When Is a Sweet Pea not a mando?

[beachbum]

Yesterday was my birthday and I wanted a Sweet Pea. #My husband looked on ebay, gave up and told me to order it. #I checked around and decided to order from Elderly even though they were a bit more expensive because of their reputation. #Well, yesterday I opened my present and my daughter said "Mom, it looks like a ukulele!" #I did an internet search last night and can't even find a Sweet Pea uke other than on an old archived page for Elderly. #I called them today. #The guy said the order says ukulele. #I told him that I could guarantee the word ukulele never crossed my lips. #He said that in that case they would take responsibility (I hope so). #They are giving me a full refund since they don't have any in stock. #I'm not sure I'll do much mail order business with them in the future if their people don't know the difference between a mando and a uke! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[MrSrubas]

Happy late birthday. How was the uke? I bet weber makes a pretty nice one. I got a sweet pea for my birthday last year. i upgraded not long after though. The construction was nice and all, and it was more mandolin then the price tag indicated, but it was still just a traveler, and with that little itty bitty body it can't help but be trebly as hell.

[beachbum]

It's cool for a uke but if I want to play one I'll use my daughters Oscar Schmidt. I have a Michael Kelly Evolution as my main mando and am looking for a traveler. The search is on!

[MrSrubas]

I haven't taken mine out of the closet since i bought my new one. if you are still searching for a sweet pea mine might just be searching for a home. (I don't know if I am supposed to solicite in this part of the site or not?) i wasn't going to sell her off on account of the cafe convincing me otherwise but, shoot me an email mrsrubas@yahoo.com

[Bruce Evans]

I think the technical term for what you experienced is, "mistake". Everybody makes them. Elderly Instruments will bend over backwards to correct them. By the way, taking the instrument back with a full refund is their standard policy.

The oversight was probably due to the fact that Weber calls both the ukulele and mando version "Sweet Pea".

I have no connection with Elderly Instrument other than being a long time satisfied customer.

[beachbum]

I would agree that it was a mistake. This thread was by no means intended to be a slam of Elderly. I never knew there was a Sweet Pea uke and a mando. My only concern with Elderly is that I spoke with 2 different sales people on 2 different occasions about this instrument and neither clarified that what they had was a uke. They don't have any mandos in stock and don't know when they will get them. The fella I talked to about the return was friendly and helpful. According to him, the owner is rather fond of the uke and really pushing them.
Mrsrubas, thanks for the offer. I've found one at Folk of the Wood. The beauty of ordering from them is that if you get tired of it or don't like it you can trade it in for a different instrument. I've had good luck with them in the past.

[Bruce Evans]

Elderly has had both the uke model and the mando model in the past. I have played them both in their showroom. I will share with you that the general mando playing contingent in the showroom think the Sweet Pea mandolin isn't much of an instrument - a view which I share. That may be why they are not too anxious to keep that particular model in stock.

[beachbum]

I would never buy one as my main mando. I'm getting one to travel and camp with. I think (and hope) that it will do both of those things well. Thanks for the feedback. If I wasn't cross country, I'd love to go to Elderly's showroom. Unfortunately, in S. Texas there isn't anyone that stocks more than one or two mandos at a time so I'm forced to mail order.