357 is at it again!!!

[jgcable]

Hmmm, interesting...

Another indication that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in regards to Dan and Chad. Slickdeals.... SLICK TALKERS!!!

[shreddermon]

Did anybody ever confirm an actual backorder at Epiphone for Zack Wylde guitars?

Bingo!!! I think some of you guys are failing to see that ALL information thus far is only coming from 357 employees. And who knows what their motives are anymore?

It's past time for someone to try and confirm/deny this BS from Epiphone itself. And, yes, I still think it's BS. Even if it's not a scam, it's totally FUBAR and the bullshit has gotten hip-wader deep.

[IrfaanSE801]

I have a small theory here on the delay, but I don't know how Epi works, so it might not be true. I don't know how many of ya know about importing guitars and all (since Epi is made overseas), but the store I used to work at has been trying forever to get ordered filled for an Aria bass I think it was (I think it's that company that is reissuing or having a sig model for Cliff Burton) for a few customers (8 to be exact). We have been waiting for months (but we were smart enough not to take deposits on em and let our customers know the deal) to get them not because of backorders, but the way they ship them to the US. For one, they won't ship a few guitars, but because it costs a lot and they use a ship to bring em here, they won't send out the guitars till they have a huge order with the distributor, worth shipping for the money. I don't know that Epiphone is the same way, but that could also be an explanation of the delay. Of course with the amount of guitars being given away, the order would be large enough for any company to send em, but 357 said they didn't even order the MP4 players (I think I read, might've skimmed through and missed that), so if they didn't even order all the guitars, it might just be delayed from the shipping aspect too. The 9 or whatever guitars that got shipped might have been the ones Epi had on hand at the time and 357 are now just waiting for more. Of course even if that's true, it still dosen't excuse lying and BSing the way Chad has. I don't know how he still has a job as their spokesman, I don't know any company that would put up with some of the remarks he has made in the past and the deadlines he's been setting and breaking. Ah well, I still think ya'll will get your guitars and this company won't be as big as they would have hoped with all this press their getting now

[jgcable]

I have a small theory here on the delay, but I don't know how Epi works, so it might not be true. I don't know how many of ya know about importing guitars and all (since Epi is made overseas), but the store I used to work at has been trying forever to get ordered filled for an Aria bass I think it was (I think it's that company that is reissuing or having a sig model for Cliff Burton) for a few customers (8 to be exact). We have been waiting for months (but we were smart enough not to take deposits on em and let our customers know the deal) to get them not because of backorders, but the way they ship them to the US. For one, they won't ship a few guitars, but because it costs a lot and they use a ship to bring em here, they won't send out the guitars till they have a huge order with the distributor, worth shipping for the money. I don't know that Epiphone is the same way, but that could also be an explanation of the delay. Of course with the amount of guitars being given away, the order would be large enough for any company to send em, but 357 said they didn't even order the MP4 players (I think I read, might've skimmed through and missed that), so if they didn't even order all the guitars, it might just be delayed from the shipping aspect too. The 9 or whatever guitars that got shipped might have been the ones Epi had on hand at the time and 357 are now just waiting for more. Of course even if that's true, it still dosen't excuse lying and BSing the way Chad has. I don't know how he still has a job as their spokesman, I don't know any company that would put up with some of the remarks he has made in the past and the deadlines he's been setting and breaking. Ah well, I still think ya'll will get your guitars and this company won't be as big as they would have hoped with all this press their getting now

Interesting theory but it doesn't hold up for several reasons.
1. The manufacturing plants that mother Gibson uses are HUGE with an enormous capacity. 9 guitars are all that have arrived. We are talking about a plant that can pump out thousands of guitars per week (or day for that matter)
2. Gibson owns everything. They aren't brokering these import Epi's.
3. When a "franchised distributor" which 357 Customs must be (or they have some kind of arrangement) places an order for between 5000 and 10,000 guitars a few things happen:
A: They place it direct with Gibson and it becomes a top priority order. I can't imagine even a company as large as Gibson gets orders that huge!
B: They set terms and conditions prior to the order being acknowledged. These terms are usually payment terms and conditions.
The most popular payment terms are:
Net 10 days
Net 30 days
Net 60 days
Net 90 days
Sometimes a 1-2% discount might apply if paid within terms.
On an order this large I have to believe that this is a scheduled order with a certain dollar amount paid up front and the balance paid on delivery.
Scheduled orders of this magnitude are assigned specific account reps and customer service people. Even a dedicated expeditor might be assigned.
Shipping companies would also be notified and involved on an order of this size. After all.. if these guitars are crated or on pallets and Epiphone is waiting to ship the entire order complete (or as complete as possible) 357 Customs could be looking at up to 20 48' tractor trailers full of guitars (assuming the guitars are 36 guitars to a pallet and a truck holds 16 pallets.
There is no way that EVERYBODY involved doesn't know the entire deal. Everybody from Dan to Chad to the girls you talk to when you call up. They all know.

[slayer]

I agree, I believe the Lying goes form the top to the bottom and at this point, I am losing a little bit of confidence and patience. I hate lying people and this seams to be the case now. Jack.

[StukaJU87]

John, just a point of interest. Back in my truck driving days, I unloaded plenty of shipping containers. Usually, the freight coming from overseas was not on pallets. Just floor loaded, top to bottom. While they weren't guitars I carried, alot of the containers contained boxes of similar dimensions.

[Hyperfuzz]

I finally got an e-mail back on my cancellation order. They said I have to send the die-cast back before they will cancel the order and credit my credit card. That's fine, I'll send it back, but I get this wierd feeling I'm going to have to ultimately dispute the charge with the credit card company.

I called them up yesterday to make sure that they received my cancellation e-mail and I got a strange vibe. The guy answered "hello" as opposed to "357" or something along those lines. And, it sounded like it was in a house as opposed to a shop or something. Obviously, I can't confirm that but I just got wierd feeling. I don't know, hopefully it will work out for everyone and I won't have to file a claim with my credit card.

[Shotgun]

I finally got an e-mail back on my cancellation order. They said I have to send the die-cast back before they will cancel the order and credit my credit card. That's fine, I'll send it back, but I get this wierd feeling I'm going to have to ultimately dispute the charge with the credit card company.

I called them up yesterday to make sure that they received my cancellation e-mail and I got a strange vibe. The guy answered "hello" as opposed to "357" or something along those lines. And, it sounded like it was in a house as opposed to a shop or something. Obviously, I can't confirm that but I just got wierd feeling. I don't know, hopefully it will work out for everyone and I won't have to file a claim with my credit card.

I did both the same day: filed the credit card complaint (and told the credit card company that I had contacted the merchant without having yet received a response) and emailed 357 saying cancel the order, credit the card, and tell me where to send the diecast.

Just sayin' - you don't have to wait if you don't want to, do both. One or the other should get you where you need to be.

Keith

[Hyperfuzz]

Good idea Keith, I'm going to do that tomorrow.

I wanted to e-mail 357 back say....NO, you credit my credit card NOW and I'll send the diecast back when I see the credit. *

*Actual shipping of diecast may take up to three months.

[Jack Napalm]

Your going to be dissapointed when we all get our guitars. It's legit.

[Razor]

Just sayin' - you don't have to wait if you don't want to, do both. One or the other should get you where you need to be.

I personally think you're wrong in doing the chargeback at the same time as contacting 357 to cancel the order. I recommend that you should contact your credit card company for their advice, and the exact procedures you need to follow. First and foremost, the easiest way to win a charge back is to prove you have returned the merchandise, or never received ANY of it.

Most of the times, the proper instructions for disputing a charge or doing a chargeback are listed on the back of your credit card statement. That's what I go by, not what some credit card representative on the other end of the phone tells me.

If you don't return all of the merchandise, you are just giving 357 ammunition against the chargeback. All 357 has to say is that the order has been partially filled, the remaining items are on backorder, the customer has not returned the previously shipped merchandise and is therefore not entitled to a credit. Every charge back that I have seen and been involved with not only as a customer, but also as a merchant has had a long paper trail back and forth with each side trying to prove they're entitled to the money.

I for one would return the merchandise, wait seven business days from the day you can prove the merchant received it, and then file the chargeback claim if I had not received the credit to my credit card from said merchant.

[sambencuda]

So, just out of curiosity, what did you get for your $100.00 gift certificate?

A $100 Jacket thats probably only worth $20. Wait, it appears that I did get scamed!

Fuck the Epi. I'll take a (real) bike instead. (btw 25lbs to go for those of you who are counting ).

[Budman68]

Fuck the Epi. I'll take a (real) bike instead. (btw 25lbs to go for those of you who are counting ).

at-a-boy buddy -

[ApeDosMil]

ehh, i don't know if I should stick it or cancel... I really want to build a Tele Custom and my cash is really tight.. I thought I would have the guitars by now but I'm loosing hope everyday. I have quite the feeling that once I go off to college I will receive these..

[Hyperfuzz]

Your going to be dissapointed when we all get our guitars. It's legit.

Jack, I admire your commitment and I hope it works out but I keep hearing that, and it keeps not happening. If it happens, great, I'll pull up a table with JG and dine on the ol' Heckyl & Jeckyl. Hell, I'll even crank on "Shake Your Money Maker" or "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion" for that matter.

Bottom line is, for me, I'm through with it, and I want out. No biggie, no harm, no fowl.. but I harken back to this:

The bottom line is this: if you are NOT satisfied with the way you are being treated, or you do NOT want to wait, you CAN get your money back. All you have to do is contact [email protected] and let them know.

Ok, cool, I did that but so far it doesn't seem that simple. I mean, I wasn't even offered the option of "we'll credit you for all but the diecast, and when the diecast comes in, we'll credit you for the remaining balance"....or anything like that. So, anyway, we'll see what happens...

Keith, were you able to get a credit from them?