EB screws the pooch

[bassmonkeee]

Well, Ernie Ball, unfortunately, is 0 for 2 on custom ordered fretless basses.

After Psychopet's fretless Bongo arrived with frets, I had a feeling that mine probably would, too.

Even though Adam called back a week after I ordered it to make sure it was, indeed, ordered as a fretless [it was--neck option 43 (unlined Bongo) vs neck option 22 (fretted Bongo)], they still decided to put frets on it.

Unlike Psychopet, I will not settle for a fretted Bongo.

I won't get into any other specifics, but I should still have some pics of this fretted Bongo, and should have a fretless in a less than a month.


Grumble, grumble, grumble....

 

[nismaniac]

Wow, I'm very sorry to hear that. I know that has got to be one of the most disapointing feelings there is, to wait so long for something and have it not turn out to be what you wanted.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Wow, I'm very sorry to hear that. I know that has got to be one of the most disapointing feelings there is, to wait so long for something and have it not turn out to be what you wanted.

Yeah, it's a bit disappointing, but there are worse things to have happen in life than to have a bass show up incorrect. And, it's not that it isn't what I wanted, it's that it isn't what I ordered...


That said, I firmly believe that how you deal with problems is just as important, if not more important, then not making them in the first place. If what I've been promised actually happens, then it will strengthen my loyalty to EB.

 

[midopa]

Hm... I wonder what went wrong in the ordering process for the two of you to get a fretted instead of a fretless?

 

[Mobay45]

I know you're extremely disappointed, but I also know that EB will fix the f-up. I'm sure they will examine their order process to determine why that has happened twice in such a short period of time. Bad things happen in good businesses all the time, it's how they rectify the problem that separates the winners from the losers.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Hm... I wonder what went wrong in the ordering process for the two of you to get a fretted instead of a fretless?

Well, Psychopet changed his order after it was placed. Mine was placed as a fretless, and then Adam called back to verify that they had written down fretless. I was standing there when he read the part numbers to them, and from his side of the conversation, I could gather that they knew it was supposed to be fretless.

Since we both ordered within a couple of weeks of them starting to offer fretless Bongos, my guess is that: a)the computer hadn't been updated with the new part numbers (43 for unlined fretless Bongo neck and 33 for lined Bongo fretless vs 22 for fretted Bongo neck), or b)that the people building them hadn't received word that they were now offering fretless Bongos yet, and simply assumed it was supposed to be fretted.

Bottom line, though, is that it's wrong.

I wasn't able to pick up the bass, after all, since GC was having computer issues, and had to update the inventory on the bass since it's in their computer as fretless. But, I'll be able to get it tomorrow.

What would be great for me is the following scenario:
Since my fretted Bongo has a problem with teh piezo bridge, I'd like to swap the necks of the two Bongos. That way, I could send the Sapphire Black body back with the white fretted neck, and then ernie Ball could send back a white fretless neck and my working piezo bridged body. And, while I waited, I'd simply use a white Bongo with a black neck.

I doubt this will happen, though, since they have this serial number in their system as fretted and I don't think they'll change the serial number.

But, Adam has said that I can keep this one until the new one shows up, so I'll get to play with a SC/H Bongo while I wait. I've also got the body for my US Curbow coming back in a couple of weeks, and a new pickguard for another bass on the way, so I'll have plenty to play with while I wait.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I know you're extremely disappointed, but I also know that EB will fix the f-up. I'm sure they will examine their order process to determine why that has happened twice in such a short period of time. Bad things happen in good businesses all the time, it's how they rectify the problem that separates the winners from the losers.

Yeah, like I said before--how you deal with a mistake is as important as avoiding them in the first place. So far, I'm happy with how Ernie Ball has handled it on their end.

 

[midopa]

Maybe my fretted Bongo 4 will arrive fretless in October! I wouldn't mind!

 

[spectorbassguy]

0 for 2 for our forum pals? I would be bummed big-time! Just when I was considering ordering a fretless and waiting 4 months.

 

[Bassplyr]

Maybe the problem was with the salesman who ordered it.

 

[spectorbassguy]

Maybe the problem was with the salesman who ordered it.

Very well could be. I mean E-B has been successfully building and delivering basses for a LONG time. I'll talk to my wife over the weekend about ordering one and get back with you next week.
BTW - Be like Bov - contact Bassplyr for FANTASTIC pricing on MM!!! Thanks Doug!

 

[bassmonkeee]

Maybe the problem was with the salesman who ordered it.

Very well could be. I mean E-B has been successfully building and delivering basses for a LONG time. I'll talk to my wife over the weekend about ordering one and get back with you next week.
BTW - Be like Bov - contact Bassplyr for FANTASTIC pricing on MM!!! Thanks Doug!

Nope. Not a chance that it was Adam's fault. I was standing there listening to the conversation when he ordered it. I heard him say fretless, and I heard him say the correct number when ordering. He even called back after he hung up, because he said, "You know what? I didn't hear them say the word fretless." I listened to the conversation when he called back, too. He verified that it was to be an unlined fretless.

The error was completely on Ernie Ball's side. Period. They may have been building basses and delivering them for a long time, but they've screwed up two fretless Bongos in the last couple of weeks. It happens.

 

[Bassplyr]

Then if that's the case, I'm sure EB will make it good. Customer Service is a top priority for them.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Then if that's the case, I'm sure EB will make it good. Customer Service is a top priority for them.

Already in the works.

 

[cgworkman]

It's a sign.

Don't play fretless

 

[bassmonkeee]

It's a sign.

Don't play fretless

I already own this:

I think that means I'm beyond help, doesn't it?

 

[spectorbassguy]

I already own this:

I think that means I'm beyond help, doesn't it?

That is one nice bass, monkeee! I owned one of the Cort Curbow fretlesses for a while and thought it was a very nice bass considering it was a Cort. I'll bet the real Curbow you've got is splendid to play (unless you are unlined-challenged, like me).

 

[cgworkman]

I already own this:

I think that means I'm beyond help, doesn't it?

It's all right - I forgive you...

 

[Psychicpet]

That sucks. One of the main reasons I was ok with mine being messed up is that I don't have any type of Bongo yet and am needing to do work soon and it will be fine, that being said though, I had sold my other fretless bass in anticipation of the Bongo so I am out a fretless which is a bit of a dillema. Anyway i am confident in the EB team and staff and that one day there will be fretless Bongo's to melt the faces of the masses.....oh I love Jack Black
all the best in getting it fixed though.

peter