After purchasing a cheap acoustic there, I dropped off my telecaster elite at Specimen Guitars in Chicago for repair. I had owned the guitar for 10 years and my soon to be ex-wife attempted to destroy it. Ian Schneller the owner assured me he could repair it but it would cost $800!! Due to my sentimental attachment to this guitar I agreed and left it with him.
Shortly before it was completed (about 2-3wks) I was required to go to Austrailia on a business trip for my job for two weeks. I stopped by the shop and informed Ian about my trip and gave him $200 towards the final bill on the guitar and agreed to pay the remainder when I returned. My trip was extended another week while I was away and when I returned I contacted Ian Schneller about picking up my guitar. To my horror he informed me he had sold it!!! That if I looked at my reciept it said in small print at the bottom any merchandise not picked up within 30 days becomes property of Specimen.
When I asked about the $200 I had given him he actually had the nerve to say, "I assumed that was concilliatory" I knew I was screwed and said to him, "if I were you I'd feel like a real asshole right now" and hung up. I should've taken him to small claims court but had enough going on in my life with my divorce and my job that I didnt have the time to deal with this, which I now regret.
Whatever you do, do not give Specimen Guitars in Chicago your business. They will rip you off and have no ethics whatsoever. Just take one look at Ian and you know it in your gut that he's a weasel. I know you remember IAN!!!
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