Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Most of you have followed the discussions about the arrivals of the DCMs, and are aware of the fact that some of us didn't get "theirs" for one reason or another. In my case, it seems there is a problem in the communication between RIC and their scandinavian distributor Luthman. My order was never recieved at RIC.
I'm not sure whether this is an interesting topic for others than myself, but I wrote an e-mail to RIC customer service/Luthman June 16th, and I have not so far recieved any kind of reply from either of them. This is a copy of that e-mail:

Dear Sirs

My name is Lars Nygaard; I am a musician living in Norway. Being an owner of several Rickenbacker basses and guitars, and a member of RIC’s web forum and RickResourceForum, I learned last year that Rickenbacker would issue a 75th anniversary series of guitars and basses also known as the DCM models.

The same day it was announced that orders were taken, I called my music dealer Imerslund musikk in Oslo, talked to Marius and ordered a 4003 75th anniversary bass. I was not surprised that he had never heard of such a model. To be sure I also called Luthman and spoke to Ronny, informing him that I had placed an order at Imerslund, and also telling him that fast action was required, as only a few of these instruments would be exported.

So the long wait started. I followed the reports on the forums of excited customers getting their instruments.
To make a long a story short: After speaking to Ronny at Luthman he encouraged me to e-mail with Kenny at RIC customer service. Then I learned that Luthman never placed the order for my bass at RIC. Or that they placed the order, but it was never received at RIC.
Still I haven’t got any explanation from Ronny at Luthman. No cancellation of the order, not a word.

It is not easy being a Rickenbacker supporter in Norway. RIC products are seldom seen, basses haven’t been in the music stores for years. This is not a problem for me, as I can get whatever instrument I need or want from other sources (secondhand, off forum friends, or ebay). However I find it disappointing and frustrating that ordering a brand new 4003 DCM showed obvious communication problems in the RIC organization.

I totally understand that I was never guaranteed to get my ordered bass, due to the limited supply. It’s sad though, being disqualified because someone in the RIC organization (here I include Luthman) failed to their job; to get my name on the list of those wanting a 4003 DCM.


I apologize for my shortcomings in English, hoping I get my message through, and hoping only for successful marketing of RIC products in Norway.

Best Regards,
Lars Nygaard

Lars,

Sorry you missed out. Email me at [email protected] for some info on a 4003DCM

Hopefully someone will see your letter and pay attention, Lars.

And hopefully someday you'll score a DCM 4003.

Until then, we will be two of the members of the "Shut out on a 4003DCM" club.

We missed out because of the carelessness, incompetence, dishonesty, and greed of others.

I feel bad for anyone that really wanted one and missed out.

Hopefully members here will take note of your wish list guys and let you know if they find one available.

I appreciate it Joey and Peter. I'll be okay. I could afford to buck up for one when one comes up for sale, its just the idea of it that ticks me off!

I wanted one when they were offered and was a little annoyed at having to pay my local dealer full list price. But I figured it would be good to support my local business(Little did I know that they had no regard for their customers whatsoever!) But at the prices they're currently trading for, I'm not very interested. Nice basses, yes. Enjoy them...but I have many nice Ricks already to keep me happy.

I would have liked a lefty, too bad we were left out.

I can appreciate how you feel, but at least you have a distributor there.

There are none here in Australia, and I've gotten the distinct impression here for some time now, that the majority of dealers here, just don't want to know.

But the salt in the wound and twist of the knife happens when you acquire a Rickenbacker there in the US legally, for example when on holiday or business there, and bring it back with you to Australia through the legal channels, customs etc, only thereafter to receive unwarranted emails from someone at Rickenbacker alleging "illegal activity"!

The thing is that I haven't bought a used instrument for so long I can't remember. I like them new, and am not about to start buying used ones of anything, thank you very much.

Let me tell you though, that incident was just about enough to make me get matches, start a bonfire of the ones I have, and never buy a new one ever again or even support them in any way.

That sounds strange to me, Manuel. Buying guitars - "illegal activity"? I don't understand how it could be...

Strange is a kind way of putting it.

If I said to you, that I find it extremely difficult to purchase new Rickenbackers here in Australia, but that I can overcome that somewhat by simply buying one or two when in the USA or Japan or wherever, whenever I'm there, or maybe get one as a gift from one of my extended family members in those and other places from time to time, would you think any sensible person would call it illegal, or to be precise that it is an "advocacy of illegal activity"??

Dumbfounding, that's what I call it.

And, before anyone asks - an emphatic NO, I am in no way intending to part with any of the dozens of instruments I have, or act as any sort of intermediary, so DON'T EVEN THINK TO ASK, sorry.

Well, in fact, i've heard about restrictions for transporting food, medicaments, new technical "know-how" abroad, but AFAIK it's more about government policy or law, but i've never heard about situations when companies said it was illegal to take their products abroad. That's something completely new to me, and i'm wondering what the explanations/reasons were.

It does indeed sound "Strange", hopefully it was just a matter of someone getting their wires crossed or the wrong end of the stick no-ones perfect after all. That said it must have left a bad taste in your mouth Mfb to say the least.

Sometimes it seems RIC have their hands full catering for the domestic market. I wonder why they want to make it so difficult for people in the "smaller" countries in the world.

According to the norwegian distributor, they've had 4003 on order for 3 years, getting none. Why should the public be blamed for getting their instruments from USA? If the stores here were flooded with Rickenbackers, I would understand fully, but that is not the case.

Lars, you may decide to move to Russia if you will, and then nobody would say you're living in a "smaller" country.
On a side note, i don't know of any RIC dealers here, so i doubt you'd get more chances to get a brand new bass or guitar... more likely, your chances would decrease in comparison with Norway.

Norway, Russia, what's the difference...