I can see how someone could see it that way, but I’d file it under great customer service. I don’t work for Liberty Music or ESP and I have no relationship of any kind with anyone at either company.
I first saw the guitar in the ESP booth at Louder Than Life 2021. The pics in the first post are mine, what I took of the guitar. The reps in the booth had no info beyond what the sign in front of the guitar said. I kept checking with ESP every so often over email, phone calls, Facebook posts, and other forums but never got any availability info.
August 10 2022 ESP sent out their monthly newsletter which has a spot to highlight an ESP dealer. That month’s highlight was Liberty Music who just opened a store. I thought who else might be able to get some inside info other than someone who just got some love from ESP. I looked up Liberty and emailed them. They replied right away saying they’d check into it. I got a follow up a few days later saying maybe Jan/Feb of this year. August 29 2022 they email me again saying they have an allotment they can take preorders on.
I’ve talked with other dealers who also have/had an allotment of these for preorder, but it eas after Liberty came back to me with it. I was surprised they came through to the point they did because I don’t know how many times I’ve told a dealer I’m looking for something in particular only to never hear back from them. Maybe it’s just a new kid on the block thing and after they’ve been established awhile Liberty follows that trend, but I thought it was freaking cool they got info, got some preorders, and reached out to me. I’m just hoping ESP actually does let these guitars out soon.