Another company shut down in New Haven, CT

[dreadnut]

In December, I bought a TC Helicon Harmony Singer which I love. Last night at Guitars 4 Vets I was going to let some of the Vets sing through it and add harmonies to their vocals, but the Helicon failed. This morning, after two hours of searching, talking to ebay and paypal customer service, etc, they were able to ascertain I purchased it from GGuitars in New Haven, CT. No wonder I couldn't find the info; they have ceased operations. Still on the web and still on ebay, but out of business. Apparently this happened awhile back. How was I able to make an ebay purchase from a defunct company? Something real fishy going on here. This is the second time I've purchased something on e-bay and tried to return it only to have the seller go out of business.

Fortunately, I found out on the TC Helicon website that the product warranty is one year. I sent them a message (they didn't provide a customer service telephone number.) Hopefully they will honor the warranty.

In retrospect, I could have spent only $20 more and bought it from the local GC, whereupon I probably could have just returned it. No, I had to search all over the web to find someone who was selling it for $20 less and with free shipping, being the smart shopper I am. I'm learning there maybe serious drawbacks to this strategy.

 

[chazmo]

Dread, who's out of business - the manufacturer (TC Helicon) or the dealer? If it's the manufacturer, well, someone may own the warrantee obligations, depending if someone has absorbed the company or whether it's totally belly up.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

So what's the first company?

 

[dreadnut]

I finally got ahold of customer service at TC Helicon, and I have a one year warranty, so everything is good. The company that went out of business is GGuitars out of New Haven, CT, which is where I purchased the product. Oddly, it appears they went out of business before I bought the unit from them on line; maybe they were just liquidating inventory.

 

[srickl]

Dread - I think they merely closed the brick and mortar store in New Haven (sometime around 2012) and are now (or were) operating online from another location. It was a great little music store and is missed.

Rick

 

[gibsonjunkie]

I used to love that store. They had a bunch of really esoteric guitars like Flaxwood in stock all the time.

 

[MLBob]

Dred,
That Harmony Singer pedal is quickly becoming my new favorite toy. Makes me sound a WHOLE lot better than I ever sang. :laughing: Was using it just last night it on the choruses for "Goodnight Irene" (set on the 3rd above / 5th below setting), and the effect was awesome! I've been surprised at how well it works with alternate tuning and picking.

Good to hear T.C. took care of you. Guess I ought to get on-line and register mine.

Bob

 

[Brad Little]

Dread - I think they merely closed the brick and mortar store in New Haven (sometime around 2012) and are now (or were) operating online from another location. It was a great little music store and is missed.

Rick

I think there's some connection between G Guitars and Brian's Guitars in Hamden, not sure what, though.
Brad

 

[srickl]

Brad - never heard of the connection, but I have been to Brian's several times... Another nice shop. They have some nice custom acoustics built by a local luthier and they are a good solid guitar. Amazingly in the Hartford area, our choices in guitar stores are almost nonexistent. Can't figure that out for the life of me.

Rick

 

[dreadnut]

I don't know Rick, they are still online, but none of the telephone numbers are in service.

 

[srickl]

Dread - did a quick search and saw that they have a Facebook page with an 800 number... Now listed as Stonington, CT (about 30 miles east of New Haven) but no street address. They posted to the FB acct about two months ago.