Horrible amp repair experience

  • Thread starter Thread starter moltenmetalburn
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moltenmetalburn

moltenmetalburn

Active member
This is a LONG story I don't want to elaborate on currently but I'll hit all the major points and HAVE all of the emails as proof.

I bought a boutique amp used, it had a high pitched whine when using FX loop. Tried everything, the manufacturer(this forum) suggested it needed repair and also suggested a "local" repair shop.

They were contacted as well ahead of my email and expected my contact.

I sent my amp off with tracking and asked for an email letting me know it arrived. When I was finally responded to (about a week later) I was lied to and told my amp had "just arrived" I had tracking info though it had been accepted a full week earlier. Red flag #1.

It takes them about two weeks to get it on the bench, I contact them about twice during this time for updates, no response.

I get an email from the rep I was working with and he says "it's done but we need to talk about it"... I think that is weird but I call immediately as I really want my amp back, three weeks now.

The rep tells me my amp is done. He says it is repaired BUT he is not responsible if it shakes around during transport and still has the problem when it gets back to me. Red flag #2.

Instantly I sense something is odd and start pressing, "was it repaired at all?" "what was the problem?"
"If you fixed it how could it show up here with the same problem?"

He admits the amp is STILL making the noise while he is currently testing it, AFTER their REPAIR.

I say " wait, you were about to ship me this amp back STILL broken anyway??!!

He is nervous and deflecting and basically says " I dont know anything, I never talked to the tech and he is not here. He says hold on I'll talk to him and call you right back. He never cals back, I have to follow up the next day.

We go back and forth for a few more weeks (2), he says things like "i dont have time to waste on this amp"... I am a PAYING customer who sent it to be REPAIRED!!!

I KNOW they are liars at this point playing me, I know they could care less about my out of warranty used amp repair, they want to SELL amps.

I get ignored, insulted and lied to for another week. At this point I figure Ill never see my amp again.

The rep calls me back and says its fixed im sending it, I emailed you a video. He actually Imessaged me the video. He talks inccesantly over the video, oddly. Turns out he is trying to cover the whining in the video wih playing and talking. I can still hear it even in the video. He denies this and argued and says hes mailing it back no matter what until i tell him HIS video is PROOF, i have solo-ed AND boosted the whine in my DAW.

ALL this while I have been sending the manufacturer AND the manufacturers salesman emails asking them for help. Two emails to both people go completely ignored. Not even a response... the last time i emailed them about BUYING an amp they both responded multiple times immediately.

Finally i realize my amp is in danger of being held hostage. I decide to take the $275 total loss and go from there i just want my amp back.

I ask for the invoice and the return shipment immediately. I am deflected over and over for another week. I feel like they WONT send my amp back.

Another half week later i get an invoice, i pay it immediately and ask for shipping details. No response.

i get the anp back on saturday. After further testing i have found the amplifier has NOT been fixed.

It will be a shitstorm around here if I out them them....

EDITED to reflect my serial number mistake.
 
What kind of amp? If it works and is in good shape I may be inclined to accept it rather than get back a lemon.
 
Damn, that's wild. I just had a messed up local repair experience and I refrained from posting. Negative internet feedback is a touchy thing, but it sounds like you went through a lot of measures to allow them to make it right.

In the end, if you have an amp that works the way you wanted it, not a whole lot more to be gained (as messed up as their methods were).
 
WTF??? All they had to do was be FN honest about it...shit, an amp out of warranty that they can't fix, and they want to send you a different but maybe new amp that does work? That's a good deal..if you wanted the deal. Shady how they played it though. Sorry for your troubles. I'd be pissed too.
 
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Thats sucks and is beyond aggravating :thumbsdown: but at least you got a new Einstein. :scared: I think you only play Diezels.
 
I would say that if you have all the evidence, this is crap and should be shared with all. That's a ton of shady crap by the repair shop for sure.
 
Man, I've heard of some wacky crap before but sending the wrong amp takes the cake. There is no common sense tied to this. They either purposely sent the other amp to trick you (bad) or they are so disorganized that they sent you the wrong amp (bad too). There is no win....unless the guy sent you George Lynch's old amp. :)
 
Even though you received a new amp the whole thing is shady... would like to know who this is
 
Why would you not tell us who it is? I don't get these threads. "I just got fucked but don't want to cause trouble so I won't say by who" So someone else can get fucked too?
 
If this was with a Diezel amp please reveal name of shop in case my Diezel ever needs service.

Or as skoora wrote, reveal so we all know to avoid this shop.
 
Man, customer service these days in many cases can just be a nightmare. There are some great experiences to be had for sure and some stand up cats out there, but there's also some real shitbags.

Been through numerous BAD experiences in the last few years:

Axe Palace-Many rave about them, my experience was not good. Really bad actually.
Sticks n Strings, Tuscon AZ-would never think of doing business with that fucking snake again.
Kiesel-Never again.
Voodoo amps-got the run around on an amp mod with them and took almost a year to get my amp back.

They sent you a different amp without notice :confused: Could work for ya or against ya I guess :dunno:
Use your best judgement, and trust your gut. Hope it works out for ya man!!
 
That's some fucked up shit bro. :powpow: :uzi:

I honestly wouldn't care if I got back a different amp as long as it didn't have some sentimental valve or their was something special about it.

Keep the amp and never use these guys again.
 
Is this Diezel? Everyone's speculating already.

I've had several exchanges with Peter over amps needing service, and he was incredibly responsive. Some of the work was done at the shop in Germany, and it was done quickly and well. But at least several years ago, he was very unsure about any service centers in the US, which is pretty unfortunate.
 
cardinal":1esfz6ak said:
Is this Diezel? Everyone's speculating already.

I've had several exchanges with Peter over amps needing service, and he was incredibly responsive. Some of the work was done at the shop in Germany, and it was done quickly and well. But at least several years ago, he was very unsure about any service centers in the US, which is pretty unfortunate.

I would like to think if you have an honest and reputable repair person they can troubleshoot almost anything, if they can get schematics and have no ego issues with collaborating with the manufacturer. Also hoping off course the manufacturer is reputable and cares about customer service.
 
Good eye catching that about the swap. Problem is, who is getting your amp with the problem? Are they doing a swap with them too? :thumbsdown:
 
lespaul6":zw804w44 said:
Even though you received a new amp the whole thing is shady... would like to know who this is


Same.

you ended up with a better deal right? A lot of BS and $275 but you got a flawless amp now. Sounds like it worked out?
 
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