zZounds.com Reviews 

I was skeptical at first when I saw the reviews but I still ordered since it was going to come in 1 business day and it actually did in fact it came earlier that the expected time and I ordered a flx4 DJ controller btw and so far so good

This company sold me used pioneer All in One DJ unit, took my payment, processed the payment, and then cancelled the order and shipment hours later saying it had been sold to somebody else! After accepting full payment from my credit card. What kind of outdated inventory system is this that they dont know if an item is actually in stock before selling it to you? They have a script ready to go with reasons why this can happen, but it does not excuse this behavior in 2025 with robust technology and inventory systems available. Even on pending orders. Don't do business here. Extremely frustrating experience

Their in-house financing policies have apparently changed. It used to be $3500. Now it's some idiotic formula based on a $1500 limit. I have spent THOUSANDS of dollars, and always paid my monthly obligations. The credit limit has been way lowered. They were always overpriced, and every guitar I bought from them wasn't at all set up correctly. I recently tried to make a purchase for $600 and was denied financing. That's fine. This company will never sell me anything again. Their easy financing was the only reason I ever bought from them. Another thing is the shipping estimate when you buy is never accurate. Also, nothing I can find on their website about a veterans' discount. Most businesses offer this.

I got a hell of a tale for ya. Someone else used my logged in account to make a payment plan order 6 to 8 years ago, not in my name and not using my credit card. Two days ago, I went to order something from zzounds. They cancelled my order, and without notification, charged MY new card $44. I called to see why and got told the aforementioned, with the additional details that since it was not my order, they could not discuss with me...which I disputed with the rep to no avail. I explained these charges were not authorized by me and I did not approve them nor did I have an active order since it was canceled. Then the charge repeated 5 times that night for an updated total of $221. Straight up robbery. I disputed the charges, closed my debit account card and ordered a new one, and contacted my attorney who suspects this is very illegal. Do NOT do business with these folks.

Been in music for over 50 years. This is the worst I have seen. Save yourself a lot of headache and buy somewhere else.

I spent thousands at this place over the years. I put an order in recently and they told me my credit wasn’t good enough. WTF is this? Bad business practice. I will boycott this company. I used to recommend them to everyone. Not anymore. They are trash. Ungrateful and pathetic people who no nothing about music.

Very good service would bye again from zz sounds

I'm actually surprised by all of the negative reviews. I've purchased an LTD, a Jackson strat style, a Martin AE, several mixers, a Marshal half stack, a Randall Diavlo 100 head and Randall 4x12 cab, and four keyboard / midi controllers. All were on the pay-as-you-play plan, I have a bad credit under 600, and I have never had an issue with this company delivering FAST, what I ordered, and 100% to my satisfaction. Growing up, I literally scraped together pennies to get gear or "borrowed" from friends to play gigs. I wish something like the payment plan existed in the early 2000s when I actually cared about music. Nowadays, I'm more of a collector and hobby player trying to impart a love for music to my kids.

i have spent literally thousands with these guys but no more. They sent me 2 pedals I ordered new and paid new price. There were no manuals, stickers or anything else in the box and scratches near the inputs. Right after purchasing I spent over a month in hospital and when i got home they wouldn’t let me return it even though it was never used, which I understand. At the same time I caught up my payments and tried to make an order but they cut me off. These guys are actually assholes when u get to see their true colors.

I really wish I could give these shady individuals a negative score. “Pay as you Play” is a joke- they DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR OWN written policies. Their staff knows NOTHING about the equipment they are selling. Years of loyalty do not matter to them… so fine. I cannot wait until they are nothing more than an obscure trivia question. Amazon will run them out of businesses-and rightfully so.

First person I talked to asking if they were a certain business and item, and was told in a rude way...we share a warehouse with American Musical...so if they have it...we probably do to...which is a general consensus...but not every item, specifically this item in question was not.
Now I found one, only 1, and placed an order, and somehow the item while I was in payment processing, was pulled and sold elsewhere and only because of me follwing a rectification email which was submitted and in process/reprocessing because of a technical error. I was then was told the item was no longer available, while on the phone with a representative. I attempted to speak with leadership to explain, but was met with resistance because I didn't have both ordering parties on the phone call actively. Now I could have and offered to have the other party on, even though they had just hung up with myself and the other representative, but again when asked if it didn't pertain to my order details exactly, and that I merely wanted to share my experience and feedback for their process improvement, I was told it would take a complete overhaul and the manager said he would not get on the line, not until all parties were on the phone. I then instructed my call taker to tell the manager to get on the phone and to stop speculating and being a lazy manager, as to what I was or wasn't calling and requesting a supervisor for and to do his job by greeting the customer and opening his ears and mind. The call taker then proceeded to hang up on on me at the direction of his manager. Upon call back, they advised to email serviceatzzounds.com
Bottom line, you lost a customer before you ever had one. You guys can't earn a customer's business in comparison to Sweetwater and American Musical. Get it together or you'll soon be another closed and failed musical mega store conglomerate GONE!

This company zzounds got me the guitar I wanted when no one else could!the guitar came brand new mint condition!! Thankyou!!

I've received so many damaged and defective items from them over a period of 4 years, most of the problem caused from improper and very unprofessional packing on their part, but they also had shipped me wrong guitars, damaged guitars and defective bass cabs, and on one occasion even an obviously used and damaged Mesa bass amp head that was purchased as new which I of course returned. Sad to say that for all but a few good ones, most of their phone reps are very rude and unprofessional. I had spent over $11,000 on merchandise over a 4 year period and paid every bit of it off, but was banned from making further purchases just last year because of too many returns. 90% of those returns were either damaged items, defective items or the wrong item sent. Nice way to treat your best customers, punishing them for your mistakes and careless packing or defective merchandise. By the way, American Musical Supply is the same company using the same exact inventory, and they also use the same customer account records. I know this because I am banned from purchasing from them also, even though I've never bought anything from them before. A bit of a shame.

July 8, 25. As to your response coming nearly a year later, we as customers have the right not to purchase from a company that sends out used items purchased as new and damaged merchandise mostly due to unprofessional packing.

I tried to buy the Epiphone Starling Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar in Ebony from zZounds for $149. Everything seemed fine I placed the order, got the confirmation, and was told it would arrive in two days. But then, out of nowhere, they cancelled my order without any explanation. No email no call nothing. I had to contact them myself just to find out why, and all they said was it was -flagged?? but wouldn’t tell me what that meant. I was really looking forward to this guitar and now I’m just disappointed. I won’t be ordering from zZounds again.

Scam company. Don't ever buy from them. They cancelled my order and wouldn't help me resolve the issue. Order from Sweetwater!!!!

Scam company you place a order you verify your information then they cancel the order after you give the correct information then the office staff is so stupid they don't know how to help anyone. Never again.

They decided to use my bank account as a personal spending account and not take the charges off my balance. I had to lock my card and I have to get a new card.
They stole 200 from me in 2 days and my balance did not go down
Not even a penny.

So I have purchased multiple guitars as well as other gear from zzounds. I have made returns to them because of blemished products and because products purchased didn't arrive on time. I have NEVER had an issue and anytime I needed it the customer service has been great. The company itself is 5 star.
So why the 3 star review....well the only option is Fedex shipping. Every time my package is 2-3 days later than expected. Boxes damaged, Even left a guitar out on the steps in the rain when the covered porch was 2 steps away. As of writing this review I am waiting on a guitar. It was supposed to be here Monday. It is now Tuesday at 11.00 a.m. and even the tracking shows it will be delivered today between 10-2 but it's still not even in my state. I will seriously debate purchasing from them again solely because of their use of Fedex for shipping. Reading the reviews here tell me others have the same problem. Zzounds...do yourself and your customers a favor and start using UPS because I guarantee you are losing customers because of this.
Again Zzounds 5 star...shipping method 0 stars

Update: guitar finally showed up 2 days late on March 5th and believe it or not FedEx left the box out in the pouring rain leaning up against the door to the enclosed porch so I couldn't even open the door without tipping the box over to fall down 5 steps. Why not put it on the porch where EVERY other delivery service puts my packages.

They canceled my order without asking me or telling me why. When I called and asked what happened, they said it was because they "could not verify my information" like email address and delivery/billing address. The information I gave them was correct. They gave me no way to get the order reinstated and said they said any new orders would be cancelled for the same reason.

Responding to their response, this was not an installment order. It was through PayPal, like they suggest I should have done instead. Making things up instead of actually explaining what went wrong seems on brand for them, sadly. Anyway, I guess they don’t want to take my money, which is fine because I don’t want to give them my money after they treated me like this. Mistakes happen. Refusing to fix them is the problem.

I just had to cancel a gig and am trying to cancel a order for a wireless headset system because of false advertising, a kind of bait and Switch by ZZounds online ordering which is costing in lost wages and reputations and having to pay for gear I won't be able to use now. I was Told I had been approve to purchase a Mackie Showbow portable PA system and there would be no credit check. This was stated repetitively on over a dozen times that I rechecked while looking up other gear and finalizing the gig. When I went to pay all of the sudden the offer had change to me paying a large first payment to get the original monthly rate. I thought well, that's a bait and switch, but then it offered a high monthly rate with no large first month payment. I agree, enter my info including my card info, recieve email confirmation with order number, tracking info and payment confirmation. a few days later I was ordering some other gear for gig and went to check my balance when I notice that it was the same as before I placed my ZZounds order, I checked my order to see it had been canceled. After finally getting to a supervising he admitted that my order had probably been rejected because they can't perform a credit check on a Cash App payment, The fact that I was told that I was approve and there would be no credit check was all BS,. He argued that it wasn't a bait and Switch, I argued that it Was
. All I know is that I'm screwed and after a decade of giving tZZounds business including three high in Resonators and a banjo, none of which were cheap, I will give no more.