Help: A Tough Situation... =S

[nashman]

A well crafted letter of complaint (to the Tech) is the key. You can do so in a professional manner, often with good results - and IMO is the best way to document the situation/your position while eliminating direct confrontation.

Here's a link that provides good info on how to craft an effective letter of complaint ... Write Complaint Letters That Get Results

[SquidLizard]

It's a fundamental mistake to assume there is a "confrontation" involved when you discuss this with him. Think about it this way. By assuming he has no interest in stepping up because he already has your money, you are not giving the tech a chance to take responsibility for his mistake. You are not giving him the benefit of the doubt. You are, in a way, cheating him out of the opportunity for a huge learning experience. If he hears the new information from EBMM, it's may be that he will see things your way and cover your costs. If he doesn't, what have you lost? You wouldn't use him again anyway and your paths will probably never cross. And you don't have to be unpleasant with him, just calm and factual. Assume he'll do the right thing. At the very least, you've stood up for yourself and asked for what you need.

IMO, avoiding what you assume to be a confrontation is a bad habit to get into. The habits we train ourselves into are what we have to live with our entire lives. Sadly, we're in a society where you MUST advocate for yourself to survive. As one example, we're all going to have to be the ones who push for decent medical care for ourselves and loved ones. There is no longer a system that will help you if you can't ask for and, if needed, demand what you need and what you're entitled to. And you may have to do this when you're elderly or in ill health. So dealing with the less critical issues now is great practice for when you'll really need the skills later.

Sorry to throw out a sermon, but I feel very strongly that we train ourselves in our behaviors and what we avoid now because we don't want to have a "confrontation" will result in habits that hurt us later. There's nothing unpleasant or confrontational about asking for what's right. Just explain the facts, ask for what you think is fair, and see what happens.

[strummer]

Listen to the Squid-girl, that's what it's about!

[Caca de Kick]

Originally Posted by RobertB

I disagree with the notion of "what's done is done". The fact that it's done makes it wrong, not ok. I guess by that logic, I could commit just about any crime and then claim "well, what's done is done", and get of scott freaking free.

I didn't say the guy should get off scott free. He is in the wrong. here's what I said...

Pay to have the work done, and present the guy with the bill

If it were me, that tech would have one pissed off dude out for blood...but that's the way I am.
The OP said he's not the confrontational type, and even if he should be, I understand it's not my place to tell folks to grow a backbone.

[Russel]

I wouldn't write a letter.

I don't like letters. Text is an inefficient mode of communication-there is a whole lot more to a conversation, such as body launguage, voice tone, inflection.... If you write a letter, you'd be missing an experience that could teach you social skills for a productive, positive interaction with a person over negative conditions, which is a great thing. If he's a cool person, he'll own up and at least try to make it right, in a pleasant manner. If he's a dick, he'll be a tool about it. Either way, you're in the right, and there's not much chance for you to go wrong, unless you let him not give you anything. I understand you don't like confrontation; I'm the same way, but it's already been said-good habits.

Best wishes. I hope it comes out alright.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

So, this hump between the 5th and 11th fret did not really exist? Is that what EBMM confirmed?

[Musicman Nut]

Originally Posted by BluDawnBassDude

Hi guys, haven't posted in a long time but I thought I'd share my current predicament. I bought a beautiful Blue Dawn SR4 last summer, one of the 2007 LE's, and after having the guys I bought it from lower the action I was noticing quite a lot of buzz. I assumed they didn't do that good of a job because of how unprofessional their timelyness was as far as getting it done, so I just assumed I would get it redone again sometime soon. That ended up being sometime in early 2008 and I asked a tech at a store I trust (not GC) to take a look at it, put some new strings on it and properly set the action, as low as playably possible. Well the next day I get a call saying there is something wrong with the neck and that he is going to take it home to his workbench because he has some better tools for this sort of thing, so I say ok. The next day I get a call saying he spent 8 hours on it and hasn't seen anything quite like it. He says there is a hump from the 5th to the 11th fret that only gets worse no matter which way he turns the truss rod. He told me that I need to call the people I bought it from or the manufacturor. I get the bass back eventually (my friend picked it up for me) and I notice that those aforementioned frets are all substantially shaved down. I assume this is just to compensate for the hump and that it won't matter as the neck will have to be replaced anyways (in his opinion). Notice how I took it in for essentially a tune-up and received major fretwork without my consent. So I continue doing college type things like homework and eventually get around to calling AJ (EBMM) and he says to send it in to have them look at it as it is still under warranty. So I send it in and get the dreaded voicemail that I need to call them about my bass. After a good conversation with AJ, one of the very nice people at EB who is looking out for my best interests (thanks AJ =) ), tells me that the neck appears to be just fine but because of the condition of the frets the bass is out of warranty. So this puts me in quite the bind, I definately trust the manufacturor's assesment of the instrument they made and if they tell me that the frets are messed up and the neck is fine, then I believe them. But now I have to find a way to pay to have the neck refretted and I don't feel that I should have to do it. I feel kind of bad because the guy who worked on it was trying to help me out but on the other hand his help voided my warranty and he charged my an extra $75 after the fact. I feel like the answer is obvious, I need to call him and ask for a refund or for him to cover the repairs, but he doesn't really have any reason to listen to me since he already has the money and I'm from out of town. And also I am pretty terrible at this particular type of confrontation, so there it is. Thoughts? Opinions? Advice??? All will be greatly appreciated...Thanks

-BDBD

Sorry but no New Ernie Ball Bass ever needs new frets, your bass was a 15 minute set up from anyone who has a clue, I set these basses up daily and this Company Makes these basses right, 10 minute setup job and your done. Good Luck.

[AnthonyD]

Back to SquidLizard - she makes a very good point.





Always assume good intentions...

[chilix]

Originally Posted by Musicman Nut

Sorry but no New Ernie Ball Bass ever needs new frets, your bass was a 15 minute set up from anyone who has a clue, I set these basses up daily and this Company Makes these basses right, 10 minute setup job and your done. Good Luck.

i agree...unless the neck is twisted ( i have only seen on pre EBMM basses )...a set up job takes no time at all on a musicman bass...it isn't hard at all, just some knowledge

like i said before, a good guitar luthier can refret or level frets on your bass for no more than $300 on a maple fingerboard...my dad has always told me when working on cars, don't make more work for yourself, be careful, move slow, fix the problem, don't create more problems

i hope all works out for you

[INMT]

Originally Posted by Musicman Nut

Sorry but no New Ernie Ball Bass ever needs new frets, your bass was a 15 minute set up from anyone who has a clue, I set these basses up daily and this Company Makes these basses right, 10 minute setup job and your done. Good Luck.

I can't agree more. Of all the instruments I have done work on MM's are by far the quickest to setup.
Not long ago I started charging half price for setups to customers with post EB MM instruments. 99.9% of the time it only "needs" a setup because someone figured they could do it when but couldn't.
My favorite is "Oh, I didn't do that, my friend set it up".