They sold my 370/12 right out from under me!

jmonster · Post by **jmonster** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:14 pm

Okay, so I ordered a 370/12 in Fireglo on December 12, 2004 from Phil at my local shop. Last week, I saw on Rick's website that they had shipped it, so I called in to see if they got it yet. It turns out that some woman also saw it on the website and called the shop a few minutes after it arrived to buy it. Since Phil was out that day, the other guys at the shop sold it to her.

So now Phil says that since he has some 360/12 FGs already on order, he'll try to get the factory to put the extra pickup on before they ship it, or he'll get an extra pickup and install it at the shop.

What do you all think? How long will it be until the 360/12s ship out? Can we get the factory to slap the pickup on first? Would the shop have to do much drilling and routing to install it? How ****** off should I be (on a scale from very to extremely)?

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:23 pm

If it was ordered specifically for you, you should expect a hefty discount, I would think, for having to wait again, for how long...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:01 pm

I would be extremely ******. You did the hard part, the deposit, the waiting, the anticipation....she just walked in and bought it. I would definitely be looking for some payback from that shop!!!

kog · Post by **kog** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:18 pm

Definitely -- a BIG discount. I suppose you could give them two weeks to make good on it, maybe they could find one somewhere. But other than losing you as a customer, I'm not sure what kind of legal recourse you have -- other than getting your money back.

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:30 pm

Not to mention that the shop says they would MODIFY a 360. Since the factory does the routs prior to finish, might present a problem.
Well to some folks who might care, that's a BIG detriment.
Might affect future resale (to some...)
I would demand my money back; your deposit was for a 370/12, not a modified 360/12.
Find a store who has one ready to go and stop the "Order dance"; you've been waiting long enough. There are plenty of other dealers out there with ones ready to go. PM Blues has a bunch of Monty's still(I think)...

jmonster · Post by **jmonster** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:20 pm

I didn't just put down a deposit, I paid for the whole thing with a credit card when I ordered it! (aaarrrgh!)

I'm not super-crazy about resale value; I don't want to hack up a beautiful new guitar and I'm not going to put Coldplay stickers on it or anything, but I do plan on using it, recording with it, and letting friends gig with it. I'll probably keep it for life.

As far as getting it elsewhere, I'm in Chicago, so my only guitar options are this place and Guitar Center (ha!). I had thought that buying a guitar straight-up from the authorized dealer down the street was best way to do it, but apparently not. (aaarrrgh again!!)

red_rob · Post by **red_rob** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:57 pm

The anger I feel on your behalf, Jesse, is tempered by the relief that you will not be putting Coldplay stickers on whichever guitar you end up with.

rick_ovic · Post by **rick_ovic** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 3:42 am

A clear cut case of breach of contract. I would be absolutely spewing if I was in Jesse's position, particularly as he paid IN FULL up front. Whilst the sale of the guitar to another customer was apparently accidental, it's inexcusable.

I'd suggest to the store owner that he has seven days to locate and deliver to you a brand new 370/12 FG, even if this means he has to pay retail from another store. The other option of a store-modified 360 with an extra pickup is unacceptable in my books. I sincerely hope this all works out OK for you Jesse.

lawton · Post by **lawton** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:05 am

I think you guys are going easy on the store -- the store needs to retrieve YOUR guitar from the person to which they ERRANTLY sold it, and get it for you. They ordered the guitar from Rickenbacker on your behalf AFTER YOU PAID FOR IT IN FULL -- it is YOUR guitar. That they sold it out the door to someone else is THEIR mistake, and should not be your problem. Unless the laws in Illinois are completely screwed, this is how it should be. Go back there today and demand YOUR guitar by the end of the day today.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:17 am

A situation like that it totally inexcusable on the part of the store. Just because the owner was out is no excuse for the staff to sell your guitar to another party. I would insist that they make it right by sourcing you another 370/12 FG. If they refuse, you should get a full refund and find one through another dealer.
As far as having RIC modify a 360/12, I've gotten the impression that once a guitar has been ordered, it cannot be changed at the factory and maintain it's place in the production queue.

jwargowski · Post by **jwargowski** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 6:39 am

Jesse,

I've sent you mail. I may have a solution for you.

red_rob · Post by **red_rob** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 6:40 am

I hope it's not the contact details of a hitman, Jim...

jmonster · Post by **jmonster** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:30 am

Jim - the email address I registered with here stopped forwarding today; please resend to [email protected] ... thanks!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:47 am

That's disgraceful, Jesse. The fact that the other store personnel weren't aware of the situation with your guitar is not an excuse - simply an explanation.

I'd play hard ball with the owner and not accept a refund if it's offered. You've waited over 12 months for it and paid in full in advance. The purchaser waited a matter of minutes. I'd be insisting that he either retrieves the guitar from the purchaser or sources another one, and fast!!

Under no circumstances accept a modified 360. I can't believe that the owner would even suggest it!! He's a fool if he did and he's also a fool for not having his in-store procedures in order.

What's his attitude been like through your discussions with him?

I sincerely hope this works out for you, Jesse. One small piece of advice..... keep your cool, even though that will be difficult!

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:51 am

I agree with the consensus that the store must procure a replacement within a short span of time, no matter what the cost is to them. One thing you might consider is whether an alternative color would be acceptable to you; if you have your heart set on Fireglo, then that's that.

This is unacceptable behavior by the store (and I agree that the owner being out should not have made any difference whatsoever), and I hope that this is a lesson that the store will take to heart so that it will not happen again.

If the store is a member of the Better Business Bureau, you may be able to go through them if you can't get this resolved otherwise.

Added: a quick check of GuitarBase shows:

The Music Zoo (http://www.themusiczoo.com/) in Little Neck, NY, has a new 2004 370/12 FG

PM Blues in Pawtucket RI has five (?!?) new 2004 370/12 MB