Very Long Wait for Strat because Fender Changes QC Policies

Martian · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:29 am

majjackdog wrote:

I wonder why they even mention qc issues, usually companies try to keep stuff like that quiet

It would be the least of the evils excuse wise, leaving the outsider with the impression that they are making themselves even better than ever.

antitype · **Joined:** Sun Mar 28, 2010 1:59 pm **Posts:** 158

What I got from Customer Relations:

.... we do make a great number of guitar and bass models in our Corona, CA facility, so if one thing gets held up, so does everything else. Since everything is built on rotation, if we’re out of a particular model and a particular color and need to make more, it can take some time unfortunately. I would contact your dealer who can get a hold of our sales team for the most accurate ETA.

Thanks for your patience,

budglo · **Joined:** Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:17 pm **Posts:** 1986

Jazzyguy wrote:

I just received a response from Customer Relations. They said the QC
story that my dealer told me is not correct. They are Infact back ordered for 45-60 days. Simply, they were not prepared for the orders that they received. Their projections placed on manufacturing early this year proved to be much lower than expected. While they are aware of the inconvenicence to their customers, FMIC are not prepared to rush any instrument out that is not prepared to pass their QC process.

So there we have it folks. Almost verbadum. The official word from Fender.

Jazzy

Ceri was correct.Their projections were low,they laid off a significant amount of their workforce ,demand was above their projections and so they didnt have enough people to meet their demands.Makes sense.

majjackdog · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:34 am

sounds like not every one on the same page !

markara · **Joined:** Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:00 am **Posts:** 310

Well there ya go. Mystery solved. Parts or capacity (people) backlog or some combination.

I have heard the QC thing so much at so many places it is funny. As I said earlier, it is normally the "best" way people can think of spinning situations like this. "We found a problem, before you did, and we are going to make damn sure this problem doesn't leave the factory", there you feel better. They are afraid to just simply say, "Fender needs more wood".

DetroitBlues · **Joined:** Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am **Posts:** 2187

Jazzyguy wrote:

I ordered an American Standard Strat Candy Cola with Maple Neck back in March. At the time they said most likely to be delivered to the store by the end of April as they were back ordered :shock:

Today I called the store where I ordered it and the store called fender to get an updated ETA. The store tells me that Fender just changed their Quality Control Procedures and are rechecking everything. Nothing American made (be it a guitar or cable) is to leave the Arizona factory for another 45 days :cry:

Oh Man, what a wait!

Apparantly they got some new head guy that is changing the way Fender handles Quality Control. Has anyone heard anyting about this?

Thanks,
Jazzy

When did Fender start making guitars in Arizona?

Andybighair · **Joined:** Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:22 am **Posts:** 2175

nikininja wrote:

Could it be something to do with the gibson wood investigation? Fender were mentioned too.

Is it possible that current Fender timber stock has been sezied as part of the investigation? I've also noticed that a couple of decent suppliers have been out of maple necks for a while now with some pretty long waiting times.

Andy

markara · **Joined:** Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:00 am **Posts:** 310

DetroitBlues wrote:

When did Fender start making guitars in Arizona?

They don't, I don't think. Arizona is the site of the HQ for now, but I wouldn't be suprised to see them move to Arizona

DetroitBlues · **Joined:** Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am **Posts:** 2187

maybe that's why there is a back order issue.... Maybe they are moving to Arizona for the new immigration law that just passed.

cvilleira · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:03 pm

DetroitBlues wrote:

maybe that's why there is a back order issue.... Maybe they are moving to Arizona for the new immigration law that just passed.

They spent 40 million like 14 years ago upgrading and moving there brands under one roof in corona. I don't think so.
I think it is just a matter they are going to produce one version of guitars fill orders and move to another. Also so many in one color then the next and so on. They are playing it close to the belt and if someone orders one they don't have then they have to wait until the schedule time were they are making it. Face it business is slow, gather orders and build to them when you have enough of each to do so not until. Sitting inventory is not making you money. So reduce staff to cut expense and slow production down, no waste.

Martian · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:21 pm

Years ago, that's the way CBS used to do it. They'd have planned runs of whichever models in whichever colors. If you hit the cycle correctly, you'd have a very short wait. Miss the cycle and oftentimes, it would take literally a year if the cycle was planned to repeat itself. If not, you were simply SOL.

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Very Long Wait for Strat because Fender Changes QC Policies

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