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Sweetwater has a rating of 3.4 stars from 1,193 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with Sweetwater most frequently mention customer service, sales rep, and free shipping. Sweetwater ranks 2nd among Music Equipment sites.
This company responds to reviews on average within 4 hours
Sweetwater's customer service is phenomenal! They have a good range of products and with good prices. The guitar we bought was affordable and great quality. It arrived quickly with no damage - it was packed well. I was surprised and impressed to get a call from Sweetwater just a few days after the guitar was delivered. They were just making sure everything was good. That's great customer service!
Ordered some products then the next day A representative reached out and said they were sold out & products would not be available till January and wanted to know if I still wanted them. I let them know I did. They reached back out two days later saying their was a glitch in the website and I could not have the products for the price I purchased them for. I was fished to their website to buy the products on a sponsored advertisement from Google. False Advertising is Illegal. My Wife has got me gear from these guys for years. I have advised her and she will no longer make purchases through them.
I'm VERY happy with my new Gibson Songwriter Progressive. Many thanks to Robbie Resnick, my sales engineer who has walked me through a lot of purchases over the years.
Date of experience: January 31, 2017
Never had a bad experience with Sweetwater. The customer service is always great, and shipping is fast. Great sales and deals.
Tip for consumers:
Great customer service. You get your own sales engineer.
Products used:
Speakers, mixers, cables, and more.
Date of experience: December 9, 2023
SW's is approach was a close personal experience unlike any other! It was like shopping at a mom and pop store where they know you by name.
Date of experience: August 25, 2017
Sweetwater refused to sell me an amp UNTIL I paid an outstanding balance on something I bought from them almost a year ago with their 3-payment option - the final payment I supposedly missed was due in March 2016. The weird thing is, I had not heard anything from them about any outstanding balance UNTIL I tried to buy something else! And I wasn't applying for credit, so what the heck? Why not take my money, give me my amp, and then try resolve the outstanding balance issue? How does their policy make any business sense? I can buy the same amp for the same price from another vendor - which I promptly did after canceling my order with Sweetwater - so it's not like they could keep me from getting what I wanted. Anyway, they totally ruined my Sunday, so they've lost a customer for life. Too bad I didn't check out the reviews here before going back to Sweetwater. Do yourself a favor and stay away from Sweetwater, or they might just ruin YOUR day as well!
BTW, they are not BBB accredited, so what does that tell you?
Date of experience: October 16, 2016
Sweetwater has the best prices and customer service to go with it! I buy all my gear from Sweetwater!
Date of experience: May 19, 2017
Ty Sweetwater Sales Engineer Colton Smiricky, as always a professional service with a personal touch. I appreciate your personal contact with me via Text & Phone Conversations.
Ty again on the 3 side of the Clave
David #ROCKR #TUMBAO Patocchi
(DopeHat Rhythms)
Date of experience: January 20, 2022
Called tech support 4 aid on my Looper but I didn't buy there & was denied aid. Spent many $$ before
Date of experience: October 26, 2023
Amazing company and experience. Very personal and loved the speed at which it came and the packaging. Class act!
Date of experience: December 23, 2023
No sooner had I pulled the trigger on my latest purchase, I received a phone call giving the personal touch of customer service. Great company!
Date of experience: December 13, 2017
40 years of owning many,many different types of guitars Logan and his team have made it a simple process time after time
Tip for consumers:
Check their demo section for awesome deals
Products used:
Yamaha pac61211vfm electric guitar
Date of experience: March 14, 2023
I purchased tuners for my Fender in April. It is now June and I still have not received them. So this is why I will be hesitating to order again.
Tip for consumers:
Make sure it's in stock
Products used:
Fender tuners
Date of experience: June 3, 2022
Desmond - I am sorry to hear about this recent experience with Sweetwater. We never want any customer to have an experience like this and would love to dive in further. Please feel free to contact me at justin_dunbar@sweetwater.com and I'll be happy to make things right!
Justin D. - Director of Customer Experience
My guitar came 3 months late. I was never updated at all on the order. When it arrived it was not set up, and one of the pickups didn't work
Date of experience: December 4, 2020
Hello, Baban. Thanks so much for reaching out to us and providing us with details of your experience. This is not acceptable and not the way your experience should've gone. Do you happen to have your order number? We'd like to send your information to our Customer Service team as soon as we can. Please feel free to contact us directly with your information at (800) 222-4700 or sales@sweetwater.com. Thank you again for the review.
Sweetwater has been my go-to for drums and gear for years now. Excellent selection and top notch service! Their agents and engineers are extremely knowledgeable and the service is above and beyond. Their lead drum salesman/engineers are very personable and always reach out after making a purchase, no matter how big or small. Their prices can't be beat, their selection and inventory is seemingly endless, and they offer fair, low cost payment plans with 0% APR. If you're a professional and have a higher budget, they even have their own credit card for "big money" purchases. The shipping is always free, no matter how much you spend. I could go on and on about how great this establishment is, but I've made my point. Sweetwater is simply THE BEST! My most recent purchase was just last week (Sept 12), a 14x6.5" Tama Starclassic maple/birch snare and a DW boom stand. Jason, their lead drumming engineer/sales agent was incredibly helpful in getting me approved for their zero interest monthly payment plan. Text, phone calls, emails, fax, Morse code - you name it - he will accommodate you and get you hooked up with exactly what you need. My buddy who plays guitar for our band gets his gear from Sweetwater too and he has nothing but good things to say about their guitar specialist (forgive me for forgetting his name). I could order from another company that's closer to home and get things delivered within a day of purchase with free shipping but I'm loyal to my friends at Sweetwater. They have been crucial in my drumming ventures and always have my back to make sure I get what I need. Keeps me coming back for more! Customer for life right here!
Products used:
Snare drums, cymbal stands, drum heads, snare wires, drum sticks, and many other odds and ends gear.
Date of experience: September 18, 2023
I bought a few stuff from this store and did ask for a discount, another online store was actually giving me a better price and when I asked for price match the sweetwater told me this:
I believe the fact that I can provide you with a free 2 year warranty, free unlimited technical support, and the fact that I know enough about this equipment to tell you precisely how it will work and how to connect it should be worth the difference of a few dollars, don't you?
Before buying I sent a diagram to the sales rep of what I was looking for to achieve with my mesa boogie dual rectifier and tc electronic g system.
I found out later that he was not correct and the solution was just buying a couple TRS cables and not a full midi switcher, midi splitter, and midi cables.
What I did not like is that I got the wrong advice and now I have to pay the shipping back, I don't like being told something and them end up being the wrong advice, I don't think it was because they wanted to sell something but because he did not know enough what he was talking about. I think clients go to sweetwater because of their knowledge and if I pay more for that they should own it if they give the wrong advice.
Date of experience: August 29, 2016
Fast, Friendly, professional service from a company that treats you like friends more than just a customer.
Date of experience: December 22, 2016
Sweetwater has my business. Only place Ill buy my sons music equipment. Fast delivery and great prices.
Date of experience: December 14, 2017
Fantastic shop. Very friendly and professional staff and excellent communication with me. Also online transaction was quick.
Date of experience: November 12, 2019
I feel lucky to live this close to such a great place, and plan to visit often! Thanks for making F W your home!
Date of experience: January 13, 2017
What a great company! Free shipping on every item and a support team member there all through the shipping process to ensure it all goes smoothly
Products used:
Chopsaver
Date of experience: November 2, 2022
Thanks Jameson! We appreciate your business! ~Dannelle
With customer service and the follow up after the sale in nothing short of Amazing Christopher Finton Sales Engineer is definitely a valuable key to your company
Date of experience: May 19, 2022
Anthony - thanks for your kind words for Christopher. We're very fortunate to have him on our team, and I'll make sure that he sees your message. Thanks for your business!
Sweetwaters customer service is top notch made my oder on Friday it came Monday they called to make sure it was correct they're a great company
Date of experience: April 22, 2018
I've ordered from them all & Sweetwater Sound has a way of bonding with its costumers. The staff are phenomenal. They make the difference.
Date of experience: January 27, 2021
Thanks Jamie! We try really hard to build real relationships with our customers, you are NOT just another sale here. We look forward to serving you for years to come!
- Zach Bloom, Customer Experience
I've bought 2 items from Sweetwater. A pair of Sony headphones and a Roland Mc101 groovebox. Actually 3 things, because first I bought a Elektron Model Cycles, tried it out, didnt like it at all, and then Sweetwater let me return it in exchange for the Roland. No questions or hassles. I am extremely impressed with the customer service. Mike Conyers, in particular. He actually called me to ask if I had received my headphones. And to ask if I was satisfied. Thats good customer service. These guys go above and beyond to ensure a good buying experience. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BUYING YOUR MUSIC GEAR FROM THEM. I WONT BUY FROM ANYWHERE ELSE ONLINE. THEIR PRICES ARE FAIR, I KNOW THIS BECAUS R I RESEARCHED FOR A MONTH BEFORE BUYING. In my opinion, the things that sets Sweetwater apart from their competition (amazon, guitar center, zzzsound) SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Date of experience: August 9, 2020
Nick Nevins is a jewel! I've never had such a good experience with sales staff. You can't beat em! Get in line Y'all!
Date of experience: December 14, 2018
I recently purchased the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Closed-back Studio Monitoring Headphones from Sweetwater's website, and I must say, my experience has been outstanding! Not only are these headphones perfect for monitoring the band during our church services, but they have also exceeded my expectations for live monitoring during our livestream broadcasts.
First and foremost, the noise isolation on these headphones is exceptional. It allows me to focus on the audio mix without any distractions, ensuring a seamless sound experience. The sound quality is top-notch as well, delivering crystal-clear audio reproduction across a wide range of frequencies. I've been able to hear every detail of the music, which has greatly enhanced my ability to mix and fine-tune the sound.
One feature that I truly appreciate is the interchangeable cord. It's incredibly convenient and hassle-free to switch out the cord if needed. This flexibility not only provides peace of mind, knowing that a broken cord can be easily replaced at an affordable price, but it also extends the lifespan of the headphones, saving me from having to buy an entirely new pair.
I also want to mention the exceptional service I received from Sweetwater's technical support team. They were knowledgeable, responsive, and provided me with helpful guidance in selecting these headphones. The delivery process was smooth and efficient, ensuring that I received my order in a timely manner.
In comparison to older Audio-Technica headphone models, the ATH-M50x is a definite step up in terms of performance and overall quality. It has surpassed my expectations and has proven to be a worthy replacement for our previous headphones.
I highly recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones to anyone in need of reliable, high-quality headphones for live monitoring or studio work. With their exceptional noise isolation, impressive sound quality, and the added convenience of interchangeable cords, these headphones are a true game-changer.
Date of experience: May 17, 2023
Sprawling megastore featuring high-quality musical instruments & studio recording gear.
How do you go from a portable 4-track recording rig in a Volkswagon bus to being the nation's leading retailer of professional recording and music equipment?
Chuck founded Sweetwater as a recording studio in Fort Wayne in 1979. The business was first located in his home on Getz Road, then moved to a subsequent home on Bass Road. Initially the fledgling company focused on providing recording services to local and national artists and businesses.
Two things prompted the leap from recording studio to music retailer. The first was Chuck's frustration with being unable to find a reliable, knowledgeable music technology retailer. Prices were outrageous, and after-sale technical service and support for the sophisticated electronics he used in his studio were non-existent.
Then, in the early 1980s, the revolutionary Kurzweil K250 appeared. This groundbreaking keyboard gave musicians and composers access to realistic orchestral and other sounds, opening new possibilities for music composition and performance. Chuck created his own sound library for the keyboard, and quickly gained a national reputation as an expert at programming the instrument. Renowned musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, and other top names began consulting with Chuck, purchasing K250 factory options and upgrades through him. Recognizing the industry's need for a new, dependable, customer-oriented approach to the musical instrument and professional audio sales channel, Sweetwater became a Kurzweil dealer to fulfill these requests.
As Chuck's expertise became known and the industry grew more sophisticated, those original K250 customers returned again and again for product advice. The company began representing more product lines, and rapidly developed and implemented its unique philosophy of relationship-based selling — treating customers as friends —and unmatched pre- and post-sale customer service.
Sweetwater's primary emphasis quickly shifted from recording studio to music retailer. A new building was constructed on Bass Road and was expanded four times to keep up with the skyrocketing growth of the company. But even that wasn't enough, as the company quickly grew to nearly 220 employees. In late 2005, Sweetwater began the process of moving to their new headquarters, located at the intersection of Kroemer Road and U.S. Highway 30. The location's 38,000-square-foot building will be expanded to a total of 150,000 square feet with the addition of a 40,0000-square-foot state-of-the-art distribution center, a rich-media auditorium and recording studios designed by world-renowned acoustician and studio designer Russ Berger, and a technical training center on a 44-acre property that will allow plenty of room for Sweetwater's massive projected growth: 175 additional full-time employees and $150 million in annual sales by 2009, and $180 million in annual sales and 450 total employees by 2010. Most recently, $1 billion is annual sales and over 2000 employees by 2020.
Today, Sweetwater is recognized as one of the most successful and fastest-growing music retailers in the nation. The company has been named to Inc. magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies three years in a row, and has received the Music Inc. magazine REX Award for excellence in retailing.
Luke- Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. We really appreciate your kind words!