Complaint Review: Jim Laabs Music

Being Ripped Off By A Business That Advertises On The Internet.

One would always like to think that it can't happen to them but, sometimes it does, and now I can say first hand that it happened to me. After having done over a dozen transactions on the internet, I got ripped off by Jim Laabs Music on an internet deal. That is why I am sitting here on a Saturday night putting up my first web page. I've had this web space since I got this account over a year ago and have never used it but, I promised Troy Laabs at Jim Laabs Music that I would do this if they did not complete their end of the bargain.

Being a Bluegrass fan and picker I thought that I would like to invest in an upright bass fiddle. After months of searching the net for prices, qualities, makes and models in March 2000 I finally decided to buy a Vienna Bass, Munich model from Jim Laabs Music. It had a finish defect which I was not concerned about because the price was pretty good. I was assured by Troy Laabs that other than the finish problem the Upright bass was in perfect condition and it was. It is a good bass fiddle and I use it all the time.

At the same time I questioned about some of the damaged basses that they advertise on their web site. I was told again by Troy Laabs that he had a Vienna Bass, Hamburg model with out the neck but he would ship me a new neck for it in 4-6 weeks as he did not have a neck at the time. The price was good so I bought it also. To save shipping charges both basses would be shipped at the same time. One complete Munich upright bass with a blemish and one Hamburg upright bass without a neck.

Well, today is November 17, 2000 and I have not received my Hamburg Bass fiddle neck yet. That was 8 months ago. I promised Troy Laabs 8 weeks ago that I was going to do this. He called me the following Monday and told me the neck was in the mail so I waited until now hoping that they would keep their end of the deal and send the Hamburg base fiddle neck that I paid for. So far it doesn't look good. I'm still waiting.

This is my only resource to express the disappointment and anger I am feeling with Jim Laabs Music and Troy Laabs. In a day of doing transactions over the internet trust and integrity are more important than ever. I have paid for this neck.

If anyone has any idea how to deal with these guys I would be more than grateful to hear from you. I have reported them to the Better Business Bureau but... In the meantime I hope that anyone searching for anything musical sees this page and thinks twice before dealing with this store.

Yours truly Robert
http://www.globalserve.net/~laingr