Fender amp parts question

[RSRelic]

I ordered some parts from Ampwares but it looks like they have fallen off the earth, because I have got no parts or answeres to my e-mails or phone calls. Has any one bought from them in the past and did you have any problems? I'm sorry if this is not the best place to ask this, but I had to ask.

[Old Tele man]

...try calling the Better Business Bureau in that town...nothing like "local" influence to help long-distance problems.

[Blue Strat]

I ordered some parts from Ampwares but it looks like they have fallen off the earth, because I have got no parts or answeres to my e-mails or phone calls. Has any one bought from them in the past and did you have any problems? I'm sorry if this is not the best place to ask this, but I had to ask.

Seems like this same question pops up every few months or so. I don't know what those guys are up to, but their customer support doesn't seem very good.

[vibroverbus]

I ordered some parts from Ampwares but it looks like they have fallen off the earth, because I have got no parts or answeres to my e-mails or phone calls. Has any one bought from them in the past and did you have any problems? I'm sorry if this is not the best place to ask this, but I had to ask.

Hate to tell you, but Standard Operating Procedure for them in my experience.

I had an order in limbo last year, was waiting and waiting, kept calling/emailing/faxing/text-messaging/smoke-signalling/pony-express... you get the picture.

Not a single reply ever.

Then one day the package shows up on my doorstep, exactly what I ordered, but no mention of all my efforts at communication. Of course if I'd been calling to cancel or change the order it would have been ignored.

Never again...

[Geetarpicker]

I had the same thing happen. I was ordering a back panel to a Fender amp, something they have to make to order so I knew it would take some time. However they took almost twice as long as they say they take for such items. In the end I got my stuff, but I won't be back. To bad, they have a great web site.

[mbratch]

I ordered some parts from Ampwares but it looks like they have fallen off the earth, because I have got no parts or answeres to my e-mails or phone calls. Has any one bought from them in the past and did you have any problems? I'm sorry if this is not the best place to ask this, but I had to ask.How long ago did you place your order? I ordered from them. No answers to emails or phone calls. But my order arrived in about 2 weeks. From what I've read in prior threads on this topic, they generally deliver with few exceptions, but don't communicate. Low-budget operation? Low-cost illiterate labor? Just lack of courtesy? Who knows... it is very unnerving, though, while you wait for your order to arrive.

[RSRelic]

How long ago did you place your order? I ordered from them. No answers to emails or phone calls. But my order arrived in about 2 weeks. From what I've read in prior threads on this topic, they generally deliver with few exceptions, but don't communicate. Low-budget operation? Low-cost illiterate labor? Just lack of courtesy? Who knows... it is very unnerving, though, while you wait for your order to arrive.
It's been over a month with no word at all, but I guess after reading these posts it's just normal operations for them.

[Melo]

I placed an order with them last month for parts to rebuild a Deluxe Reverb. I got the parts in about three weeks. I was also able to get ahold of them by phone by calling early. They even gave me a tracking number for my order. I have used them twice, and they were slow both times; but I got what I ordered.

[Relicula]

How do you feel when your customer sevice is discussed on various boards?

[RSRelic]

How do you feel when your customer sevice is discussed on various boards?
It happens all the time; some times good and some times bad, but any time I see a bad one on a forum I try to make sure the problem is fixed right then and there. I'm very proud of our customer service, and for a small company with only two people to deal with the phones and e-mails we work very hard to answer all questions. It may take some time, but I can't imagine just ignoring phones till our answering machine was full and our e-mail just kicked back to customers. Frankly I would close the doors before I let it get to that point.

[vibroverbus]

I placed an order with them last month for parts to rebuild a Deluxe Reverb. I got the parts in about three weeks. I was also able to get ahold of them by phone by calling early. They even gave me a tracking number for my order.

Then you are an extreme statistical anomaly. I literally have left 4-5 phone messages (trying all different times of day), the same number of emails, and a couple faxes as well to no avail. And not being obnoxious, just saying "hey... did you ever actually get my order? should I order someplace else? hello? anybody?"

Basically Ampwares sucks, there are vastly better options, unless you like a company that won't tell you if they've taken an order or not, or when/where they will decide to respond to your order.

[Blue Strat]

It seems that their only priority is getting the parts to you, eventually.

I'm not sure how many items they carry, but it's probably many. I'm sure that a lot of them are very low mark up items and that they may have problems keeping some of them in stock, hence the long lead times on some orders. They probably fill a lot of orders. They're probably also understaffed and could be a part time business.

I'm not making excuses (or accusations) for them at all, just trying to rationalize what's going on.

[devbro]

For some odd reason, moderators of this board frown upon objective posts that can help musicians avoid deadbeat dealers and save some dough. Be careful, this thread is approaching the TGP truth threshold.:MMM

The polically correct post would be a little more fluffy like......." gee, I ordered some parts from a highly regarded dealer and I've been waiting for quite some time to receive my order. It must be the Xmas postal rush because music gear dealers are always so honest and forthright."...............

[Blue Strat]

For some odd reason, moderators of this board frown upon objective posts that can help musicians avoid deadbeat dealers and save some dough. Be careful, this thread is approaching the TGP truth threshold.:MMM

The polically correct post would be a little more fluffy like......." gee, I ordered some parts from a highly regarded dealer and I've been waiting for quite some time to receive my order. It must be the Xmas postal rush because music gear dealers are always so honest and forthright."...............


The posts I've seen pulled from this board involved "issues" with, often, pissy/complaining/can't-be-satisfied-no-matter-what type, customers looking to slam a vendor without first trying to work out problems directly with the vendor.

[Trout]

For some odd reason, moderators of this board frown upon objective posts that can help musicians avoid deadbeat dealers and save some dough. Be careful, this thread is approaching the TGP truth threshold.:MMM

The polically correct post would be a little more fluffy like......." gee, I ordered some parts from a highly regarded dealer and I've been waiting for quite some time to receive my order. It must be the Xmas postal rush because music gear dealers are always so honest and forthright."...............

Interesting, Though not a long time member, I have been a long time lurker and have never seen legitimate vendor warning threads pulled.

In fact, there is a current thread that has been going on for weeks containing just such a deadbeat dealer thread.
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=164581

There is no fluff in this thread, though there is a a bit of parody content.

The posts I've seen pulled from this board involved "issues" with, often, pissy/complaining/can't-be-satisfied-no-matter-what type, customers looking to slam a vendor without first trying to work out problems directly with the vendor.

That's is common here, ebay, even retail shops. I help out a mom N pop hobby shop business on my days off and it amazes me the lack of diplomacy and patients that people seem to have these days. Its instant results or instant slams in an instant society.

Though I do agree, good communications skills can greatly reduce this type of problem. That should be a high priority in any business plan. I would gladly wait a week or three if it was information I had right up front.

Trout