Official Luthiers Forum!

I`m with Kim and Colby.

stew mac will bend over backwards to help you. I bet they will replace your bent tool and set you up with the new one.

"I don't see that my comment does Stew Mac any harm, they are not going to have an exodus of customer because of my comment or opinion"

sorry, but i respectfully disagree.

I wonder how long it will be before we hear some lutes skiting about how they cut their teeth on the Stewmac MK1 rosette cutter,:

"You youg'uns would'nt know if'n ya back end were on fire. Why back in 06, when I built ma first, I was us'in the Stew-Mac-Donald Mk1! And with real wood to I tell ya. Nope, none of this nancy pantzy carbon fibre junk, no siree, real wood I tell ya...yup, them were the days."

Hmmm, ebay...20 years from now?? Best wrap'em up boys you got your retirement to consider you know.

Cheers all

Kim

Colin,
I think the key here is if you have a complaint with Stew-Mac give them a shot at making you happy. If they don't resolve it to your satisfaction, then of course you have a right to voice your displeasure.

[QUOTE=larkim] "You youg'uns would'nt know if'n ya back end were on fire. Why back in 06, when I built ma first, I was us'in the Stew-Mac-Donald Mk1! And with real wood to I tell ya. Nope, none of this nancy pantzy carbon fibre junk, no siree, real wood I tell ya...yup, them were the days." [/QUOTE]

I had to laugh at that one....very good!
i'd sware you wuz an American by th' way you spake there neighbor! But then again you said nancy pantzy instead of mamby pamby...

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

[QUOTE=Don Williams] I had to laugh at that one....very good!
i'd sware you wuz an American by th' way you spake there neighbor! But then again you said nancy pantzy instead of mamby pamby...
[/QUOTE]

Glad you liked it Don. I been practising the lingo because, by the way our Prime minister, little Johny Howard, has been hold'in hands by the BBQ with ol Double-ya Double-ya out at the ranch, I figure it won't be too long before you guys go and stitch another star to the red white and blue. Dag nab-it, at least ma dollar be worth some more..yeeehaa!     

They have already had 2 e-mails for which I've had no reply, so they have had their chance. Don't forget by the time we pay for air shipping and import duties stuff from the US is nearly double the price.

The problems of returning goods to the US from here are legion. I've no problem with the circle cutter they sold me, except that the slot is very badly cut and rough on the edges so that smooth adjustment is not possible, but I can see to that. I just would have liked to be told that a new version was coming out soon (they must have known) when they put put me on back order for the old version, and given me the option of waiting a few weeks more.

LMI have always given me superb service on orders and on replacements with virtually next day delivery, can't praise them enough. Likewise with John Hall and other people here.

ColinColin S38775.4695138889

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

[QUOTE=larkim] [QUOTE=Don Williams] I had to laugh at that one....very good!
i'd sware you wuz an American by th' way you spake there neighbor! But then again you said nancy pantzy instead of mamby pamby...
[/QUOTE]

Glad you liked it Don. I been practising the lingo because, by the way our Prime minister, little Johny Howard, has been hold'in hands by the BBQ with ol Double-ya Double-ya out at the ranch, I figure it won't be too long before you guys go and stitch another star to the red white and blue. Dag nab-it, at least ma dollar be worth some more..yeeehaa!     [/QUOTE]

and postage will go down to just .39 to the continental US... that has to be worth something.    

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Can't virtually hear ya speak Dudy Kimmy, but a sure do love yer accent yeeeeehhhhiiieee! If ya see yer wafe, tell her a said ha, bah naw!

Colin

If yours is not unpacked, ask them to take it back for Credit, and get the other one, they are usually pretty good about that sort of stuff.

Russ

Whoops I really should read the whole post RussellR38775.5216435185

the stew mac bases also accept the b&d dremel type tool as the threads are the same.

Guys, I think Colin's disgruntlement is valid. Making returns is always an inconvenience, and considering his location it'll be even moreso. The tool he bought was not in stock when he ordered it, so the company would not have been stuck with outdated inventory if they'd alerted him to the upcoming product. It's just good customer relations! So is timely response to correspondence. Stew-Mac does have a reputation for good products and service, but they dropped the ball in this instance. I've never seen Colin flame anybody on this forum, and I don't think he has in this case, either. You tell your friends when something isn't right, don't you?

Besides, as business people/sponsors in a niche market the folks at Stew-Mac SHOULD be reading this forum, right? They are welcome (and should be encouraged) to respond here. A reasoned explanation (or apology) engenders a great deal of goodwill. Anybody remember the LMI glue controversy? We still haven't heard from them.

I have, and will continue to purchase from Stew-Mac, and I've had good experiences with their service; but, they're only human, and should be alerted now and then when their zipper's down.

Thanks Carlton, I of course agree with you. I was surprised and dissapointed at the response, though others have PM'd me with their support. Guess some Holy Cows are sacrosanct.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I think everybody has a valid point here. If returning a product is easy like it is here in the US, calling them and asking for an exchange is not unreasonable. However, Colin lives far away and returning something is a colosal hassle. It would have been nice if Stew-Mac had informed him that a new version was comming. On the other hand, the person who handled his order may not have known that the new version was just about to be released. At every company I've worked at, a new product isn't released until it's released. There are ofter last minute snafus that can delay a product by months. Putting a hold on shipping the old version may not have been practical. Besides, Colin may have wanted the old version anyway.

That's a very good explanation, Mike. You're not an arbitrator, are you?

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Colin, might I suggest that you both keep the older base, as well as ordering the newer one? No, it's not that I want more British Sterling circulating through our economy--which would not be a bad thing-- but you really can use both. Set one up (older version obviously) to cut something repetitive. Make it a dedicated tool. Use it to cut something like the Railich Rose. Then get that new-fangled cutter to do everything else that needs constant adjusting.
Then raise your prices.

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

[QUOTE=Steve Kinnaird] Set one up (older version obviously) to cut something repetitive. Make it a dedicated tool.
Steve[/QUOTE]

Like old Stew Mac catalogues

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

[QUOTE=Steve Kinnaird] Colin, might I suggest that you both keep the older base, as well as ordering the newer one? No, it's not that I want more British Sterling circulating through our economy--which would not be a bad thing-- but you really can use both. Set one up (older version obviously) to cut something repetitive. Make it a dedicated tool. Use it to cut something like the Railich Rose. Then get that new-fangled cutter to do everything else that needs constant adjusting.
Then raise your prices.

Steve[/QUOTE]

As a hobby builder, who gives his spare guitars away, I have no prices to raise. All costs come out of earned tax paid income and have to compete with all other expenditure.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.