Shop Owners Opinions

[Jack1962]

I have a amp that came in yesterday (Marshall AVT20) , this amp the output opamp(TDA2050) and good portion of the power supply are dead. Here is where I need everyone's opinion , this amp I have diagnosted before for a different person. SHould I inform the new customer(the one that brought it in this time) that I have had this amp on my bench before?

                                                       Rock On

[LooseChange]

Not quite sure what you are asking.  Did the person who brought it in buy it from the other guy, broken?
My motto is always disclose. Tell the story.

[Jack1962]

the guy that brought it in the 1st time gave it to the 2nd guy , not working . Yeah I think I should inform the guy too , it's going to be a $150 repair if he wants it done.

                                                Thanks Bro

[G._Hoffman]

Always disclose, never lie.  Word of mouth is the only advertising worth a damn for repair work, and you never know how someone will find out when you were dishonest, but you can be damn sure they will tell everyone they know.  I always figure that, if they love the level of service they get, they might tell me about it, but if they don't they will always tell their friends.

Of course, that philosophy is why I don't have any stories about buying a `30's D-28 for $50 (as soon as it comes in, I let the customer know what it's worth), but on the whole I think the long term business is more valuable.


Gabriel

[Willabe]

Of course, that philosophy is why I don't have any stories about buying a `30's D-28 for $50 (as soon as it comes in, I let the customer know what it's worth)

Your a good MAN IMHO G!!!

I knew a guy who told me he was in a music store to get some strings and a 75/80 year old man walked in with an old Fender tweed case. The man laid the case on the glass counter as my "friend" watched and opened the case to show the store owner what he had. It was a 59 Fender bass which he wanted to sell. The man said he had bought it new in 59 and had kept under his bed all those years.  

At which point the store owner offered the old gentile man $100 !               The older man took the "deal"!

So my "friend" says "I kept my mouth shut" ( like a snake in the grass stalking it's new --- easy ---- meal !!!) and followed him out to the parking lot.

He said he talked to the man and asked him if he had any more things he might like to sell.  The man say's yes, I still have the 59 Fender Bassman amp I bought with the bass guitar.

Long storie short.... he bought it for $100!  All pristine untouched!    


                   Still makes me hoppin MAD                                        THAT OLD MAN COULD HAVE USED THE MONEY I'm SURE!!!!                        



May my "friend" not sound good through that amp or sleep sound at night untill he makes it right!


                       Brad,         I'm sorry but this kind of selfish greed and  dishonesty ---- IS JUST NOT RIGHT --- !!!!!                    

[Jack1962]

Thanks guy's, I have told the guy that I have already diagnost this amp , and he did say that he recieved the amp from the person that I checked it out for 1st, however I in no way try to rip anyone off and that wasn't my intention with this person, I do a fair and honest business.


                                                   Rock On

[G._Hoffman]

however I in no way try to rip anyone off and that wasn't my intention with this person, I do a fair and honest business.

Just from the fact you asked the question, I assumed as much.  I was just stating my principle as clearly as possible.


Gabriel

[G._Hoffman]

Of course, that philosophy is why I don't have any stories about buying a `30's D-28 for $50 (as soon as it comes in, I let the customer know what it's worth)

Your a good MAN IMHO G!!!

I knew a guy who told me he was in a music store to get some strings and a 75/80 year old man walked in with an old Fender tweed case. The man laid the case on the glass counter as my "friend" watched and opened the case to show the store owner what he had. It was a 59 Fender bass which he wanted to sell. The man said he had bought it new in 59 and had kept under his bed all those years.  

At which point the store owner offered the old gentile man $100 !               The older man took the "deal"!

So my "friend" says "I kept my mouth shut" ( like a snake in the grass stalking it's new --- easy ---- meal !!!) and followed him out to the parking lot.

He said he talked to the man and asked him if he had any more things he might like to sell.  The man say's yes, I still have the 59 Fender Bassman amp I bought with the bass guitar.

Long storie short.... he bought it for $100!  All pristine untouched!    


                   Still makes me hoppin MAD                                        THAT OLD MAN COULD HAVE USED THE MONEY I'm SURE!!!!                        



May my "friend" not sound good through that amp or sleep sound at night untill he makes it right!


                       Brad,         I'm sorry but this kind of selfish greed and  dishonesty ---- IS JUST NOT RIGHT --- !!!!!                    

See, now, he wouldn't be my friend anymore, after that. 

A retail store won't give you the full value of the instrument - they need to make their profit, after all - but to not even let the guy know is just immoral. 

Had I been in the store and overheard that conversation, I would have called the store owner/employee an a**hole to his face, told the old guy what his instrument was worth, and given him the name of at least three reputable stores in the area who would be willing to pay him a fair price. 


Gabriel

[Willabe]

He's not.


       Brad         

[G._Hoffman]

Of course, that philosophy is why I don't have any stories about buying a `30's D-28 for $50 (as soon as it comes in, I let the customer know what it's worth), but on the whole I think the long term business is more valuable.

I did, however, have a woman walk out of my shop today learning that the guitar her mother bought forty years ago at a garage sale for $3 is now worth $30,000.  It made her feel a lot better about spending $1,800 on the repair!  (NICE guitar, by the way.  A 1931 OM-18 that I had meant to play a lot more before she picked it up.  But my insurance agents are sure glad it is out of the shop!)


Gabriel

[ThermionicEngine]

Of course, that philosophy is why I don't have any stories about buying a `30's D-28 for $50 (as soon as it comes in, I let the customer know what it's worth), but on the whole I think the long term business is more valuable.

I did, however, have a woman walk out of my shop today learning that the guitar her mother bought forty years ago at a garage sale for $3 is now worth $30,000.  It made her feel a lot better about spending $1,800 on the repair!  (NICE guitar, by the way.  A 1931 OM-18 that I had meant to play a lot more before she picked it up.  But my insurance agents are sure glad it is out of the shop!)

Rule one- tell the  truth.
Rule two - when in doubt, see Rule one.

Larry

[RicharD]

Always shoot straight.  Bad news travels faster than good news.  Same holds true for reputations.  I saw a guy I fixed an amp for ages ago just the other night.  It was an old Sound City with 6 EL34's.  5 of them were Sylvania and had almost no gettering left.  1 was a banjo center replacement.  We retubed the amp since it was time and it's a gigging amp.  We suggested he sell his old tubes on fleaBay which he did.  They sold for more than the cost of the repair.   

[Willabe]

Rule one- tell the  truth.
Rule two - when in doubt, see Rule one.
[/quote]

May it be so, tell it brother.

Of course, that philosophy is why I don't have any stories about buying a `30's D-28 for $50 (as soon as it comes in, I let the customer know what it's worth), but on the whole I think the long term business is more valuable.

I did, however, have a woman walk out of my shop today learning that the guitar her mother bought forty years ago at a garage sale for $3 is now worth $30,000.  It made her feel a lot better about spending $1,800 on the repair!  (NICE guitar, by the way.  A 1931 OM-18 that I had meant to play a lot more before she picked it up.  But my insurance agents are sure glad it is out of the shop!)

2011 and an honest Man Can still be found!

You know the name Gabiel rings a bell.....  Now where did I read/ hear of that name..... hummm   ?         


              Brad           

[G._Hoffman]

2011 and an honest Man Can still be found!

You know the name Gabiel rings a bell.....  Now where did I read/ hear of that name..... hummm   ?          


              Brad          

Oh, I'm no angel, and have no desire to be.  Being honest is a moral thing, sure, but its also just good business practice.  Being otherwise would be a sure way to loose far more business than we might gain.


Gabriel

[Willabe]

Gabe,

I'm sorry, I was just trying to say FWIW, IMO I think your a good man for the way you are -- NOT -- taking an -- unfair advantage -- of you'r costomers.

I don't want to say/tell any of my past screw up's growing up in Chgo. ...... But.....

That was a lot of $$ you left on the table to go where? IMHO, where it should have gone. More and more, many people would justify it one way or the other, that it's OK, it's just business.

But that's not what you did or do.        
      
    
           Brad