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There's been a lot of posting about Easton Guitars lately. I'm not here to defend Kevin - he can do that if he wants to. I'd just like to let folks know what my recent experiences have been like. This isn't every transaction I've done with Kevin - just the last few months or so. Sorry if it rambles too much.
I needed a Soloist case for my tie-dye. Called Kevin. He had one at a good price. He shipped it. It came within 4 or 5 business days. Turns out my Soloist was an oddball and needed a different version of the Soloist case. Kevin said send it back. While we were talking I mentioned wanting some Rhoads hardware. He had it. He mentioned wanting a POD, I told him I was going to sell my PODxt so I stuck it in the case I shipped back with the understanding that if he wanted it he'd pay me, if he didn't he'd stick it in the return case. He liked the PODxt and agreed to cut me a check for the difference of the agreed upon price and the hardware I ordered. I don't remember the exact timing of things but within a week or so I had the case (which fit!), the Rhoads hardware (including tuners that I wasn't expecting), and a check.
Fast forward a few weeks or so.
A couple folks needed to back out of JCF-02. I was given a slot at the end of July.
I got caught up with the threads in the JCF-02 sections. For the most part it looked like people were trying to patient in a very long process with a number of miscommunications. I joined in late so I had nothing to complain about. I put down my deposit and began the tortuous wait [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
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la-dee-dah-dee-dah...
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Big Red's are ready to start shipping just before Halloween. I had already settled up the remainer with Kevin a few weeks before hand so I just had to call Kevin to settle up on shipping. I gave him my new address. He said call back the next day once he's had a chance to measure and weigh them for shipping costs. I called him back the next day and reconfirmed the shipping address. A day or so I called back and got my tracking #. Cool - should arrive on the 10/28. On 10/27 I checked to see if it was still on track, that's when I notice it was getting shipped to my old address in Seattle. Grrrrrr... Fortunately I got on the phone with UPS right away and they got me squared away. It arrived on 11/4 and it kicks ass.
When I called him to let him know I got Big Red and all was well, we got to talking and he let me know the Disrupter was for sale.
Hmmm...
Keep in mind, all this time there was a shitstorm brewing over the DK2LE, Pat's issues getting his money, numerous reports of problems communicating with Kevin, etc. These are certainly the sorts of things that lead you to think that the guy ain't gonna be in business much longer.
At this point I was thinking that maybe dealing with Easton Guitars would be a bad idea. I even had a discussion with the JCF-02 folks sharing my concerns.
What it came down to for me was pretty simple. Other than the shipping goof up with Big Red, my dealings with Easton Guitars have been great. And the Big Red shipping thing was certainly an honest mistake. Over the last few years, I've bought a number of guitars, necks, parts, cases, and even sold him something - no problems at all. Then it occured to me that if I didn't deal with any music gear reseller that other people I knew have had problems with then pretty soon I would not have anybody to buy from at all because I know people that have been screwed or treated crappy by just about every online reseller there is (not to mention GC).
So in the end Kevin had a kickass guitar I wanted so I bought it. It took him a couple days to get it out the door because he needed to get a case with a working latch. As it turns out that was a good thing. I remembered that I needed a new Jackson preamp and I caught Kevin before he shipped the Disrupter and it was in the case when I got it - saved me some shipping $$$.
Will I buy from Kevin again? As long as history repeats itself and he's got something I want for a fair price - I will definitely buy from Kevin again.
I needed a Soloist case for my tie-dye. Called Kevin. He had one at a good price. He shipped it. It came within 4 or 5 business days. Turns out my Soloist was an oddball and needed a different version of the Soloist case. Kevin said send it back. While we were talking I mentioned wanting some Rhoads hardware. He had it. He mentioned wanting a POD, I told him I was going to sell my PODxt so I stuck it in the case I shipped back with the understanding that if he wanted it he'd pay me, if he didn't he'd stick it in the return case. He liked the PODxt and agreed to cut me a check for the difference of the agreed upon price and the hardware I ordered. I don't remember the exact timing of things but within a week or so I had the case (which fit!), the Rhoads hardware (including tuners that I wasn't expecting), and a check.
Fast forward a few weeks or so.
A couple folks needed to back out of JCF-02. I was given a slot at the end of July.
I got caught up with the threads in the JCF-02 sections. For the most part it looked like people were trying to patient in a very long process with a number of miscommunications. I joined in late so I had nothing to complain about. I put down my deposit and began the tortuous wait [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
...
la-dee-dah-dee-dah...
...
Big Red's are ready to start shipping just before Halloween. I had already settled up the remainer with Kevin a few weeks before hand so I just had to call Kevin to settle up on shipping. I gave him my new address. He said call back the next day once he's had a chance to measure and weigh them for shipping costs. I called him back the next day and reconfirmed the shipping address. A day or so I called back and got my tracking #. Cool - should arrive on the 10/28. On 10/27 I checked to see if it was still on track, that's when I notice it was getting shipped to my old address in Seattle. Grrrrrr... Fortunately I got on the phone with UPS right away and they got me squared away. It arrived on 11/4 and it kicks ass.
When I called him to let him know I got Big Red and all was well, we got to talking and he let me know the Disrupter was for sale.
Hmmm...
Keep in mind, all this time there was a shitstorm brewing over the DK2LE, Pat's issues getting his money, numerous reports of problems communicating with Kevin, etc. These are certainly the sorts of things that lead you to think that the guy ain't gonna be in business much longer.
At this point I was thinking that maybe dealing with Easton Guitars would be a bad idea. I even had a discussion with the JCF-02 folks sharing my concerns.
What it came down to for me was pretty simple. Other than the shipping goof up with Big Red, my dealings with Easton Guitars have been great. And the Big Red shipping thing was certainly an honest mistake. Over the last few years, I've bought a number of guitars, necks, parts, cases, and even sold him something - no problems at all. Then it occured to me that if I didn't deal with any music gear reseller that other people I knew have had problems with then pretty soon I would not have anybody to buy from at all because I know people that have been screwed or treated crappy by just about every online reseller there is (not to mention GC).
So in the end Kevin had a kickass guitar I wanted so I bought it. It took him a couple days to get it out the door because he needed to get a case with a working latch. As it turns out that was a good thing. I remembered that I needed a new Jackson preamp and I caught Kevin before he shipped the Disrupter and it was in the case when I got it - saved me some shipping $$$.
Will I buy from Kevin again? As long as history repeats itself and he's got something I want for a fair price - I will definitely buy from Kevin again.
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