"- Visited the website to purchase a Shure BLX wireless clip-on mike setup, since I had a 15% off coupon
- They didn't have the frequency band I wanted in stock, but they had an open box unit in "excellent" condition
- I called a sales rep. He confirmed that there were no new units in stock, and that it would be weeks before they got any. He assured me that the open box unit was in like-new condition, and that it was tested before being put up for sale.
- I ordered the open box unit, received it in 5 days.
- Hooked it up to my amp. There's a low frequency buzz on all channels!
- Attempted to call the sales rep. Got voicemail, left a message.
- Called Shure Customer Support. CS agent said she's worked for Shure for 30+ years, never heard of this problem. Recommended shipping it back to Musician's Friend.
- Contacted M.F. support, explained situation and got a return shipping label. Also ordered a brand new unit (yes, they were now in stock!)
- Received new unit in another 5 days. Nice sticker on the outside of the shipping box says, "Inspected for Accuracy." Open box - the wrong BLX model is in the box!
- Contacted M.F. support, explained situation. Was told I had to speak with the sales rep that sold me the unit.
- Waited 3 hours and got a call back from the sales rep. He apologized and said regretfully that they didn't have the model I want in stock, and they wouldn't be in for several weeks! Got a return shipping label.
- I have now paid for 2 of these units, for which I'm awaiting a refund. And, I got my credit card statement today with both units on there. Great.
- I went to Shure.com and ordered the unit I want. Sadly, no coupons, so I had to pay full price.
- I received the new unit from Shure the next day, in less than 24 hours! Works perfectly.
- Lesson learned."

"Responded to a sale item that they confirmed was in "like new" condition. It arrived damaged that appears was shipped in damaged condition. Their obfuscations include a bogus return shipping procedure is deceptive.. indications are purcahse price but not shipping costs originating."

"I purchased a pedal from them. Received a non working item. It was a huge pain to return and get a replacement. That was years ago (before covid) . I can't get them to stop calling me. Their advisors (or whatever they are called) call nonstop and are harassing me."

"not worth it! go to a local store whatever it might be! but don't get ripped off thete either!"

"Short story: There are infinitely better music suppliers out there. Beware any order you place labelled as "new" might end up you receiving pre-owned, damaged, or floor model equipment.

My story: I find a Sterling bass guitar has gone on a slight sale. I had been eyeing it for awhile, so I went ahead and pulled the trigger. The website *clearly* noted that it was a new item as they list options below it for "opened" box with lower prices if you prefer an open or used item. I wait on UPS ground to ship the item and receive it about four days later. It took Musician's Friend three business days just to process the order and send it, plus about four days of shipping. That is poor business practice #1 that an item can't be processed within a day or two, given how huge they're supposed to be.

The item arrives and it is 100% an opened, used, or floor model guitar. All of the protective plastic has been removed, scuff marks are visible, one tuning knob is broken completely off (and not due to any noticeable shipping damage). Disappointed but not angry at this point, I call customer service. It takes an hour just to get a representative, have them email me a return label, then place a new order. The representative I spoke with *GUARANTEED* me the next item would be sourced "directly from" the warehouse which means from manufacturer to warehouse to consumer. I feel comfortable with this at least. I return the first guitar and pay extra for them to 2-day ship me the second one, assuming less time being handled should avoid any possible shipping damage.

I wait on guitar #2 that was "guaranteed" to be factory new. It arrives exactly as seen in the photos below. All of the factory tape was already cut (and coated in dust/dirt), a huge gaping hole in the box. It was hastily resealed with about two strips of new packing tape and sent to me like that. Now I am angry, but I figure let me check the guitar inside the gig bag and check. Perhaps it really is new. Nope. Again, plastic protective pieces have been removed, it was clearly open and used and reshipped to me. In no way possibly could anyone ever consider this new. Further, the representative either outright lied to me about the condition of the guitars in their warehouse or were simply ignorant to the practices of their warehouse. Each of those options is equally unacceptable for a business.

So I once again take a full hour to call customer support, wait for a representative, discuss my problem, receive a return label. This time, the rep says they're sorry, they have exactly one of these guitars left in the warehouse. The rep suggests they don't ship this one, as it is most likely damaged or opened. But they have no idea what condition it is. Again, this is unacceptable that the customer service reps have exactly zero idea what condition the gear is that they're selling. How can a business operate like this?

Nevermind that, the rep suggests they backorder one so that way it is sourced directly from the manufacturer. Only problem is that the backorder will take around five months and they have no guarantee that the manufacturer will even make this product again. That I can understand. Regardless, as a backup option while I wait to source this guitar from elsewhere, I say go ahead and backorder. They agree to put in an order for backorder explicitly. What happens the next day? That last warehouse guitar is shipped to me! So I will have to return a third guitar that I didn't even ask for them to ship to me this time.

What do I get after all of that? The rep offers me a pack of strings for free. Absurd.

Here's what happens the next day. I source the guitar from another national retailer. A 10 minute phone call confirms all their guitars are factory sealed that they would send my way. Free two day shipping. Order is placed and shipped out same day at no additional charge.

I will never place a single order with Musician's Friend ever again. Be warned that they are owned by Guitar Center, which is owned by Ares Management. So they are one in the same. I questioned the rep why or how they could possibly sell equipment listed as "new" having absolutely no idea as to the actual condition. I was told that it's simply how they operate and they admitted that they do occasionally pull floor models from Guitar Centers and ship them if they aren't in stock in a warehouse. This is massively deceptive or outright fraud.

Do yourself a favor and find any other musical retailer that isn't owned by Guitar Center or their ilk. Buy local. Buy from anywhere else."

"I didn't check out reviews until after I called to order something. I feel as though I dodged a bullet.

Worst customer service from a music store ever! I finally simply said, "thank you for your time" and ended the call.

As a customer of both Sweetwater and Guitar Center I thought I might give Musician's Friend a go as they often seem to have prices a bit below the other two. I see why...

To quote Dorothy Parker, and only she could do this justice, "This wasn't just plain terrible, this was fancy terrible. This was terrible with raisins in it".

Can't imagine what it might be like to try and resolve a problem with these guys AFTER a purchase.

My feeling is stay clear of these folks. "

"Professional thieves and liars. They sell defective instruments and refuse to take them back and refund your money."

"STAY FAR AWAY- Dishonest sleazeballs!

Sent me a 500 dollar acoustic advertised as brand new. When it arrived from there dump in the Midwest the build sheet was for 4 years ago. Of course the guitar and strings were old and the wood was dried out. The action was high and unplayable.

This is one shady dishonest unethical company. Clearly they have no shortage of unhappy customers they have turned off.

They also let your reward points expire shortly after you earn them with NO notice. Nowhere is this written on the order form nor do the shady con artist let you know they will expire."

"They tell you and then let you purchase items listed as IN STOCK, ready to ship, and then upon email confirmation it is mentioned that expected shipping date is five moths from now (25 April 2022).
I called back to cancel order and upgraded to a more expensive item that I was assured to be in stock (after a few minutes wait, to check and verify availability).
After completion of order the status of order in my account was listed as "PROCESSING".
The next day i checked and the status was changed to "BACK ORDERED"
I called again to hear they are so sorry for the inconvenience, but item expected by end April 2022.
Terrible liars, no other excuse for this.
Twice on same day."

"They don't update their website quickly enough, causing you to purchase items they don't have in stock or sold out. If you decide to buy call, do not trust their online site! IMO I would other vendors (AMS, Zzsounds, Sweetwater) before you buy from Guitar Centers online sister company Musicians Friend. Musicians Friend is no friend of mine."

"I wanted to write a good view..I thought my experience would be different because I'm not one to complain but..
8 days to receive guitar
Reieved damaged single box dirty scratched guitar. .cracked binding, unevenly stained fret board clearly B stock or demo..loved guitar but ..called customer service. .(good luck with that) sent email no response. .
Found web site "talk to human" called the number they listed which wasn't listed on MF..this service person was very helpful. .3 days ups pick up 8 day shipping back 5 days processing 8 days shipping out..finally new guitar. .
The trouble and delay was not worth $300. Discount ..stupid deal of the day. .
Never heard a follow up call or email. .
Take your deal to your local guitar shop see what they can do for you.."

"
Shoppers beware...I could have got the same price elsewhere, but now it's too late.
In mid June I ordered two QSC cp-12's that Musicians "Friend" was advertising on their website at 424.99 with free totebag. The ad specified "In stock/ready to ship".
Around one week later they sent an e-mail saying the speakers were back ordered. I called to ask how long the wait would be and was told they would be shipped by July 14.

On July 9th I received an e-mail telling me that one of those speakers still on order was cancelled. When I contact them to find out what was going on they said things still on back order, but could not explain why one of the speakers had been cancelled, nor did they offer to reinstate the order for the cancelled speaker. In frustration I told them to just cancel the order.
When I went shopping for somewhere else to order these speakers I was astounded to find Musician's Friend advertising them "In stock ready to ship" for 499.00.
They are not interested in honoring the original order and if fact have refused to do so."

"0 STARS if I could! I recently purchased 2 NEW guitars and upon receipt I am not happy with what I was sent.

The first guitar I received (Schecter Guitar Research C-1 Platinum Electric Guitar Satin Transparent Midnight Blue) SKU #H96103000002000 is clearly a very used guitar. It is covered with dead skin and hair. (GROSS) Has grime in the switches and compartments. It also has a lot of dings nicks and scratches all over the guitar. It was not shipped in its factory box and only shipped in a Jackson box wrapped in a minimal amount of bubble wrap. It is clearly a very used instrument and NOT NEW. Considering musicians friend has listed an open box for $383 and I paid $509 I asked for either like a price adjustment for the used instrument or I would have to return as I feel I did not get what I paid for.

The second guitar in the order (Ibanez AEWC32FM Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Purple Sunset Fade High Gloss) SKU #J50303000008000 Also appears to be not new. Possibly an open box or floor model with very tarnished strings and lots of hairline scratches across the body of the instrument and some dings.

I am really disappointed in the quality of the instruments I have received from musician’s friend.

After speaking to customer service they would not discount the price to the used price of the Schecter Guitar ever though they have one for sale as used open box for $383. The rep said her boss wouldn't allow it and only offered 10% off the guitar. I declined and chose to return both guitars as both are clearly NOT NEW and they had an opportunity to provide good customer service from they horrible and gross mistake but chose to lose business and a customer instead.
If you look up complaints for them, this is very common for them to send used instruments or floor models. I plan to post a BBB complaint following this review. Take your business to zzounds."

"I bought an ESP LTD EC-256 from Musician's Friend. The guitar was listed as new on the site and that's what I paid for. When the guitar arrived, I opened the box and found a guitar wrapped up like a mummy in bubble wrap. No double box, no ESP box, no manual or anything that you get with a new guitar. I called Musician's Friend and the support person looked up the order and found that the guitar was a demo model that came from Guitar Center. I told them that I ordered a NEW guitar, not a demo or used model. From the way that the support person talked, this is a common practice for them and it's completely unethical.

I'll never buy anything from Musician's Friend again!"

"I've been doing business with MF for year but they have gone down hill. High prices sometime double other places. Out of stock and over all bad service. I had 1000's of reward point I've been saving for more than ten years and lost them because I was 2 week passed 6 months which is strange thing to do anyways. here are so many other places that want your business with great service and no points game. "