This made me mad, then sad

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 13 Dec 2005 10:09 pm

Brad/b0b, if you feel this is inappropriate then just close it, I'll understand.

This is really a long story, but I'll make it as short as I can. Over two years ago I bought a lap steel on eBay, direct from the builder, and liked it enough to order one more with some custom modifications (which has been incorprorated in all his later models).
Long story short; Lap steel never shows and I give up after 1,5 years, builder claims it must have been lost during shipping but cannot show proof of ever shipping it, I never get a refund for my $400 but instead I'm promised a new instrument (which never shows either), and by now I had almost forgotten about the whole thing.

Through all of this I have resisted the temptation of telling the story on this forum (which includes some pretty ugly details that I'll spare you from), but tonight I found this interview through a Google search, and it includes this quote:

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Since building lap steel guitars, Brown sold one to Steinar Gregertsen of Arendel, Norway, a lap steel slide guitar player who used one of Brown's guitars on the recent soundtrack "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," which is a tribute done by Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt to the late Warren Zevon.

Brown said that Gregertsen purchased one guitar and asked him to custom-make two more of the instruments.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's it, gloves off. I am the sort of guy who always believe the best about people until they prove the opposite, many who know me will probably call me naive, and I had written off the $400 on my "naivety account" - **** happens, especially on the Internet.

But finding this pushed me over the edge,- having the nerve to use my name to advertize for his instruments, and coming up with a story that has absolutely nothing to do with reality, is going too far. Waaaaaay to far....

Sorry about this rant folks, but I simply had to get it off my chest.
I don't see any reason for me to ever contact this guy again - been there done that - but I have written the newspaper explaining the reality of the situation, and I guess that's about all I can do......

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 13 Dec 2005 11:29 pm

That really stinks. Isn't it amazing how some people have no shame or conscience at all, yet their nerve knows no boundaries.

It's too bad you can't sue, but being in another country would make that very difficult. I would at least write to him and whatever newspaper or website has this "interview" and demand it be removed. They may tell you to go jump, but I'd try it anyway. You can also at least threaten legal action (if you know a lawyer in the U.S. who could write a threatening letter to them that might help too) because they are using your name as an endorsement without permission.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 14 Dec 2005 12:34 am

Steinar,

Everything Jim says plus.

Furthermore inform him or them that you intend to contact some investigative reporters of the national or local news media who expose cases of fraud in order to protect the public.

Inform him or them that your case will be referred to the media for the purpose of exposing this as fraud.

They are just dying to get this free advertising.

Best regards,
Don[This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 14 December 2005 at 01:01 AM.]

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 14 Dec 2005 4:10 am

Definately.
A letter to the editor disputing the facts--it's not nice to lie in journlism--and a letter to the guitar builder, reminding him that he didn't tell the whole story.

I don't trust his looks. Shifty eyes.
Sic 'em!

George Manno · Post by **George Manno** » 14 Dec 2005 4:55 am

Coal in his stocking for sure.

G

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 14 Dec 2005 4:58 am

Steinar has been sharing the play-by-play account of this whole mess since he first bought the lap steel on eBay.

IMHO, Steinar is at fault: for being too patient, too accommodating, too trusting and too nice a guy to expose this sad situation prior to now.

Unlike some posters who bring their complaints to the forum without first trying to solve them one-on-one, he has tried to communicate with this guy, and has continually extended the benefit of the doubt ... until he read that newspaper story.

I'm glad he has finally decided to bring this debacle to light, because potential lap steel buyers deserve to know about it.
[This message was edited by Russ Young on 14 December 2005 at 04:59 AM.]

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 14 Dec 2005 5:36 am

Is that Farmingdale,NY?

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 14 Dec 2005 5:40 am

Nope. Maine.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 14 Dec 2005 6:00 am

That stinks, Steinar, and you have shown incredible patience and discretion. The gloves come off, now...

BTW, in the newspaper story, he said he's never seen his own Web site, because he doesn't own a computer. So how is he selling on eBay?

Peter

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 14 Dec 2005 6:30 am

It's Hammer Time ...

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 14 Dec 2005 6:31 am

it is outrageous that decent people get treated this way. such ill treatment is is wrong and someone will burn in hell.

I am a very trusting sort like Steinar. I fully understand that the gloves have now come off.
what can I do to help?[This message was edited by Randy Reeves on 14 December 2005 at 08:37 AM.][This message was edited by Randy Reeves on 14 December 2005 at 08:41 AM.]

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 14 Dec 2005 6:40 am

I'll tell you what Steinar, don't under estimate the power of the forum!
I can tell you first hand this forum can make you or break you among steelers.
One mention on the forum and 5 month later I'm 11 steels back ordered and 1800 hits on my site. And I know you are personally responsible for many inquiries I've had as well as two orders.
I'm certain it goes the other way too. It's a VERY tight knit community here. Word is out.

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 14 Dec 2005 6:42 am

Steinar...this is terrible. I would also let Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt (or at least their management teams) know about this scam.
...using a persons reputation to sell an instrument is the lowest. You have to push this guy not only to straighten this out, but to return your $$$ also. Heck, I bought my Lazy River weissenborn with just a nod from you...you are that trusted...you can't let this guy use your reputation for his good. Let us here on the forum know if we can do anything to help!!!

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'49 & '51 National Dynamics, Harmos Model One, Lazy River Weissenborn, Mesa Boogie DC-3, SRV Strat.
http://community.webshots.com/user/keefriff

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 14 Dec 2005 6:48 am

Suppose we all write to this guy. Yes, snail mail.

Let him get bombarded with letters of concern.

Perhaps this should be posted in all music forums.

What's his address? I'll have fourteen pepporoni/mushroom pizzas delivered to his door COD.

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 14 Dec 2005 6:50 am

So, Steinar, did you actually play on a Warren Zevon tribute, or is that whole cloth as well?

(If you did, what is the album called and where can I get a copy?)

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 14 Dec 2005 6:53 am

IT SUCKS...
GIVE HIM A WHACK IN THE BUSINESS END.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 14 Dec 2005 7:30 am

Steinar, that totally sucks. No one should be treated in this shoddy manner.

I added Eric Brown to my "Uncool Guys" Bookmarks folder. I had a similar experience with a local guy who was supposed to build an amp for me. Two years after the promised delivery date I finally got my money back. That used up all the patience I ever had for this kind of crap.

He wants publicity - let's give him some.

You could go to harmony-central.com and write a review about him. If he's not already on their list of manufacturers, you can put him on the list and tell your story for all the world to see. That's what I eventually did in my case. A lot of people read the product reviews there - and once posted they are permanent!

He should at the very least refund your money with an apology.

RA

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 14 Dec 2005 7:44 am

Steinar, you've waited long enough to tell all the nasty details. Let's hear it!
Inquiring minds want to know.

And here is the Guitarsite page where you can post any remarks you might have about Eric Brown and the way he conducts his business. His email address is on that page too. Nothing like a few dozen emails from irate steelers to stir things up . .

They say any publicity is good publicity, but that might not be as true for guitar builders as it is for movie stars . .

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 14 Dec 2005 7:48 am

Let's all pile in a car with a trunk full of beer and go to Fahmington and offer to rearrange his shop. Offer to rebuild some of guitars.
Road trip!
I'm a close personal friend of Bonnie Raitt (ok I met her once and she had curlers in her and face mud on) and Jackson Browne (ok I tuned for him once).
OK, we can pick up Vinny and Bruto in Jersey on the way. They'll want to know, do you want the guitars or a refund?

There, I feel better.

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 14 Dec 2005 7:48 am

That sucks and makes it harder for guys like me to deal via the web. Almost every guitar I've sold has been over the internet, some across the country, even overseas and have operated on nothing more than a cyber-handshake. Boneheads like this need a good smackdown.

BTW Steiner, I reconized another name in that article and will do a little poking around.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 14 Dec 2005 7:50 am

Wow,- thanks for all your support guys, I appreciate it!

What I believe has happened is that he needed "a name" - not necessarily a known one - that he could drop in that interview (note that he also refers to Cheryl Crow buying one of his guitars from a shop six years earlier - quite pathetic). Now, I know from experience that he isn't very 'friendly' with computers or the internet, so he didn't know this interview would show in Google (he's probably never heard of Google), and that's why he picked my name,- believeing that I would never find out. Well, he was wrong..

Now, if this had been one of my "good" builders, like Jason above, George Piburn, Bill Asher, etc, I'd just send a mail saying that perhaps they went a bit too far and then share a laugh about it all.
But it's the combination of this guy first ripping me off, and THEN using my name to advertize for his products, even coming up with a completely false story, that does it to me..

To answer some questions:
- No, I did not play on that song (it's from the "Enjoy Every Sandwich" tribute album to Warren Zevon), and I have never said or written anything in a mail to him that can be understood that way.
- I have written "Capital Weekly" in Maine, where this interview is from, and explained the situation to them. Unfortunately I didn't ask them to remove the chapter concerning me from their online version, but I assume they will at least confirm that they have received my email, and then I'll get back to them and ask if they can remove it.
The way it stands now it might look like I try to take credit for work I haven't done, and I would never do that.
- His website is here. The quote where he says he couldn't see his own website is from the original 1997 interview, and at that time he didn't have a computer. I'll get in touch with him later tonight and make him aware that I know about this interview, ask (once again) for my money back OR a new guitar (he probably still claims that the old one was "lost" during shipping, something I don't believe for a second, for good reasons I won't go into now, too long a story), and then we'll see...

Thanks again,
Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 14 Dec 2005 8:38 am

In this type of situation I would start by being sad first

, then getting mad.

Then once every Steel Player in the world becomes aware how the guy operates his business, I would start feeling a little bit glad.

At least it might prevent others from having similar experiences!

btw, I sent him an email . .

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 14 Dec 2005 8:54 am

Hey Steinar, I just wrote the guy to let him know that he is probably getting more publicity from that 1997 article than he bargained for!
What goes round comes round, Good Buddy!

Ron

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 14 Dec 2005 9:19 am

I bet a flurry of emails will get his attention. The more emails the better!
I gave him the link to this thread . .

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 14 Dec 2005 9:24 am

Thanks Rick, I planned to mail him a link as well, but hadn't gotten around to mailing him yet because of my student schedule. Will do later...

You asked for the gory details, well, I'd prefer not to get into that at this point but save them for later,- if necessary.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com