Do we really even need a Cameron Forum ?

[grooveHT]

Well since you don't see the need to be personally invested, I am shocked you didn't voice your same opinions in the thread where Ear Candy stole someone's money... I copied the link so you can post your similar disgust like you do with Cameron's.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=49438&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

I didn't realize we had an Earcandy forum on Rig Talk.

Oh, so according to you, you only get mad if a forum "manufacturer" screws over people. Regular threads don’t count. So if we get rid of the Cameron forum, it will be perfectly acceptable then for Cameron to screw people over and discuss it in threads, and thus, you will never voice your disdain...

The sticker is, you never argued my point that Cameron has been screwing people for YEARS. Crap, I had a 2203 that I bought in 2004 or so, and a friend and I were talking about sending it to Cameron...he says, I've heard bad things about him getting amps back to people. I ended up not sending it, and I'm glad. This is almost SIX YEARS AGO! Some companies are better at customer service than others, that's one of the ways people base their decision on buying a product, and everyone is entitled to some slip ups, but come on!

So we arrive at the fact that everyone has customer service slip-ups. We're not dealing in absolutes. But the way normal adults make decisions is discretion....deciding when enough bullshit is too much to conscionably stomach, and then if you're really going for extra points, actually saying something about it. Cameron has taken enough peoples' money and amps with no sign of a return that I think its bullshit. I have no idea what in the hell Earcandy has done, nor do I really care at this point. Cameron has been fucking people for a long time now, and it doesn't make my point of view any less correct because I don't go looking for everyone else who has ever screwed a customer. If you want to turn it into an attack on me, hey cool, but I haven't taken anyone's money, or amps, nor are you arguing that he HASN'T done that, which is fucked all by itself. If he's done that, dead to rights, quit defending him.

Then the last point: why even bother griping about Cameron Amps if I'm not going to go out and hunt down every wrong do-er out there? Simple, this is a community I participate in. I'm not a member at Huge Racks, so I really have no say if they decide to put up an Earcandy forum, nor do I care (unless I had been screwed by them). I believe it tarnishes Rig Talk, a community I AM a member of, to have him as a mod of a Cameron Amps board in-line with Rig Talk. I believe it robs credibility from the board.

Speaking of credibility, you play Cameron amps. Do you have any you aquired from him? Would you send an amp to him for modification?

 

[glpg80]

i think its sad the only reasons anyone should keep it and not replace it with fortin is:

for comical entertainment

for all the cameron customers to complain.

the fact mark called JB that night shows no respect for the literally $XX,XXX of money he has stolen from users, probably more if you count the values of the amplifiers he never shipped back to the owners.

that in itself proves mark has no will to make anything right and would rather hide in the shadows only to come out when money on his part is involved.

 

[PeteLaramee]

This thread is nothing until Mark stops in to tell everyone to fuck off.

 

[mctallica1]

This thread is nothing until Mark stops in to tell everyone to fuck off.

I got no skin in the game either way....but that is just plain funny

 

[espquade]

This thread is nothing until Mark stops in to tell everyone to fuck off.

Wouldn't that be wonderfull ....In fact that would make my fucking day as well as others i'm sure

I'd really love to hear some more of his bullshit about the black cloud that follows him around from room to room and why he can't find all those amps that have vanished into the abyss

 

[guitar_god123456]

does anyone know where cameron amps is based? if so and localish, you could pay a visit and see whats going on.

 

[glpg80]

This thread is nothing until Mark stops in to tell everyone to fuck off.

fuck off? for what?

its non of my business (and i dont even WANT to know) anything cameron has done "business" wise.

if i was JB, and had mark call me at 1am waking up the entire family just because mark thinks he has the right to do so in the first place is comical. especially when some people would DIE to talk to mark about a $3,000 amplifier they dont have back.

the fact mark thinks his stuff has never been reversed engineered makes it even more funny. you cant try to make money off of mods and expect the schematics to never show up or exist.

the debate is over his section in the forum, clearly more than one person agrees he doesnt deserve it. people are expressing opinions thereof.

 

[espquade]

does anyone know where cameron amps is based? if so and localish, you could pay a visit and see whats going on.

At this point if I had to venture to guess I'd say it's based on his coffee table in his living room or on the kitchen table which ever is free .

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

does anyone know where cameron amps is based? if so and localish, you could pay a visit and see whats going on.

At this point if I had to venture to guess I'd say it's based on his coffee table in his living room or on the kitchen table which ever is free .

now you're talking about my amp project!


it's on the kitchen table and the dining, plus the garage, and my coffee table is cover with pre and power tubes!

 

[gtr31]

Hey If someone has a schematic they should photo copy it and send it to Anthony Salvation who does the Randall MTS custom mods .

That way he could use Mark's EXACT components .and build it into a $300 module .that anyone and everyone could purchase.

I know it would not be exact ,but hey it would be fair game .wouldn't it and pretty funny. You could actually buy a Cameron clone and even better receive it in a month instead of 5 years..

I am sorry but every post on every board is correct about this guy .
I thought it was bad when Steven Fryette called him out about going behind his back to his transformer company after he was apparently fired/left

The fact that he can call someone at 1am to complain about business ethics when he cannot return calls or emails in 6 months is beyond disgusting .

 

[Mailman1971]

I have owned Cameron Amps and loved them. Are they the BE ALL END ALL? no.
I like to read this post for shits and giggles.
Watching the posts start out as LEGIT AMP POSTINGS....then sway to the left and start bashing Mark....
Well.....while its not cool thats how they always seem to end.
I still would love to own another modded Cameron but in the mean time I just PLAY what I have.
Alot of tone is still in the hands. Of course a Cameron modded Marshall DOESNT HURT!

 

[boof]

OK, has the head lunatic on RT here is what I think...

The Cameron Forum is left up so people have a place to read all the opinions and thoughts on his mod's, tone and business practices. Then someone can make an informed decision as to do business with him or not. It doesn't take the CIA to read some of the threads and figure out if you want to roll the dice. If it was not there people would have no clue what they are dealing with and no one place to get clued in.

That said for every horror story there is a glowing story about his ability as a amp guru I don't think anyone disputes that and as we are here to talk tone and gear it would be a loss to not have his "work" here as it is renowned even if he is not.

For the record I do not condone Mods deleting any posts over there good, bad or ugly as that would totally undermine the whole first paragraph I just wrote. Mods if you see something that needs to be deleted from the boards drop me a pm and I will do it that way the buck stops with me which is how it should be. If this does not happen, I will take over that forum as the sole mod.

I do not know Mark but I have owned his amps and for the most part they are very very good. I have not done business with him but from everything I have seen thats a minefield I choose not to venture down.

Brad

ps: Talking to Mike Fortin about his own Forum now as well. I think we would like to have him aboard.

YES!!!!!! Exactly I could not agree more. I was reading the entire thread and was surprised nobody had said that until this point. Keep the Cameron section. good bad ugly as you said at least people get customer feedback. Brad I think your post on this has hit the nail on the head.

Mods deleting posts with negative content is about the worst thing that could be done. It does nothing put perpetuate the idea of deception. by deleting post only does a disservice to everyone. Right or wrong, that is the impression that is left. Perhaps a change in moderators would be of benefit.

I don't think it has any entertainment value when you take a second to stop and think about some of the people that have created threads because they are out money and services promised have not been provided. They might not find the same entertainment in this as some of the readers do.

Boof

 

[Anonymous]

 

[hawkeye17]

One thing to consider is that if there had never been a Cameron Forum then there might be less people at Rig Talk who got taken to the cleaners by Mark and the problems with his business. The Cameron fiasco is a good lesson in the need for proper vetting of a manufacturer before giving them the free advertising and platform here. I don't think the forum should be on the site simply because the company has proven to be very unstable.

 

[simbasa]

Removing moderator privileges and locking the whole thing would be a step in the right direction..whatever is on there stays as historical legacy so people can see what they are dealing with, unless the shit gets sorted.

I'm for this. Leave it as a testament as to how to not do business. If I would have known of Mark's reputation before, such as him having people's amps for a couple of years and not returning them, I would have never pre-ordered and my money would not have been tied up for 7 months....All for nada. Instead, there were some of his buddies- and I am not going to get into that anymore- totally endorsing him as a stand up guy and I bought into it. Let the truth be known...

 

[Mr. Willy]

Does Mark make some the best sounding amps in the world? Yes, without a doubt

Would I ever give him my money? Not in a million years

 

[simbasa]

Does Mark make some the best sounding amps in the world? Yes, without a doubt

Would I ever give him my money? Not in a million years

Mark even sent me a PM out of the blue- after not hearing anything for months- saying he was burning in my amp and had changed a couple of thing on the board and it would be ready in another week. And then I find out he told Espquade that same week that his amp would be ready in 2 weeks and he had ordered 3 months before me. FUBAR.

I was really looking forward to that amp. What a shame.

 

[marvcus]

I know nothing about Mark Cameron except what I read here. I know he is/was sick, the sickness has hindered his amp business, and he has a lot of p.o.'d customers.

I'm a big believer in the Golden Rule: Treat others as you want to be treated.

Rather than add fuel to this fire, I'd like to try and see if we can't help this Cameron dude out. He's obviously in a bad situation, but perhaps we can come up with some fruitful advice that may assist in some way. Now, I don't know all of the facts, but here are the basic business principles I would strive to do if I were in Mark Cameron's shoes:

1. Figure out what your business plan is. In your current state, are you going to be able to continue to build amps? If yes, order your parts and go one amp at a time. Hire an apprentice to help you with the tedium that doesn't require your expertise. If not, immediately let your current-order customers know and issue refunds. Anything else is fraud, theft, and/or conversion. Remember the Golden Rule.

2. Cut your losses. I would call every single customer that has an outstanding order and be open and honest about the situation of why it is taking so long
to receive their amplifier. I would offer them the option of a full refund or a deadline date that their amp WILL be completed by and HOLD YOURSELF TO IT, which leads into #3. If they want a full refund, it should be promptly executed.

3. Underpromise and overdeliver. If it takes six months to build a customer's amp, tell him it will take 9 months and deliver it early. You will be a hero EVERY time.
The worst thing you can do is feel pressure to quote a time frame that is unfair or unreasonable to either the customer or yourself. People obviously will wait for you.

4. Quit biting the hand that feeds you. Do not turn down reasonable offers for help that can be beneficial for all involved, especially FREE offers. Also, quit telling people to "Fuck Off" or reaming them out. As a business owner/entreprenuer, you never know who your next customer will be. A kind word may not always bring you new business, but a harsh word can cause you to lose 10 potential customers. Put your head down and put out the quality product that folks here know you are capable of. Badmouthing hecklers on Internet forums is not going to help you realize your long term goal which should be SUCCESS. If you can manufacture quality amps and deliver them in a timely manner, what can others say negative about you? Only their opinion on the sound of your amp and if they like it or not.

5. Your name is on the amp; therefore, the buck stops with you. Be the best leader you can be. Don't have an excuse for every situation and why things aren't your fault. Be accountable and own up to the factual complaints charged against you. I guarantee people will respect you immensely for taking the blame and you will gain business from it. I understand you have had problems with illness and I pray for your health to be restored, but this business is YOURS. At some point, you must decide whether kick it in gear or close the doors. Show people why you are one of the most respected Marshall platform amp builders in the biz and do it with CLASS.

Best of luck to you, man. I hope you can shine on.

 

[Deleted member 3860]

...

 

[TTripp]

Judging by the amount of traffic each and every Cameron thread generates, it might need it's own website.