Avoid Richards Guitars - Incredibly Rude

PengaMax · December 2020

Hi "Penga Max"

I spoke to you on Sunday afternoon via my chat. You visited my site and entered a fake email so I was unable to trace you . This is alway the first red flag

You asked me about a £39 fuzz pedal .

You asked me what circuit the fuzz pedal is copying to which I explained that I personally do not have the anwer for but rest assured the pedal is of extreme quality and sounds fantastic and we have just put a video online showing the pedal (which you knew about because you knew it was a 45 minute video and refused to search through it even though detailed time stamps are provided to enable you to go direct to the pedal demonstration)

So thinking this would suffice, and you would be understanding of this reply - I then proceeded to watch you type for 5 minutes, paragraph after paragraph of damning, insulting text about how can I pretend to have been researching this for 12 months if I dont know such basic things, that you knew all about the various circuits that are copied and anyone who is pretending to specialise in pedals should know such basic answers.

Rather than sit there for another 5 minutes watching you insult me - my business - my entire integrity as a proud business owner - because I could not answer one question on a Sunday afternoon I opted to inteject - to tell you I could see what you are writing and that you are behaving like a prat.

In order to prove you were what I knew you were - which was a horrible little troll - I offered you the pedal totally free of charge - which of course you declined.

You then told me you would screen shot the entire conversation (knowing full well you deleted the text that you had written because you didnt have to send it - because I had already read it!!!!)

You are a sad man. I PRESUME Trustpilot will remove this but they have let me down before so will wait and see.

Regardless - I would welcome anyone who wants to test me to visit rguitars.co.uk where I chat to people online all day every day as I have done for nearly 25 years! Yes, if you behave like a total prat I will let you know

PengaMax · December 2020

Here is my initial review and response;

Used the webchat service to ask for additional information regarding some guitar pedals. Owner called me a prat, an idiot and said i had an arrogant attitude!

I asked what type of reverb it was (hall, plate, spring etc) and was told that if him having spent a year developing them wasn't a good enough reason to buy it then these weren't the pedals for me.

Unprofessional, rude, abusive
- will avoid in future.

My response to Richards Guitars response.

I didn't give you my email address because i generally do not give all my details for general enquiries as i dont want to be included in any marketing emails. I don't agree that providing those details is necessary. I'm not prepared to get into a tit for tat argument with you, i'm certainly not going to stoop to personal attacks (horrible troll / sad man!) as i don't know you. I would urge anyone reading this to view my Flickr account (pengamax) where i have posted the full discussion we had - make up your own mind about whether my gripe is legitamate or not.

mudslide73 · December 2020

Interesting that his chat function seems to be collecting data before you hit the submit button.

Being fairly local I've dealt with Richard a couple of times and had a good experience - I did go there forewarned though.

PengaMax · December 2020

To that part he is referencing, i started typing and whilst doing so, had chosen to reword my statement before sending. I was obviously unaware he was able to see what i was typing. You can see on the message times that the text i sent was within the same minute, so hardly 5 minutes of typing paragraph after paragraph, im not that quick!

stickyfiddle · December 2020

Am I the only one thinking an online chat that lets the other person see what you're writing before you commit to hitting send is really creepy?

Chuffola · December 2020

My thoughts too.

I'd let this go @PengaMax ; - lots of other people have been there before. He's a weird character, no doubt, but this will cause you more stress than him. For all his statements about his mental health, he seems to relish these engagements.

PengaMax · December 2020

stickyfiddle said:

Am I the only one thinking an online chat that lets the other person see what you're writing before you commit to hitting send is really creepy?

Yes. As is the fact he wanted to try and 'trace' me

Cirrus · December 2020

Thing is, even if what you typed was rude... you didn't send it. You could have typed "you are a wanker" but if you didn't know he was reading that, and chose not to hit send... well we all have knee-jerk thoughts in response to events which are basically over-simplified &under-considered. You judge a person by how he chooses to present himself.

In written communication, that's what you choose to send. Not what you type, rethink and re-draft. Richard's way out of line sitting watching you re-draft things you don't even know he can read and laying into you for it.

PengaMax · December 2020

Cirrus said:

Thing is, even if what you typed was rude... you didn't send it. You could have typed "you are a wanker" but if you didn't know he was reading that, and chose not to hit send... well we all have knee-jerk thoughts in response to events which are basically over-simplified &under-considered. You judge a person by how he chooses to present himself.

In written communication, that's what you choose to send. Not what you type, rethink and re-draft. Richard's way out of line sitting watching you re-draft things you don't even know he can read and laying into you for it.

Exactly that. I probably typed what was in my head but thought better of it and tried to be more diplomatic - something i find very difficult!

digitalscream · December 2020

stickyfiddle said:

Am I the only one thinking an online chat that lets the other person see what you're writing before you commit to hitting send is really creepy?

Yes, I'd personally find that really concerning, and it's possible that it's illegal too - sending all keypresses to a server (where it will undoubtedly be at least logged) could represent a breach of the GDPR if the logs are persisted anywhere, particularly since that means they're collecting data which is not required for them to execute normal business operations (of course, not in this case, because @PengaMax had the foresight to use a fake email address, so no personal data was collected).

Purely from a systems and compliance perspective, I suspect they should at least be publicising this in their privacy policy. Which, by the way, lists six cookies that are set by the site - so I had a look out of curiosity, and it actually sets between 76 and 88 cookies. A lot are from third-party services (eg Facebook), but I counted 48 that were set by the page itself. Some of them are tracking cookies using third parties, which should really be listed in their privacy policy.

PengaMax · December 2020

digitalscream said:

stickyfiddle said:

Am I the only one thinking an online chat that lets the other person see what you're writing before you commit to hitting send is really creepy?

Yes, I'd personally find that really concerning, and it's possible that it's illegal too - sending all keypresses to a server (where it will undoubtedly be at least logged) could represent a breach of the GDPR if the logs are persisted anywhere, particularly since that means they're collecting data which is not required for them to execute normal business operations (of course, not in this case, because @PengaMax had the foresight to use a fake email address, so no personal data was collected).

Purely from a systems and compliance perspective, I suspect they should at least be publicising this in their privacy policy. Which, by the way, lists six cookies that are set by the site - so I had a look out of curiosity, and it actually sets between 76 and 88 cookies. A lot are from third-party services (eg Facebook), but I counted 48 that were set by the page itself. Some of them are tracking cookies using third parties, which should really be listed in their privacy policy.

Thanks for your insight @digitalscream. ;

Jalapeno · December 2020

As others have said "Leave it Rickie, he's not worth it !"

PengaMax · December 2020

Jalapeno said:

As others have said "Leave it Rickie, he's not worth it !"

Haha! Agreed. I've nothing more to add, his reply kinda sums it all up.

Majorscale · December 2020

Glad you used a fake email. I didn’t and got bombarded for ages with junk email from him. Unsubscribe plainly didn’t work as I tried many times, including post GDPR. In the end I wrote an email rule to automatically delete them. I probably still get sent them...

PengaMax · December 2020

Majorscale said:

Glad you used a fake email. I didn’t and got bombarded for ages with junk email from him. Unsubscribe plainly didn’t work as I tried many times, including post GDPR. In the end I wrote an email rule to automatically delete them. I probably still get sent them...

I do that all the time, no need for them to have that info just to answer a couple of quick questions. Whoever a@a.com is i apologise!

Gassage · December 2020

The hours of innocent fun one could have with that talk box and the fact he can read what you're typing before you send......

*must not bite'.....

PengaMax · December 2020

Updated 15 minutes ago

Updated 15 minutes agoPublished 7 hours ago

To put this review into context. It was posted yesterday after I called him a "prat" for being defamatory and rude when he didn receive a reply that he felt appropriate (he asked about what circuit board a fuzz pedal that I have designed is based on and I told him I couldnt answer the question)

It was a live chat on a Sunday afternoon where I make myself available for support - not abuse.

He has now revised his review at the following times today - I am receiving spam emails every time he edits the review...

PengaMax · December 2020

This guy has really riled me now to be honest. What a cretin.

PengaMax · December 2020

I accept im disproportionately angry given whats actually happened but if i had a salmon ,and was within striking distance, id slap him so hard with it right now

Fuengi · December 2020

He's highly strung, we know that. He's also running a business in the shittiest environment we've ever known so maybe give him a break this time?

His shop is right in the middle of Stratford so he's probably paying a decent premium to be there and the footfall would have been shocking this year.

I know that means he should focus on his online, but he seems to be on chat any time you visit the site so he's probably a bit shredded.

Speaking from personal experience, he's only ever been incredibly helpful and enthusiastic.

It's Christmas. Give peace a chance.

PengaMax · December 2020

Fuengi said:

He's highly strung, we know that. He's also running a business in the shittiest environment we've ever known so maybe give him a break this time?

His shop is right in the middle of Stratford so he's probably paying a decent premium to be there and the footfall would have been shocking this year.

I know that means he should focus on his online, but he seems to be on chat any time you visit the site so he's probably a bit shredded.

Speaking from personal experience, he's only ever been incredibly helpful and enthusiastic.

It's Christmas. Give peace a chance.

Too late, I’ve already ordered the salmon

PengaMax · December 2020

I have zero sympathy for his predicament (if he is in one) I would have probably bought a few pedals and guitar strap from him so he can only blame himself for loss of business by being a wally. I’m not responding to him anymore and won’t be posting anything else here so it’s all done and dusted for me. Just got a bit enraged by his hypocrisy. Time to move on and enjoy Xmas

mixolyd · December 2020

The guitar retail business is in a boom not seen in decades thanks to Covid, rather than being stressed by lack of footfall he’s more likely stressed by being stretched thin by the unprecedented demand.

Poor lad, he clearly loves being the guitar seller guy but he doesn’t have quite the most appropriate personality for dealing with customers. And as for the spying thing with the webchat, who the hell set that up??

darthed1981 · December 2020

To be fair... £39 for those guitar pedals does look a reasonable deal.

Be interested in how the compare with Tone City, though I doubt Lee Anderton is exactly shaking in his Porsche.

PengaMax · December 2020

darthed1981 said:

To be fair... £39 for those guitar pedals does look a reasonable deal.

Be interested in how the compare with Tone City, though I doubt Lee Anderton is exactly shaking in his Porsche.

I know right, the fact that he’s got an OEM to spec and design them exclusively for him kinda drew me in to be honest, I would have given the reverb, fuzz and flanger a go at those prices. I like the metal enclosures too

PengaMax · December 2020

Maybe the ultimate vengeance in this whole sorry saga is to just buy one

VimFuego · December 2020

PengaMax said:

Maybe the ultimate vengeance in this whole sorry saga is to just buy one

oh, don't do that, it'll just piss him off.

PengaMax · December 2020

To end things with this i've just bought the flanger. I'm guessing the company producing these for him is Mooer as the layout is exactly the same as the E-Lady. I'm therefore sure i'll be giving the pedal a glowing review. There will be no funny business purchasing just to leave a negative review or what not.

1.) I genuinely could do with a flanger
2.) Hopefully this will be a positive way to shine a light on his questionable behaviour so maybe he and others who may have 'suffered' like others have to his rants will benefit as well....maybe...
3.) A change of direction from the fury and rage i felt earlier

instead i now feel quite good about this as a resolution to the nastiness that was starting to build... i don't like feeling that way and i'm sure he doesn't either.

PengaMax · December 2020

Here is my message to Richard.

Richard. I don't feel good about where this whole things has headed. I didn't like your attitude and your comments on trustpilot did you no favours in my eyes. Nonetheless, despite your accusations that im a sad, little troll, I have bought your flanger. I'm guessing the company you have partnered with is Mooer and having previously owned an E-Lady, i'm sure the pedal will sound great. This isn't a stunt where i intend to leave a negative review regardless, that's not the kind of person i am, despite your ill informed judgements. I hope you can reflect on this as an overall positive outcome and not take any of the negativity felt, for either of us, into what should be a jolly time of year. All the best.

Fuengi · December 2020

PengaMax said:

To end things with this i've just bought the flanger. I'm guessing the company producing these for him is Mooer as the layout is exactly the same as the E-Lady. I'm therefore sure i'll be giving the pedal a glowing review. There will be no funny business purchasing just to leave a negative review or what not.

1.) I genuinely could do with a flanger
2.) Hopefully this will be a positive way to shine a light on his questionable behaviour so maybe he and others who may have 'suffered' like others have to his rants will benefit as well....maybe...
3.) A change of direction from the fury and rage i felt earlier instead i now feel quite good about this as a resolution to the nastiness that was starting to build... i don't like feeling that way and i'm sure he doesn't either.

Did not see that coming.

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Avoid Richards Guitars - Incredibly Rude

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