i had a shipment like that one time. amazon told me it would be here monday. wasn't there tuesday. post office said it was there tuesday. amazon says wedensday. finally, wedensday at 2..........

bluesguitar65, i loked for a tracking number. amazon's said there wasn't any orders online for this year. usps said it was here

More and more lately I hear people telling me about Sweetwater and Samash when I mention to them (fellow players) that I'm going to be getting some new guitars soon. I don't know anything about either company but one friend said Sweetwater really checks the guitars before they ship them and that the guitar you pick out on the site is the actual guitar you receive. That alone really caught my attention. I'm going to check their site out later on tonight. Plus I've got to research more about them I suppose, but I've had 4 people mention them to me in the past week so I guess word of mouth really is the best advertising.

Sweetwater is an awesome place. I've been there many times. Not just a retail store, they have recording studios, performance theater, a snack bar, game room, large warehouse and more.

BACKGROUND INFO:
alright, some of you may know about my recent fender Pro Jr purchase from Guitar Center. unfortunately, it was acting a bit strange. i recently brought it back to the store to make use of my warranty. the issue was a noise that probably shouldn't be there, and i wanted to try a tube swap to see if that was the answer (in fact an employee said i'd be able to do just that).

when i got there, i dealt with the manager, same guy who heard the noise, so i was a bit glad to deal with him of anyone i suppose. but he seemed to sidestep the idea of swapping tubes, and simply pushed the idea of replacing the whole amp. i couldn't argue that, no reason to, and no expense to me, so ok fine. but its very sad indeed, the rest of the amp seemed great, i'm hoping and praying i don't get another problematic amp, yet alone one with other build/component issues. i feel like i might have had it almost right the first time when i think about it, but i figured "what if something goes south after the 30 day warranty? then i'm on my own" (unless i am successful getting manufacturer assistance, which seems to be a toss-up for many people in terms of smooth service and transaction.)

SUMMARY:
okay so 8/16 sunday was the day of amp's return to store. i was told by the higher powers at my store that the old amp would ship back on monday 8/17, AS WELL AS the new amp shipping out from warehouse, and that i'd receive an email when the new amp ships. (now, that does seem a bit odd in some respect, but nonetheless, I do recall being told this). granted, if this is unrealistic, then don't make such a claim, right? read on...

CURRENT "NEWS":
naturally, i haven't received any such email yet. i called the store monday and VERIFIED that the new amp was shipping on monday, so basically i've been told this twice. okay cool...meanwhile, i've been questioning customer service, and here's the first clincher. the new amp will not ship UNTIL THEY RECEIVE THE OLD ONE! well, i was rather burned upon reading that statement. i'm not mad because the new amp won't ship prior to the old one's arrival at the warehouse, i'm mad because i was told differently at the start.
sure, i'm a little anxious to get the new one, PLUS GC currently has my money, and i'm in the cold with nothing, so i may be a bit over impatient, but i just want to make sure everything goes smooth. i may ask the store to provide the tracking number of the return (assuming they have sent it out as promised).

anyway, the icing on the cake was this statement also given by customer service..."it will take about 3 days for the item to get back to us. From there it will take another day or two to get the return processed and the new item shipped out. I would have to say that you will receive the new piece by Monday or Tuesday of next week". THAT pushed me over the edge. again, not mad at the supposed Return Shipment Procedure, but VERY mad at having been lied to by a manager.

Just tell me the truth, ya know? had he been straight up and told me this, i wouldn't be mad. i'd know what to expect and all. instead he obviously told me some bogus bullcrap, probably so i wouldn't have reason to want a refund and buy elsewhere.

it's a shame because the first transaction went pretty well. had the amp been fine, this wouldn't be happening and i'd have had a good experience. but this incident is changing my once positive outlook on GC. it's as if the manager just threw a good thing away.

i can safely say this will be my last time giving them my business. i'm trying to keep my cool though when dealing with any people, because i know how people can be a**holes if they want and have reason to. all i want is to get my amp in one piece and i'll move on. i don't need GC, i have other stores with whom i have good experiences with, simple as that. this will be the last time.

so is my frustration and disgust necessary or am i over-reacting?