I want to add my voice to those who have expressed concerns and have been cheated by Pat's Desert Music when placing special orders. Over a year ago I ordered and prepaid for a Fender American Deluxe Stratocatster because I was told they could get one in a week. The week passed and when I went to get my guitar, I was told Deluxe's were hard to get. I asked if I could switch my order to an American Standard and was told yes by Frank and then when I followed up with Pat, he agreed to the switch and told me he would refund the difference in price between the two guitars when the Standard came in. Another week went by and no guitar. This time I was told it may take a few months. I agreed to wait when Pat told me he would only charge what he had to pay Fender for the guitar. I asked if I could get the difference then and he said he wouldn't know what Fender was going to charge him until it was shipped.
This began an endless string of excuses and lies. I was told by Frank on several occasions when I visited the store to get my money back that Pat was actually in California getting the guitar. This was not true. In fact after waiting for a year, I finally called Fender and they shipped the guitar to Pat's that day. Three days later I had a Standard, but no refund as promised. For three weeks I called and dropped by the store on a regular basis being given a new excuse each time and each time being told by Frank that Pat would call me to resolve the issue.
Pat never called and has not responded to my emails. Now a month later I am issuing this warning so others will not get swindled. Pat still owes me the difference between what he paid for an American Standard and the payment I gave him for an American Deluxe. That would be approximately $650.
The final time I spoke to Frank, I mentioned the reviews I had read online and he told me that each time the store got a negative review they resolved the issue. I'm still waiting for them to resolve this one.
I have done business with Guitar Center, Cow Town, and Sam Ash, they are all better than Pat's and therefore I see no reason to do business with someone this unscrupulous.
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