. Again this is where an independent bass specialist is so important,  a place where you can go and indulge fully in bassdom! 😁

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, nilebodgers said:

This is why I don't like trying instruments in music shops, that kind of sneery snobby superior attitude is pretty common. (the Bass Centre back in the 80s in Wapping is the honourable exception, they were great)

For many years I wouldn't try an instrument in most shops because of this sort of attitude. Luckily most of those shops died a death as they deserved to, and the ones with good customer service or something really special remained. 

When I am buying stuff I prioritise by customer service. Cost matters obviously, but if there isn't a huge difference, customer service wins.

[BigRedX]

15 hours ago, FDC484950 said:

Which they do for the vast majority of customers if the replies are anything to go by. A few people haven’t had a reply. I’m not one of them. Once again, who said anything about them not wanting to reply? Human beings sometimes make mistakes. The whole thread would have been solved by the OP picking up the phone. FFS how hard does this stuff need to be?

AFAICS the OP is enquiring about a £2700 instrument. I would want a complete written record of all enquiries and negotiations if I was in their position and wanting to spend this much money with anyone. As soon as you use the phone you loose that security, and should anything go wrong with the transactions you have nothing to back up your side of the argument.

 

[ped]

12 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

AFAICS the OP is enquiring about a £2700 instrument. I would want a complete written record of all enquiries and negotiations if I was in their position and wanting to spend this much money with anyone. As soon as you use the phone you loose that security, and should anything go wrong with the transactions you have nothing to back up your side of the argument.

 

Well they aren't likely to take an email you sent into account if they didn't reply to it in the first place - and I don't think your consumer rights are enhanced in any way by sending a written record any more than what you said down the phone. And anyway - it was a general enquiry rather than anything sinister, so personally I'd pick up the phone if I wanted the instrument enough.

It is frustrating when emails go unanswered, sure - but even running BC I get a decent quantity of messages that I often flag to reply to only to find that when I remember, the issue has resolved itself or the situation has changed. I imagine Bass Direct have a lot on their plate currently and they deserve our full support.

[Guest]

It is permissible to send emails that start something along the lines of "Thank you for the phone call just now, great to get things sorted. Since I like to have things written down, here's what we agreed....."

[Guest]

53 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

AFAICS the OP is enquiring about a £2700 instrument. I would want a complete written record of all enquiries and negotiations if I was in their position and wanting to spend this much money with anyone. As soon as you use the phone you loose that security, and should anything go wrong with the transactions you have nothing to back up your side of the argument.

 

I agree. No problem sending an email either before or after a phone call. The only point I’m trying (and clearly failing) to make is that if you ring someone and they answer the phone, you get an answer there and then - it’s kind of hard to ignore it! If the business doesn’t answer the phone either then there’s not much else you can do. I also agree that if there are any issues (rather than just an enquiry) a written record makes it clear exactly what was discussed. I’ve had problems with other shops (mostly non music-related) and the written documentation removes any ambiguity. Not that it helps the people who haven’t had a response, but in all my dealings with BD they’ve only failed to answer once, and that was a vague enquiry about some strings I didn’t really want anyway, so no loss to me.
The other situation where a phone call helps is making an offer on something - you can do it on email but over the phone (or even better, in person) you tend to get better results 

 

[Noisyjon]

I can see this from both sides and there definitely seems to be some issues highlighted for BD here.

Alarm bells are going with the hit & miss customer service in terms of phone/email/website issues (however minor), especially as the users on this forum must be a significant chunk of their business?

Have they seen this thread? @poptart

[nilebodgers]

2 hours ago, Ricky Rioli said:

It is permissible to send emails that start something along the lines of "Thank you for the phone call just now, great to get things sorted. Since I like to have things written down, here's what we agreed....."

I always did this in business. There are many clients that conveniently forget/mis-remember what was agreed and CYA was essential with them.

[CameronJ]

On 09/02/2021 at 20:44, lou24d53 said:

 

This is a classic and variations on this theme unfortunately occur with painful frequency.

Saying that, my experiences with BassDirect have been positive. Their website is in dire need of an overhaul though. The Bass Gallery revamped their site a while back and it’s made such a difference as their old site was arguably even worse than BD’s!