Slipped Disc, our favorite (and most diverse) music blog has picked up this story, is spreading it around social media, and has linked to us. Great readership there so this issue just got some serious new legs.
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Slipped Disc, our favorite (and most diverse) music blog has picked up this story, is spreading it around social media, and has linked to us. Great readership there so this issue just got some serious new legs.
Broken record here!
Ever since I made my acquaintance with Mapes Strings my string issues are handled. I buy from the manufacturer only what I need.
The fraud, deceit, malfeasance, lying and cheating that's attempted through amazon is shameful and would be best prosecuted in every venue available.
Thanks to everyone on that mission.
dont they have an online portal or will they post them to you ?
Wow, I regularly buy D'Addario strings from Amazon as well, though for my Ibanez Mikro short-scale electric guitar instead. I never looked at the packaging in detail like you did. Seems like I'll have to grab all sets in future either from the local stores or from dedicated musical instruments-specific e-commerce sites like Sweet Water or Musicians' Friend.
I buy a ton of stuff off Amazon, including most of my strings, and generally have good luck. But this thread has inspired me to go back to using my local shop[s] for strings. Back before I was spoiled with buying everything online, this was just normal life. It won't kill me to do it again.
Man you guys like to spend money. My $35.11 from the first page of this thread becomes $54.45 at MF without the Aquila 30U, which they don't carry. I thought maybe I could find them at Sweetwater, where I have bought EJ74s as an add-on to an order, but they don't carry any of the strings that came in the mail yesterday. I may be at risk of sounding like a shill but the companies that advertise here on the Cafe are the real deal for more than just properly set-up mandos.
My only nearby source for strings is GC so I will send a hearty kudos to anyone shopping at local shops regardless of markup.
C.
Anyone know if this is happening through other websites? I am expecting a couple packs of J74's from Musicians Friend. Are any other brand being counterfeited? I also ordered Martin Marquis guitar strings.
I would think that just about any popular item that sells quickly, is theoretically subject to being counterfeited.
I've even heard of counterfeit USB cables, counterfeit guitar cords, counterfeit vitamins/minerals, just everyday items, not even high-priced stuff, anything for scammers to make some quick cash.
Amazon raked in $5.6 Billion dollars last year;but,paid $0(zero) dollars in federal taxes.
I'm not smart enough to figure out how that can happen. You'd think they could at least pay tax like everybody else!?
Adding insult to injury,Amazon is being offered ridiculous tax breaks in the areas where they are considering opening their next big location.
I may be off on the fine details about all this tax stuff;but,if there is any way I can avoid doing business with Amazon(WallyWorld too) I will certainly do so.
Over the years I have become a string snob when it comes to steel strings. I only use D'Addario's.
Also,whenever possible(almost always)I get strings from Elderly. Have bought some great instruments from Elderly too(incl.1923 snakehead). Always great service and products from them for about 25 years personal experience.
Thankfully,as mentioned in this thread,there are other reputable stores with which to do business as well.
Time for my mando-therapy session.
Happy pickin',everybody!
amazon is back in the news in a big way. One thing to have the relatively small Mandolin Cafe complaining about this but now its hitting massive sites like CNet. amazon's spokesman does a fine job of spinning a story that is ridiculously hard to believe.
Amazon's Jeff Bezos called out on counterfeit products problem
I was just coming to post this :cool:
The problem is obviously bigger than just the string world.
MandolinCafe admin is very brave to 'out' Amazon like that. :mandosmiley: I hope the past week's server issues were not something like a DDoS attack, done for purposes of revenge by any of the numerous possible parties in the chain who stood to be adversely affected if the counterfeit scam was exposed... Although I suppose if it was a DDoS, maybe best to not admit to it (not provide info that could be used for fine-tuning future attacks).
Amazon wouldn't even bother with a DDoS attack, they don't work that way even in anyone's dreams. The Cafe issues were totally explainable and due in part to the previous weeks hardware issues. The fault lies plainly with the hosting company and an error they made that was silly but understandable when dealing with people in this business. The people importing counterfeit goods would never expose their operation with something this petty. They really want to fly beneath the radar and if they aren't selling counterfeit strings will find something else to import and sell. Amazon's part in this is simply offering a marketplace that can be exploited not unlike eBay or any other shared marketplace.
Scott's last message about the problem
I was back in DC this past week and saw this story on the local news about a newly released GAO report on counterfeit online products.
https://www.today.com/video/amazon-a...-1172557379993
Not only is it a bigger problem than strings, it looks like it's a bigger problem than just Amazon. The story calls out Walmart.com, eBay, and others as well.
eBay is the biggest offender. Amazon, does seem to jump on it once they are aware... Walmart is just starting to open the flood gates to third parties as is other big companies.
Any place that allows third party sellers (without heavy vetting) is going to have ongoing problems. There is just to much money at stake for the criminal element not to take advantage.
It will only get more chaotic. More and more businesses will have to jump on the third party bandwagon to compete. Kmart started now.
So to close out the story, Amazon did, sort of, make good on their promise to replace the items they originally sent. If you recall, on 2/21, their customer service rep promised to overnight me a package of real EJ16 strings - which were what I needed at that time. He also agreed to replace the two packages of J74 mandolin strings that I had ordered with the guitar strings.
That was acceptable.
In the meantime, my original order (guitar and mandolin strings) were packaged up and shipped back to Amazon.
Next day - at end of day - a package arrives with one set of J74 mandolin strings. No guitar strings (counterfeit or otherwise) and one set short of mandolin strings. Remember, it was the need for guitar strings that set this adventure off to start with.
Another call to Amazon. Another very frustrating conversation. They assure me that all the items were shipped and don't understand why I am upset,and don't understand why I haven't received everything I was promised. In exasperation, the customer service rep removes the charge for the replacement items.
At this point I have one set of J74 strings in my possession.
Next day, at end of the day, another package arrives - this time with one set of J74 strings and another counterfeit package of EJ16s.
This morning I finally received word that the original order I had returned was received by Amazon and credited to my account. Once my credit card is made whole for this entire bloody transaction, I intend to order EJ16s from Just Strings...
A painful and unnecessary lesson learned.
I have been purchasing strings through Just Strings for years now. PERFECT service each and every time. The CORRECT order each and every time. And if there is ever a backorder on single strings that I need from time to time, the strings arrive quickly and with no extra shipping charge. In other words PERFECT SERVICE and complete satisfaction every time I deal with them.
You can't get better than perfect...
Just Strings is great, and I like that they go the extra mile to throw in some freebies like picks here and there. Not many companies do that.
My string supplier of choice is stringsandbeyond.com. Pricing is better than Amazon, free shipping if you buy $35 or more. Excellent customer service.
Thank god I have multiple local shops with all the guitar and mando strings I like. Crazy.
Yes, but you pay for those "freebies" of cheap picks and a couple pieces of candy with higher prices:
3 sets of J74's at Strings & Beyond - $23.22 total (including shipping)
3 sets of J74's at Just Strings .com - $26.54 total (including shipping)
Plus, with Strings and Beyond, orders over $35 are shipped free. Not so with JS. They offer no free shipping on anything that I have found. Which leaves you with:
6 sets of J74's at Strings & Beyond - $36.54 total (including shipping)
6 sets of J74's at Just Strings .com - $46.13 total (including shipping)
Which saves you almost $10 on your order. BTW, I've had good experiences with both companies.
Having said that, order from whom you like the most. Saving money isn't everything.
Chris,
Good points and i too have used both. Location is also an issue. I'm in Vermont ... Just Strings is just over in New Hampshire. If i order in the morning my order is here with the next day's mail.
Ryk
Another good point Jim ... Thanks,
Ryk