Promised 2-day shipping turned out to be (at least) 6-day shipping, the day after Christmas. All items were in stock and 2-day shipping was guaranteed to arrive by 12/24 (ordered on 12/20). Delivery is scheduled for 12/26 now. Looks like Musicians' Friend is my new best friend, not Music123.

I ordered three items from Music123.com. The shipping wasn't fast, but that turned out to be the least of my problems. When I received the three items (an electronic drum cymbal, a clamping arm to attach it, and a small accessory), they were in a large box with absolutely no packing material at all. No bubble wrap, paper, styrofoam, or air-filled bladders at all. Knowing how UPS treats its packages, I immediately called for a return and full refund. It took them almost 24 hours to email me the return shipping label, and that's after an initial estimate that I'd receive the label via email "in an hour or less". I had to call back three times to get the label. I've yet to see the refund, but the items are still in transit back to their warehouse.  
 
I've ordered countless things from widely different sources on the internet, and have *never* seen something less professionally packed, even on eBay!  
 
There's no way in hell I'd ever even consider ordering from this site again. Stay away!

On June15, purchased several items online with order total above US$ 2000.00. Very late shipment. As of today, June 19, only 1 of 7 items has been shiped. Items listed as In Stock are not and need to be backordered. Orders above a certain dollar amount require a call to customer service from your billing phone line to verify, delaying the order processing further. No on-line tracking for most items, only the item of an order that ships first. Contradictory statements as to availability and shiping dates from customer service. Will avoid using this company in the future. Compared to other online outlets, these folks have no business selling online. Dealing with them is like a trip back to the 1970s.  
As Music123 was unable to specify a delivery date, wound up cancelling the entire order before receiving any partial shipments. Was told by customer service rep that I'll be refunded the entire purchase amount as soon as they receive the items back from UPS.  

This review was modified by its author, JosefG, on 7/2/08 9:51 AM.

I placed an order with music123.com on 04/18/08 and the item was backordered. After the item was shown to be back in stock for about 7 to 10 days I emailed music123.com and asked them to ship my order. When the order arrived it was the wrong item. I returned the item and when I received the replacement it was the wrong item again.  
 
 
I called customer service AGAIN and explained the problem. I was told I would receive a $10.00 in store credit for my gasoline and time spent running to the local UPS store TWICE now. I was told to watch the return item and as soon as it started to track the correct item would be shipped RED LABEL (next day air). Well mistakes happen and if all of what customer service told me had been true I wouldn't be spending my time typing this. Is the item music123 shipped me the 3rd time the correct item?  
 
Well, I sure don't know because it was not shipped next day air it was shipped USPS 1st class. Hummm... not even express mail. The worst part is music123 could care less. Mistakes I can handle. I will not do business with a company that lies to me. Yes, I called to complain and was not even offered an apology. They can take their $10.00 store credit and shove it. I will never spend another cent with music123.com. It was after my problem with them I started searching the net and finding all the problems others have had with that company. music123.com = bad business. BTW music123.com is offering an awards program (which is why I was buying some stuff from them) where you get 100 points for each dollar you spend. at 125,000 points you have enough points to get a $25.00 gift card. I should have over 130,000 points but they are so behind in the record keping I only show 20,100 points. The other points are still "pending" By no longer doing business with music123.com I will lose $25.00 and the $10.00 credit they said they would give me. However, like I said I will not do business with a company that lies to me. I keep putting music123.com in this post so maybe the search engines will pick it up better.  
 
Maybe someone about to order and searches the web will see how music123.com treats their customers. If the pickups are not the correct ones this time I'll get a refund. If the order had not been shipped or had I known I was being lied to I would have canceled the order.  
Run Forrest Run.....  
 

I made an order for a blemished drumset, a great deal it was. It arrived in a timely manner, but was unfortunately missing key parts to put it together. I called and customer service was very nice and polite, but couldn't do much to help other than say to send it back. They did pay for the return shipping and refunded my credit quickly. I was disappointed in the drum set, but they handled the matter very well and professionally. Maybe they are getting better.

What can I say?...I got $75 off a Blackheart Guitar Amplifier Head and Cabinet with a great promotion at Music123...I am a bit confused to their shipping methods, but great deal!!...Jim

This review was modified by its author, jimsi777, on 2/18/08 10:29 PM.

I purchaed a guitar and two sets of strings from Music123.com on March 31, and on April 1 the price of the guitar dropped by $5 as part of an April sale. I called twice to try to get them to honor their 45-day price guarantee but was told each time that because the lower price was a sale price I would not receive the price match.  
Also, the shipping rates are based on the order subtotal, and the strings I ordered had bumped my subtotal up into the next higher shipping category. When I found out that both sets of strings were backordered with no estimated shipping date, I cancelled the strings part of my order, but I was not refunded the shipping difference. During my second call I had to explain twice why I should receive a small shipping refund, and the customer service representative agreed to refund the difference. The customer service representatives I dealt with were both polite but incompetent.

Stay away...  
Very unprofessional..  
I placed an order for two items...One was shippted after 4 days and they forgot to ship the other one..It took another 2 weeks to get them..No phone call, I had to call at least 20 times to get it shipped.  
Customer service, they are very rude and do not know anything about the process in warehouse...  
I would not recommend this store..  

It appears that Music123.com (aka Woodwind & Brasswind.com) fails to ship products as promised due to ongoing credit problems with manufacturers and distributors.  
 
In my case, they have not shipped, claiming that the source for the tenor Lanikai HSS Ukulele Bag was on backorder and that the factory (Hohner Inc., in Glen Allen, VA) was holding them up.  
 
I called Hohner and inquired about the item. I was told that it is a very popular product and they never allow their inventory to go low or to zero. They have plenty in stock and can ship to retailers immediately.  
 
When I asked why a retailer might say that the factory was preventing them from shipping to customers, I was told that Hohner customarily doesn't comment about retailer relationships. However, they could say that bad credit-worthiness is the number one cause of those sorts of claims. The Hohner representative asked who the retailers were that I was having trouble with. When I said who it was, they stated that they could only say that THE STOCK CONDITION AT HOHNER IS NOT NOW...AND NEVER HAS BEEN, THE PROBLEM.  
 
I'm not sure when or if I will ever get the bag. Music123's customer service is totally helpless and are only inspired to take new orders or cancel existing ones. They have offered no other assistance whatsoever.  
 
Thankfully, they haven't charged my credit card...yet. I think I'll let the order stand and see just how far they will let the issue go. After this order is resolved one way or another, I won't be going back to them for anything.  
 
Update: 07/31/2006  
Music123 sent me an email stating that they had to reassign my order to a new order number due to system changes on their end. A minor inconvenience, I thought. However, when the online reference to my old and new order numbers failed to be recognized, I called and learned that my order had no backorder or shipping information. They could identify the order number, but they didn't have any history of the transaction. They don't have any idea what the item's backorder status is and they only offer: "We should know any day now."  
 
As previously noted, my card has not been charged, so it was an easy decision to back out. I asked them to cancel the order, but they emphasized that they could not guarantee that the request will be successful and they could not (or would not!) tell me what options I had. I assume my only recourse will be to dispute an errant charge when and if it occurs.  
 
Two days ago I placed an order with a competitor of Music123. I paid $5.45 more for the same item and it has already shipped. It will be at my door on Thursday. I've learned my lesson and I can only hope I am entirely done with Music123.

This review was modified by its author, WileyMM, on 8/11/06 12:12 AM.

I would like to say first, that music123 SUCKS. While they were able to give me a more than reasonable price on my item, every other single thing involved with this order was horrible.  
 
I was interested in buying 2 Numark HDXs. My first salesman initially quoted me a price $400 above what the website advertised (as well as every other site). After a bit of discussion via email we came to a reasonable price, I placed my order and was told that my item was shipping that day, and that I would receive an email with tracking information. 2 days later I receive an email telling me that only 1 of the items is available. So I assume that it at least shipped.  
 
I call monday to check and the item had not even been processed. This means 2 more days before they even care to think about shipping it. The salesman straight lied to me about the date of shipping and the item availability. I called customer service at that point to cancel my order. They begged me to stay with them and I talked to another salesman who lowered my price more and promised it would ship monday. My order status showed that everything was go and it was ready to ship and that I should receive an email with tracking information soon.  
 
I waited 2 days for an email with my tracking information and never received one. I finally called customer service back and they gave me a shipping number and said that it had shipped tuesday. So I called fed-ex to make sure. They said they hadnt gotten the item yet. I told them I needed my stuff before friday, and here it is wednesday and my package hasnt even shipped, when initially I was told it shipped last friday night. They promised me it was shipping tonight and that I would possibly have it saturday, but why should I believe them. We'll see when I actually get my package.  
 
DO NOT SHOP WITH "MUSIC123.COM", OR "WOODWINDandBRASS.COM". I should have taken the reviews to heart, but I didnt. I am NEVER EVER SHOPPING HERE AGAIN. MUSIC123.COM SUCKS.

I placed an order with Music123 on 1/12/06, and it is now 3/17/06 and the order has not been filled.  
 
Contacting Music123 using the on-line ‘Correspondence’ page is useless, as Music123 does not respond. However, Music123 has sent over 20 e-mails constantly pushing back the anticipated shipping date. These e-mails all state that the manufacturer is the reason for the delay. However, the manufacture insists the product is readily available. The manufacturer put me in contact with another distributor, and I placed an identical order with the alternate distributor. The duplicate order was drop-shipped from the manufacturer within 24 hours.  
 
I haven't had any trouble getting someone on the phone at Music123, but the answer is always the same; the product is backordered. I have heard of financially challenged companies defining 'backorder' as something similar to 'we owe too much money to the manufacturer and they have cut us off'. Even though Music123 did not provide their definition of backorder, I was able to establish that the product is readily available from the manufacturer.  
 
If you demand customer service, this may not be the company you want to work with. However, if you like getting the run-around and you want to gamble with your money, shop with Music123.  
 
On the bright side, my order was considerably cheaper than anywhere else (online or storefront). I was aware of Music123's poor history before ordering and I take full responsibility for making such a foolish choice.  
 
I don't believe this company means to do anyone harm, but it's possible that they are fabulously inept at customer service. Assuming they have telephone service, I intend on calling to request a refund.  
 
FYI - Woodwind and Brasswind is somehow related to Music123 (same mailing address and website design) and I have experienced strange practices with that company as well.  
 
UPDATE 4/13/06: I called to cancel on 03/17/06 and was told that refunds are made on the 15th of each month (I paid by personal check) so I decided to wait until the week before the 15th of April. The shipping date has changed twice since 03/17/06 (now it is 4/18/06) so I called to cancel today. Music123 says my money will be refunded at the end of April. I hope it will be that simple.

This review was modified by its author, Wiatrowski, on 4/13/06 2:33 PM.