Nameplate exchange policy changed?

[sloop_john_b]

I just called RIC to try and exchange my regular 4003 nameplate for a vintage-type plexi one, but I was told that their policy had "just been changed in the last few days", and you can now only swap for the same-style one you have.

Anyone wanna trade their plexi for my regular one?

[tomg]

I'm glad I went ahead and did a gold plexi swap for my 620's white plastic TRC.

[webhead]

I think that's crazy... As long as I can remember you could buy one of those for $25, now they want you to swap it.. I don't see the point... Will that slow down the fakenbackers out there?

[randyz]

In the early 1990's, you could buy as many TRC's (standard or plexi) as you wanted with no exchange for about $15 each. I wish I had stocked up...

[randyz]

So if you buy a guitar that has had the wrong type of TRC fitted to it, you now can't get the correct type? That's brilliant. Looks like the perfect way to encourage someone to start making knock-offs...

[winston]

Sometimes a change in policy of this nature has the unavoidable effect of creating collateral damage.

It's too bad they have to make policy changes to this extent to protect themselves, but I do understand their concern.

[sloop_john_b]

I'm really bummed about it. I'm having a "restoration" project done on my 4003 and I had planned all along to add the vintage TRC. Guess I was a few days too late.

[krick]

I guess my extra one just became more valuable.

[kcole4001]

People have been droning on & on at the RIC forum about changing the TRC policy. I don't think this is what they had in mind, though.
It did bring about a humorous pic devised by the webmaster.

[melibreits]

Wow.... glad I got my gold TRC for my 330 Purpleburst when I did!

[jeff_ulmer]

While I can understand some of the reasoning behind this change, it is too bad for the honest folks who are only trying to have the guitar they wanted which they could not get from the factory, or restore guitars that have had their overs removed in the past.

I can remember when I ordered my s8 wanting to have black pickguards and truss covers, only to learn that if I wanted black at all I had to get the black bridge and tuners as well. It would ghave been simple to simply install the plastic at the factory, but since Ric doesn't do "custom" guitars (despite practically every customer special order being a custom order), the only option was to pay to replace a brand new truss cover through the exchange. Now that isn't even an option.

I don't see how this is helping really, as although it will cut out work at Ric for replacements, all it will do is fuel the used or even worse, "pirated" versions of these covers. While I don't agree with infringing on trademarks in any way, shape or form, the older painted versions are simple to replicate if someone had the incentive to do so, and I'm sure it won't be long before we see the raised letter versions being produced elsewhere if there is a demand for them.

[kcole4001]

Damn! Didn't work.
Picture someone beating a dead horse.
Not as funny without the animated gif.

[kcole4001]

JH did say it is legal to make a replacement for your own Rick, but not for someone else's or with the intention to sell. I've been thinking of making plexi TRC's for my doubleneck, but I wasn't ever going to trade the originals.

[sloop_john_b]

I don't feel that i'm beating a dead horse here, as this is something completely new that's come about. I have a legal TRC and I simply wanna trade it for a different one. This has never been a problem before AFAIK.

[jwr2]

it seems a lot of fuss over a $10 piece of plastic ...