Canadian RIC dealers

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:54 pm

Mick, were you by any chance born in '67?

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:48 pm

Nope, sorry...I was born the day after the Beatles last played at the Cavern Club...Aug 4, 1963. No connection between the two events, so my mother has told me.

Why, does the 1967 Mick owe you money?

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 12:21 pm

Steve's in Montreal still doesn't stock any Rics other than one or two 330/6s. I was in last weekend and only saw one. I had them quote me a 660/12 when I was looking, and they were over $1000 cdn higher than the same one in from two US dealers (factoring in exchange and transport), AND it was a 15 to 18 month wait for the guitar. Oh yeah, and Steve's won't do a set up for less than $200 more, and the vintage case was another $400 cdn. And they won't stock anything. Extremely poor customer service based on the "go away you bother me" style.

I bought my 660/12 from Jim Rhoads in the States. He had it in stock, did a set up, supplied it with the vintage style case, and got the guitar for me at $1K cdn less than Steve's. It arrived in Montreal two days after I ordered it, was in tune out of the case and played amazingly well. He was extremely good to deal with and followed up with me to ensure the set up was to my liking. It was one of the most enjoyable instrument purchases I have been through.

I had the same issue with my Vox amp and Steve's. I got my AD120VTH/AD212 set up for over $1500 cdn less at another Montreal dealer, but I had to plead my case to the Canadian distributor of Vox, and the Dist. had to cajole another store into matching the US price. Steve's would not budge. The deal at Steve's is Canadian List plus 15% and nothing less. Rip off artists at their finest.

If this is the best Canadian stores can do, then I have no problem sending my cash south of the border.

I was looking for strings for my new 12, Steve's won't sell them in less than one case lot, and guess what? No stock. The only strings around are Diddario's and the gauge is too big. Emailed my friend Jim in the States and 4 set's are on their way.

I am tempted to not bother with any more Canadian stores for my next Ric. I don't like being treated the way I have been at $1000 more for the same product.

Rant over.

...Dean

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 8:38 pm

Dean:

Would you be able to provide the contact address/number for this fine gentleman Jim Rhoads? While I'm still probably a year away from ordering a 360/12, Steve's here in Toronto is probably not much better.

Appreciate it.

Mick

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 2:36 am

http://members.aol.com/RhoadsMusi/store.html

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 7:09 am

That Steve's place sounds like they don't want to be in business long. I don't blame you for shopping elsewhere.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 7:10 am

Hi Mick,

Ken has posted the web page for Jim. He is great to deal with. He gets good references on Voxtalks.

Jeff, Steve's has been in Montreal for over 30 years and have done a great job of marketing themselves as THE shop in Montreal. Unfortunately, they probably won't be leaving anytime soon. They have branches in Ottawa and Toronto, but I don't know what they are like. I won't deal with them based on the head office mentality and the way I was treated there.

...Dean

oreca · Post by **oreca** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:56 am

Italmélodie on the other end of Montreal is a great place.
I bought my Vox Pathfinder 15R and my Vox Volume Pedal from them through the phone, although I had been there a week before to check out the amp and the price.
It was priced at 179 if I remember right, whereas in Moncton I was quoted around 299! So obviously I called Italmélodie in Montreal to see what they could do and they were very helpful with getting the amp for me, especially since they didn't have any in stock and none on order.

It's too bad they don't have any RIC's there. They have a good collection of Gretsch's tho.

Here I am two years ago playing a Firebird on a AC-15 there. They actually closed the door and let me and my friend in that room and told me to have fun.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:49 am

Hi Patrick,

Italmelodie are much better to deal with than Steve's for sure. They'll at least talk to you. I have done a lot of business with them. But I still had to get the Vox distibutor to step in to get Italmelodie to be reasonable on the pricing for my AD120VTH and AD212. They would do slightly better than Steve's, but they would still not get closer than $900 higher than the US guys. With the distributor's help, we got them to match, Steve's would not budge. They are also still more expensive than at least two smaller shops, for the same brand of gear, but Ital offers less service. Ital charges $140 to do a basic set up on a new guitar, and the case is always extra. The two smaller shops I deal with include these as part of the purchase.

That being said, Ital had fair customer service, and will let you try the "good stuff" to your heart's content. They are quite knowledgable, but turn me off when it comes time to buy (the old "I'm the best and I know everything so you HAVE to spend your money here" attitude). They are the best place around to go and try out gear, other than Audiomanie in the east end and Musitec in the west, near the airport. These two small shops are the closest you will come to the kind of service our US friends get, but of course inventory and brand diversity are very low.

Ital should have been able to help with the Vox gear. The Canadian stocking Vox distributor/warehouse are virtually next door to Montreal's Trudeau Airport, less than 30 minutes by car/truck from Italmelodie.

After dealing with Rhoads and NCM though, my perception of customer service has been set and spoiled forever.

Great shot of you in "the room". It is a fun way to spend the day.

...Dean