Dawsons Music www.dawsons.co.uk

Firstly was charged £9.99 for slow delivery when it should have been free considering it was £489 and their policy states free over £99 and under 30kg, customer service was equally slow at replying to sort it out but wasn't too worried and then the real crunch came when I took delivery of a discontinued (for the past 3years), ex display MK1 version of the MK2 keyboard I had ordered. The MK2 box (which even stated Dawsons display model) had been opened, the newer model taken out and an old used MK1 model stuffed inside, this unit hasn't been sold for years and was covered in marks, how this could happen is beyond me!

I then sent an admittedly colourful email sharing my disgust at their service and was called straight away, not so much to apologies but with an attempt at assertiveness to try and get ME to apologies for my language, rather than the diabolical service I had received. Absolutely ridiculous, use another company, there are so many good companies out there that would NEVER let this happen, go with GAK or DV

Bought a Tanglewood Crossroads guitar online store and returned it due to it being very badly packaged and having a sticky unplayable fretboard. I was told I could take this to a local store for return which I did, where I was informed the refund would need to be processed online. It's now been 18 calendar days and I'm still waiting.

When I contact their Web Customer Services, I'm just repeatedly told that the man on Returns needs to check it over first, although it was checked over at the store before they accepted to return it! 14 calendar days is the allowed time for refunds to be given as stipulated by the Consumer Contracts Regulations 13 June 2014.

Can't believe I am now in the process of waiting to hear back from Citizens Advice and Trading Standards and having to take legal action just to get a poxy £100 back on a guitar they couldn't even package properly (which I have photographed to prove). Will not be buying from here again, and would advise others to be very wary.

Orfered an irig acoustic guitar interface as a christmas present. With only 14 days return iy was impossible to know if the product was suitable.

Having spent several hundred pounds with Dawsons (shops) I was confident to use the website. However after finding out the product was substandard I requested a refund or shop credit. Dawsons couldn't care less.

Consider using Amazon, or local shops

Ordered a Yamaha Keyboard but apparently there wasn't any in stock which I wasn't notified about until a week after ordering - took my money straight away though of course!!! I was advised that they wouldn't have any more stock until late the following week but this wasn't good enough as it was going to be a gift for a birthday sooner than the date they had given me so I asked for a refund. A day later they suddenly had 9 in stock so arranged for delivery.... Once finally receiving my order, the box was open. Completely battered, all staples had been removed & the sellotape had been sliced from one end to the other. There is no way I would have given my partner this keyboard as a birthday present in the state it was in. Sent Keyboard back and requested for another to be delivered (as advised to by Dawsons customer service team) - the second delivery came today and the box was even WORSE! Battered, opened and damaged. Even the DPD driver was disgusted in the company for sending me this order TWICE in that kind of condition. What a mess!!!

Visited the Manchester store on Friday 25th Nov, having spotted a deal on a guitar that i have been looking for, so i caught the train feeling excited.

The store has a fantastic selection of music gear, however the staff were dreadful, I have made an official complaint and i am still waiting to hear back, i felt like i was treated abysmally when all i wanted to do was buy a new guitar.

Supposed at Dawson's Reading to look at some volume and effect peddles

Dispite there bring plenty of staff, I was given very little interest and had to ask all the questions to get any type of service

I pertiacualy needed a volume pedal fir my active low impedance electric guitar

I was offered two, one I purchased only to find that they sold me a high impedance peddle

Unfortunately I lost my receipt and dont feel like wasting time and money taking it back

I feel there can't be bothered attitude cause a wrong purchase

There are plenty of good music centres which spend the time to ensuring we make the right purchase

Dawson's at Reading is not one of them

I got charged twice and didnt receive my ordered products, because it showed up that my billing address is wrong. I contacted them and they said that it is not possible to order from the site with a non uk bank account.

I was really upset, because now I have to wait to get my money back, and I wont be able to get the products in time. It was supposed to be a birthday present.

There was nowhere written that you can pay only with a UK bank account. It charged me twice, but showed that the billing address is wrong instead of explaining that the bank account isnt acceptable on the site.

A really really unpleasant experience, ruined a special persons birthday and my day overall.

I love visiting the Dawsons shop to soak up the atmosphere, but due to my daughter's impatience, I ordered her an amp and a guitar case for her new Epiphone dot from Dawsons online. They were dispatched promptly, well packaged and reasonably priced. If I didn't have time to get to the physical shop, I would definitely have no qualms about shopping with Dawsons online again!

I applied for a DDJT-1 and was declined finance with V12 (the finance broker Dawson's music use), I then e-mailed V12 with a copy of my 'excellent rated' credit report and asked as to why I had been declined. They e-mailed me back within 24 hours and over turned their decision immediatley (27.02.13).

I have then rang Dawson's music on their sales number since 27.02.13 informing them as to where we are towards sending me the product out. I have also sent e-mail after e-mail asking as to what is happeninbg, only to receive the same e-mail, 'Dear customer, thank you for your order.... etc'. I have been passed from employee to employee and placed on hold daily, with the famous words, "Yes we know what's happened, someone will be getting back in touch with you shortly." Needless to say nobody has been back in touch, at all!

I spoke to them today 11.03.13 to find out that I have apparently not let anybody know about my over turned decision and that they are not mind readers.

Absolutely disgusting customer services, terrible people skills and a general lack of competence.

The only sense I got is when I spoke to a gentleman at their Leeds branch.

This is a review of the telephone sales branch 01925 582420. NOT the separate branches or shops that you can go into in person.

I wouldn't recommend these to anybody, and would strongly advise you to steer clear.

Ok I picked up the Rode M3 Microphone at what amounts to half the price of some other deals available elsewhere . Its a true electret microphone rather than a condenser, a variation of mic that was around in the 1970s and back then its type became unpopular due to its susceptibility to induced noise on cables this was due to impedance related problems . However Rode have designed this capsule to work through an internal matching circuit bringing its output up to modern standards and that's cool! So although it needs power it is only for its matching circuit and can therefore run off an internal 9V battery for months at a time if required. First impressions are that its extremely well built and versatile with a recessed on off switch, high pass filter and an internal 10 and 20db pad switch.

The sound on first testing with voice gives a very pleasing full and powerful sound making this a quirky little mic. Probably good for drum overheads and ambient use. Then after some experimenting on acoustic guitars ,I found that for me the trick was to set the pad to -10db and then the results worked very well in the mix against other dynamic and condenser microphones . Definitely worth several times the price Dawsons can provide it for. A bit of judicious and subtle EQ worked in the studio but it also sounds worth trying on live vocals as well. A good all rounder at a very reasonable price .