I play my guitar daily as part of my job. So when it needed repair, I hoped to find somebody who would give it the TLC it needed and provide me with quick service, since being without my guitar would compromise the service I provide. I was delighted to find Long & McQuade, close to my Oliver neighbourhood and just blocks from my work.
When I took the guitar in, the technician informed me that it was a very easy repair. I asked him how long he expected it to take, and he said he'd have it in a week at the latest. He also informed me that he would be going in for surgery in two weeks, and so the repair would certainly be done by then. The repair for my instrument was minor and wouldn't take long, but there were other repairs ahead in the queue.
Well, the week came and went, and I heard no word from L&M. The day of the technician's scheduled surgery came and went, and still no word from L&M. I called the following day to inquire about my guitar. I was told that the guitar had not been repaired and would not be "for a while" since the technician was out on medical leave. I was told that I could come in to pick it up. When I asked why I wasn't notified sooner (or at all, since I only learned of this on my own initiative), the staff member told me that the technician had to have emergency surgery. I asked if it was the same scheduled surgery that the technician had told me about, or had something else come up. The staff member was surprised to be caught in a lie, but informed me that it was, indeed, the same surgery. The staff member then informed me that this was not his responsibility, and that I would need to speak with a manager. Unfortunately, no manger was available at that time, but I asked when one would be available and informed the staff member that I would be in at that time to pick up my guitar.
When I arrived, I got my guitar back, and it obviously had not been touched. The person working at the counter informed me that it was the next in the queue to be repaired, but "unfortunately, the technician had a medical emergency." I informed the worker that I knew the technician had scheduled the surgery and that it wasn't an emergency and they could stop the charade. I then asked to speak to a manager, and the worker would not get a manager for me, telling me that there was "nothing a manager could do" because "the guy had an emergency."
I am not upset that the technician had surgery. I am not even upset that he didn't get to my repair before he went on medical leave. I realize that it's likely he had hoped to get more done before his leave, and it just didn't get done. These things happen. I understand. What I am upset about is the lack of customer service. I was never notified that the repair wasn't going to be done "for a while", and when I questioned this I was lied to and my complaint was not even given any credence.
So, I will be taking my business elsewhere. I don't care that they are in my neighbourhood. They have lost not only this repair job but any future visits for strings (for my guitar or ukelele) or for drums (my son is obsessed and we had thought to buy him some there). And they lost the sale of the new Taylor guitar I had my eye on that I asked my sweetie to get me for my birthday next week. A new guitar to allow me to keep one at work and still have one for home and play.
I am not sure where I will go now. But I have no doubt there are guitar stores in Edmonton who would like to sell me a new Taylor and would be willing to fix my old guitar, too. In the meantime, I'll make due with the piano at work. And hopefully those listening won't mind too much.
***UPDATE*** I took my guitar to another shop in town. They fixed it in less than 24 hours. And they charged me less than half of what I was quoted at L&M. I came back on here to lower my review to 1-star, but saw I had already given it the lowest possible rating. Don't use these guys. They really are not professional. read more