Anonymous
map-marker Asheville, North Carolina

Don't Waste Your Time with MF!

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MF prices are no longer competitive, nor do they make up for anything with knowledge or customer service. I placed an order for backorder in July, and was given estimated arrival times for 2 months out.

Each time the ETA came, they pushed it back out another 6-8 weeks. I never received updates, so had to constantly check in with staff, who never had any definitive answers, reasons, for delays, etc. All I could get was a new ETA each time, and wait another period. When they finally guaranteed that I had 1/10 of these products on reserve (from a SUPERVISOR), they claimed my product had indeed arrived to the shop and would be shipped out to me momentarily.

Then within a week, I had gear advisors claiming the item was all sold out, without any explanation, then tried to place all the blame on Fender and gave a weak, canned apology. There was no attempt to soften the blow or make up for all the time lost (over 7 months) of waiting and following up with them personally, being dragged along with false hopes and misinformation.

They simply said, "Let's get you something else" without offering any sort of discount/deal/coupon or attempt to make the situation better. When I tried to continue working with them to see if they could offer any sort of consolation discount, they simply ignored me.

Sadly enough, you'll get better service and clearer answers from Amazon than a company like this, who's allowed itself to be driven into the ground by careless people who have no regard for integrity or maintaining customers.

I'd give 0 stars if it would have allowed me to.

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Joshua M Jpu

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Company doesn't care about the customer.

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This place won't even do an exchange for a messed up item they sent me. They don't look over the instruments whatsoever before shipping them out. They will not even honor the sale price I literally JUST PAID For the same bass that I bought but in a different color. My only option is to return it because they won't exchange it And they are gonna make me pay for the shipping for their mistake.. They just lost this customer for good. But I'm sure they don't even care...
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Loss:
$40
Cons:
  • Do not care about their customers

Preferred solution: And exchange for the item I asked for

User's recommendation: DON'T SHOP HERE

Juan C Bvs

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Worst customer service ever!

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I attempted a return with Benny over the phone. He was laughably horrible and extremely unprofessional.

I was sent the wrong item and when I attempted to start the return process, I was talked down to by Benny. I was told from Benny that I should have gone into another company's music store to verify the item size before ordering through Musicians Friend. Benny also threatened to erase the conversation because he did not like that I kept asking to speak to his supervisor. Benny refused to pass me on to his manager.

Benny also said he would have refunded my shipping had I been more agreeable but decided not to because of my tone. Do yourself a favor and NEVER SHOP AT MUSICIANS FRIEND.

They are not any kind of friend to musicians. Hopefully they go out of business soon.

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Pros:
  • Will go out of business soon
Cons:
  • Worst customer service ever

Preferred solution: Full refund

Vivian and Michael F

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Verified Reviewer

Return

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I unfortunately had to return a base, and that is because it did not work for me as a left-handed, bass player, and nothing more. The company was very accommodating!
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Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: very accommodating company……

Aron Gsx

Wheres my order???

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Order was supposed to ship same day. 4 days later no tracking havent shipped. They tell me it is supposed to ship today. Not happy at all. Me not receiving the order yet was not on ups or any other delivery company. Get your stuff together musicians friend. Dont tell me somthing is going to ship if i place my order before 3 pm and you cant do just that.
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Cons:
  • Lies about delivery and when items will ship

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

User's recommendation: Shop music equipment some where else if you can.

Helmi Uxe

MUSICIANS FRIENDS DONT MATCH PRICES

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I have bees buying instruments from Musicians Friends for many years and was told, and FOOLISHLY BELIEVED, that the matched prices of legit competitors brick and mortar shops. Well this Black Friday I got a price that was 20% off for a guitar from the Woodwind and Brasswind.

When I called up MF the sales rep stated I CANT MATCH THAT PRICE CAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A SPECIAL DEAL WITH THE GUITAR COMPANY I questioned that cause the W and B is a legit brick and mortar company and an on line shop as well. I then purchased the item from The Woodwind and Brasswind as obviously THEIR MATCHING PRICES POLICY IS FALSE.

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Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Check out companies like Woodwind and Brasswind

1 comment
Guest

Woodwind and Brasswind is owned by Guitar Center

Diz D

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Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Davenport, Florida

Professional thieves and liars

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They advertise that you can return an item for any reason with no questions asked within 45 days. I needed to return a defective flugelhorn and they refused to send me a return label and refused to give me a refund. After calling again,, I was able to return the defective instrument. They are professional liars and thieves. Buyer beware!!! Will never do business with them again.
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Cons:
  • Are liars

Preferred solution: Get out of the business. No lo ger a customer.

User's recommendation: Buyer beware

1 comment
Guest

That has been my experience also. Sweetwater is much better about returns.

Daniel K Txg

Poor customer service and not standing behind the items sold

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I bought a ESP LTD EC10 guitar from them and two months later the back pick up stopped working. I contacted them and they said that they were going to contact the manufacturer on my behalf. A week and a half later I didn't hear anything from them so I contacted them again and at that time they suggested that I contact the manufacturer of myself. Long story short, neither the manufacturer or Musician's Friend stood behind the two month old guitar that they sold me. Terrible customer service and it's like they don't even care.
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Loss:
$129
Cons:
  • Lack of obvious organisation and communication between depts
  • Dismissive staff
  • Poor customer service for long term relationships

User's recommendation: Shop somewhere else

John C Mbh

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Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Rancho Cordova, California

Musicians Friend (EBay)

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Sold me a used or refurbished/used 942.00 12 string as new. Advertised with case but no case either.
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User's recommendation: Don't buy from (eBay) Musicians Friend

Lee C Zfu

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Verified Reviewer

Horrible, misleading and bait and switch tactics.

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I ordered my kit 11-7-2021. At the time I ordered my kit, it was "in stock and ready to ship".

Two weeks later, an email came that stated that my kit was backordered and would ship in January. In January, it was February, February, became March, March became April, April is now June and "customer service" now cuts off my calls when I call.

This is a disgusting and poorly run corporation. The kit in question is a DW collector's series, Broken Glass, with a 24" kick; it is beautiful, too bad I cannot get it and Musicians Friend is a "not at home" company w/o integrity to stand behind their orders.

View full review
Pros:
  • 000
Cons:
  • Lack of obvious organisation and communication between depts
  • Good luck
  • Item was never received

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

User's recommendation: Go else where

Anonymous
map-marker Leesburg, Florida

Won't stop calling.

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I've asked them not to call, but they won't stop leaving voicemails. I've filed a federal complaint so we'll see how that goes.
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Preferred solution: Stop calling. Stop leaving voicemails.

User's recommendation: Don't give them your real phone number.

Anonymous
map-marker Kingsport, Tennessee

Canceled order rg-35-sn

i ordered a lap steel rg-35-sn said in stock then it got cancel for no reason then they put it back in stock for higher price then put it back on as back ordered
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User's recommendation: be carful of this company

Michael C Vfz

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Verified Reviewer

GROSS MISREPRESENTATION

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Sequence of my experience w/ Musicians Friend... - Ordered 8 days ago - Zero action taken on my order after 6 days. No indication as to why. - I call to get status after 5 days (Thursday) -- half answers, no definitive actions, no clarity. Promised a call back, none given. - I call back Friday; told to call back in 15min for answers. Did that, 4X. Voicemail after voicemail. No call back I'm done. This is very poor customer service, or possibly fraudulent misrepresentation.BEWAREBEWARE
View full review
Pros:
  • Nice looking website
Cons:
  • Misleading

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

User's recommendation: BEWARE - GO ELSEWHERE

John B Agx

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Verified Reviewer

Return guitar

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I was five days past return deadline and they offered no compromise.I would have paid something if they offered
View full review
Pros:
  • Great service and prices
Cons:
  • Need to be sympathetic to people loosing jobs due to pandemic

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

User's recommendation: Shop somewhere else

Anonymous

Very Poor Customer Service

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Ordered some drum parts, Paid for the 2 day express shipping. Received my items 4 days later. Called Customer Service to ask for a refund on the shipping, the lady was Very Rude and evasive on an answer. So I asked to speak with a supervisor, then she hung up on me. They have definitely gone down hill since Guitar Center purchased the company. No more business from me... Best advice... Buy from someone else....
View full review
Cons:
  • Uninformed staff
  • Ignorant staff
  • Customer service - rude

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Buy from someone else.......

Doug R Vqd

Dishonest company

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Updated by user Aug 18, 2021

They really don't give a crap if they lost my business.But hopefully I saved a few people the same experience as I had with them.Would not buy so much as a guitar pick from them, ever again.

Original review Jul 19, 2021
Shoppers beware...I could have got the same price elsewhere, but now it's too late.
In mid June I ordered two QSC cp-12's that Musicians "Friend" was advertising on their website at 424.99 with free totebag. The ad specified "In stock/ready to ship".
Around one week later they sent an e-mail saying the speakers were back ordered.

I called to ask how long the wait would be and was told they would be shipped by July 14.
On July 9th I received an e-mail telling me that one of those speakers still on order was cancelled.

When I contact them to find out what was going on they said things still on back order, but could not explain why one of the speakers had been cancelled, nor did they offer to reinstate the order for the cancelled speaker. In frustration I told them to just cancel the order.
When I went shopping for somewhere else to order these speakers I was astounded to find Musician's Friend advertising them "In stock ready to ship" for 499.00.
They are not interested in honoring the original order and if fact have refused to do so.
View full review
Cons:
  • Order fulfilment
  • Lip service
  • This company does not honor advertised prices

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

User's recommendation: stay away

About

Related Companies

Ares Management, Music And Arts, Guitar Center, Music123, Woodwind And Brasswind

Summary

Musician's Friend is an American company. It specializes in direct response retail of musical instruments and a variety of related gear. The company was founded in 1983 by Robert and Deanna Eastman. It is headquartered in Medford, Oregon. Musician's Friend provides a forty-five day money-back guarantee on most musical items. The company provides the rock-oriented catalog, and two other specialty catalogs. Well-known musician community website Harmony Central that provides articles and reviews posted by musicians was purchased by Musician's Friend in 2005.

In 1999,Musician's Friend was acquired by Guitar Center and at the present time it is a wholly owned subsidiary.

Musicians Friend reviews and complaints

Musicians Friend is ranked 77 out of 496 in Music stores category

Area Served

USA

Payment Methods

VISADiscover

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