Complaint Review: JD Bluesville Handmade Guitars Davis Millard

First, I do realize that this was a few years ago, and that Tom attempted to contact Davis, only to be met with a laughable half threat. Ms. Lindsay's half baked attempt to chime in on a subject he's clueless on, only furthers the pathetic factor of this, now gone with the flush "company". First and foremost the way it was described was exactly how it went down.

What was left out was the part about the brainless minions who will only give half informed rebuttals, but hardly enough business to keep the SS Poo afloat. That dozen or so people who have nothing of substance to add, yet whines like a dog when the master's away. 

One may wonder why even post a rebuttal after these years have passed, and it's a legit question. The answer is simple; 1. I had never seen this, and just found the pics he sent me. Naturally, I was curious if this guy was still screwing people with the fallacy of being a skilled luthier, and instead of a site selling crap, I find the near lifeless remains of a forum that appears to be populated by the die hard nut fondlers who were so fond, and fast to defend inferior craftsmanship. And 2. Tom (the man who initially wrote this) is a dear friend (you know, similar Lindsay above, with the major exceptions being that I am not here trying to sugar coat and pass blame with unfounded, and ridiculous accusations that are not only fabricated, but rather lame. Also, I'm not in a different country pretending to know what happened. I was actually there when UPS delivered it, saw the initial exitement, and then the collosal disappointment when it was further inspected. So, whether you choose to believe this or not, is completely irrelevent. This is how it went, and I'm sorry if our Canadian pal has trouble swallowing that).  

Now, with that out of the way, I would like to address the drivel that prompted my reply in the first place:

Davis Millard had a massive heart attack just as this happened. He couldn't be reached as he was in the hospital with the aftermath of a near death heart attack. He could not answer his phone. He is a one man business. He has no backup to take care of anything while he was out  ... I do remember hearing about "the heart attack", and the numerous times a silent partner was mentioned in numerous thread posts AND private messages. Including those had with said partner. Sympathy trains and pity parties are not valid excuses. Yes, he may have been laid up, but that other guy did nothing. Great partner. Silent, or other.  He couldn't answer his phone? Why was Tom told to call then? Again, simply trying to make excuses for a dropped ball.

There was no ripoff. This thread is hurting an honest man's business. Correction. It WAS a ripoff. The only thing is, after enough hoiunding, it was finally taken care of.

Davis offered to send back the money or make any repairs that were needed once the guitar was sent back. When the instrument was recieved the money was sent. Davis was told to send the money back, or face legal action. After a lot of complaining, the money finally went to its rightful owner. Had he not been so diligent, it would have gone to court. Pressumably, Davis knew this. 

The so called offended party even tried to resell the guitar on the internet and on the JDB website. Was he himself going to sell an instrument to people on the web that had all the problems that he claimed? If that is so then put him down as a ripoff artist then. Tom needed money quick. That was the problem from where I stood. Obviously, another correction is needed here. the offended party ("so called" was a cute attempt at humor though) If you recall (which is clear you don't) only asked people on the forum to purchase it when all the flaws were pointed out, and Davis was not contacting him, or having others do it on his behalf. It's funny how they attempt to tear down the truth though! The problems he "claimed" were all documented. You woud have to be a special kind of slow to miss them. As I said, I just found the pics. Nice attempt at trying to twist this. I have known Tom for over 30 years, what your accusations elicit are huge laughs and a facepalm. The only money Tom needed quick, was the amount he was robbed for a seriously hideously made instrument. I'm pretty sure you would also. Assuming your head wasn't still stuck halfway up... Clearly, the real problem from where you stood, was that you weren't standing anywhere near this! Remenber? You mentioned that Davis was all alone. Any info you picked up was from the forum. Either posts you saw, or whatever the little sewing circle was spinning. Either way, you were NOT in the loop. And if you were, why did you do nothing but hide behing the keyboard, and wait so long to chime in? ... Gotta love internet forums and those little gossip queens. I'm sure if you were truly involved, we would have heard from you long before this half thought out rebuttal of yours was. 

The same instrument by the way has been resold to a HAPPY customer who has no problems with it. I have no doubt it was resold. And based on both the pics, and actually seeing the thing, it was either refinished, or the one who bought it doesn't really care much for quality instruments. This statement is actually rather worthless. We have your word on this, and that really doesn't mean a d**n thing.

Please make this right. There are plenty of users of JDB guitars that are happy even repeat buyers. "Plenty" is a huge stretch. I know Tom tried to make this right, the issue was the unprofessional "luthier" who was too immature to do anything outside of some lame, half threat, which was unsurprisingly hollow. Also, concerning this legion of repeat customers you elude to... If he's so d**n great, why did he never return to his "craft" or why can't anything about these crap boxes be found online? I can only guess that those what, 12-16 forum members really saw what was there to see. Man, the forum even went straight to hades. 

The instrument was resold, the guy that wrote this was repaid. Clear this nonsense. Take it off you site now. Nobody gives one f - - k about what happened to the instrument once it was returned. The only thing in this mess that matters was that some scam artitst tried to pass himself as a luthier, and simply is not. He was to refund the money, which he eventually did, after an insane amount of trying, and that's it. Any real businessman would have had his partner, silent, or not, step in to fix this. If you are so in tune to what happened, you would know this.

d**n this is annoying. It's so much B.S. You are not only correct here, but good job at adding to it! It's a real shame this guy actually thought he could pass off subpar craftsmanship for a ridiculous cost, and expect noone to get upset. The sad part is, that all of "those" at the forum took it so personally because their friend is not even a quarter as good as they all pegged him. It's expected though, friends can be that way. I do remember the forum, but the elitist d bag attitudes were too laughable to endure, so I stuck with UG. However, some of the pics I saw of other guitars he was piecing together didn't look as bad, but you could see blemishes. You just had to look with no bias. Anyone can order guitar parts, toss them together and call it a day. Most of them not only have a clue, but can also apply finish and have it look right; not like a third grade art project.

This isn't an isolated incident, it's just the only one we hear of, because not eveyone likes getting screwed. As I'm remembering this, I also remember hearing about some kid whose dad bought him one. He ranted and raved about it. He really liked it. Then Tom posted his blemish pics, and he was notified by the kid with complaints about his. They were minor to him, but he left it off the boards due to the flaming he would have recieved by the faithful minions. 

All of this aside, I know for a fact this is a non issue with Tom. He was over it the moment he cashed his check and bought a real guitar. Yes, I know this rebuttal isn't really needed, but let's give the actual victim hear some credit; he was scammed. The upside is, he didn't take it. It really is ridiculous how the cronies stepped up, and the one who caused it all stayed hiding, while his forum members sat around, noses high, singing his praises. 

I've already mentioned the reason for this, and totally get why it wasn't removed. It shouldn't be. This should be a lesson. A lesson for those buying from some unknown "arttist" with only pictures and maybe a soundclip; do research first! Talk to past/current customers, try to find a way to actually physically inspect whatever the item is (if possible) and never take the forum members word on the quality. You might as well ask their family. You want unbiased honesty. And for sellers of anything; your lesson should be simple: Make sure you really know what you are doing, and are truly good at it. Being honest and communictae with clients, and customers. Never lie, avoid customers, or let those unafiliated with your business do it for you.

Anne

Let me assure you, that the original report was based on the facts as they were seen, and the experience during the entire mess. The original report was written and submitted in June (though it said October earlier), when I still felt like I was being burned on the deal. As I stated above I misunderstood the inner workings of JDB with the partner, and with Davis in the hospital, not able to return contact, I really felt like I was being ripped off.

Like I said, this whole mess stems from a huge misunderstanding. And I hope that by the time the reader gets to this section, they'll see this.

I have talked with Davis, and a few others since this originally went up, and as I told them, I'm very sorry that it got to this level, and I deeply regret putting the original review up.

Although I disagree with the policy of leaving it all up, I hope that people will see that it was ALL a terrible misunderstanding and you should in NO way use this mess in your decisions on guitar buying.

Hopefully, this will clear things up a bit~ Tom

I have emailed ripoffreport.com about removing this report, and so far have gotten ZERO replies.

The rebuttal posted pretty much somes it up. With the exception of me "needing money quick" (I didn't, I wanted a refund, and to be done with it all as soon as possible) and "trying to sell it on the internet" (I only posted it up for sale at JDB, because I didn't want it) it seems pretty accurate.

This whole mess stems from a huge misunderstanding. I was under the impression that there was a partner, and that he would've have stepped up and taken control. That impression was not the way it is. It's a one man operation. The report filed in June needs to come down.

Why is it so easy to put a report on, and yet no links or edit features to remove them?

Are we to understand that Ripoffreport.com feels that issues and misunderstandings can't be resolved?

Davis had a heart attack and was stuck in the hospital. It was terrible timing that my guitar came around that time, and explains why I was being (what I felt) ignored.

I'm sending this very statement to ripoffreport.com as well as submitting it. The report about JD Bluesville guitars NEEDS to be removed. Thank you. ~ Tom

Davis Millard had a massive heart attack just as this happened. He couldn't be reached as he was in the hospital with the aftermath of a near death heart attack. He could not answer his phone. He is a one man business. He has no backup to take care of anything while he was out

There was no ripoff. This thread is hurting an honest man's business.
Davis offered to send back the money or make any repairs that were needed once the guitar was sent back. When the instrument was recieved the money was sent.
The so called offended party even tried to resell the guitar on the internet and on the JDB website. Was he himself going to sell an instrument to people on the web that had all the problems that he claimed? If that is so then put him down as a ripoff artist then. Tom needed money quick. That was the problem from where I stood.

The same instrument by the way has been resold to a HAPPY customer who has no problems with it.

Please make this right. There are plenty of users of JDB guitars that are happy even repeat buyers.

The instrument was resold, the guy that wrote this was repaid. Clear this nonsense. Take it off you site now.

d**n this is annoying. It's so much B.S.