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Post by slider123 on Apr 14, 2015 17:33:33 GMT
Hate to bring this up, just stumbled on this and I wish Id seen it earlier. Couple days ago I call Lenny up for a guitar, all goes well it's one of his tricone hot rods with a pick up, he says a thousand out the door . I was totally happy and then I read all this last night .. Call him this morning , no answer . He was quick to pick up every other day before . I'm a bit nervous since I've already sent him the money , I also like a dummy sent it under friends and family instead of goods and services in hopes that he would be a stand up dude. Im still keeping my faith in him but I'm posting here to see if I made a big mistake. I'm lucky I live In so cal , would really hate to have to track him down for my guitar or my money . Ill keep you guys posted , any thoughts?
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Post by petej on Apr 14, 2015 18:22:27 GMT
I would go round to his house and pick the guitar up in person or get your money back petej
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Post by slider123 on Apr 15, 2015 16:45:11 GMT
Maybe I spoke to soon, got him on the phone and he sent a receipt and assured me he was shipping today . I'm confident ill get my guitar , just don't know when ! Ill keep y'all posted
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Post by slide496 on Apr 15, 2015 19:04:06 GMT
Might be best to write him or leave a message that you need a tracking number for the"tricone hot rods with a pick up" you ordered when it ships today and if you could not find the return/refund policy -I couldn't- ask him for it.
Make sure the receipt is for what you actually purchased.
Now that you have a receipt, and have made reasonable requests in writing it should be easier to claim on the purchase if its not shipped today, or there are problems with the item, if you have to. All legit dealers give a receipt, return policy and tracking number.
Make sure you inspect it and contact him with any issues within 24 hrs - that was his last terms that I remember.
Good Luck, Harriet
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Post by gingergirl on Apr 24, 2015 19:21:33 GMT
Hey fellow reso-enthusiasts. Thought you'd like to know that you're not alone if you've had problems with Lenny. KYET TV News did a report on a buyer from New Jersey. The BBB contacted my husband to ask if he'd allow them to release information about the case he filed to the reporter. That's my comment in the reply section below the article. www.keyt.com/news/newschannel-3-investigates-guitar-man-strikes-wrong-chord-with-customers/32521864Thought y'all like to add your thoughts as well. Highly edited for public viewing, of course!
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Post by hawgwash on May 17, 2015 11:32:07 GMT
Firstly for me.. I think about a forum, who's hosting the forum and if that person decides to keep or delete the posts that are uploaded on here whether right or wrong,our Michael 'Mr Messer' must have a hard time in this respect concerning this thread and i applaud him for keeping it open.So people can see this and think about the use of cyberspace to buy valuable vintage instruments before seeing up front. Now i did this..i bought a vintage National via Lenny Gerthoffer long before, i repeat, long before his business as we know as Vintage Nationals.My transaction with Lenny did not involve any web business and so was done on trust, i did worry about the guitar never turning up and getting ripped off, but to be honest Lenny kept in touch with me through the whole process.I know this is no help to you folks out there who have grievances, but felt i had to say this.I am not brilliant with words, but hope i come over OK and hope all is resolved for you all. All the best.
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Post by hawgwash on May 17, 2015 11:37:54 GMT
I am a recent victim of Lenny -I paid $3750 by check for a1930 polychrome and never got it .i bought the N "prototype that was listed on his web site - I got a similar guitar but it wasn't the same guitar -different serial number -I have to verify the rest to be sure it's legit .how does this guy stay in business constantly pulling this on folks . I'm in the process of contacting SBBBB and the DA in Santa Barbara..
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Post by snakehips on May 17, 2015 13:28:23 GMT
Hi there !
Can you post pictures of what you were "buying" AND what you actually received ?
Thanks !
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Post by gingergirl on May 17, 2015 15:25:02 GMT
I am a recent victim of Lenny -I paid $3750 by check for a1930 polychrome and never got it .i bought the N "prototype that was listed on his web site - I got a similar guitar but it wasn't the same guitar -different serial number -I have to verify the rest to be sure it's legit .how does this guy stay in business constantly pulling this on folks . I'm in the process of contacting SBBBB and the DA in Santa Barbara.. Hawgwash, same thing happened to my husband; he purchased a guitar back in July 2014-- after waiting for months, the wrong guitar was shipped. Husband did file a complaint with the BBB, whereupon he learned that Lenny had an F rating. At that time the BBB ended up closing the case because they, too, were unable to make any contact with Lenny. Recently, KEYT TV did a spot on one of Lenny's customers from New Jersey. He was so fed up with Len that he was ready to hop on a plane and confront him in person. The reporter and the BBB called us to verify that we had the same issues. Both also contacted Lenny. He told them that, aww gee, a few orders did slip through the cracks and that he was working to make good on them. Based on Lenny's statement alone, the BBB raised his rating to B-. :-(
SO...a day or two after the BBB called for permission to release our complaint info, we get a call from Lenny! He said he had to wait a week for the pickup that was supposed to be installed on the guitar plus another week to allow for shipping. That time passed. (Duh) Called Lenny, this time he stated that, come to think of it, he didn't actually have the guitar either and that would take more weeks...yada, yada, yada. I should also mention that Lenny sent my husband a rude email about how he'd read my comments on the KEYT website and he was peaved that we'd reopened the BBB complaint. My husband has been EXTREMELY cordial and beyond patient in all his correspondence with Lenny. This has been going on for almost a year and HE'S impatient? Then, he had the temerity to suggest that we just pack up the wrong guitar and send it back to him and of course, he'd send a refund right away. Seriously!
Lastly, I called Lenny and he (surprise) called me back. I stated that we wanted a complete refund to the PayPal account and once we received the money he would issue a return mailing label for the wrong guitar. As usual, he was very apologetic but wouldn't you know it? The gal that does the bookkeeping wouldn't be in until Friday...
The guy's a pathological liar and running a scam.
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Post by hawgwash on May 18, 2015 16:52:41 GMT
Reply to snakehips - I bought the N prototype on the website - he changed it after the deal to not include the serial number in the description - he sent what appears to be the exact same guitar but a little later serial number - triolian pointed headstock - silver I think - he said he had two of them over time and posted the photos of the wrong guitar - the photos look exactly the same outside of a ding and a decal difference - I decided to keep it though he never offered a return and now that I know a bit more I don't think he'd refund 10k- previously I sent a check for the polychrome that was supposedly in the shop for neck set and set up for high action I like -and then we did the deal in the N - and finally he never sent the polychrome - sorry I can't post photo - I could send it e- mail if you want - serial number S105 - I think kinda hard to read - so I'm going after him for the polychrome unless the N turns out to be a steel body fraud or old neck on a different body - it takes finger prints like German silver but after hearing all the bad I have my doubts and I'll send it to artisan for set up and evaluation one day soon - x
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Post by simonf on May 19, 2015 9:45:08 GMT
People need to start suing this guy.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 16:53:14 GMT
Maybe we can get CNBC to do an episode of American Greed on Lenny...
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Post by snakehips on May 19, 2015 17:23:40 GMT
Hi Hawgwash, A picture of the guitar you have would really help. As for the serial number, it is a very low S-series number and almost certainly IS a Style N neck - the earlier type with a Tricone style pointy headstock neck. I would very much doubt the body is changed to a later model - steel perhaps. It would be very easy to test that - with a magnet ! The only Style N's that are likely to be contentious as to whether they are German Silver or not, is the later, circa 1932 Style N's, like my one : Note the headstock on my one is squared off, like most Nationals (except Tricones), and it has the pearloid headstock overlay, engraved with the National shield. (picture of my Style N courtesy of Steve Evans, of Beltona resonator guitars, after he had worked on it last year). These later 1932 Style N's are quite likely to have all-brass bodies, although some may be GS, or a mixture of different metals. Notice mine (if you can see the small detail) has the slots instead of screws, for 8 out of the 9 coverplate-screw positions. If your "Style N" has that feature, instead of 9 coverplate screws, then you really have a "put together" guitar. However, I very much doubt that would be the case. Lenny would need to find another Tricone neck to fit to the "missing" German Silver Style N body - and that would be daft and unlikely ! I think, in all likelihood, you do actually have a genuine early German Silver Style N, without any funny business.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 20:13:48 GMT
Hawgwash, just for completion of the story, I recall the Style N with pointed tricone headstock was on EBay-USA about two years ago. I was bidding on it, and contacted the seller to try to strike a buy it now deal. I knew it was unique. He told me someone else (guess who) was in the process of buying it from him, and I did not act fast enough. I think the owner sold it for couple of $K... It showed up on vintage you-know-whats a few weeks later, and I think it was the only one on there of that rare style... I hope you got the real thing...
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Post by gaucho on May 19, 2015 21:39:06 GMT
Interesting story. A musician acquaintance of mine recently sent me an note that he found a NRP Vintage Steel Tricone that he was going to buy. I asked him where he was getting it from and he said "A guy in California, Vintage Nationals". I scrambled to send him links to this thread, some Facebook posts and the TV newscast. After reading everything he said, Thanks, you saved my azz! I told him that I had had some dealings with Lenny in the past and he seemed like a decent guy and that I don't know what happened. I suggested to him that he contact Lenny and suggest that you still want the guitar, but in light of the recent press that you needed him to trust you (instead of the reverse) and send you the guitar before you send any money for it. Lenny went for it and sent it right out to him, no money exchanged hands. My friend loves it and is definitely going to buy it. I'm not defending Lenny, but maybe there are alternate ways to deal with him (or any online transaction). Does anyone know if Fed-X or UPS has any kind of COD type service where you can go pick up an item, inspect it and then pay? I know they'd have to mark it up some but it seems like it could work....
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