Open letter to elderly instruments [Archive]

devilstone_the_bard

Jun-05-2008, 10:29pm

<emailed to elderly also>

Hi George,

Got the set (of strings) today, thanks a lot. I really feel you have gone above and beyond. That's why I bought my last 3 mandolins from you guys!

I appreciate the fact that you guys care about customers, that really is rare in this day and age (and I'm only 30~ I sound like a cranky old man)

Thanks again, Dan

I had a *really minor* issue with a set of La Bella strings I ordered with my Weber, and I just asked via the website if I needed to contact Elderly or La Bella to remedy this. George simply offered to replace the offending string. Only thing is they were out of that set so he offered me any set I wanted as a replacement. I had been thinking about switching back to Elixirs on my Eastman F that I use for BG jams, so I figured why not and said 'sure send me some Elixirs' and they showed up 2 days later via Priority Mail.

Elderly Rocks.

JTMartin

Jun-05-2008, 11:12pm

Placed my last order for strings with Elderly after buying from other online string stores for years. Prices very good as well as shipping. Check them out.

lovethemf5s

Jun-05-2008, 11:37pm

Dan... I'm older and crankier than you and I wish I could share your unbridled enthusiasm about Elderly. I, on the other hand, had to return a defective item at their shipping expense and was met with comments from their customer service person such as, don't know why it cost so much for you to return it and I can't figure out why UPS #charged you so much to ship it back. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

phlattgetit

Jun-06-2008, 9:03am

I have to share the crankiness. I've been ordering from Elderly a long time and yes when I order strings, picks and such they are a good store.
Several times though I've called to ask about mandolins in the under $1000 range and they have been very dismissive with me.
I don't know if they are getting paid commission that would certainly explain their attitude or perhaps I just got lucky and got the cranky salesperson on their crankiest days.
It makes me wonder if they don't support the less expensive brands they sell.
Still it must be hard to enthuse about new Michael Kelly's when you have vintage Gibsons to sell.

mfalkner

Jun-06-2008, 9:06am

I've had great experience with Elderly. I recently did a swap with them, a koa Tacoma parlor guitar for a most excellent rosewood Tacoma dread. Everyone I dealt with was professional and helpful. I'll be back.

Nick Triesch

Jun-06-2008, 9:10am

Jsst a little while ago I bought and returned from Elderly and it went very smooth. They are the best of the best! Nick

Chief

Jun-06-2008, 10:29am

Have had nothing but good luck dealing with Elderly- including returning my Blue Star Mandoblaster for repair- and it's all gone smoothly. Never had a problem with someone on the phone- they've always been totally cool and great to talk to.

bienkow1

Jun-06-2008, 10:29am

Elderly's top notch. As good as it gets in my opinion.

They do not work on commission FYI.

Sean Greer

Jun-06-2008, 12:01pm

I haven't ordered an instrument from Elderly, but with all my other orders (picks, cases, strings, songbooks, etc) I've received excellent customer care.

Wesley

Jun-06-2008, 12:48pm

It's probably better that I don't know how much money I've sent Elderly for CD's and strings over the years.

mandolirius

Jun-06-2008, 1:51pm

I find the service a bit slow (3 - 4 weeks) but I'm in Canada so it's hard to say why. It might not have to do with Elderly.

woodwizard

Jun-06-2008, 2:00pm

They have always been very professional, helpful & curdious to me and I have purchaced from them in the past but I guess I'm a tight wad at times and always found better prices on the same instruments and lower shipping costs on strings. I like the company's that if you buy 35$ or more the shipping is free. I use "Strings and Beyond" for mandolin and guitar strings. They are easy to buy from as well and send extra things to you like picks, Elixir T-shirts and even gourmet coffee at times. We need company's like Elderly for sure.

ilovemyF9

Jun-06-2008, 2:01pm

I find Elderly's s/h fees totally unfair. And, everytime I Google the item I want, it is ALWAYS cheaper elsewhere.

fstylemb1

Jun-06-2008, 5:00pm

I have many friends that deal with Elderly and they always talk highly of their customer service and product selection. I see those guys every year at IBMA and they're a good bunch! I do enjoy getting Elderly catalogs in the mail. Lots of eye candy!

allenhopkins

Jun-06-2008, 5:02pm

Can't anyone post a compliment for a maker, dealer, musician or whatever, without a bunch of others posting in with contradictory opinions? # Mr. Devilstone obviously had a good experience with Elderly. #Others' "mileage may vary," as they say. #But after a half-dozen posts, here we have another urination competition, until Mr. T shows up, says "I pity the fool who posts on this thread," and shuts it down.

Firms like Gibson, Elderly Instruments etc. don't last for decades by annoying and alienating their customers, producing shoddy products, giving lousy service, cheating and extorting, kicking dogs, and taking candy from babies. #No one's perfect (not even Chris Thile), but I share the management's weariness with kvetching and carping.

Congratulations to Elderly for making Mr. D happy. #Now, let's all be happy and play Cherokee Shuffle.

MikeEdgerton

Jun-06-2008, 6:02pm

...until Mr. T shows up, says "I pity the fool who posts on this thread," and shuts it down...
Mr. T? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Dan Voight

Jun-06-2008, 6:40pm

I love Elderly. I live 40 minuts away in Davison, Mi.

Jeff Hildreth

Jun-06-2008, 7:15pm

Bought from, sold to and through Elderly for years

Tried all the rest

Elderly is my first stop.

Steve Williams

Jun-06-2008, 7:15pm

Our family has had great luck with Elderly through the years. From inexpensive (Squier Bullet and Tele, Flea ukulele, generic "S100" electric mandolin)to more expensive (Larivee parlor guitar) instruments, we've always received the same level of great service, and have have been more than happy with the setup and overall conditon that the instruments arrived in.

Steve Williams
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Jim Broyles

Jun-06-2008, 8:04pm

I don't like Cherokee Shuffle. Why can't we ever do Jerusalem Ridge?

allenhopkins

Jun-06-2008, 8:10pm

Mr. T?
Scott T.

MikeEdgerton

Jun-06-2008, 8:19pm

It would probably be Mr. "T"ed

mandozilla

Jun-06-2008, 9:42pm

I have nothing but good things to say about Elderly...never had a problem with them and will keep buying from them...they're great. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

MikeEdgerton

Jun-07-2008, 5:51am

Any retailer, no matter who they are will have some customers that swear by them and some that don't. The key is to have more that do than don't. You can't make all of your customers happy all of the time no matter what you do and some will fall by the wayside. If this is a representative sampling then they're on the plus side.

jim_n_virginia

Jun-07-2008, 6:31am

Glad you had a good experience because I didn't with my last order ... nuff said I guess.

NOW I'll go play Cherokee Shuffle AND Jerusalem Ridge. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

lovethemf5s

Jun-07-2008, 9:24am

<emailed to elderly also> #

Hi George,

Got the set (of strings) today, thanks a lot. #I really feel you have gone above and beyond. #That's why I bought my last 3 mandolins from you guys!

I appreciate the fact that you guys care about customers, that really is rare in this day and age (and I'm only 30~ I sound like a cranky old man)

Thanks again, Dan
I don't know who George is but if he is one of the in charge people at Elderly he should do a follow up on the negative posts and try to get to the bottom of the problems. If all George ever heard was glowing performance reports, how could the company ever improve. We who posted negative comments are actually doing George and Elderly a favor.

Steve L

Jun-07-2008, 10:18am

It's good for everyone to hear the good and bad experiences of a business. #I went out of my way to buy a small Vox amp from Elderly although I could have gotten a slightly better price from the big chains. #I want to support them and felt that if I had a problem, it would be easy to resolve.

I also had one and only one transaction with Folk of the Wood and my experience was great although that was hardly typical. #I must say though, that my decision to buy from them was based largely on the "100% trade up policy" that turned out to be rather fanciful shall we say.

lovethemf5s

Jun-07-2008, 10:52am

Steve... It appears that "100% trade up policy" is one of the great myths of music store retailing. I bought a $3250 mandolin from Buffalo Brothers and a year later when I tried to take advantage of their 100% trade up I found that everything I wanted to trade up to had just been sold.

neal

Jun-16-2008, 4:24pm

Man, I hate Elderly. Everytime I order from them, and it has been numerous times, (I guess I'm a glutton for punishment) they always, ALWAYS charge my credit card. Plus the fact that they're masters at manipulation. Ever go to the web site and see something repellant? Didn't think so. Bunch.. buncha... business people!

red7flag

Jun-16-2008, 5:29pm

I have dealt with Elderly for years and when buying either Strings or an instrument they have always provided excellent service. When buying a guitar, they called me back, so I would not spend my nickel, and sound tested a number of instruments for close to twenty minutes. When I sold an instrument through consignment with them -- again an excellent experience. I have known Stan Werblin for more than twenty years. If you have a substantial problem, I am sure he will get it right. He has been honorable, honest and trustworthy in all my dealings with him. He even persuaded me not to sell him a guitar as he felt that it was worth more than he could pay for it. Now that is honest.
Tony

Wheel Man

Jun-16-2008, 10:15pm

I can't play Cherokee Shuffle or Jerusalem Ridge just yet, but I do agree with Allan H. Enough of Elderly taunting. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Steve Ostrander

Jun-17-2008, 8:35am

One thing I like about Elderly is I can go there and play a $5,000 Gibson that I can't afford, and it's no problem for them. I think that's pretty cool.

Several times I have taken my mando in for neck adjustment and they did it while I waited and didn't charge me. This is on mandos that I didn't buy from them. Last time, they raised the nut for me, no charge. That's pretty cool, too.

I'm lucky enough to live nearby, so I'm in there a lot, but I'm just a basement player. I'm nobody special to them, but they made me feel like I was, so I'll keep going back.

yoods

Jun-17-2008, 2:33pm

Just got more stuff from them the other day. No problems, always good, 'nuff said.

fstylemb1

Jun-17-2008, 3:33pm

great customer service and great selection has made Elderly what they are today. Mike E is right though. Many company's can make most people happy but there will always be a few folks that can't manage to be happy no matter what you do for them.
One of these days I'm going to make the pilgrimage to Elderly. And also, when I check their website, my wallet starts shaking and I sometimes drool! LOL!

JeffD

Jun-17-2008, 10:32pm

Great selection, great customer service, knowledgeable staff, fair prices. I have been dealing with Elderly on and off for many many years. I always feel great when I refer Elderly to my friends.

lovethemf5s

Jun-17-2008, 11:20pm

MikeEdgerton

Jun-18-2008, 7:08am

250sc

Jun-18-2008, 10:11am

Great stores like Elderly are too few and far between. I've been shoping there for more than 20 years and have had nothing but good dealings.

After dealing with so many people for so many years, it's not hard for me to accept that some people have had less than great experiences with them but I've found the organization does what they can to try to make their customers happy.

lovethemf5s

Jun-18-2008, 10:37am

How did you get that out of my message? I simply pointed out that every retailer has customers that aren't happy. You take that as diminishing your problems? You've got a problem with a retailer and it is indeed your problem. If I read this message thread I'd say you're in the minority but that still doesn't diminish your problem. You still have a problem. I didn't say you didn't or that your problem wasn't real. perhaps you need to re-read my post with a little more open mind. Thanks.
MikeE...Perhaps you need to re-read my post a little more closely. I wasn't quoting you, I was quoting fstylemb1, Mike Bucayu. He said, "there will always be a few folks that can't manage to be happy no matter what you do for them". So many Mikes on the discussion board can be confusing. Anyway, I was so unhappy with my last transaction with Elderly that when it came time to purchase my Collings MF5 I made my purchase from Clay at Fiddler's Green Music Shop. I am very happy with that transaction.

Cedartop

Jun-22-2008, 12:17pm

I order a lot of stuff from Elderly online and am very happy with their service and very fast delivery, although I only live a couple of hours away so that could explain the fast deliveries. We usually go ther 3 or 4 times a year and always have a good time. Have taken mandolin seminars there from Mike Compton/David Long and Steve James, with great results.

With all of that being said, for some reason I almost always have a terrible time on the phone with them. People are often rude don't seem to want to help and sometimes just don't get back to me with information when they say they will. My solution? Never call, Just use their website or go in person.

Mace

Jun-22-2008, 12:47pm

Even when I was not satisfied with a transaction, Elderly has always honored their policies. I find their new vintage/used listings to be more than competitive with the usual market asking price. From a consignment perspective I have often suggested their asking price be higher. I am a fan. No, they are not around the block for me, but yes I believe they pride themselves on professional, courteous service. I will continue to be a customer.