Why I Can No Longer Recommend Pono Ukuleles

Another reason you shouldn't spend hundreds on something without seeing it first.

I'm genuinely mystified why people recommend buying musical instruments online. I'd only ever buy an instrument unseen unless it was so cheap I didn't mind losing the money.

Yes, a difficult situation for both sellers and buyers. I don’t think that you need to be mystified but rather to start to consider purchases as a buyer rather than (as I think you once were) a shop keeper. Shop keepers and buyers vary enormously and over the years I’ve met shop keepers who treat their customers very badly and rubbed shoulders with buyers only who want to pay a small fraction of an item’s true cost. Truly honest small shop sellers are, in my experience, few and far between. Whilst sympathetic to their problems I find that my own local shops typically over price items and want to sell me what they happen to have in stock regardless of what my own preferences are. I have lived in several different places and always found that a big percentage of shop keepers regard customers as people for them to exploit. Of course I’ve occasionally found shops that are genuinely helpful and aim to sell things at a reasonable price, when I can I will give them my custom and even pay a little more for things from them than I might elsewhere.

Sometimes the product that the customer wants can’t reasonably be held by a small shop. The product might be high value and/or so low in demand that a potential sale is far into the future whilst shelf space and money is tied up holding the item. In such a case both shop and customer seem best served if the item is purchased elsewhere. There is always a pragmatic case for buying a specialist item from a distant supplier, though there are risks for the buyer and sometimes the seller too.

I notice that you have a Uke from Sweden and that you love it (it’s a super instrument and made by a top bloke) but there are many luthiers in the U.K. that you could have used, perhaps they are mystified as to why you didn’t use one of them instead.
 
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For anyone who is interested, here is my advice on how to make a million pounds in musical instrument retail:

Start with two million.

I'm long gone from retail, much as I loved it, and I think I got out at the right time. If I could choose to open another retail shop and the right thing came along, I'd jump on it. However, that's not for the forseeable future, and if something did come up it would definitely not be something so closely tied to my hobbies. I don't want to mix business and pleasure ever again. Any of my comments from within the last seven years are strictly as a hobbyist collector.

Regarding the honesty (or not) of small traders, I would say a lot of customers aren't shining examples of good behaviour. People can be unrealistic and dishonest too. I've had customers who seemed very nice but subsequently stole hundreds of pounds worth of stock, or ordered something but then never paid for it, leaving me with stuff that was so specialist it was basically unsellable. Or agreeing a price, having me order it and then asking to pay 1/4 of what was agreed because they saw it cheaper on Amazon.

What's worse is I've sucked such things up and sometimes done really ridiculous discounts, because dead stock costs a fortune. Really good shop owners know that business is people selling to people, and that if you aren't honest you won't be able to survive. Liars have to have extremely good memories. On the other hand, anonymous people can post completely unfair comments about retailers on forums like this, and what comeback do the sellers have?

I genuinely believe that if you are buying a special instrument, it's worth making a special journey. You don't need a great ukulele to become a great musician, and at every price some ukuleles are dreadful. I've never played a modern Martin that I thought was worth the hype, for example; the copies are better.

If you want to get a better ukulele do so. But spending hundreds on things you aren't even sure you'll like or have only heard on Youtube seems mad to me. Much better to meet up with other uke players, and try theirs, maybe even trade. I've sold or given away brilliant instruments to friends. You'd never have that opportunity if you only buy online. Or make a special journey of buying a special instrument. Sounds like a great idea for a holiday.

Incidentally, the Swedish uke is the best I've ever played, and I have history and a great friendship with its maker. That's the reason it's my favourite. I have ukes made by British luthiers too. They're also very nice and get played regularly. But I don't have the same relationship or the same story with most of those.

Still, I apologise if I have sounded condescending.
 
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Chris I think that your comment above is very fair and I do hope that you found my comment even handed too - it certainly was meant to be so. I did not find what you had written to be in anyway condescending and think it valuable to hear the experiences of sellers.

May you have good luck in what you do and enjoy your playing and other hobbies.
 
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I genuinely believe that if you are buying a special instrument, it's worth making a special journey. You don't need a great ukulele to become a great musician, and at every price some ukuleles are dreadful. I've never played a modern Martin that I thought was worth the hype, for example; the copies are better.
I felt this way about many Martin instruments, including their guitars. But then again, I preferred the sound of Taylors.

If you want to get a better ukulele do so. But spending hundreds on things you aren't even sure you'll like or have only heard on Youtube seems mad to me. Much better to meet up with other uke players, and try theirs, maybe even trade. I've sold or given away brilliant instruments to friends. You'd never have that opportunity if you only buy online. Or make a special journey of buying a special instrument. Sounds like a great idea for a holiday.

I would really love to go to Hawaii, that would indeed be special! But if I did that I couldn't afford the uke. ;) Seriously though, not everyone has the opportunity to network with others who have good instruments to try. I love the fact that so many things are available to us through the internet that we would not otherwise even be aware of. It opens up so many more doors that weren't available to us, say, 30 or more years ago. With good research, I think you can make some good purchasing decisions that you will be happy with. I love each of my ukes actually more than I thought I would when I ordered them. I agree that it's always best to try an instrument out first if you can. But if I were limited to only my local Guitar Centers that would indeed be frustratingly limiting. We're fortunate to have some really excellent specialty ukulele shops who have great selection, great customer service and professional business practices. If I don't like the instrument I can send it back. I think it's a win/win. Buying clothes on line, that's a different matter. :rolleyes:
 
Yes. Same thing here when I picked up my ukulele today. It never occurred to me that it was a defect.
 

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I love the fact that so many things are available to us through the internet that we would not otherwise even be aware of. It opens up so many more doors that weren't available to us, say, 30 or more years ago.

I don't know. I think for me, the instruments aren't as important as the stories and experiences that come with them. You just couldn't replicate that with an order on a website. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have a collection.

Still, if it makes you happy and you aren't in debt because of it, it is good.
 
Air and hotel prices are at an all time low here in the islands. However, the 14-day quarantine means you'll have to wait two weeks before going shopping...

I felt this way about many Martin instruments, including their guitars. But then again, I preferred the sound of Taylors.
I would really love to go to Hawaii, that would indeed be special! But if I did that I couldn't afford the uke. ;) Seriously though, not everyone has the opportunity to network with others who have good instruments to try. I love the fact that so many things are available to us through the internet that we would not otherwise even be aware of. It opens up so many more doors that weren't available to us, say, 30 or more years ago. With good research, I think you can make some good purchasing decisions that you will be happy with. I love each of my ukes actually more than I thought I would when I ordered them. I agree that it's always best to try an instrument out first if you can. But if I were limited to only my local Guitar Centers that would indeed be frustratingly limiting. We're fortunate to have some really excellent specialty ukulele shops who have great selection, great customer service and professional business practices. If I don't like the instrument I can send it back. I think it's a win/win. Buying clothes on line, that's a different matter. :rolleyes:
 
A stacked heel is considered fairly normal on a classical guitar. Maybe it doesn't make a difference on a uke but I'll bet it's stronger than a single piece of wood on its own (much like a scarf joint on a headstock).
This does not address the aesthetic of course and if you don't like the way it looks then it really doesn't matter either way.

Yes. Same thing here when I picked up my ukulele today. It never occurred to me that it was a defect.
 
Another reason you shouldn't spend hundreds on something without seeing it first.

I'm genuinely mystified why people recommend buying musical instruments online. I'd only ever buy an instrument unseen unless it was so cheap I didn't mind losing the money.

I've had wonderful experiences with HMS (The Ukulele Site), and I definitely trust the fokls there enough to buy an ukulele from them sight unseen.
 
I've had wonderful experiences with HMS (The Ukulele Site), and I definitely trust the fokls there enough to buy an ukulele from them sight unseen.

They gave me money off on a uke that I couldn't even see the blemish. They found it and advised me before shipping.

My Cocobolo concert has a stacked heel that is so two (or three) toned that I consider it almost a decorative element. :rofl:
 
Cadia, do you have pics of your Cocobolo?

I haven't taken any, but I could try to put some up tomorrow. Mine is mostly heartwood, almost no light sapwood. So not as dramatic as some. But I like the patterns in the wood, and it sounds pretty darn good for a concert. I had forgotten I even put in for it because I prefer tenors.
 
The topic of this thread is unjustified by the OP's own words. Good grief!

I DO recommend Pono ukuleles. Heartily!! I have 3 baritones & 1 tenor. My granddaugghter has a Pono tenor, which I gave her. They are all top quality -- sweet playing, spot-on intonation, splendid sustain, great volume, & excellent action (all of them were purchased from HMS).
 
I also whole heatedly recommend both theukukelesite as well as Pono. All of the OPs complaints were in cosmetic decisions and has nothing to do with build quality, playability, or sound. All of those things were excellent. Cosmetics are just personal taste.
 
I’m glad to see that things were resolved. I would like to add, too, that Pono ukuleles are wonderful for me; I have always experienced high-quality in build/craftsmanship/durability, whether it’s an entry-level Pono or from their Pro Classic line. I currently have 3 tenors and 1 baritone — and am about to possibly buy another tenor soon — and I have owned several other Ponos over the years. I have purchased all of my instruments from HMS — they’re absolutely amazing at HMS — incredible customer service, always — I’ve been buying from them almost 10 years now. Safe to say, yep, I am a Pono and HMS fan-girl, for sure. I’d highly recommend Pono and HMS — and always do whenever I get the chance to do so.
 
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