NGD... Almost. Guitar Center Repair or Not?

[Etudica]

So I just drove 4+ hours to pick up my new custom JP6 koa that was delivered to guitar center... aaaaaand... it's broken. Piezo 3-way toggle switch is messed up beyond repair right out of the box - toggle lever is freely rattling around inside the housing. Sadly, I had to leave it there.

My options are ship back to EB for factory repair, or, have a replacement switch sent to guitar center and have them replace it onsite. Time isn't really an issue as long as it's done correctly. Is Guitar Center even an authorized repair partner?

I know it's not a huge deal or tough repair, but I have little faith in people anymore and don't feel comfortable with a guitar center employee tearing apart my new, custom koa. Scratches, stripped screws, poor soldering... these are the experiences I've had in the past with GC and other large chains.

What would you do/suggest?

 

[Spudmurphy]

I'd get EB to do it then. I had to replace the toggle,-the wiring route on my JP6 meant that I had to back the pickup right out as the wire was routed thro the pickup cavity

 

[DrKev]

Call EB Customer Service tomorrow and see what they suggest. Maybe GC will do a good job of the repair, or maybe they could send you the replacement part and you could have the tech of your choice do the job? Talk to them and find out. This is the kind of thing they are there for. Let them do their job, they love it.

 

[Sweat]

Dude you really have only two viable options here, have GC send it back on their dime for proper factory repair, or get a full refund for the guitar and move on, and oh I guess a third option would be full refund and a new guitar sent from EBMM.

Bottom line warranty issue and do not let GC handle it, bad things happen most of the time.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Dude you really have only two viable options here, have GC send it back on their dime for proper factory repair, or get a full refund for the guitar and move on, and oh I guess a third option would be full refund and a new guitar sent from EBMM.

Bottom line warranty issue and do not let GC handle it, bad things happen most of the time.

I'm not sure I've ever agreed more with anything I've read on this forum!

 

[xjbebop]

Dude you really have only two viable options here, have GC send it back on their dime for proper factory repair, or get a full refund for the guitar and move on, and oh I guess a third option would be full refund and a new guitar sent from EBMM.

Bottom line warranty issue and do not let GC handle it, bad things happen most of the time.

This...

 

[ozzyrules]

Keith Rules !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Etudica]

Thanks for validating my fears everyone Looks like I'll be making some phone calls tomorrow and request it be sent back home to be repaired by EB directly. A replacement guitar is out of the question - I'm completely in love with this top. Hats off to EBMM for craftsmanship. Wonder what went wrong with quality control though.

 

[ozzyrules]

Thanks for validating my fears everyone Looks like I'll be making some phone calls tomorrow and request it be sent back home to be repaired by EB directly. A replacement guitar is out of the question - I'm completely in love with this top. Hats off to EBMM for craftsmanship. Wonder what went wrong with quality control though.

Customer service is the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kestrou]

Thanks for validating my fears everyone Looks like I'll be making some phone calls tomorrow and request it be sent back home to be repaired by EB directly. A replacement guitar is out of the question - I'm completely in love with this top. Hats off to EBMM for craftsmanship. Wonder what went wrong with quality control though.

I would much more likely suspect it was damaged after being received by the distributor (GC in this case, but not to cast aspersion on them over any other distributor). Unless you broke the factory tape on the box, it's likely the receiving guitar store took it out to check it - slipped from someone's fingers while at the bench - then mess up the switch.

Am sure it will work out in the end - and just be a fond memory of the "birthing pains" of your new guitar!

kestrou

 

[Etudica]

I was not the one to break open the factory shipping box. The dept. manager had opened it a week ago when it first arrived to send me a pic of the koa top. It does seem strange that a damaged component this obvious would slip past quality control. Even more reason to send back to EBMM and not trust GC.

The only reason I went through GC for this order was because they accepted a bunch of old gear for trade in. Kinda wish now I would've just taken my time with Ebay/Craigslist instead.

1/2 sorted out now. Just waiting to hear back from GC to confirm RMA. EBMM customer service A+ so far!

 

[Tollywood]

Good luck with this - and, don't worry...ebmm customer service are very easy to deal with.

 

[ksandvik]

GC has to learn the hard way (all the additional costs) of mishandling shipping guitars.

 

[Etudica]

She is on her way back now. GC overnighted her back to EBMM. Hopefully my next update on this will be an actual NGD thread!

Again, A+ for EBMM customer service. I feel soooooo much better now that I know it will be in good hands.

 

[Norrin Radd]

She is on her way back now. GC overnighted her back to EBMM. Hopefully my next update on this will be an actual NGD thread!

Again, A+ for EBMM customer service. I feel soooooo much better now that I know it will be in good hands.

Excellent! I suspect a happy ending is in the near future.........