Fat Sound Guitars flushed?

  • Thread starter Thread starter steve_k
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Well if it is true it's too bad. I bought quite a few pedals from them in the past and it always went well.
 
Stu was pretty cool. Shame. Victim of the economy maybe or something else went wrong.
 
Another "hero to zero" story. Hate to see this happening, if it is true. But, where are the honest dealers these days? They are all cool, great stores when things are going their way. But, when things get tough, they run for cover like cock roaches. Can't they see from the books that things are going to turn from black to red next month and at least warn suppliers and customers? I would rather get a notice from a store where I has a deposit on something that they are having problems and are filing bankruptcy, rather than just go into hiding and not answer emails or calls. But, this is a luxury afforded to them under bankruptcy laws. And, as most often the case, the customer is the one that is fucked.
 
These kinds of stories are all over the place lately. Real bummer because they tend to shake consumer confidence in small businesses, especially in this fickle industry. Seems like more than just a result of the downturn though from that thread, though. Stuff like this,

wbp":su68puuq said:
For an additional, broader perspective, and not to negate anyone's personal loss, the original founder of FSG is still owed for the purchase of the business by Stu Carter. Carter bought the business around 1997, and is not the company founder as has been stated on the FSG website.
To my knowledge the founder of the company is probably looking a taking the single largest personal financial hit in this meltdown.
This is an unfortunate mess and a very sad situation on so many levels.
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Just makes me think it's been a while coming. Same with the post by Jim from Scumback.

Scumback Speakers":su68puuq said:
Thanks Z.

FYI for all...I have heard about various "It's hard to get paid by Stu/FSG..." for about a year now from other amp makers/suppliers. It seemed sporadic, but they got paid.

As of yesterday I talked to three different amp makers on the phone, and all of them have been dealing with net 90, net 120 payments, or net never been paid.

I am not one of the product lines Stu carries, or was FSG a dealer for Scumback Speakers & Cabs apart from two quads of speakers ordered and drop shipped to clients of FSG over a year ago.

However, if anyone has ordered Scumbacks through FSG "somehow", please email me the paper work, receipt, paypal transaction or whatever you have so I can help out.

I am not going to dispense any "theories", "conclusions", "opinions" or condemnations at Stu or FSG. I never had one problem with him, or getting paid, but I feel for his clients who are going through what appears to be a very dark chapter of business for FSG.

I just called the phone # and it is disconnected.

I know of one amp maker who physically went to the store recently, and the two employees that were there for 9 and 14 years have left. He had to take back his amplifier head(s) since FSG's check to him wasn't good when he presented it at FSG's bank.

It's time for all of you affected by this to call your credit card companies, PayPal, and consider whatever action you feel necessary to get your money back.

Don't wait for an explanation. Do not expect a valid reason. Do not feel sorry for Stu/FSG.

Business is business. I like the guy just fine, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't expect my goods, or my money back after giving him payment for something ordered, on order, on back order, or "in the mail".

Be smart and cover your butt, start the process now. As has been obvious with many musical instrument/industry suppliers in the last several years, times are tough. There is no guarantee that your deposits are covered under a chargeback complaint from your credit card company if the timeframe is past 45-60 days from the date of the charge. I found this out the hard way with one of my former suppliers, and it's cost me several thousand dollars...so far.

So do your due diligence now and don't wait for Stu/FSG to call, OK?

Good luck to everyone.
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And according to another post in that thread, Stu hadn't kept up with his government paper work for the last two years and as a result, FSG is no longer considered a business by the state NC as of late August. A couple reports of similar behavior going back a few years too.

Real shame any way you put it though. Affects a lot more than just FSG and their customers. A lot of the builders seem to be taking hits to trying to right FSG's wrongs. Shows me who to support with future purchases at least.
 
mmolteratx":39z4o3ej said:
These kinds of stories are all over the place lately. Real bummer because they tend to shake consumer confidence in small businesses, especially in this fickle industry.
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Don't let it just shake your confidence in small businesses. Guitar Center had to borrow $120M to make their $120M 2nd quarter loan payment. The big manufacturers are floating Guitar Center right now, sending them stuff even though they are way behind on paying for the stuff they got months ago. As if Mars Music going bust several years back and stiffing many of the manufacturers for multi millions of dollars each was no longer in their memories.

I kid you not, I had a VP of a well-known company stand in my store one day and tell me if Guitar Center goes "poof", there goes 20% of his companies sales. I swear, I looked at him and wondered if his glass ceiling should have been several levels lower than VP. I asked, "If Guitar Center goes poof, are all their customers going to go away with them? Those people that buy that 20% will give up playing and no longer buy musical instruments?" What a goof ball.

And those darn manufacturers that are floating Guitar Center right now, God forbid I'm two or three days past my net 30 on some $300 invoice. They call me in a panic...... and I say, "you know, if Guitar Center didn't owe you $30M right now you wouldn't be so worried about my $300". :)
 
I went there a few years ago. Nice store. I know a few of his closer friends. It's a bad story.

Happens a lot. Really sad. I had a dealer take my PS PRS $ and pay his rent with it. That happened about 5-6 years ago. Everybody should pay with a CC for anything these days - never in full either. Do your home work, but even then, big or small, it's happening to a lot of companies.
 
Good! Those guys where dicks who treated their customers like shit! I lived down the street from them in cary NC. Over the course of a year, that store had less and less in stock. The writing was on the wall. I never met Stu since he was never there even when I called in advance to meet with him directly. Mike and that other dude running the shop are who ran it into the ground. Everytime I was there they let the phone ring off the hook cause they we're too busy playing guitars and amps. One guy came by the shop looking for some cables, "out of stock, come back in a few weeks" that was the reply from mike across the room playing his fat sounds edition top hat amp.

Luke
 
Wow, I'd only heard good things said about Mike on the TGP thread, Luke. I know more than I've posted, but I've been sworn to secrecy by the person who told me. I know that Mike and the other guy didn't run the shop into the ground. They didn't control the checkbook. Stu handled that.
 
Scumback Speakers":1hmu9mgz said:
Wow, I'd only heard good things said about Mike on the TGP thread, Luke. I know more than I've posted, but I've been sworn to secrecy by the person who told me. I know that Mike and the other guy didn't run the shop into the ground. They didn't control the checkbook. Stu handled that.
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The fatsounds website only shows Stu as the sales staff now. I guess that was the update. The Mike with black hair in mid 40's and the old bald dude with the white beard is who I am addressing. Not sure if that is the Mike you are talking about or not. I never caught the other guys name.

I have only been in the store 3 times. Didn't know any of the dudes personally but have run into guys like this in the past. I heard they made most of their money on guitar starter packs and repairs. They didn't sell much stuff towards the end.

6 months ago I called up 3 Monkeys amps wanted to try one out. At the time FatSounds was the only dealership that had them. I asked if since I was in NC I would rather drive by the shop to avoid fat sounds guitars. I told who I spoke with on the phone at 3 monkeys that I wouldn't step foot in Fat Sounds again after what I have seen there. Then they hung up on me. Way to go 3 Monkeys!

Now King Guitar and Destory All Guitars has them so its all good along with a guitar center close to me in Dallas. I am a complete outsider in this but the didn't have any strings, picks or cables in stock. Some old junk tubes siting in a glass case marked NOS. lol

Don't buy anything from the website since there is nothing in the store last time I checked it out.

Bottom line, A store that size has to do at least 50k in sales per month to stay afloat. If stu has been playing fast in loose with the checking account then fuck him too.

Luke
 
Well, it's not like there isn't a long line of MI companies that have screwed the pooch one way or another, most of it through outright mismanagement, inexperience, credit card fraud or just plain old fraud.

Chaz @ Tone-Tools Cabs
Mars Music
Jerry @ VintageHeadBox
Tim @ Faustine

There will be more next year, rest assured.
 
Whatever happened to Mills cabinets? Last I heard they were not returning emails/calls and not fulfilling orders that were paid in full. Did that change?
 
killertone":2bx49j5x said:
Whatever happened to Mills cabinets? Last I heard they were not returning emails/calls and not fulfilling orders that were paid in full. Did that change?
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This blows. I really liked those cabs. I used to play an older afterburner 412 w/my 101b, great combination.
 
Out of curiosity, what was the whole "X10 fiasco" about? Was that really the beginning of the end? Seems it would take more than one bad deal to topple a highly respected outfit like FSG.
 
Wow! I've delt with FSG several times and always got a great deal. In fact, Stu sold me my Bogner 101b. He also had a GCX sitting on a shelf that had only been used by him a few times. He sold me a Ground Control for the going price and the GCX for $50.00. Very surprised...! :no:
 
jcj":3ubj9afg said:
That thread is full of very ugly stories...
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Yeah, I don't think it's confined to the music industry though. I'm sure it's everywhere.
 
Chubtone":kjjs8f3q said:
mmolteratx":kjjs8f3q said:
These kinds of stories are all over the place lately. Real bummer because they tend to shake consumer confidence in small businesses, especially in this fickle industry.
Click to expand...

Don't let it just shake your confidence in small businesses. Guitar Center had to borrow $120M to make their $120M 2nd quarter loan payment. The big manufacturers are floating Guitar Center right now, sending them stuff even though they are way behind on paying for the stuff they got months ago. As if Mars Music going bust several years back and stiffing many of the manufacturers for multi millions of dollars each was no longer in their memories.

I kid you not, I had a VP of a well-known company stand in my store one day and tell me if Guitar Center goes "poof", there goes 20% of his companies sales. I swear, I looked at him and wondered if his glass ceiling should have been several levels lower than VP. I asked, "If Guitar Center goes poof, are all their customers going to go away with them? Those people that buy that 20% will give up playing and no longer buy musical instruments?" What a goof ball.

And those darn manufacturers that are floating Guitar Center right now, God forbid I'm two or three days past my net 30 on some $300 invoice. They call me in a panic...... and I say, "you know, if Guitar Center didn't owe you $30M right now you wouldn't be so worried about my $300". :)
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Oh ya, I know that it's an isolated example. My consumer confidence in the market as a whole is near unshakable. :lol: :LOL: There were a number of posts on TGP stating that sentiment though, particularly from those who were involved and got burned in the end.

dooredge":kjjs8f3q said:
Out of curiosity, what was the whole "X10 fiasco" about? Was that really the beginning of the end? Seems it would take more than one bad deal to topple a highly respected outfit like FSG.
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XiTS. Small PTP Vox style builder. Great amps, got to play a few when they were carried at Guitar25 in Austin. Though once they moved to Fat Sound as their dealer, they really blew up and Stu took a ton of money in preorders for amps with a 2-3 year wait. Lots of people were made about that, dunno what ever happened as I stopped paying attention not long after.
 
Shark Diver":pm4zsfjs said:
jcj":pm4zsfjs said:
That thread is full of very ugly stories...
Click to expand...


Yeah, I don't think it's confined to the music industry though. I'm sure it's everywhere.
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Of course not....just a sad deal...really, it's very common...unfortunately.
 
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