Author Topic: Dealer to avoid (Read 194 times)

flaxattack · « **on:** August 27, 2004, 07:35:00 AM »

nj guitar
here is why
i purchased a new orion 5 there in april for 2800.
was told the resale value was app 75%. when i went to solicit quotes for my new mk5 bal k?
out of the 7 dealers i contacted by email for prices, they were the only ones who refused to quote via email. When i finally broke down and called them?
they offered me 50% for the trade in and was the HIGHEST quote of the 7 responses and i mean not even in the ball park- The other dealers i contacted said that had i bought the orion from them i would have been able to negotiate a good deal as they work with their clients when a bass is traded in in such a short time and a guy is about to drop big bucks for a custom. thats what i call taking care of a client.
i did place my new order with steve at superbass even though he was a tad higher than the best quote i had. Steve is a great guy, he plays bass and he knows his stuff. Will contemplate selling the orion after my new baby comes

paulcissa · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2004, 10:48:58 AM »

FWIW: I was dumbfounded when I called NJ Guitar last month to talk about buying my first Alembic. I felt like I had wandered into a time zone and was getting hammered by a 1984 auto salesman. The boob I was talking to never answered any of the three questions I asked him, but instead went into this weird sales schtick that reminded me of the Crazy Eddie days. Needless to say, I have no intention of spending money with them.

I've heard good things about Superbass, best wishes to you on your balance K.

bassman10096 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2004, 11:37:58 AM »

I thought I'd heard good stuff about NJ Guitar. Thanks for the info

kmh364 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2004, 12:28:27 PM »

Jay (A.K.A., Melvin) is very eccentric and keeps banker's hours. He does have appointment only hours, though, and will pick you up at the Metuchen, NJ train station (LOL! Sorry). He's primarily known for dealing in used guitars/basses/amps. He's also the only Alembic Dealer in the NY/NJ area. He is adamant about not deviating from his discount policy (i.e, no dickering, on new stuff anyway). He was honest with me about his policies, and told me that a new Alembic is worth only 50% upon trade-in (after I asked, that is). He tried to get my Alembic order, but he really wanted me to buy an in-stock item (better discount). He actually had Y2K Alembic catalogues (imagine that!)to give me. I just wanted a better deal than he offered. I really have nothing bad to say about him. My buddy has bought several used guitars (mostly Gibsons)from him over the years, and my buddy is a real cheapskate. Don't get me wrong: I don't recommend him, but he also didn't do me wrong like he did Flax. Just my $0.02.

Flax is now in good hands with Superbass Steve Frank. Live and learn I always say. Sorry Melvin, but my next Alembic order will be with Steve as well.

(Message edited by kmh364 on August 27, 2004)

bsee · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2004, 12:53:12 PM »

NJ Guitar and bass had a web page listing their Alembic inventory that hasn't changed since at least April when I contacted them about it.

There are two interesting things I got out of the page and contact. First, they go out of their way to make you phone them. They wouldn't put any substance in their email messages to me, not even to say what they have in stock. Maybe they don't do business in writing so that they can't be held to anything? Second, that page lists a Recent Alembic Orion 5, $1195 HC. In other words, there is no way that they would consider paying $2100 for a used Orion 5. You didn't happen to see or hear about the nearly new Orion 5 that they claimed to have had in stock when you were buying yours? Do you have the warranty and confirmation that the bass you bought actually was new?

As I get closer to making my custom order, I contacted half a dozen dealers to see who I wanted to work with, and who wanted to work with me. I only got answers from Bass Central, Superbass, and Bass Northwest. I get the feeling from other board traffic that these are the three premier/serious dealers and that most of the others are a distant second.

-Bob

flaxattack · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2004, 05:31:52 PM »

i agree bsee. yes it was a virgin orion,,,i am afraid of running afoul of susan as she said all her dealers were great- Wanna see the inventory too>?
here is the culprit...

kmh364 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2004, 05:44:59 PM »

I'd say fo the most part, you're right on the money, Bob.

As far as Melvin goes, I think he is just a weirdo, plain and simple. If you go there, in-person he is OK to deal with, but it doesn't appear much time or money is spent on the website. It is pretty much useless. He does put out a mimeo sheet each month with thespecials, that's about it. He's not unpleasant to deal with in the flesh, and his bass salesman did a nice job demoing anything I wanted (amps and basses) while I was there, and they weren't pushy at all. Melvin handed me an Alembic brochure and said come and see him when I was ready. He had acouple of used Alembics and a couple of new ones a year ago. I think Flax's bass was there at the time. He had a new bass he advertised as a John Entwistle exploiter, but it was not a Spyder, just an OK exploiter with a maple top.

As far as the rest of the dealers, you are right about courtesy and prompness with regards to responses to emails. Those three dealers are, in my opinion, the best out there. I have bought from all but Bass Northwest. They were very honest about their pricing and wanted to know if their price bid was beaten. When It was beaten, they were very gracious in defeat. I'd say you can't go wrong with any of them, especially Steve over at Superbass. There is nothing like a one-man businesman (who is a rather accomplished regularly-gigging bassist as well) who has his shop in his basement for that personal touch.

pookeymp · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2004, 07:38:31 AM »

I purchased my Mark King from Jay back in 2002. Unfortunately, as he was the only Alembic dealer in the area and I didn't do my homework by checking other prices online...I found out later that I paid a bit more than I should have. He was a very nice guy to deal with, although, in terms of Alembic knowledge, he didn't seem to be too schooled. Even after leaving a sizeable deposit to show I was very serious...it was like pulling teeth sometimes getting info back from him...it seemed as if he didn't really check until after I would call several times. I would usually only get answers if I actually made a trip in. And I was being quite patient between calls. But I did eventually get everything settled, and loved my bass, so I got over the price quickly.

A bad experience I later had w/ him was when I purchased what was supposed to have been a brand new Eden WT1000 Power Amp. It keep cutting out regularly on the first gig I used it (apparently overheating)...so I immediately took it back within a week of purchase. He said he would have to send it in for repairs (I felt I should have gotten a new one right there), but anyway, insisted that was all he had in stock and didn't know how long it would be if I waited for another one. So, to make a long story even longer, Eded called me after receiving the amp, informed me that my amp was actually 6 or 7 years old, and they would have to upgrade the electronics to the new specs, which would solve the overheating issue which was common in the older version. So apparently, he's selling stock that has been around for quite a while, because, when I checked the date on the Eden Preamp that I had purchased at the same time, it turns out that the preamp was 2 years old. He did issue me a $100 store credit, but I would have preferred to have 2 brand new items that I initially though I was paying for.

I'm a die-hard and very forgiving though, so just recenlty I went to Jay to price a new StingRay, decided this time to price shop a bit. I went to my local music shop who isn't even a Music Man dealer, who ordered it brand new for me through another dealer, and I still got it for almost $1500.00 cheaper than what Jay (who is a music man dealer) was charging.

So, I think I'll pass on NJ Guitar & Bass, and my next Alembic will come from one of the other 3 prior listed dealers that I'm been hearing so much about.

Mikey/

kmh364 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2004, 10:30:21 AM »

Good for you, Mikey. I personally don't mind supporting a local guy if he takes care of you (even if it costs a little more). Unfortunately, that is not the case here. If the local guy hoses you, then let your money talk by letting it take a walk to a Dealer who will treat you right (even if it isn't local).

Try Superbass, Bass Central, or Bass Northwest for you next purchase. All good guys to deal with.

flaxattack · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2004, 02:34:26 PM »

SHOULD WE TELL SUSAN?

kmh364 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2004, 05:33:59 AM »

I think we just did, LOL!

spose · « **Reply #11 on:** September 04, 2004, 12:03:36 PM »

his name is Myron..not Marvin AKA Jay North.

lbpesq · « **Reply #12 on:** September 04, 2004, 01:45:46 PM »

Jay North? Isn't that the kid who played Dennis the Menace on the old TV show?

kmh364 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 06, 2004, 08:58:04 AM »

Jay, Myron, Melvin, Marvin, Schmarvin, it's all the same....A rose by any other name sill stinks like scheisse, LOL!

Sorry, I just couldn't resist that one!