CE Distribution

[TheAmpNerd]

You've seen the pics...nothing worse for a little guy to get stung
first by product that had to be removed from amps, but also to
suck up about $170 in defective product of what CE Dist refuses
to stand behind.

You think beta testing is bad, try having to pay for "production"
parts that have yet to pass Alpha testing!

NOTE: Dear CE distribution, I shall be pleased to receive an email
offer of replacement or credit from you to replace the defective parts bearing your name.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/CECapsLeaky.jpg
NOTE2: The cap on the right did not leak because it is open.

[Blue Strat]

What the hell are we talking about specifically?

[Trout]

I think more details should be posted.

I know I for 1 have had a few items that I needed to RMA over the last year, but I had no problems getting it sorted out. Any distributor can run into some bad parts from their suppliers and "Generally" speaking, as long as you send in your RMA in the allotted time CE takes care of it.

Trout

[fyrwyr]

No probs with CE for me so far....

[Blue Strat]

I think more details should be posted.

I know I for 1 have had a few items that I needed to RMA over the last year, but I had no problems getting it sorted out. Any distributor can run into some bad parts from their suppliers and "Generally" speaking, as long as you send in your RMA in the allotted time CE takes care of it.

Trout

Same experience for me with CE (watch out for their tube matching and NOS tube identification).

[Trout]

Same experience for me with CE (watch out for their tube matching and NOS tube identification).


Most of my issues have revolved around the ________ working in the shipping department.

I ordered a bunch of Hammond transformers a few other misc items, I got the package opened it up to find the tubes and transformers randomly thrown into the box. They were well padded from the outside of the box, but not from each other.

Well needless to say several tubes broke and others had pretty good box damage. Thing is, I mentioned this problem to them before and even requested having them seperately packed. Some requests never seem to trickle down to the ________ putting the items in the boxes.

I still feel overall based on my average monthly order sizes they do a good job on getting things here fast.

I was told at one of the guitar shows I went to that they do not actually match their tubes but rather buy them factory matched. Then when guys order odd sets they break up factory matches to fill orders. I have no idea if this is the actual case, That is just what an employee had told me.

Trout

[Blue Strat]

Some of their "matched sets" may be from the factory they buy them from, others are definitely "matched" in house. I've been buying from CE and Antique Electronics for many years and know the drill.

[rooster]

I had a shipping issue just last week, 3 out of 10 filter caps were munched, presumably from the tranny I ordered crushing them in shipping. They replaced them immediately, I got them the next day, didn't even require the munched ones back.

I've been buying from them for about 10 years, since they were a HAM shop in the old days. I've always been treated great by them, and they've even started distributing some parts I suggested to them.

rooster.

[hasserl]

I believe the OP on this thread is in regards to a bunch of CE labeled capacitors that have had a miserable failure rate. TAN was stuck with a bunch of them when CE refused to reimburse him for the faulty caps. He posted pictures some time ago in a different thread, maybe it would help if he posted them again.

[Swarty]

I've gotten busted stuff from them too, like bags of pots where some have the terminals broken off. I think its mainly that they pack stuff badly and use paper instead of bubble wrap. I've never complained since they have a great catalogue, ship orders fast, and the past few years they've been sending a box of candy at xmas.

... and the cool cartoon Jensen t shirts!

[Wakarusa]

I've done a lot of business with CE for the last four years and had nary a problem. I don't buy their transformers, so seem to avoid some of the shipping headaches noted here. For certain items the pricing (and occasionally the selection) beats Mouser, Digi-Tech, et. al. hands down. Met with the reps at a couple of NAMM shows -- altogether a positive experience. They're not perfect, but they seem to outperform many other vendors. What really surprises me are all of the ding threads regarding AES. Seems the retail side may not have their act together.

[Southbay Ampworks]

I've only had one problem with them, shipped me Vox string piping instead of Marshall thin piping, that they took care of quickly. Other than that, I've been with them for five years without one issue.

[mr coffee]

can make and break a company. Look at the ampware and mojo (in the old days- Andy has turned things around). I dont think I've ever had anything come from CE/Mojo/Nude sensor that was ever damaged.. Carefull timing of ordering BEFORE the bong breaks helps in some cases (not all palaces but they know who they are)

I've heard horror stories about angela inst. I've had nothing but top knotch service from them EVER. They used to have the best pricing~stock of Hammond iron around...

[plexi67]

Nothing but good service from them,and i have been ordering alot of parts from them over the years. They always replaced or swapped out anything that was bad. I don't think it matters who you buy a name brand part from or who made it etc.. your going to come across a bad one every now and then.

[mark norwine]

I've heard horror stories about angela inst.

I've never ordered from Steve because I've never been able to get past his rudeness...

[mr coffee]

I've never ordered from Steve because I've never been able to get past his rudeness...
no soup for you...

my thing was never have to talk to him.. no the page item number (cut and paste now from web site) CCard info and I have it in less than a week

[mark norwine]

Heaven forbid, however, that one might actually have a question about an advertised product.....

[TheAmpNerd]

I posted a pic in the original post.

Here is a pic of other capacitors purchased at the same time,
all test good and there is no electrolyte leakage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/CE_JJCapsGood.jpg

[mr coffee]

Heaven forbid, however, that one might actually have a question about an advertised product.....

they cost extra....

[TheAmpNerd]

no soup for you...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/MoreSoupPlease-med.jpg

P L E A S E ?

[TheAmpNerd]

I've never ordered from Steve because I've never been able to get past his rudeness...

Hmmm, wondering if this is the affect of working with
musicians for 35 + years?

[Pearly Gator]

My last two CE Dist orders for tubes each included an extra ECC83S in the package. Oh, the horror! :D

PG

[TheAmpNerd]

My last two CE Dist orders for tubes each included an extra ECC83S in the package. Oh, the horror! :D

PG

How much are you ordering?

[quinnamps]

I have to ask this but did you test the CE caps BEFORE installing them?
It's a pain but maybe less so than unsoldering several cap cans.
Also did you talk to someone in person at CE. They have always been very pleasant and helpful to deal with.
Angela will never get a dime from me. That guy is super dickish.
Besides that I had the nerve to ask about a sercure payment method.
I was told to just send my CC info in an email like the several thousand of happy customers that came before me. Rude crude and pushy.
Hope the guy never gets hacked. Judging from how he deals with people who were trying to give him business I am sure it won't be his problem.
Soup nazi!

[Blue Strat]

no soup for you...

my thing was never have to talk to him.. no the page item number (cut and paste now from web site) CCard info and I have it in less than a week

ROFL! Yeah, Steve was referred to as the "Tube Nazi" on a thread on one of the Usenet forums years ago. "NO TUBES FOR YOU FOR 2 YEARS!".

On the other hand, a guy on the Fender Discussion Page once said "if I had to make a living dealing with musicians, I'd have to kill myself".

There are two sides to every story and being in "da biz", I can sympathize with everyone ;)

[Trout]

I really think CE is a good place to buy from, But yet again I have RMA's this week.

The problem (in my case)seems to be the guys packing the parts, I mean really!!

I ordered a bunch of stock up stuff and transformers, Sooner or later the warehouse guys have to realize you can NOT pack (4) 8lb transformers in a box with (100) 250/5W ceramic resistors without some form of padding/isolation between them!!

The same applies with Tubes! Im guessing that 5% of my last order is damaged. But 98% of my total RMA's to CE have been packing related.

Trout

[TheAmpNerd]

Of course I have always talked to them in person.
I have gotten stuck with more stuff from them that
you would care to know.

If you order in large quantities, to keep stuff in stock and to get
price breaks and anything is wrong down the road, be prepared
to eat it.

I hear through the mill that they may be looking to change some
of their policies. Change is a good thing, even if it is late. :AOK

I should go back and find that fricking stat book I hated so much just
to measure some stuff.

Quality is not measurement, it is a process where vendors, suppliers,
and distributers work together for the customer and each other.

Additionally I was going to address this in a separate thread; CE
finally contaced me and we my have a solution to the cap problem.

Cudos to you CE.

[s2amps]

I've used them since 2003 for some parts. The only problems I've ever had were:

1. Bad batch of Belton octal sockets. Pins broke off with barely any pressure from the soldering iron. They balked at replacing them at first since they had solder on them, but eventually did send me new ones.

2. Two of those bad 40/20/20/20 E-caps. Those 2 caps cost me a lot of $$ and customer service problems (blew several rectifiers I had to replace under warranty, etc.). CE addressed the problem by sending 2 more at no charge, but I threw them away.

Otherwise, I've had no problems whatsoever. Not a bad track record IMHO. And they guys are always a hoot to talk to at guitar shows :)

The only times I have ever ordered iron from them did not include other parts, so I've never have the iron rub problems some others have reported. But I rarely order iron from them unless it's a repair or something.

[Swarty]

ROFL! Yeah, Steve was referred to as the "Tube Nazi" on a thread on one of the Usenet forums years ago. "NO TUBES FOR YOU FOR 2 YEARS!".

On the other hand, a guy on the Fender Discussion Page once said "if I had to make a living dealing with musicians, I'd have to kill myself".

There are two sides to every story and being in "da biz", I can sympathize with everyone ;)

I wish he'd incorporate the same humor on his website he used have in his catalogs. Steve's OK, just keep it business or keep it Marshalls. Back in the catalog days he had the best deals on old Marshalls anywhere. I still have some of his catalogs, they are insanely humorous... and the pricing, 15years ago, JTM45s were $1500 tops, other plexis were $1200 or less!

[donnyjaguar]

Angela Inst is comedic. My friend called there one time and Steve threw the phone down on him mid-sentence when the coffee truck pulled up out front. Five minutes later he acknowledged the order with a mouth full of food. I think he's the guy that goes around waking up all the sleepy hams at 5:30AM at the Rochester Hamfest looking for vacuum tubes.

[Blue Strat]

Angela Inst is comedic. My friend called there one time and Steve threw the phone down on him mid-sentence when the coffee truck pulled up out front. Five minutes later he acknowledged the order with a mouth full of food. I think he's the guy that goes around waking up all the sleepy hams at 5:30AM at the Rochester Hamfest looking for vacuum tubes.

Was your friend "talking tone" with Steve? ;)