#7 - a birthday 12string

[Marcel]

Sorry to be a little negative BUT is there a chance it had some slight damage and was refinished (incorrectly) by a third party before it left the States?

I doubt it.... It came as part of an order for four Fender brand items through an Aussie retailer. All four Fender items from the Aussie distributor arrived in the retailers hands the Monday just passed and then immediately forwarded to me Tuesday morning, then all four items arriving Friday today... Nil chance of anyone but the factory in Mexico setting this error adrift.

Box says Strat, and it is a Strat, serial numbers match the box, the box I opened today was factory sealed (never opened by retailer).... so it's legit, and a legit error...

I contacted the retailer and sent the same photos. The lovely lady who responded missed the mis-labeling and tried to identify scratches and marks that most probably is just dirt on my camera lens. I replied being more explicit of the 'issue', but it's late Friday arvo so I'm not expecting to hear anything until Monday or Tuesday....

[cork sniffer]

I doubt it.... It came as part of an order for four Fender brand items through an Aussie retailer. All four Fender items from the Aussie distributor arrived in the retailers hands the Monday just passed and then immediately forwarded to me Tuesday morning, then all four items arriving Friday today... Nil chance of anyone but the factory in Mexico setting this error adrift.

Box says Strat, and it is a Strat, serial numbers match the box, the box I opened today was factory sealed (never opened by retailer).... so it's legit, and a legit error...

I contacted the retailer and sent the same photos. The lovely lady who responded missed the mis-labeling and tried to identify scratches and marks that most probably is just dirt on my camera lens. I replied being more explicit of the 'issue', but it's late Friday arvo so I'm not expecting to hear anything until Monday or Tuesday....

Fender Australia have a history of receiving damaged items from the US and mix and matching in Sydney before they forward to the retailers. It happened to me and it took weeks and MANY letters before they produced a letter saying my mismatched (top dollar) guitar was an original as purchased item even though the neck and body weren't matched. :-(
I now bypass Fender Australia and purchase from Chicago Music Exchange and save money every time. I could say a lot more but they are litigious and I don't want anything to do with them EVER again.

[cork sniffer]

Box says Strat, and it is a Strat, serial numbers match the box, the box I opened today was factory sealed (never opened by retailer).... so it's legit, and a legit error...

I've been told by Fender Australia that all product is opened, inspected and re-sealed in Sydney before shipping to dealers. They the importer have correct re-sealing system.