Faker at CME?

godber · Post by **godber** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:19 pm

I would have thought that RIC dealers would have signed up to terms and conditions and should know the rules. It must be a massive pain for RIC to have to deal with this kind of thing all the time, and a drain on resources. If we can draw attention to the fakers on this forum, we could be saving time for a RIC employee - and that may lead to more time making and selling guitars.

rick_ovic · Post by **rick_ovic** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:12 am

Manuel, I started this thread for a number of reasons.

A number of long-time forum members here placed their money and faith with CME, as an authorised RIC dealer, by placing orders for 75th Anniversary models. The history of what followed, and the details surrounding the non-delivery of these instruments, are located in other threads. To summarise, our friends here missed out in a major way.

It was CME's decision to knowingly advertise a Rickenbacker copy on a publicly available website (www.gbase.com). I would have thought, as many others have, that such action is completely inconsistent with the terms and conditions of their RIC dealership. Ignorance has nothing to do with it. Clearly they know it's a copy, because that's exactly what they are advertising it as.

Personally, I like dealing with reputable guitar shops who stand by their customers and go out of their way to do the right thing. That's why I'll never set foot in CME.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:34 am

A BIG high five to Darren for finding this ad and posting the thread. I absolutely feel that it is a good thing when the members of this forum (and the non-members as well) can get some insight/feedback on the dealers that they place their faith in.

I don't know how many people have been taken for a ride by the CME, but I'd guess its a whole lot more than the four (myself included) recent cases.

The CME is not worthy of representing the products of such a class act as Rickenbacker. RIC should pull their dealership privileges.

And this isn't the first fake Rickenbacker that I've seen at the CME sporting a real Rick TRC. Last time I saw one there I emailed JH and asked if he'd like me to take and send him a photo of it. I didn't get a reply.

I hope action is taken this time.

headbanger · Post by **headbanger** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:11 am

Fakes devalue all Ricks, ours included, not just new ones. Imagine being a Rick fan all your life and wandering into a store and seeing the above faker. Quite possibly the salesperson might fail to mention it's not the real deal especially as you're very keen to buy it at a price you can afford. Then when you get it home you find that it's really a p.o.s with lumpy frets and ever worsening action. You, not being the wiser, blame Rick and tell all your friends what **** they are. See the point?

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:25 am

>>It really is Rickenbacker and their lawyers that should be searching for and taking care of these violations<<

Maybe someone is aware it is vacation week at RIC?

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:09 am

Oh, is that what it is? I was wondering why this faker auction hadn't been cancelled by RIC legal yet:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200125341639&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D200125341639%26fvi%3D1

Nice strategic planning on the part of the CME.

mfb · Post by **mfb** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:44 pm

The point was that, in my opinion, the posters of these links could be letting themselves in for a little "harassment" - as the topics are public and are posted under their real name ... you can never be too sure these days. Rickenbacker itself has indicated that these things should not be posted on their forum but instead emailed to them directly.

It could also become a problem for this forum if some links and allegations are done in error...

Hence the suggestion of a specific topic headed, for example, "fakes and scams" that is accessible only to registered members of the forum.

My opinion, of course.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:22 am

I don't see how anyone is leaving themselves open to harassment by stating the fact that it is a copy (the ad says so), and that we can't believe an authorized Rickenbacker dealer would be allowed to sell such a copy. This isn't just a copy, either. Sporting an R tailpiece and a Rickenbacker TRC, technically it's a counterfeit. It's well known that RIC aggressively pursues violaters of their trademarks and trade dress, and those who sell such. The main thing RIC doesn't want posted in the corporate forum are the links to the bogus instruments.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:32 am

Thanks for your concern Manuel. I agree that there are times when having my name and info attatched to a post are not wise.

But in some cases, I just don't care. When it comes to the CME, I don't care. Let them know that it is I, JEFF THOMAS (one of the four customers that paid full retail price for a 75th Anniversary 4003 and was strung along for 7 months only to be denied that bass when delivery time came) that is happily telling all of my friends what incompetent, unethical, thieves they are.

They have missed out on THOUSANDS of dollars worth of business from my friends and I so far as a result of this and other mis-dealings. I should keep a running tally and go in and show them sometime in a few years. I personally have about $3,000.00 that will be spent on Rickenbacker products in the next month or two. That money won't be going to the CME, it'll be going to a competent and honest dealer like Mike Parks of the Rickenbacker Page fame.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:03 am

Someone once said on here that we might be wise to simply say who we would not buy a guitar from. To this list I will ad Southside Guitars, and Southworth Guitars.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:16 am

I know someone who paid 14K for a mint 1970 331 LightShow Rickenbacker from CME. When it arrived via UPS, the neck was cracked from the nut to the 5th/7th fret area. UPS covered the insurance costs, but IMO this guitar was damaged before it was put in the case and shipped. This is another strike against CME. I have been in this business for over 35 years and have seen many scams placed against shipping companies to recover funds under false pretenses.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:16 am

I'd believe it.

And coming from a guy like Dale who's seen so many guitars with cracked necks and severed headstocks and knows what forces would have to be applied and in what direction in order to snap a neck,...well...his opinion carries some weight.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:51 am

The shipping scams sound like why when I have a legit claim against a shipper, they don't pay it!

I'm taking Southside Guitars to court. I bought a guitar from them that was advertised to have one changed part. It arrived with 80 percent replacement parts, and not even Rick parts but junk parts. They bury their 48 hour return policy on a local site, and don't even mention it on their G Base site. Total scammers.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:35 am

Why is this thing still for sale?

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:58 am

CME's account has now been placed on hold and Gbase has been handed a "take-down" affidavit. This would have happened sooner if a) we had not been on vacation and/or b)notice had been given via [email protected] (which works on these cases even when we're gone).

The U.K. auction has similarly been flagged and will be removed with sanctions against the seller even though the auction has already finished.