Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: witeter on October 25, 2011, 11:25:27 AM
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Hey guys, im not posting this to have a go or anything like that, my aim is to hopefully have a discussion about it. It relates to the timeframe within which you can return a BKP if its not your cup of tea so as to get another model that may suit your guitar. BKP states that you have a 14 day period since day of purchase when you can return the pickup for a swap, that i assume means 2 weeks (unles it means 14 working days-this is not specified though).
The reason I bring this up is because I use a guitar tech to install my pickups, I choose to use him because he is the best I have found. Having a good reputation though means that he can be quite busy-for example, i bought a Cold Sweat a week and a bit ago-as soon as it arrived i took it to the tech and he said due to backlog itll take him upto 10 days until he can get my guitar setup+pup installed. My point is, by this time itll be virtually impossible for me (if the CS turns out to be not my kinda pickup) to have it taken back out and returned within the 14 day period. Is this timeframe discriminating against those of us who dont install our own pickups? should it be longer? (say a month) what are your experiences with this?
Thanks guys!
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I think the fact that you can return them at all for a swap is over and above the majority of companies. Can you imagine Renault doing that for your Clio?
If you don't like them once installed, you can sell them on for a bit of a loss and try something else. Exactly as you would do with Seymour Duncans, DiMarzios, Wizard pickups etc etc.
:)
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Hey Twinfan-good point, i hadnt taken into consideration what other companies allow you to do. So do the other pickup companies have a no return policy?
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You might find the odd one or two that allow returns, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
It's not just pickup companies. Think of how many other companies let you return their products after you've used* them, letting you swap them for something else instead?
*I'm classing them as used as you have to install them in a guitar, so at the very least you have solder on the wires. You're also likely to scuff a cover, trim leads, burn a bit of plastic etc during the installation process.
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If it's a specific case you're concerned about, why not contact Tim and ask him whether he would make an exception for you? He might not want that particularly advertised (or perhaps he might?), but until you ask him about it, you'll never know whether you could still return them or not!
I don't know for sure, but I would imagine the 14 days wouldn't include the postage time back to BKP. I think it means time to install, decide, then contact BKP if you're not completely happy - arranging delivery after that is a fairly trivial thing. Again I should stress, this is conjecture on my part. The best advice (as always) is to contact Tim directly :)
Roo
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Hey guys thanks for that. No it wasnt a particular set of circumstances I was pointing at, just happened that now that ive ordered a pickup it just got me thinking and wondered what everyones opinions were on the matter :-)
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These type of sales require a 14 day returns policy AFAIK.
It's a legal requirement for internet sales.
Thomann gives you 30 days btw. I've returned a pickup to them before (not a BKP) without problems.
You could return your Clio btw, if it was bought online. Apparently.
That said, BKP customer service is still exceptional.
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These type of sales require a 14 day returns policy AFAIK.
It's a legal requirement for internet sales.
Only for unused items if you change your mind after purchase though? Thomann allow you to try the item and return it if it doesn't suit though, good point!
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These type of sales require a 14 day returns policy AFAIK.
It's a legal requirement for internet sales.
AFAIK, the legal requirement is 7 days only (and, as Twinfan mentionned, doesn't apply if you actually used the item during this period).
That said, BKP customer service is still exceptional.
Indeed.
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That said, BKP customer service is still exceptional.
Indeed.
[/quote]
BKP send me a while ago nonreversed Mother's Milk. With the HSS-wiring in my strat and 500k-pots they sounded way too thin. Send a mail and they admitted they send the wrong item. Within a couple of days I received the right set. I send the wrong set back to Falmouth. Case closed. That's what I call great and fast customerservice. Plus 1 for the BKP-team.
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These type of sales require a 14 day returns policy AFAIK.
It's a legal requirement for internet sales.
Any internet purchase in Europe gets 14 days return. But the law would not apply because BKPs are custom/tailored orders, which don't fall under that law. In this case it's within the manufacturer's discretion. I'd recommend to have your tech lined up first, before you order the PUs, so he will prioritise you as soon as they arrive.
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Why not just get the tech to do a pickup swap instead of a setup as well?
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You might find the odd one or two that allow returns, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
Dimarzio does.
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Why not just get the tech to do a pickup swap instead of a setup as well?
Because it needed a setup aswell :-) -he told me that the timescale wouldve been the same either way as he was just busy with other jobs
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Not to talk the professional techs and luthiers out of work here, but I've always thought it's worth knowing how to do this stuff yourself. It's not rocket science and will save you money plus make you much more intimate with your guitars.
But if you don't know one end of a screwdriver from the other, getting it done by a pro may be your only choice. ;)
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You might find the odd one or two that allow returns, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
Dimarzio does.
Only in the US? I don't think any of the UK suppliers of DiMarzio or SD accept exchanges?
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Not to talk the professional techs and luthiers out of work here, but I've always thought it's worth knowing how to do this stuff yourself. It's not rocket science and will save you money plus make you much more intimate with your guitars.
But if you don't know one end of a screwdriver from the other, getting it done by a pro may be your only choice. ;)
Yeah i agree, but last time I tried to setup my PRS SE with the tremolo system i completely messed it up as its quite tricky to get it just right IMO, so a tech took care of that. Also this other guitar hes looking at and installing pickups in needs fret levelling, which I am not comfortable doing. And regarding pickup installation I would like to learn but again just worried of messing it up and making the warranty void.
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I'm very happy with a soldering iron, but must admit when it comes to setting up a guitar, I really have no idea.
Hit strings, make noise. That's about my limit :D
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Not to talk the professional techs and luthiers out of work here, but I've always thought it's worth knowing how to do this stuff yourself. It's not rocket science and will save you money plus make you much more intimate with your guitars.
+10 on this. And if you don't know one end of a screwdriver from the other, it's time to learn. Not talking about doing fret job on your $10000000 #1 vintage axe of course, but pups / wiring stuff and basic setup (neck / action / intonation) is something every guitar player should be able to do, even if a bit crudely.
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Seymour Duncan does a 21 day return if you dont like em
actually think its a pretty standard policy for pick up companies
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Why not just get the tech to do a pickup swap instead of a setup as well?
Because it needed a setup aswell :-) -he told me that the timescale wouldve been the same either way as he was just busy with other jobs
10 days for a pickup change? That's bananas, if he's that busy he needs to take on staff.
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Again, if you're in the US and buy direct?
BKPs is worldwide I think?
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And basically a 14 day return policy seems massively fair enough to me. Quite apart from the quality of the product Tim shows exemplary dedication to the art and a truly genuine desire to please the customer. If you can't receive install and evaluate a pickup in that time frame then it's your problem not his.