Before I buy from online dealer: What should I ask?

[Carpe Guitar]

I'm buying a new guitar sight unseen from an online dealer and would like your advice.
(This is a follow up to my last thread: "Ready to buy new F512..should I look for New Hartford built?"

I've found a new 2010 New Hartford built F512 on a dealer's site and have talked to them by phone. I'm not sure if exact prices or dealer names are allowed on the forum so I'll say that I consider the quoted price was very fair.

So I'm ready to commit......EXCEPT....

I may be forgetting to ask something important that will come back to bite me later....Can you help?

What questions should I ask before I finalize the deal? What details do I need to clarify with the dealer to avoid misunderstanding?

I ran a search on several guitar forums and on Google and have only seen positive comments about this shop. The dealer has a real address in the US and has been around for quite. And after talking with them on the phone I feel comfortable that they are legit.

 

[evenkeel]

Since you are buying a new Guild I'd want to be sure it comes with a factory warranty. That the dealer is an authorized Guild dealer. Be worth checking with the Guild to confirm.

 

[FNG]

What is the return policy?

 

[capnjuan]

Don't let them ship it UPS ground ... pay an up-charge if necessary.

 

[onewilyfool]

You may ask YOURSELF, why you are "buying before trying" ......I would only do it if they have a very good return policy (in writing) because one thing pictures won't tell you is how it sounds. Even recordings of the guitar won't accurately tell you how it sounds.....so be very careful.

 

[killdeer43]

What is the return policy?

I'm all about that, because you need to have that guitar in your OWN hands to make the decision, and the return option will make for a more relaxing test drive. :wink:

Joe

 

[West R Lee]

If I were buying a new Guild, I'd just order from Bing at Guitars of Montana and not worry about it. Never heard anything but the highest praise for Bing, a member here at LTG.

http://guitarsofmontana.com/

West

 

[killdeer43]

If I were buying a new Guild, I'd just order from Bing at Guitars of Montana and not worry about it. Never heard anything but the highest praise for Bing, a member here at LTG.

West

This is all good, but you still need to feel/hear that guitar in the flesh, so to speak. If I bought a guitar from Bing (or anyone else) and it didn't "do it for me," I'd like the return option.
Nothing personal, just a good way to do business. :wink:

Joe

 

[geoguy]

Rocky, of StreetSounds in NYC, is another straight-up person with whom to do business . . . his listings state whether or not a particular guitar has a factory warranty, but it can't hurt to also ask . . .

 

[West R Lee]

If I were buying a new Guild, I'd just order from Bing at Guitars of Montana and not worry about it. Never heard anything but the highest praise for Bing, a member here at LTG.

West

This is all good, but you still need to feel/hear that guitar in the flesh, so to speak. If I bought a guitar from Bing (or anyone else) and it didn't "do it for me," I'd like the return option.
Nothing personal, just a good way to do business. :wink:

Joe

Does Bing not have a return policy Joe? I've never bought a guitar from him, but feel he'd do his best for any member here......or for anyone else for that matter. But again, I've got no guitar buying experience with Bing, just think a lot of him.

West

 

[killdeer43]

Does Bing not have a return policy Joe? I've never bought a guitar from him, but feel he'd do his best for any member here......or for anyone else for that matter. But again, I've got no guitar buying experience with Bing, just think a lot of him.

West

To reiterate the old bottom line: play the guitar, hear and feel the guitar before you lay down a bunch of that hard-earned $$.

Joe

 

[chazmo]

Excellent!

Hey, buying online, sight unseen... Definitely check with Bing before lock/load and see if he'll match the price, etc.

http://www.guitarsofmontana.com

17 6th Street South
Great Falls, MT 59401
406-453-4998.

There's also a store in Stanford, MT (number there is 406-566-2223), and I'm not sure which Bing works out of.

BTW, I forgot to mention that it's really a good idea to do shipment/exchange this time of year since cold weather isn't a factor in the process. Good luck.

 

[fronobulax]

Return policy. Make sure you understand it and it will cover the situation where you find you just don't like the guitar when it is in your hands. Make sure you understand the costs of that decision. A 30% restocking fee is going to make it an expensive mistake.

Claims policy for damage in shipping. Make sure you understand how to inspect and determine blame or responsibility and who to deal with. If there is major damage by the carrier do you get a complete refund, a new guitar, or just reimbursed for repair work that you have done locally? Extra credit - how long do you have if you choose leave the package unopened so the instrument has time to adjust to the local heat and humidity?

 

[West R Lee]

Return policy. Make sure you understand it and it will cover the situation where you find you just don't like the guitar when it is in your hands. Make sure you understand the costs of that decision. A 30% restocking fee is going to make it an expensive mistake.

Claims policy for damage in shipping. Make sure you understand how to inspect and determine blame or responsibility and who to deal with. If there is major damage by the carrier do you get a complete refund, a new guitar, or just reimbursed for repair work that you have done locally? Extra credit - how long do you have if you choose leave the package unopened so the instrument has time to adjust to the local heat and humidity?

:lol: You're getting some serious mileage out of that Hans quote there Frono :lol: .....love it!

West

 

[jgwoods]

Here's my problem with internet purchases, and I've done quite a few. When the guitar comes- in my case they are always just fine, no damage, no shipping issues- UPS, FedEx, none have caused me grief- anyway, I take it out and play it and I often don't love it....do I send it back because I don't love it? There's nothing wrong with it- action, structure, tone is what that model produces, etc. etc. like there's no way to say "it's defective" I am returning it. So I'm left with a very nice guitar that just isn't "the one" and let me tell you it's mighty hard to send that back. Maybe it'll wake up and sound better tomorrow, maybe I have to adapt to where to pick, etc. You wind up keeping it because you got a good deal from a nice guy and it all went well and maybe you can sell it later and get most of your money back- but you never return it. You never get a chance to A/B it with a few like guitars and pick the winner like you do in a store, it's just you and your new purchase, which is real nice, and costs you $40 to send back for no reason you can put your finger on- you'll keep it. It's so much easier than continuing the hunt....


Good luck.

 

[West R Lee]

I guess I just don't worry about it since I've traded them many times. On the rare occasion I've gotten one that didn't melt my butter (about twice), I just sell them. When you look at them in those terms, you're not too concerned about the "knock your socks off capability" of an individual guitar, though you'd prefer it to be that way. Over the years, I've culled them into a pretty fair collection of keepers. I've never made any money doing that and never set out to, but I've never lost any either.

On the other hand, if I didn't trade Guilds, was looking for that special, brand new guitar, I'd definately want to play it first. I've got 1 guitar that I played before buying it, that would be my '79, and I'm extremely happy with my luck in acquiring Guilds sight unseen and unplayed, but again, I don't buy new guitars.

West

 

[Scratch]

Rocky, of StreetSounds in NYC, is another straight-up person with whom to do business . . . his listings state whether or not a particular guitar has a factory warranty, but it can't hurt to also ask . . .

I once thought Rocky was straight up. I don't think so now. Twocorgis also has recent experience with Rocky and most-likely feels as I do... I can attest to Bing; he delivers and backs up his sales...

 

[Carpe Guitar]

Wow, what an active and helpful forum....16 responses in less than 12 hours! Thanks for the very specific advice. I got a bunch of useful information:

1. :arrow: Ask about a return policy so that I can try it out and send back if dissatisfied....but check for restocking fee.

From killdeer43: "you need to have that guitar in your OWN hands to make the decision, and the return option will make for a more relaxing test drive"

From Joe: "...still need to feel/hear that guitar in the flesh….hear and feel the guitar"

From fronobalax: "If there is major damage by the carrier do you get a complete refund, a new guitar, or just reimbursed for repair work"

2. :arrow: Be cautious of UPS ground, consider upgrading (from capnjuan

3. :arrow: Try it out
From onewilyfool: "You may ask YOURSELF, why you are buying before trying"
I'm definitely uneasy about buying without touching it. I'd like to try one out but have found no F512 at any Guild dealer within 250 miles of where I live... I played someone else's F512 a while back and liked it better than my current G312. Craigslist has turned up a 1-2 in the past few months but they are either sold right away or priced very close to the price of a new one and have no warranty. So I think I will definitely need a generous return policy with a zero or low restocking fee so I can play it and make sure I'll be happy with it.

4. :arrow: Authorized Guild dealer
From evenkeel: "That the dealer is an authorized Guild dealer" Good idea, I went to Guild site and found the dealer on their authorized dealer list.

5. :arrow: Try Guitars of Montana
From West: "I'd just order from Bing at Guitars of Montana and not worry about it."
I just emailed Bing to ask about some NOS Tacoma Guilds he mentions on their website.

I'm in no giant hurry so if anyone has any other tips, I'd appreciate them! Thanks

 

[adorshki]

We discuss seller's identities here pretty openly, after all, if there's someone out there consistently practicing unethical or simply cheesy business we'd wnat to caution fellow members. DO Remember there are always 2 sides to a story, but many stories about the same business would probably be a pretty good red flag. Actually I see more GOOD references here on the forum than bad ones.
Yeah absolutely get it in writing that it will be a new guitar with warranty registration tags included. Just in case.
Use Paypal if possible, it adds a little protection in dusputes, again, just in case.
Get return policy in writing if not published on their site (Do a screen print of it to save), again, just in case.
Given the difficulty of finding a place that even stocks the guitars and that's WHY you're "buying by remote", a "subject to approval" condition in the sales contract seems reasonable, but a dealer who offers it is going above and beyond the minimum service requirements.
All the advice about shipping is good. That's actually the single most risky part of the transaction in terms of potential damage to the instrument. Make sure the shipper will loosen the strings, remove the endpin, and brace the head stock tightly inside the case with, ideally, bubble wrap, and even re-pack the case inside a cardboard shipping box with extra peanuts. If they claim this is over packing I'd get leery. If they say they would if they could but don't have the cardboard case I'd ask 'em if they could look into getting one even if means some extra shipping/handling cost. After all you'd like the case to look brand new too, right?
Take photos IMMEDIATELY when it arrives to document any existing flaws, in case you do decide to return it. Let the seller know about them immediately.
In the end I'd be surprised if you DIDN'T like the sound of the instrument. But yes you may find something ergonomically unacceptable about it that isn't correctable with some basic set-up tweaking..
GOOD LUCK!

 

[chazmo]

Wow, what an active and helpful forum....16 responses in less than 12 hours! Thanks for the very specific advice. I got a bunch of useful information:

Some of us are living vicariously through you. NGD (New Guitar Day) anticipation is one of those great events in life.

I've been waiting for a few months for an order to clear with the good folks in New Hartford. That's what you get when you order a prototype.

In all seriousness, Carpe... There's no way on god's green earth that you'll be unhappy with an F-512, be it NOS Tacoma or New Hartford. It's "all that" and then some. Trust me.