Mercenary Audio.......Legends!!

fastlane · 13th October 2006

On wednesday I had the pleasure of visiting the lads at mercenary audio in boston. I travelled all the way over from ireland just to buy a rosetta and a distressor. I had free flight as my girlfriend works for a well known airline company so I thought, feck it, it'll be a craic!!! Plus, I save myself around 1700 euro in the process.

Zach (a really really nice mercenary), picked me up from the train station and drove me to the store/studio and then introduced me to everyone. Friendly smiles and handshakes all round everyone a little curious to meet the man to traveled from ireland just to buy gear.
Then I meet the lengendary Fletcher, he proceeded to give me a firm handshake and then shouts "we have an irish man in the building, someone go get some ****ing Guinness". I thought it was a joke, but I was wrong, he was dead serious.

While one of the guys was touring the country side looking for Guinness I got the guided tour of the place, I couldn't believe the gear they had lyin' around the place. In to the studio and I was sat down at the console to have a listen to a recent mix and showed me how he got the various different sounds on it. If I wasn't so knacker from the flights and jetlag I would have been in heaven.

20 minutes later there still no sign of the guinness so fletcher sent another one of the guys out to get some. 10 minutes later I was sitting out the back smokin and drinking guinness while I did my best to pick their brains with all the recording questions my half asleep brain could think of.

To round it all off I was offered a lift back to the airport to get my flight by Zach, something I really didn't expect. As I was heading out the door I had t-shirts, mugs and a really cool great rivers bottle opener thrown at me and then headed for the airport. I arrived at the airport in perfect time with a full blader (I was really close to pissin' meself, Zach, thanks for avoiding the bumps) and a suitcase full of gear. What more could you ask for???
Thanks once again for everything guys, ye are all LENGENDS!!!!!

True North · 13th October 2006

Wow - never done business with Mercenary but that is some pretty impressive service.

Good work guys

P.S. - Zach wasn't thinking of you when he avoided the bumps, he just didn't want that Guiness PISS smell in his car

seaneldon · 13th October 2006

mercenary is exactly what i expect from a fine audio product dealer. really down to earth (maybe too much for some folks), knowledgable, generous with loans and trials, and the shop is also a fully functional recording studio. excellent people who strongly believe in the shit they sell. A+.

shaggseb · 13th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastlane

great rivers bottle opener

coooooool

Jeff A. Roberts · 13th October 2006

The "old fashioned" wall mount Great River bottle opener is definitely the ultimate studio accessory for beer drinkers!

seawell · 13th October 2006

Mercenary has always gone above and beyond the call of duty. Those guys are awesome!

ScumBum · 13th October 2006

That sounds like a better vacation then even going to Hawaii ....

StrykeBack · 13th October 2006

wow very cool story. Customs didn't hit u when u tried to bring your new gear all wrapped up in your clothes in the suitcase?

I'm thinking about ordering an aurora and big ben from the guys over there. With spending that money I hope I get a great river bottle opener too

NesNeedsGear · 13th October 2006

guess i know where to get my next high-end gear pieces from.

fastlane · 13th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrykeBack

wow very cool story. Customs didn't hit u when u tried to bring your new gear all wrapped up in your clothes in the suitcase?

I'm thinking about ordering an aurora and big ben from the guys over there. With spending that money I hope I get a great river bottle opener too

I arrived in Shannon airport in Limerick, it's a really small airport. The reason I picked the airport to fly into was I knew there wouldn't be anyone at customs. So, even if I wanted to declare them, I couldn't. Guilt free!!!!

fastlane · 13th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by NesNeedsGear

guess i know where to get my next high-end gear pieces from.

Take a trip up there, your in New York so it's not that far. You won't regret it!!!

Kris · 13th October 2006

I want an 'old fashioned' Great River bottle opener to go with my 'old fashioned' Great River pre...(MP4)

Did you do the flight there and back all in one day?!??!?

trock · 13th October 2006

like many i have read fletchers posts with great amusement and a little terror for quite a while. i finally got the nerve to call him about some questions i had. i was on a tight budget and ended up ordering the RNC, so not the motherload of all customers i am sure.

that being said, he knew i had a young 2 year old son who sat with me in the studio and when i recieved the RNC right along with it was a Mercenary T-shirt for a little one. fit perfect and was just really cool to get like that.

took a picture of him in it and sent it to fletcher as a thank you.

i secretly think he has a big heart but don;t tell him i said that, i am still a little terrified

Acoustic Cloud · 13th October 2006

Anyone I have ever known like Fletcher DOES have a great big heart!

But its the last thing they want you to know!

fastlane · 13th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris

I want an 'old fashioned' Great River bottle opener to go with my 'old fashioned' Great River pre...(MP4)

Did you do the flight there and back all in one day?!??!?

Even worse, I flew to Chicago on tuesday, went to see sears tower, had a bite to eat and a lonely beer and hit the sack. Then up at 5am to get the flight to boston and straight to mercenary and straight home. It was worth it!!

fastlane · 13th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acoustic Cloud

Anyone I have ever known like Fletcher DOES have a great big heart!

But its the last thing they want you to know!

SSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

warhead · 13th October 2006

Wow, and I thought the guy who flew in to here from Tennessee in his private plane to shoot out microphones on his voice was a good story...but Ireland...damn!

(Believe it or not he bought an ADK Vienna)

War

PS: I would expect no less from Mercenary, they have a great reputation for service!

raal · 13th October 2006

cool story fast lane. thanks.

Psyko/Acoustics · 14th October 2006

Troll alert.

blackwatch · 14th October 2006

ahh...it was a joke

Fletcher is a Legend!!

AB3 · 14th October 2006

See - I would go there from Utah - but they would probably only offer me a glass of red punch.

I guess I will fly in from somewhere else.

Jason Poulin · 14th October 2006

thumbsup thumbsup

mdsmith64 · 14th October 2006

That is a very cool story. It's cool that you would fly all that way for gear (a true slut if I ever met one) and it's cool that the guys at Mercenary had the class to treat you well for the effort.

I had a cool experience today from a dealer. RME had advertised that the new RME BOB-32 would come with the required DSub cables. I wanted to make sure so I emailed the RME representative in the US and he assured me that the cables were included with the BOB-32. Well, you can guess what happened. I ordered the unit and low and behold - no cables present. Indeed, no cables listed in the parts description in the manual. I email the US RME rep again and reminded him of his email assuring me that the cables were included and he never replies. I send an anonymous email through the info@ email address and am told that no, the cables aren't included, but here are the part numbers to order them separately (at significant cost I might add). I call my dealer, the guy that had ordered me the BOB-32, and tell him my story and ask him to order me the cables. He says to me, "that's not right, let me contact them and see if I can't get them to send you the cables they owe you." Two hours later I'm forwarded an email from RME saying they will be sending the cables to me right away. Maybe not a super big deal, but still above and beyond the call of duty. It means something to me that this person would stick up for me and make the effort on my behalf to get me what was owed. He has my respect and appreciation.

Best Regards,

Mike.

Johnny_FX · 14th October 2006

I'm not too far from that dream myself

e . Well need to save the cash , but that's a trek I look forward to making soon . But maybe I'd hate to break their hearts to say I don't drink guinness haha. Sounds like one hell of an experience .

Where about you in Ireland man?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastlane

On wednesday I had the pleasure of visiting the lads at mercenary audio in boston. I travelled all the way over from ireland just to buy a rosetta and a distressor. I had free flight as my girlfriend works for a well known airline company so I thought, feck it, it'll be a craic!!! Plus, I save myself around 1700 euro in the process.

Zach (a really really nice mercenary), picked me up from the train station and drove me to the store/studio and then introduced me to everyone. Friendly smiles and handshakes all round everyone a little curious to meet the man to traveled from ireland just to buy gear.
Then I meet the lengendary Fletcher, he proceeded to give me a firm handshake and then shouts "we have an irish man in the building, someone go get some ****ing Guinness". I thought it was a joke, but I was wrong, he was dead serious.

While one of the guys was touring the country side looking for Guinness I got the guided tour of the place, I couldn't believe the gear they had lyin' around the place. In to the studio and I was sat down at the console to have a listen to a recent mix and showed me how he got the various different sounds on it. If I wasn't so knacker from the flights and jetlag I would have been in heaven.

20 minutes later there still no sign of the guinness so fletcher sent another one of the guys out to get some. 10 minutes later I was sitting out the back smokin and drinking guinness while I did my best to pick their brains with all the recording questions my half asleep brain could think of.

To round it all off I was offered a lift back to the airport to get my flight by Zach, something I really didn't expect. As I was heading out the door I had t-shirts, mugs and a really cool great rivers bottle opener thrown at me and then headed for the airport. I arrived at the airport in perfect time with a full blader (I was really close to pissin' meself, Zach, thanks for avoiding the bumps) and a suitcase full of gear. What more could you ask for???
Thanks once again for everything guys, ye are all LENGENDS!!!!!

fastlane · 14th October 2006

From the bogs but livin in Dublin.

I see your a dubliner yourself! Home studio or a pro one??

xj32 · 14th October 2006

Ok but I'm from Milwaukee and if I ever end up at Mercinary, please don't run out and grab me a miller geniune draft or a pabst...

Paul

mdsmith64 · 15th October 2006

I'm from the SF Bay Area. That means I get an Anchor Steam...Yessss (in my best Napoleon Dynamite voice).

Best Regards,

Mike.

adrianex · 15th October 2006

sorry Jules...

dadgad65 · 15th October 2006

This is an excellent story which illustrates phenomenal customer service. Service makes a difference (as does Guinness!), and this cannot be stressed enough.

The difference between a good experience and a mediocre one (or even bad one) is often defined by the service.

dim light · 15th October 2006

I love that story!

13th October 2006	#1
fastlane Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Location: ireland Posts: 892 Thread Starter	Mercenary Audio.......Legends!! On wednesday I had the pleasure of visiting the lads at mercenary audio in boston. I travelled all the way over from ireland just to buy a rosetta and a distressor. I had free flight as my girlfriend works for a well known airline company so I thought, feck it, it'll be a craic!!! Plus, I save myself around 1700 euro in the process. Zach (a really really nice mercenary), picked me up from the train station and drove me to the store/studio and then introduced me to everyone. Friendly smiles and handshakes all round everyone a little curious to meet the man to traveled from ireland just to buy gear. Then I meet the lengendary Fletcher, he proceeded to give me a firm handshake and then shouts "we have an irish man in the building, someone go get some ****ing Guinness". I thought it was a joke, but I was wrong, he was dead serious. While one of the guys was touring the country side looking for Guinness I got the guided tour of the place, I couldn't believe the gear they had lyin' around the place. In to the studio and I was sat down at the console to have a listen to a recent mix and showed me how he got the various different sounds on it. If I wasn't so knacker from the flights and jetlag I would have been in heaven. 20 minutes later there still no sign of the guinness so fletcher sent another one of the guys out to get some. 10 minutes later I was sitting out the back smokin and drinking guinness while I did my best to pick their brains with all the recording questions my half asleep brain could think of. To round it all off I was offered a lift back to the airport to get my flight by Zach, something I really didn't expect. As I was heading out the door I had t-shirts, mugs and a really cool great rivers bottle opener thrown at me and then headed for the airport. I arrived at the airport in perfect time with a full blader (I was really close to pissin' meself, Zach, thanks for avoiding the bumps) and a suitcase full of gear. What more could you ask for??? Thanks once again for everything guys, ye are all LENGENDS!!!!!

13th October 2006	#2
True North Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario (Canada) Posts: 3,213	Wow - never done business with Mercenary but that is some pretty impressive service. Good work guys P.S. - Zach wasn't thinking of you when he avoided the bumps, he just didn't want that Guiness PISS smell in his car __________________ "In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey" - Beck, Loser "I do use compressors/limiters but not for controlling dynamics, I use EQ for that!" Jp22 (damn I miss him) "Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -- Will Durant, historian (1885-1981) "I try to get a boom out of the bass drum, in one of my albums, my CD, boom, I try to get that big boom, I could not get a big boom, I paid bucks, and could not get the boom" - Recording Expert, Tad Donley

13th October 2006	#3
seaneldon Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Bahstahn, MA Posts: 2,687	mercenary is exactly what i expect from a fine audio product dealer. really down to earth (maybe too much for some folks), knowledgable, generous with loans and trials, and the shop is also a fully functional recording studio. excellent people who strongly believe in the shit they sell. A+. __________________ Sean Eldon Qualls Mercenary Audio / sean@mercenary.com "They don't think it be like it is...but it do" - Oscar Gamble

13th October 2006	#5
Jeff A. Roberts Gear addict Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 310	The "old fashioned" wall mount Great River bottle opener is definitely the ultimate studio accessory for beer drinkers! __________________ Jeff Roberts Latch Lake Music Eagan, Minnesota http://www.latchlakemusic.com

13th October 2006	#12
Kris Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 2,425 1 Review written	I want an 'old fashioned' Great River bottle opener to go with my 'old fashioned' Great River pre...(MP4) Did you do the flight there and back all in one day?!??!? __________________ http://www.logcabinmusic.com - studio "... fuuck" - Yours Truly "a GOOD mic pre is good with any mic on any instrument or voice for any genre of music and into any recording device." - W. Wittman (ProSoundWeb) "Ahhh the hell with it... get 1073's and you'll be guaranteed platinum!!" - Fletcher

13th October 2006	#6
seawell Gear addict Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Brown Summit, NC, USA Posts: 489	Mercenary has always gone above and beyond the call of duty. Those guys are awesome!

13th October 2006	#7
ScumBum Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2006 Location: San Fransisco , BayArea Posts: 2,142	That sounds like a better vacation then even going to Hawaii ....

13th October 2006	#8
StrykeBack Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 578	wow very cool story. Customs didn't hit u when u tried to bring your new gear all wrapped up in your clothes in the suitcase? I'm thinking about ordering an aurora and big ben from the guys over there. With spending that money I hope I get a great river bottle opener too

13th October 2006	#9
NesNeedsGear Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 833	guess i know where to get my next high-end gear pieces from.

13th October 2006	#13
trock Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,483	like many i have read fletchers posts with great amusement and a little terror for quite a while. i finally got the nerve to call him about some questions i had. i was on a tight budget and ended up ordering the RNC, so not the motherload of all customers i am sure. that being said, he knew i had a young 2 year old son who sat with me in the studio and when i recieved the RNC right along with it was a Mercenary T-shirt for a little one. fit perfect and was just really cool to get like that. took a picture of him in it and sent it to fletcher as a thank you. i secretly think he has a big heart but don;t tell him i said that, i am still a little terrified

13th October 2006	#14
Acoustic Cloud Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2006 Location: around the corner Posts: 1,990	Anyone I have ever known like Fletcher DOES have a great big heart! But its the last thing they want you to know! __________________ If the Earth wasnt created, where'd all the dirt come from?

13th October 2006	#17
warhead Jai guru deva om Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 12,259	Wow, and I thought the guy who flew in to here from Tennessee in his private plane to shoot out microphones on his voice was a good story...but Ireland...damn! (Believe it or not he bought an ADK Vienna) War PS: I would expect no less from Mercenary, they have a great reputation for service! __________________ Warren Dent, Owner - ZenPro Audio: Gear Now & Zen

13th October 2006	#18
raal Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2004 Location: mexico Posts: 4,959	cool story fast lane. thanks.

14th October 2006	#19
Psyko/Acoustics Gear addict Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 412	Troll alert.

14th October 2006	#20
blackwatch Gear maniac Joined: May 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 174	ahh...it was a joke Fletcher is a Legend!!

14th October 2006	#21
AB3 Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,621	See - I would go there from Utah - but they would probably only offer me a glass of red punch. I guess I will fly in from somewhere else.

14th October 2006	#22
Jason Poulin Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Sudbury, On. Canada Posts: 1,780	thumbsup thumbsup

14th October 2006	#23
mdsmith64 Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Dublin, CA Posts: 250	That is a very cool story. It's cool that you would fly all that way for gear (a true slut if I ever met one) and it's cool that the guys at Mercenary had the class to treat you well for the effort. I had a cool experience today from a dealer. RME had advertised that the new RME BOB-32 would come with the required DSub cables. I wanted to make sure so I emailed the RME representative in the US and he assured me that the cables were included with the BOB-32. Well, you can guess what happened. I ordered the unit and low and behold - no cables present. Indeed, no cables listed in the parts description in the manual. I email the US RME rep again and reminded him of his email assuring me that the cables were included and he never replies. I send an anonymous email through the info@ email address and am told that no, the cables aren't included, but here are the part numbers to order them separately (at significant cost I might add). I call my dealer, the guy that had ordered me the BOB-32, and tell him my story and ask him to order me the cables. He says to me, "that's not right, let me contact them and see if I can't get them to send you the cables they owe you." Two hours later I'm forwarded an email from RME saying they will be sending the cables to me right away. Maybe not a super big deal, but still above and beyond the call of duty. It means something to me that this person would stick up for me and make the effort on my behalf to get me what was owed. He has my respect and appreciation. Best Regards, Mike.

14th October 2006	#26
xj32 Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 1,210	Ok but I'm from Milwaukee and if I ever end up at Mercinary, please don't run out and grab me a miller geniune draft or a pabst... Paul __________________ "...learning it is far different from getting a good sound out of it" Mike Caffrey "The gear doesn't really care what kind of music you pump through it, be it rap or classical " thethrillfactor "Maybe it doesn't sound much like the original, but given that only 0.00000000000000137% of the population would know and only 0.00000041% of those would care, I'm not too worried about it." Dean Roddey

15th October 2006	#27
mdsmith64 Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Dublin, CA Posts: 250	I'm from the SF Bay Area. That means I get an Anchor Steam...Yessss (in my best Napoleon Dynamite voice). Best Regards, Mike.

15th October 2006	#28
adrianex Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 753	sorry Jules...

15th October 2006	#29
dadgad65 Gear Head Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 63	This is an excellent story which illustrates phenomenal customer service. Service makes a difference (as does Guinness!), and this cannot be stressed enough. The difference between a good experience and a mediocre one (or even bad one) is often defined by the service.

15th October 2006	#30
dim light Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2003 Location: China Posts: 2,336	I love that story!

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