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Online Store Rant


Linus27
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Don't you just hate it when you go to buy something online, and the store says it has the items in stock for next day delivery, to then receive an email a day later saying, they are waiting delivery of your item and as soon as they come in stock they will ship them out. I ordered a couple of sets of strings from GAK which said they are in stock and now they say they are waiting for them to come in stock. GGGRRRR I thought GAK were one of the better places. Whats even more annoying is they are still saying in stock on their website ggggrrrrr

Edited by Linus27
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I was about to agree with you - but got somewhat distracted by your new avatar :brow:

But yes - the only place i've dealt with online who have actually had what i wanted in stock was Bass Direct. I've had trouble with GAK, SoundsLive, Anderton's - You name it!

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[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='676780' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:12 PM']Cancel your order. That's the most effective and direct way of showing your displeasure.

S.P.[/quote]

I am very very close to doing that as I needed the strings quite urgently and could pop to Andertons or Kingfishers to get them.

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yep +1 on the avatar! funny show too. I've had trouble with most of the european based stores . Something always seems to pop up.Orders from the UK aren't too bad. I've have to say that guitarbitz.com is one of the best I've dealt with. Never had to wait for an order. The problem here in Ireland is mostly the crappy postal service and dodgey forwarding. Its still a hell of a lot cheaper to buy in the UK, even with the exchange rate. Irish stores specialise in two things. 1: ripping off clients, particularly the younger kids and 2: ignorant staff, you know the "I work in a guitar store so obviously I know everything about every instrument under the sun" attitude? :)

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[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='676780' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:12 PM']Cancel your order. That's the most effective and direct way of showing your displeasure.

S.P.[/quote]

Yes and no... that only works if they actually monitor their transactions or generate reports for cancelled orders rather than let their system just handle cancellations automatically. And if they don't monitor they'll never know. Given that they can't monitor stock levels I wouldn't like to assume they monitor for cancelled orders. I'd still say the best solution is to contact them, you can still cancel the order but at least by contacting them they'll know for sure why.

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[quote name='cheddatom' post='676777' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:11 PM']To be fair it's quite difficult to get a "live stock feed" system going and working well.[/quote]

True, but it's easy not to deliberately and blatantly lie about what stock you have.

A few of the large online stores have had the Markbass Super Synth "in stock" since late summer with a note that it can be delivered within 2 days. Not sure how they're managing it when the pedal hasn't even been released yet, maybe not even mass-produced yet.

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If you just want strings use should use Stringbusters or Strings Direct. They'll probably be cheaper & they both deliver really quickly. They're also really on the ball with having stock marked as available or not.
GAK have got a bloody terrible reputation for not having things in stock when they're advertised as available on their website.

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[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='676824' date='Dec 7 2009, 04:54 PM']A few of the large online stores have had the Markbass Super Synth "in stock" since late summer with a note that it can be delivered within 2 days. Not sure how they're managing it when the pedal hasn't even been released yet, maybe not even mass-produced yet.[/quote]

My moneys on it being a pack of lies to get you to place an order. To be frank a live stock level is not hard to implement. We managed to get it running in the distribution depot of a convenience store chain that could handle more than 10 million transactions a day with more than 5 thousand different products. It took about a month to tie in the 50 or so stores and get it working properly and was so simple to use that it could be operated by someone who had no training at all.

+1 for canceling the order and dropping a line to the customer services manager to let them know why. I have to say that I rate Thomann's stock level system as one of the best from the POV of a customer. Saying that, I rate them as the best internet based music shop in the world for value and service. (not that I've tried them all of course :))

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[quote name='RhysP' post='676825' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:57 PM']If you just want strings use should use Stringbusters or Strings Direct. They'll probably be cheaper & they both deliver really quickly. They're also really on the ball with having stock marked as available or not.
GAK have got a bloody terrible reputation for not having things in stock when they're advertised as available on their website.[/quote]

Hi guys. I thought I should chip in...

Firstly, I'm sorry to here that you have had a bad experience with GAK.CO.UK. I can only apologise on behalf of our internet team. As you probably know, we have only just started to advertise stock availability on the site and, in the majority of cases, it is working astonishingly well. However, as with any stock system, mistakes can occur and we are trying to minimise these errors where possible. My recommendation to you is give me a call or drop me an email when you want to order. I will happily deal with your order and physically check stock before taking any payment. Our policy is to match web prices whenever possible and on 99% of products, that won't be a problem.

Mark Packham
GAK Basses
[email protected]
01273 665427

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[quote name='RhysP' post='676825' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:57 PM']If you just want strings use should use Stringbusters or Strings Direct. They'll probably be cheaper & they both deliver really quickly. They're also really on the ball with having stock marked as available or not.
GAK have got a bloody terrible reputation for not having things in stock when they're advertised as available on their website.[/quote]

I went to them first but both places had them out of stock also. At least their website informed me they were out of stock unlike GAK.

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[quote name='mark_random' post='676842' date='Dec 7 2009, 04:22 PM']Hi guys. I thought I should chip in...

Firstly, I'm sorry to here that you have had a bad experience with GAK.CO.UK. I can only apologise on behalf of our internet team. As you probably know, we have only just started to advertise stock availability on the site and, in the majority of cases, it is working astonishingly well. However, as with any stock system, mistakes can occur and we are trying to minimise these errors where possible. My recommendation to you is give me a call or drop me an email when you want to order. I will happily deal with your order and physically check stock before taking any payment. Our policy is to match web prices whenever possible and on 99% of products, that won't be a problem.

Mark Packham
GAK Basses
[email protected]
01273 665427[/quote]

Just incase you haven't done so, it's always good to have more in stock than it lists on your site. I don't mean LOADS more, just whatever cash flow will allow.

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I've usually found GAK to be pretty good but that said I have taken to phoning ahead these days if ever I'm in a hurry. I know it defeats the point but that's what happens when you've had your fingers burned in the past. Personally on stuff like strings I prefer buying from my local shop. You pay a bit more but they are there for the emergencies.

I'd probably cancel the order on this occasion

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[quote name='cheddatom' post='676853' date='Dec 7 2009, 04:35 PM']Just incase you haven't done so, it's always good to have more in stock than it lists on your site. I don't mean LOADS more, just whatever cash flow will allow.[/quote]

Thanks for the input. To be honest, I have very little to do with the running of the website, and we're technically not even the same company, but rest assured, all of your comments are being passed on to the boys in the offices. Like I said before, I am always happy to handle BassChatter's orders over the phone so give me a call and I can deal with it personally.

M

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Given the difficulty we've experienced collectively in attracting the attention of one particular well-known supplier to their unbelievably cr*p service, I'd just like to say that it's a real breath of fresh air to have Mark responding and getting involved with this sort of issue.

I appreciate that Michael (Linus27) hasn't got his strings yet, so nothing is "fixed", but I can't help but feel that this one is now more likely to have a happy ending.

Just saying ... credit where it's due.

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[quote name='mark_random' post='676842' date='Dec 7 2009, 04:22 PM']Hi guys. I thought I should chip in...

Firstly, I'm sorry to here that you have had a bad experience with GAK.CO.UK. I can only apologise on behalf of our internet team. As you probably know, we have only just started to advertise stock availability on the site and, in the majority of cases, it is working astonishingly well. However, as with any stock system, mistakes can occur and we are trying to minimise these errors where possible.[/quote]

You might want to look at this then: [url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/80499"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/80499[/url]

Given that all your competitors are saying they've got them in stock or can deliver them in a matter of days, excuse me if I assume it's not an innocent mistake.

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[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='676877' date='Dec 7 2009, 05:09 PM']You might want to look at this then: [url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/80499"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/80499[/url]

Given that all your competitors are saying they've got them in stock or can deliver them in a matter of days, excuse me if I assume it's not an innocent mistake.[/quote]

Well...

THEY ARE IN STOCK! I'm not sure how I missed the delivery because I'm dying to have a go on one, but from the looks of our stock system, they arrived last week. I'll let you know for certain tomorrow when I've actually got my hands on one.


P.S Looks as though Riverberos have come in too.

M

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