Buyer BEWARE - Harpers Guitars Scam

Gabe Nickelson · #1 07-01-2002, 07:17 PM

Hey everyone,

You may remember a post some time ago in the off-topic section regarding legal advice due to someone ripping me off. Well, after giving it some time, I've decided to come out with the scammer so others don't fall in his trap.

It's Jon Harper from Harpers Guitars. This is over a guitar body I ordered. In August of 2001 I gave him $300 plus I shipped the following parts:

Custom guitar neck ($800)
Sustainiac Pickup ($200)
Gold lo-pro edge and gold hardware (about $300)
Other various hardware for the body ($20)

So now I'm out $1620. All this because of false promises and continuous 'oh I have family issues' or 'oh I have health problems'. I told him then not to build the body, simply return my parts and money and he has not. I gave him that option in March 2002 after waiting 6 months. He keeps telling me that he'll have a tracking number to me on this day or that day and never has he come through on his offer. I have all my e-mails a proof of how many times he's done this.

Now, I have trusted this guy for years. He built me that custom neck you might have seen in other posts. His craftsmanship is excellent, don't get me wrong.

I have already filed a BBB complaint against him and apparently I'm not the only one. Check out http://www.bbbsouthland.org/

So, take my advice - TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!

Gabe

BrianH · #2 07-01-2002, 08:37 PM

Thanks for the info, I've considered buying stuff from him, but seeing how it took him months to answer my email I decided I better not. Now I know for sure not too. Sorry about your luck my friend... thanks for giving the family(jemsite) a heads up.

littlegreenman · #3 07-01-2002, 09:53 PM

He screwed another forum member as well. Custom Jem body, but, An edge wouldn't fit the trem route, Holes for the anchor studs were the wrong size (to big, to small would be fixable easily, but now it's hard) and I believe he said the pickup routes were not in line with the neck and trem cavity. Anyway, I'm sure he'll post here soon enough to let you know.
Sorry it had to happen to you Gabe, that really sucks bad!

BrianH · #4 07-02-2002, 01:25 AM

This is all I found out about Harpers Guitars on the website..
though its enough to make ya not do buisness, and their search feature sucks.. it took me forever to find this listing... I wanted to see actual customer feedback, no luck.

Bureau File Experience

Based on our standards, we rate this company as having an unsatisfactory business record. An unsatisfactory rating is given when a pattern in the company's customer complaints causes us concern, when the company does not respond to complaints, or when it will not substantiate its advertising claims. In this case, our complaint history for this company shows that the business has not responded to customer complaints brought to its attention by the Bureau. A Better Business Bureau report is based on our file information and experience with an individual company over the past three years. The Bureau does not endorse, recommend, or disapprove of any company, product or service.

EKG · #5 07-02-2002, 01:49 AM

Hmmm? Until now, I always heard great things about Harper's

GuitarLunatic · #6 07-02-2002, 09:50 AM

Gabe,

Have you considered a lawsuit? I'm not the litigious type, but if I were out that kind of money I'd sue the guy, and include the costs of the airfare. Small claims court is cheap and I think you can sue for up to $2500, but I can't remember.

Either that, or at least kick his @$$. ;-)

G

BrianH · #7 07-02-2002, 11:44 AM

What really sucks is he can't get his parts back??? dang atleast he could give the parts back... then he'd only be out 300 + shipping cost.. and alot of time, energy and patience.

Yeah, sad thing is alot of places stay on your 'good list' until you have trouble with them and then you find out how crummy they are. Who cares if they are good to ya when things are good, only matter when they are bad, if they treat you good and right.

bammbamm · #8 07-02-2002, 01:33 PM

Hey, my little brother is near L.A. maybe I should have him stop by Jon's place. LGM was talking about my Jem body. He did a new alder body for me that the routes are completely wrong, just to get the pickgaurd that HE made to fit in with hardware, I had to route out some extra wood, the neck pocket doesn't seem right, the trem route was wrong and I had to widen it overall a VERY unsatisfactory experience in workmanship alone. To add insult to injury, he led me on and on and on about the body being sent, remade, damaged lost, found, delayed because the claw route chipped and the whole body had to be remade etc. Just a HUGE pain in the ass, I would NEVER recommend him to anyone that wanted timely good service, maybe only if I had someone I wanted to cause unlimited frustration to.
It sux, it really does Gabe, I feel for you because I didn't think I was gonna get my stuff either. I'm planning on taking a trip out to CA. for a couple days, if this is still unresolved, I wouldn't mind taking a trip out to see him for ya.
DON'T use HARPER's for ANYTHING, He's been unreliable from all aspects.
I think I'll send him a copy of this thread to wake him up and maybe he'll do right by you Gabe.

Best of luck,
Bamm

Gabe Nickelson · #9 07-03-2002, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianH

What really sucks is he can't get his parts back??? dang atleast he could give the parts back... then he'd only be out 300 + shipping cost.. and alot of time, energy and patience.

I asked this on several occasions and have been blown off everytime with a new promise to deliver my guitar body and parts by a 'certain date' which comes and goes without correspondence.

This is all I want - my stuff back. Hopefully if he sees this he'll make what's wrong, right.

Gabe

Gresh · #10 07-03-2002, 03:00 PM

Hey Gabe,

Have a lawyer draft him a letter on his/her office letterhead. If you have an attorney friend, even better, it won't cost you a dime. It doesn't matter what kind of attorney they are, ambulance chaser or whatever....but the letterhead often does wonders. At this point you have nothing to lose. Next step is to take it into arbitration and then a law suit, where he will be faced with paying your legal expenses. Obviously, he needs to be forced into making this decision so getting others involved is mandatory and the letter should outline his choices and the consequences clearly and unapologetically. The fact that he is in CA is inconsequential, and will add to his expenses should he be negligent enough to land in court.

Brad

GuitarLunatic · #11 07-03-2002, 06:28 PM

Or, here's another idea...

I have no idea what kind of shop Harpers Guitars is, but if they sell guitars...

1) Buy a plane tkt to Cali (go and come back on the same day, no hotel expenses)
2) Go to Harpers and buy a guitar that's worth the $1620 the guy stole from you plus the plane fare. Use a personal check.
3) As you leave the store with the guitar, call your bank and stop payment on the check.
4) Go home with your new guitar.
5) You guys are even!

Jeroenn · #12 07-03-2002, 06:41 PM

Hmm. That would leave Gabe minus the costs for the ticket, minus that awesome custom neck, but with a new guitar and probably a night or two in jail.
I'd go for the lawyer thinggy.

GuitarLunatic · #13 07-03-2002, 07:15 PM

No, I said to add in the cost of the plane fare when choosing the right guitar...

LOL

Gabe Nickelson · #14 07-04-2002, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarLunatic

Or, here's another idea...

I have no idea what kind of shop Harpers Guitars is, but if they sell guitars...

1) Buy a plane tkt to Cali (go and come back on the same day, no hotel expenses)
2) Go to Harpers and buy a guitar that's worth the $1620 the guy stole from you plus the plane fare. Use a personal check.
3) As you leave the store with the guitar, call your bank and stop payment on the check.
4) Go home with your new guitar.
5) You guys are even!

Haha! Yeah, but if went to his shop I'd probably be more interested in:

1. Stealing back my own property.
2. Kicking his ass.

He ripped me off, but I wouldn't do anything like that to him.
Gabe

BrianH · #15 07-05-2002, 12:04 AM

I respect that Gabe, a man after my own heart. Good 'karma' always comes back around.