MIDI Hits loses another good customer.....

[JazzCat]

This is at least the third time that I am aware of that Joe, the owner of MIDIHIts has told a good customer to bugger off and deleted their account!!!

I think it's time the word got spread around and pro musos do anything they can to obtain their files elsewhere!
I recommend Trantracks in the USA, CyberMIDI in the USA and BCK in England for exceptional customer service.
Tran will fix any problems graciously, and Barry Crane of BCK will apologize and give you another file and a free one to boot if a file you bought is not up to par.

As promised to MIDIHits victim, KP, I am posting the conversation between the customer and Joe below so you guys can decide for yourself if you want to be treated like this!
Cat >^..^<

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I had a very disappointing encounter with MIDIHits and I wanted to warn
anyone else of their extremely poor attitude. I have been a long term
customer and had some issues in the past with their midi files, but
in general they tended to work things out although I do always
remember a bit of haughtiness and a tendency to come across as if
they were doing you a favour.

They sell thousands of "professional" midi sequences, and as a rule
most of them are very good. All new ones are pretty well 98% accurate
and they all have synced lyrics. The problem is when you go for the
older ones. I bought 8 files last week and 2 of them were oldies.
Alone by Heart, and Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. Alone
is not finished. It doesn't even have any GUITAR in the file, not to
mention harmony lines.

Total Eclipse is a MESS. It start off with what is supposed to be the
piano part, but it's a glockenspiel?? When they bass kicks in it play
the wrong notes, and it just goes on from there as a train wreck.
Completely unusable.

Of course those are the only two songs I chose that do not have the
little audio sample to listen to before you buy.I can see why.

I just wanted to warn people because you haven't heard the best of it
yet. Want to see their helpful, resolution to my problem? Want to see
how they demonstrated good customer service?

Here's the email Exchange with them.

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KP wrote: Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2008
16:15:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: KP <[e-mail]>
Subject: Problem with order
To: [e-mail]

I just bought 8 songs and the first one I'm listening to, Total
Eclipse of the Heart is sequenced..well..wrong. It has numerous
problems. To start with it's playing the piano part with a celesta
and glockenspiel. Then when the bass and other instruments come in at
the start of the second verse, the bass is actually playing a wrong
note. It just gets worse from there. the arrangement is wrong, the
volume levels are out of whack It seriously needs a complete
overhaul. I don't know how this one slipped through the cracks, but I
hope you can ultimately fix it. It's not usable in it's current state.

It's rare I come across a sequence from you that isn't practically
perfect so I trust you'll take care of it for me. Thank you.
Sincerely,
KP

-------------
KP to MIDIHits---

I haven't heard back from anyone yet in regards to the problem below,
but maybe it's just because it's the weekend. I'm just unfortunately
adding another problem. I'm starting to discover why some songs don't
have the little "play and hear a snippet" of the song beside them.
Both of the ones I had to take on faith are not of the same
professional quality as most of your sequences.
I also purchased "Alone" by Heart and it's unfinished. It doesn't
have a melody line, harmony, or even more importantly any electric
guitar! How can you possibly sell the song without the lead guitar or
even the background chords? Since you charge the same price for all
files with no limitations or exclusions that I'm aware of, I think
it's reasonable to expect the same high-quality for all of them. I'm
truly disappointed that two of my purchases are unusable. I sincerely
hope you intend to correct this problem and I would strongly urge you
to either add the play before you buy function to all of your songs,
or at least make sure they are all as well done as most of your
sequences with full orchestration, and harmony backing.
Sincerely,
KP

-------------

Midi Hits <[e-mail]> wrote:

KP,
To insure this does not happen TO YOU again.. We have closed your account.
Please find another source for tracks.
Joe

-----------------------
KP to MIDIHITS--

THIS is how you decide to do fair business? By taking an attitude
with me? Even when I very clearly point out very accurate problems
with your sequences and want nothing more then a resolution?

I am decidedly disappointed in you as a company and rest assured, will
make certain others are shown the response I received.
KP

[weegeo]

The same sort of thing happened with me 2 years ago i thought i was the only 1 Midi-Hits don`t seem to operate a customer focused business I complained got no response and when i re-ordered my order was refused How do they expect to succeed as a company I`m glad i wasn`t the only 1 now

weegeo

[dave]

I think this is disgraceful to say the least treating a good customer like jazzcat this way shocked Dave.

[Emerald Midi]

If what was posted above accurately portrays events then it's a most scandalous way for a company to conduct themselves. How they are still in business is beyond belief!

[JazzCat]

Dave,
It wasn't me that got treated badly, but that's because I already KNEW what would happen if I complained, so I never did.

Pat,
Oh it's accurate truthful and I've included some more testimonials to show it below.
I posted KP's dealings with MIDI hits on 9 different MIDI related e-mail lists and forums (Including MIDIMart) Here are the responces I got just today. I'm sure more will be rolling in as people see the original post!

==============
You are not alone KP. Many years ago A friend of mine, Alisa, had a problem with a file. She politely asked them if they could fix it. She got the exact same response.
I have heard of other people as well, getting the same treatment from them.

I also bought a file from them that was absolute cr@p. I used what little of the file that was any good and simply resequenced the song. Because I knew what kind of a response I would get from them I said nothing. On occasion I do need them but believe me, if I can go elsewhere to get tracks, I do!
Cat >^..^<
-----------------------------

Just FYI...
I had the EXACT same experience. Purchased a bunch of files ($500+?)
and I complained one time about the fact the in 3-4 tunes the lyrics did not match up or follow
along or were just plain wrong...and he cancelled my account!!
This guy is an a$$ pure and simple and I'll play the nose flute
before I ever buy a file from him again!
.02
Tom in Hawaii

-------------------
Just for the record . . .

I had 3 slightly negative occurances with him. Mostly the same as those already mentioned here. End result . . . I didn't personally care for the customer service, and stopped buying from him a while back. Nothing ugly. Just what seems to be typical for him. There are other places to go. And I do. I only need a file once in a blue moon. Usually when I'm in a hurry to add a tune someone requested, and I can't find it elsewhere. Why shop where ya don't at least get a smile from the owner?

Wayne

--------------------------

Thanks Cat. I have purchased from them before but not anymore. That's just insane!

Bill

-----------------------------

Rocky here to add comment:

I experienced the same problem a couple of years ago with midihits. I purchase several Louie Prima arrangements and several required that I remap the drums and record my own bass line.

The base line ran off key in the mid part of two songs, horns had events that were 2 minutes long where they should have been a 32nd punch and timing problems. I finally just wiped the drum track and recorded it myself. Cat fixed the timing problem on one for me, it was all over the map..Sounded like the band was on crack!! LOL

When I contacted them about the problem, long story short, she said "so you are telling me that we don't know what we are doing" I replied that things happen, just correct the problem, if I wanted to sequence my own arrangements I would not be paying for so called pro files. And that if I am paying for professional files, I expect professional files.

The next communication from midihis was identical to yours. They must have this rubber stamped as a standard response from customer service. LOL AMF midihits..Rock

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This story about midi-hits.com is not news to my ears....I ordered a song by Jackson Brown "In the Shape Of A Heart" and the Karaoked lyrics were really messed up and I called them on the phone and the bashed me and threw me out of their list ....I was literally told they would not sell me anymore midi's ........ I explained my situation and it only made it worse ...what not a very nice persons...but, the truth is they are one of the few complanies that make decent Country midi's, however they have no concept of keeping up with the top twenty or songs that are hot that people want to hear. ....There have many songs that they just don't make a midi of that are great top twenty tunes.....whose making the decisions?...
Keep Chase Ellis and Cat Jefferson in mind when it comes to good midi's that are worth paying for....and of course Barry Crane's SSP (Dean Clout) the very best.
Otherwise be nice and use GNMIDI to fix the flaws with midi-hits.

Tom
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Several years ago, I also purchased some midis from this company for a recording project where the client wanted to make a quick demo disk. Four out of six were excellent but two of the older songs had faults. When I politely e-mailed to point this out their answer was to strike my account off their list and say in very aggressive tone that they would no longer deal with me. I would never use them again anyway after that kind of treatment but I'm amazed to hear that it was not just a one-off situation and so many others have had the same problem with Midi-Hits.
Regards to all,
Ronnie
-------------------------------------
KP. Thanks for sharing that with us. You can inform Joe from
MIDI Hits that you have shared his response with over 1000 members of
this club, many of whom buy MIDIs, and have bought from MIDI Hits,
but not from MIDI Hits, now.
BOB
----------------------------------
Hi KP,

Sorry you had the problem, but I notice that more and more people just don't care anymore as long as they get your money. Maybe you could let us have Joes email address so that he can hear how loud it can be when a lot of musicians tell him what we think

Hans

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[Emerald Midi]

Thanks Cat for helping highlight the appalling approach to customer relations adopted by this company.

I hope others will take heed and steer well clear.

[weegeo]

Just had a wee browse thru midi-hits and i must say that the quality is not the same as it was before I think it`s fair to say that a lot of our files would be of a much better quality so a big pat on the back midimart

weegeo

[charlie]

Wow...and wow...wow again...I thought I was the only one that had a problem with Midi Hits. I got booted off my account because I complained that the "Hold On Loosely" by 38 Special was subpar...and it was. I played that song "live" back in the 80's with a rock band and I know how it is supposed to sound. Well....the sequence was not correct and when I E-mailed them about it...they told me they didn't need my business and to go elsewhere. Well...I did just that and have never gone back again....or will I ever. You know...you would think a company doing business would have ethics...but obviously Midi Hits has none. Customer service is a joke. They are rude and offensive and anything I can do or say to expose them for what they are...I am willing. Hmmmm....I got mad just writing about this topic...great topic..thanks jazzcat...I've been wanting to get this off my chest for quite a while.

[shyamwestwind]

Hi everyone,
I see a lot of heat generated with the arrogance displayed by Midi Hits towards its customers and I was wondering why you cant approach a Customer Complaints Cell . I understand that you are paying Midi Hits for your Midi files, which makes it obligatory on their part to deliver as advertised, then why cant you make a case to be heard by the Consumer Court ?
Just a suggestion.

[Tubbs]

To anyone who likes anagrams...juggle the word "Hits" in "Midi Hits" to come up with a word that really sums them up!! ;D

[simmo123]

Tubbs, couldn't find anything at all in the dictionary i'll keep looking
simmo ;D ;D ;D ;D

[weegeo]

I`m wrecking my brain here Tubbs just can`t seem to `work it out ` at all hmmmm any clues? This is a real bummer i hate anagrams


weegeo---------------------- reading his dictionary in the loo lol lol lol

[gibbo]

Midi Hits anagram... simply move the letter "s" from the end of the last word to the beginning of the last word!

[thingyy]

The first word being Dim.

[cptkay0s]

Hey Tubbs, how does "tHis" Midi sum them up??

Pure as the driven snow (and mayhaps a little naive) Warren

[gibbo]

OK, enough with the hints... how about; "i dim sh!t"?

[Tubbs]

Gibbo wins the prize....well done mate!! ;D

[gibbo]

Thanks Gerry,
What do I win, a naff midifile from "i dim sh!t"?
(2nd Prize being 3 midifiles and 3rd Prize is 5!!!)
lol... just kidding
Cheers, Dave.

[weegeo]

You were lucky the 4th prize was a years subscription weegeo ----------------------- glad i didn`t win a prize lol lol

[thingyy]

I assume its Midi Hits USA not the German company ?