Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all,

Go here for the low down: http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum_view_thread.asp?thread_id=5450&forum=Just_Basses&thread_name=My%20brand%20new%204003

and sorry if this has been posted before but I couldn't find it mentioned.

Rgds
Mark

OUCH!

So what happens to the poor souls who ordered their DCM's from Sam Ash?

SHUDDER to even think of it!

Is it a normal reaction to shut down a franchise for an infraction that might have been unwittingly undertaken by an employee?

Understand prompt engagement on the issue, but punishing a number of customers as collateral damage seems a bit nuclear in scale--unless perhaps this one of several or many infractions?

Bill

Whoah.

What a stupid move. I hate the rules RIC has when it comes to their stuff. Do you think that guy in Switzerland will even get his bass now?

I didn't read anything in that thread that stated Sam Ash was no longer a dealer. John Hall wrote "I have just frozen Sam Ash's account."

I would think freezing an account and severing all ties with them are two very different actions. Maybe the account will be thawed out once the brass at Sam Ash sends a memo to employees reminding them of RIC's policies.

It says the account is frozen. That doesn't necessarily mean they have been booted. I am sure there is a review process to see if it is a company wide thing, or just an overzealous employee.
Maybe, maybe not, but let's keep it to the facts as stated by the CEO, the account is frozen.....

You and I are on the same page (and at the same time!) on this one Erik!

This is going to be one of those longer threads isnt it?

Seems like a warning would be in order. Maybe some bad history there, or a window of opportunity to reduce the number of distributors with the short supply that RIC seems to have. Just talking off the top of my head on the latter part. It seems like it would be better to keep the bigger guys like Sam Ash. Little do I know.

Nate...it's not a stupid rule at all. If US dealers could sell instruments directly to consumers outside the US, especially at the prices we pay, foreign RIC distributors would go out of business. Franchise agreements are there for a reason.
Oh, and if you read the first message in the thread, you'll see that he has his bass.

But John does state...

"I'm sorry if this inconveniences any of you. However, this will make more goods available to other retailers, making at least some people happy."

I guess one could ASSume a few things from that statement. Either their pending orders will be re-distributed to OTHER dealers, or now that Sam Ash is no longer a dealer, a lot more product will available for purchase due to the Sam Ash's pending orders being cancelled.

I'm sure John will clear it up when the dust settles.

I agree with Dane, no point in having a European dealer network if a US dealer can bypass it.

Additionally if gods forbid the buyer has a warranty issue then who's he going to go to, his European dealer who didn't sell the thing in the first place, or wait, he could call Sam Ash who I'm sure would be only too happy to assist.

I suspect as has been said that this was a Salesman who thought he ok in doing this, there again someone should have caught this before it shipped.

It's too early to say how this is going to go but this is the fouth time that they've been caught. They've already had three warnings and three chances to solve this problem previously.

They're still a dealer but nothing further will be shipped until this is resolved one way or another.

Among other things, franchise agreements protect consumers in other countries. Having local protected distribution gives consumers access to local laws concerning warranty and recourse when there's problems with a retailer.

Glad I already got my DCM!