Returning EL for QM

[adam859]

basically i have a few questions

Let me start by saying i recived my drum kit and it just doesnt epsond to some hits so my question are

1. will they send me the Qm if i return my EL

2. If they will, will they send the Qm to me before i send the EL back

3. Will they only need the acutal drums and not the supports

4. how long will this proccess take


Thanks for your help
Adam

[davidshek]

1. will they send me the Qm if i return my EL

Not necessarily. You can't request what kind of kit you get back, and the new EL kits are actually really nice.


2. If they will, will they send the Qm to me before i send the EL back

Depends which option you choose. If you do the "Express" RMA (where you give them a credit card number), they'll send you the new ones first, then you send back your broken ones. If you do the "Standard" RMA (without a credit card), they send you an empty box, you send you broken ones in, then you get the new ones.


3. Will they only need the acutal drums and not the supports

Yep, you only send back the actual drum pad assembly, not the sticks or pedal or stand.


4. how long will this proccess take

Again, same answer as #2. I've never done the Standard one, so I can't answer that, but I know with Express, I've usually received my new stuff within a few days (3-5).

[adam859]

Basically aslong as i get a better drum kit i dont mind, but ive got an EL which dosent respond to hits well.

Ok another couple of questions

1. where do i do this process of returning the drums

2. does it cost

3. i take it they just keep a copy of the credit card so that if you do not return the drums they charge you. not that they charge you on it

[davidshek]

1. where do i do this process of returning the drums

http://support.ea.com/rockband


2. does it cost

It's free until October 1st, which is when the 60 Day Warranty period will start being enforced.


3. i take it they just keep a copy of the credit card so that if you do not return the drums they charge you. not that they charge you on it

They don't actually charge you, no. But they will put a $125 authorization hold (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorization_hold) (linked to explanation if you don't know what that term means) on it until you return the broken ones. If you don't return the broken ones within 30 days, they will convert the hold into a real charge.

[adam859]

ooo cus i dont have that amount of cash in my bank, but i dont excpect to keep it, why would i.

Anyway thanks, do i have to ring or can it be done online?


It definatley is faulty if the drums miss out notes right, because i dont want to get into a load of rubbish just because they think its fine and dandy

I know there duff, because when i play a song on easy i always miss a note i just hit atleat 30 times a song.
Plus of course ive played my cousin QM, yesturday and got my EL today and well i miss alot more.

(im playing on hard which is why theres no a bigger problem, more notes=More misses)

[p34ch]

ooo cus i dont have that amount of cash in my bank, but i dont excpect to keep it, why would i.

Anyway thanks, do i have to ring or can it be done online?

You can do it all online.
My first RMA was just the kick pedal, so I setup my account (address, etc) online and then phoned them - so when I called i didn't have to give that info over the phone - it's something I try to avoid when having to give names, addresses. Human data entry errors just piss me off.

If you do the standard - you'll be without drums til they get them, process them, and then ship you new ones.

The express much faster.

Technicalities :
CREDIT CARD - will just put a hold on $125, and is removed when they receive the broken set.
DEBIT CARD - they will remove the $125 from your account and credit it back when they receive the broken set.

Just so you know.

Cheers.

[adam859]

so if im not using a debit card, no money will be taken out of my bank unless i dont send them back

Sorry i just need to make shure, so that a drum kiut doesnt get me into debt

[davidshek]

DEBIT CARD - they will remove the $125 from your account and credit it back when they receive the broken set.

Technically, that's incorrect. They do the same Authorization Hold on a debit card. The money is still there, it's just "reserved", so to speak. Hotels and some Car Rental places do the same thing.

[adam859]

O so no money will be taken out, it will just be an amopunt waiting to snatch money basically

[davidshek]

O so no money will be taken out, it will just be an amopunt waiting to snatch money basically

Right, but you won't have access to that money either while the hold is there. So for example, your account might look like this:

Current balance - $800.00
Available balance - $675.00

The available balance is the part you could actually use right now. The other $125 (for EA) is still there, just on hold.

[p34ch]

Technically, that's incorrect. They do the same Authorization Hold on a debit card. The money is still there, it's just "reserved", so to speak. Hotels and some Car Rental places do the same thing.

Yes, you're correct.

You have your balance, and 'available' balance.
Technicalities. Meh.

[adam859]

ok so what about if my balance lets say is 50

[p34ch]

If you've only got $50 in the account, EA will 'hold' $125 so, your financial institution will more than likely charge an overdraft on the $75 that wasn't there.

[adam859]

so they will temporarily take the money out basically

[p34ch]

Yes.
They will put a $125 'hold' on the account that is linked to your debit/credit card.

They'll ship out a new drum set, with a box & UPS return shipping label (so there's no shipping cost to you). You then have a 28 day window to get the broken set back to them. If you get it back before the 28 days, they take the 'hold' off your account. If not, the 'hold' becomes a withdraw.

Hope that clarifies it.

[baldassbat]

For all intents and purposes your money is gone. If you don't have the $125 to begin with they may not even be able to process the reserve. If you're bank allows it to reserve via overdraft they'll still send you the drums and you'll have to pay your bank the overdraft fees if they charge for it. If the card is declined (like an over the limit credit card, or if your bank does not let it overdraft) EA will let you know that you have to use a different card or use the standard return function.

Using standard return you will get the empty box in a couple days. You'll return your drums at ground speed (probably a week depending on location). They'll check them in, load the box back up with your new drums and ship them out. All told, you'll probably be drumless for two weeks.

So take your pick, lose access to $125 for a couple weeks if you can afford it, or play guitar and sing for a couple weeks. The whole process is relatively painless. I went standard for my guitar and express for my pedal. If something else goes out I have no problem going express.