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Sweetwater

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California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Great Customer Service and Support!
February 9, 2023

I have ordered several times from Sweetwater over the last few years. They have been excellent every time. My customer support technician, Dave Brow, gives me a call every time I place an order online and lets me know approximately when it will arrive and asks if I have any issues with the equipment or anything else. I absolutely love the customer service! This level of customer support is unheard of these days. Keep up the amazing job y'all! I will be ordering again soon!

Date of experience: February 9, 2023
Oregon
1 review
4 helpful votes
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Been using sweetwater for many years and have had a few problems with guitars. The return policy only benefits sweetwater and they won't post your review if it makes people think twice about ordering a guitar through the mail. They have grown rich while your local retailers are going out of business.

Date of experience: May 11, 2023
CustomerExperience .. Sweetwater Rep
over a year old

Rob- thank you for the review and I'm so sorry to hear about this poor experience. I'm not sure what happened, but would love to dig in. Please reach out to me at justin_dunbar@sweetwater.com and we'll do everything we can to get this solved!

California
1 review
4 helpful votes
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Not for the Newbie
October 22, 2023

So, I bought a new Yamaha electric guitar for my son to learn on. When it arrived it had a terrible open fret buzz. When the company reached out to me about my 'shopping experience', I told them as much. The salesperson followed up with words to the effect that I should have expected as much from a cheap guitar and that I could take advantage of their (paid) setup service. To be fair they (eventually) offered to do it for free, but by then I'd already gotten rid of the box. I found them to be pretty condescending if you don't know a lot about guitars. They are certainly quick to tell you…at great length…how much they know. If you already know a lot about guitars im sure they're just fine, but if you don't I'd keep moving along.

Date of experience: October 22, 2023
Wisconsin
1 review
4 helpful votes
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A regrettable purchase
November 3, 2023

Spent close to $5000 dollars with this company just under a year ago. I had issues with some of the drum components immediately. Reached out on many occasions to get the problems resolved. Troy Davis was my rep. They made a few feeble attempts at resolving my issues and when that didn't work they just stopped responding. I was so frustrated by this that I have not used the set in almost a year. When I realized that I was on my own I finally started to try and fix the stuff myself because I just want to play. The hi-hat cymbal doesn't work. The bell on the ride doesn't work. Be careful with large purchases with this company cause if it's bad product, you are screwed. Just my experience. To each his own. Good luck.

Date of experience: November 3, 2023
CustomerExperience .. Sweetwater Rep
over a year old

John- I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. I am sorry to hear that your drum purchase had complications. I would love the opportunity to be able to dig into this. Please email me directly at alisha_hall@sweetwater.com. Thanks!

North Carolina
1 review
4 helpful votes
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5 days later and it hasn't left indiana yet
January 10, 2023

For the amount you spend you would think there would be a better way to expedite shipping but it seems the process is very slow. The website has some false timer telling you to order now and get it by whenever. So you feel spurred to buy only for the timer to be arbitrary. After purchase just ship the product. FedEx still hasn't received my package and it's the day the timer said I should be getting my guitar. Very disappointed

Date of experience: January 10, 2023
New York
2 reviews
9 helpful votes
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Sales Engineers and Financial Team are Selfish
March 13, 2023

Sales Department like all Sales Personal are Phonies. These guys remind of Guitar Center and Sam Ash. If your not going to buy, stay away. This Company has no honor for Music or helping those who appreciate the Music World. A bunch of "wanna be's" looking to pick pocket the weak. Also, what's the point of offering a 3-6 month payment plan if you must pass a credit check and/or long time loyal customer as this option was created for poor? Don't you think I would have paid in full if I could afford it? Soon to go out of business is my prediction. Long time customer and so many bad experiences w/the sales team. I recently declined my last purchase as the sales team was extremely rude pushing me to buy as well as telling me my credit is no good there as I was denied 2 months ago. I reapplied online and was approved. How discouraging. Please hire New sales personnel. Only the Managers Appreciate, excluding the supervisors. I've had such a bad experience with this company. NOT RECOMMEND!

Date of experience: March 13, 2023
Kentucky
3 reviews
13 helpful votes
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Large selection, although stuff not always in stock. However, As mentioned by others, customer service can be less than desirable, especially for returns.

The issue here is that the return policy poor and unnecessarily overburdened. Moreover, customer sales support goes south once the discussion turns toward return/ refund.

There are other options out there for more effective and pleasant online ordering, if that is the method you use.

Come on guys! This stuff matters when ordering expensive equipment!

Date of experience: October 15, 2016
Montana
1 review
2 helpful votes
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Slow response time
April 23, 2017

Multiple products on back order. 30+ minute hold times with no return call. 48+ hours and counting for an email response. They must keep bankers' hours because you will not receive a response over the weekend. Prices are competitive with Musicians Friend but not the inventory, attention, or response time.

Date of experience: April 23, 2017
New Jersey
1 review
19 helpful votes
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Sweetwater has a good reputation so I'm a little befuddled here. First, they charge my credit card $300 when they do not actually have product to send - not a pre-order authorization; which I did give, but an actual charge that I had to pay with real money. Then they erase my order history from my Sweetwater account but fail to credit my card and it is now 10 days past the time they said they would do so. In summary, a full month later I have no product and no money to buy it from vendors who have it in stock at the same price. Great job Sweetwater. You have now almost guaranteed that I will go out of my way not to use you. Retail is brutal and online retailers still need to understand that customers are priority one. Tell me again what distinguishes you from the other available online retailers.

Date of experience: April 22, 2014
Michigan
1 review
2 helpful votes
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Just now 11/27/20 tried to negotiate a great deal on a drumset but got it %100 off sale nothing was thrown iin that wasn't a standard flagship store offering. Felt hustled by dealer.The reason I delt with them is possible delivery time could be less than 4 months.

Date of experience: November 27, 2020
Nevada
1 review
3 helpful votes
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Depends
August 21, 2020

If you don't need help with your products and you research them, then shop at musicansfriend, wwbw, zzsounds and even guitarcenter. They offer points which is money back... the only time I buy at sweetwater is if I need financing on high end equipment like shure axient or yamaha cl mixer... ever since 2018 when they started charging taxes, I started buying from other companies... I've been a customer since 2010 off and on and only have used my sales engineer once. Another thing, I've spent about ******* at sweetwater and still struggle to get a good deal,, its hard to negotiate with them, you think i would at least get 5 percent off after 10 years. Agiprodj gives 15 percent off most of the time.

Date of experience: August 21, 2020
Ohio
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Over the last 2 years, I've spent $7,842.24 at Sweetwater Sound, all of those purchases being the Three- or Six-Easy-Payment Plan. Suddenly today, they won't grant me three easy payments for a $175 order -- credit denied. Why? Because a few of my payments for a $1,300 Stratocaster and a $400 bass amp were late during the worldwide pandemic that hurt everyone's business, left millions unemployed, and millions more facing eviction -- including me. Apparently, these well-heeled luminaries don't read the news much. I communicated with them during the pandemic. They got all their money. They were never caught off guard. They acted kind. They even made more money by charging me for late payments -- all directly from my checking account. Yet, these soulless robots are now saying, "I don't want your money." Well, you won't have to worry about that anymore -- a Sweetwater Exclusive!

Date of experience: December 23, 2020
New York
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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Excellent Place to Get what You Need From
March 2, 2021

Sweetwater is about the easiest place to deal with I've found. They have competitive prices, ship very fast and answer any questions you may have. No doubt if there is a real reason for a delay it could happen or they might no know the answer to your question or may not have what you're set on getting. But 100% for sure they will try and try hard. This is now my go to Music Store. Been playing guitar since 1965, maybe that's an indication of my experience with Music Stores. Try them, I think you'll have a similar experience to mine!

Date of experience: March 2, 2021
CustomerExperience .. Sweetwater Rep
over a year old

Thats amazing Walter! We are so honored that you chose to shop with us! We try to be the best in the business, and I'm glad you understand the Sweetwater difference!

- Zach Bloom, Customer Experience

New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow John R.
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From day one to present Sweetwater has always treated my interest in music with a high level of importance. In other words like royalty. Whether I was inquiring about an item or purchasing one I always received an accurate and a timely report on what, when, how, who, and cost of my orders. This also includes updates. I wish all business's ran and operated like Sweetwater. They do not try to push anything on you. There leaves no pressure at all. I can't say enough good things about Sweetwater at all ranks.

Date of experience: September 11, 2019
Rhode Island
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Buy nowhere else
February 24, 2021

After my experience here, I will never buy music anything anywhere else. Sure, their prices are the same as the other best prices you see our there. But their service is exceptional. My first order there was a bag of guitar picks. I received a call from my dedicated rep to tell me when they shipped. Need a say more?

Date of experience: February 24, 2021
CustomerExperience .. Sweetwater Rep
over a year old

You said it well Michael! We appreciate your business, and this kind feedback!

- Zach Bloom, Customer Experience

New York
6 reviews
6 helpful votes
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Sweetwater is by far the best company to deal with when buying gear. They have great prices, their customer service is light years beyond anything in the industry and there's no snake oil, used car garbage going on. They don't push they just help. Shipping is very affordable, as in free and fast. Customer for life.

Date of experience: July 16, 2021
CustomerExperience .. Sweetwater Rep
over a year old

Thank you for the phenomenal review, Timothy! We work hard everyday to provide excellent service to each customer that we are fortunate enough to interact with. The best part about our stellar service is that there is no catch! We just want to put the customer first! We are grateful to do business with you and are eager to serve you again!
- Quincee Musselman, Sweetwater Customer Experience

New York
3 reviews
0 helpful votes
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I purchased my first bass, small amp, mic….second bass, and recently my third bass from Sweetwater.
Their products are great. They are as described.
The customer service is excellent. People are knowledgeable, never pushy, If you leave a message, they return it promptly. I've called several times with questions and I get honest answers.
The shipping is prompt and products arrive in excellent shape.
Highly recommend. One of the few big, well run, honest companies around.

Date of experience: September 14, 2023
Tennessee
1 review
3 helpful votes
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I can only say that this company is so amazing and we'll informed on the products they sale. Truly a unique shopping experience and best sales engineers in the industry hands down. If you haven't been there go there! You will be writing a review shortly after just as I am. Amazing company wish I had ten hands to give them ten thumbs up.

-matthew

Date of experience: July 14, 2019
Texas
3 reviews
0 helpful votes
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There's a quite a few choices when it come to buying musical equipment and frankly the prices are typically comparable between the big 4 or 5. What makes the different then is customer service and support and I have always been impressed and never disappointed by Sweetwater's folks.

Date of experience: May 27, 2020
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Astonishing Service
July 12, 2022

The day after I placed my order, I got a call from a customer service representative from Sweetwater, who personally thanked me for my order and told me it would be out the door shortly. After I hung up, I received a text from him with contact information for any further questions about anything else guitar/music related I could possibly need. The next day, my package was here.

Thrilled with the service and speed. Can't believe I'm getting treated like a VIP for my first order ever. If I need anything else music/gear related, I'm going to Sweetwater.com first.

The detailed ratings are not accurate, for whatever reason it would only fill in 3 stars when I repeatedly tapped on 5.

Date of experience: July 12, 2022
CustomerExperience .. Sweetwater Rep
over a year old

Thank you for this spectacular review, Sara! Our Sales Engineers are focused on building relationships with each customer. Doing this allows them to learn the different needs of our customers and serve them better! Without the dedication and handwork of the our Sales Engineers, Sweetwater would not be the company that it is today! Thank you for trusting Sweetwater with your musical needs, we cannot wait to serve you again!
Ethan K - Customer Experience Specialist

Overview

Sweetwater has a rating of 4.1 stars from 1,195 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with Sweetwater most frequently mention customer service, sales rep and free shipping. Sweetwater ranks 1st among Music Equipment sites.

service
366
value
358
shipping
354
returns
190
quality
341
This company responds to reviews on average within 0 days
+184