experience with AJL: Trying to Resolve a Bad Experience

jsparr1983 · May 17

Hi All

i just wanted to share a ongoing questionable experience with Ari at AJL. I read some time ago about how often people have experienced communication issues but I didn’t hear the warnings. I reached out to him originally in early 2024. Very quick to respond when an order was on the line. I ordered a quiet and portable that was due for delivery in September October. I heard nothing and followed up over those months with lack of responsiveness.

Unfortunately, a medical situation happened in my family to where I could no longer move forward with the order. This would not have been a problem if things would’ve been on time. He finally indicated that the Guitar was done the week after Christmas and ready for delivery. I informed him that I could not move forward because of my current circumstance and we came to an agreement that he would sell the Guitar and offer a refund.. I suggested a partial refund for his time and energy considering, seemed more than fair. Like paying him commission to sell his own new build.

He said he had a potential buyer on the line back in March and ever since he has not responded to over 10 email inquiries about the updated status. I have emailed him weekly asking if anything is wrong to simply checking. Nothing.

I am out over $1800 in the project and weary of him ignoring my messages. I’m just glad I didn’t order a full custom selmer. Yikes

Vebjørn · May 18

Sorry to hear about your situation. I had an issue with him not responding to emails close to and after the delivery of my AJL Selmer. I called him at his number, and it turned out his gmail inbox was full. Therefore he didn’t receive any new emails. I know this can happen, as it has happened to me several times. Over the phone he was very helpful and solved my problem. I assume I can post his number as it is public on his page: +358 40 507 1383. I would recommend trying to call and/or text him. Maybe on a weekday in daytime Finnish time. Crossing my fingers that you will be able to solve this.

Sincerely,

Owner of 2021 AJL Selmer and 2021 Quiet and Portable.

Buco · May 18

We all heard he can disappear from time. You had two months of silence before he was done with the guitar, so this time starting in March when you were in contact last, that puts you at the end of this month. He'll come through. Luthiers can be a funny bunch, they prefer silence.

lucky · May 18

I'd wait until everything is resolved before posting feedback on a public forum, presumably aimed at damaging Ari's business. He will have invested a lot of money in labour and materials so it will be his loss in the end not yours if he's not able to sell the guitar on, and he's being pretty generous in agreeing to a refund in the first place, you are the one who has given back word. Luthier's work to very tight margins and these are not easy guitars to shift when a customer withdraws. Ultimately if he doesn't fulfil his end of the contract there are legal routes you can pursue, but I don't see what is being achieved by making an accusation that he is taking the money and walking here.

jsparr1983 · May 18

I sure hope he does and proves my comments were done in haste. When you try to reach out to someone who is “in business” weekly for 10 weeks in a row or more I would hope you would care enough to check your email. I was not trying to slander the man but share the experience. I have also stated in my communication to him that this is all I had left is to share this experience and still no follow up. I get luthiers have it tough but so do the rest of us which is why I wasn’t expecting a full refund.

Obviously I’m frustrated as I don’t apologize for when you have managed a major medical issue on top of losing this amount of money with no communication. I am over a year into this of going through stretches of not knowing if I made a mistake sending him money. In the end would have made it hard to care much for his product. If things correct themselves I will be the first to share the resolution and remain as objective as possible to whatever circumstance may have caused this on his end. Not sure being an odd person is a fair excuse.

marcelodamon · May 18

I have a 2004 AJL, and, last year, commissioned him to build my custom dark blue Gypsy Fire. He is not immediate in his replying to messages I send him on Facebook Messenger, but he does get back to me with information pertaining to the build and what not. I was talking to him this morning for a brief time. Try that route, as he usually responds.

jsparr1983 · May 18

I did try the Facebook messenger route on several occasions through unfortunately no luck. Will keep trying though it helps that some are still moving.

marcelodamon · May 18

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/121510#Comment_121510

Best to message him on his personal Facebook account, instead of the AJL Guitars account. I'm talking to him right now. I would say, keep in mind that he is a 1-man shop, and is always building throughout the day.