Buying a Castillo Safely? Or anything Internationally

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El Burro Flamencuro

Posts: 118
Joined: Nov. 28 2012

Buying a Castillo Safely? Or anythin...

I've recently become a huge fan of Salvador Castillo's work. Everyone i talk to is trying to convince me not to send the deposit(people who don't know who he is but people who see a young white dude trying to buy a guitar from mexico).

did you guys buy your Castillo from him directly? and did you transfer to Western Union with the cash? Has anyone ever had a problem sending money this way? Or has anyone approached him with another way...possibly an insured way of transferring money such as Paypal(insured up to 2,000 usd or so)?

Any opinions greatly appreciated, should i throw down the deposit in this manner or find another builder?

PS. Just assume that buying used is out of the question.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 13 2013 3:02:15

aeolus

Posts: 765
Joined: Oct. 30 2009
From: Mier

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

I have used Western Union several times with no problem but once the money is collected by the receiver it's gone...no insurance. They have improved their service quite a bit as I once cancelled a payment and it was a hassle getting a refund but now it's no problem and the money was quickly returned to my bank account.
The problem with this builder is he says no returns so you are stuck with whatever he sends you. Navarro has a distributor in Houston and the guitar can be returned if not to your liking. Shipping is very expensive at about twice what it costs to ship a guitar within the US
What made you get so excited by this builder? From reading his web page? I can tell you from experience glowing descriptions are not to be accepted at face value.
I bought one guitar from overseas, from the UK and had no problems.
I also imported a vintage motorbike and was that a hassle!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 13 2013 15:04:46

aandyford

Posts: 5
Joined: Oct. 18 2011

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

I just bought one of these through
beauxmuzik@gmail.com; on behalf of; Beau Bledsoe [info@guitarrascastillo.com]
payed by bank transfer

everything seems to be going smoothly.
just got this pic after 3 weeks

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 13 2013 17:30:21

beno

Posts: 881
Joined: Nov. 3 2006
From: Hungary

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

I've ordered mine directly from Salvador:

guitarrascastillo@yahoo.com.mx

I paid the deposit through bank wire transfer. Everything went down smooth tough I'm not so great at spanish...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 13 2013 18:15:31

El Burro Flamencuro

Posts: 118
Joined: Nov. 28 2012

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

quote:

What made you get so excited by this builder? From reading his web page? I can tell you from experience glowing descriptions are not to be accepted at face value.

A couple reasons: hearing about his instruments on the foro, His guitars are what appear to be concert grade guitars in my price range, and of all the mexican builders...his guitars have the sound that i like. Another builder i like a lot is Tsiorba, but i think they are just out of my price range...maybe sometime down the line.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 13 2013 18:20:50

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

Castillo has a good reputation and i heard he builds great guitars but i have never played one myself (too far away from europe). Just make sure to mention everything you want and all details when you place your order. Once a guitar is built, its built.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 13 2013 18:25:22

El Burro Flamencuro

Posts: 118
Joined: Nov. 28 2012

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to aandyford)

quote:

everything seems to be going smoothly.

Wow, that's going to be a beautiful guitar. going to add that one to my guitar pron folder. Also thank you for the info.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 13 2013 18:26:14

El Burro Flamencuro

Posts: 118
Joined: Nov. 28 2012

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

Ok guys, just wanted to let you guys know how it went so if someone else sees this post they can learn from it.

Short version: don't do it through Western Union, They won't do it and you'll have to sit there for 30-40 minutes to get a refund. Ask Salvador for his bank info instead and do a direct wire from your bank.

Long Version:
So basically i went to 2 different places Trying to transfer through Western Union(The first place was one i had come to previously that talked me out of doing it right then and there, so the second time i visit sure of myself that i'm going to go through with it they say "we can actually deny our service to people, and that's what were going to do right now", the second place also warned me of the dangers but he finally let me try....story continues next). For whatever reason, maybe the amount of money, maybe the location it was being sent....Western Union will automatically flag your order, put it on hold and then you'll have to call customer service just to have them tell you that they won't do it. But at least you will get a refund right on the spot...and i hope the issue doesn't come up again but i believe we settled it there.

So basically i have talked to Salvador and the only and best way to do it is a direct bank wire(which i would have done in the first place if i knew i could do it that way)....he has since given me his bank info. The direct bank wire is what i was told at one of the places i went to, and also the customer service guy as the "safest" way to send money(which should be obvious haha). To at least ensure that the money gets to the right person...weather i end up with a guitar after all this is another question...but i do believe Salvador is a trustworthy guy. Also many people on the forum have ordered guitars this way without a problem. So i will try a direct wire from my bank, if they won't for whatever reason then i'll have to give Beau a call and pay his extra fees($600 -700).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 14 2013 5:32:19

aeolus

Posts: 765
Joined: Oct. 30 2009
From: Mier

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

You could have transferred the money at Western Union online and the receiver would need a government issued photo ID to collect the cash. You would need the exact name on the ID and would get a transfer number which you would give to the receiver which he would have to have along with his ID to get the money. Really very simple. But if the receiver doesn't have an ID it won't work

But given the wild west situation down there walking around with a bunch of cash isn't such a good idea and the bank transfer the best way.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 14 2013 9:55:51

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

I've never played a Castillo but you don't get reputation like that from ripping people off, I'm %100 certain all will go well.

Wire transfer?!? Lol, Michoacan is one of the most dangerous places in the world, I bet Salvador would have laughed at that idea....

_____________________________

\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 14 2013 15:21:45

tijeretamiel

Posts: 441
Joined: Jan. 6 2012

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

There's a Salvador Castillo blanca on sale in the classifieds in this forum.

http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=246681&p=1&tmode=1&smode=1

Aandyford, what are the back and sides of your guitar? It looks very beautiful indeed.

***
I love the look and sound of Castillo guitars, I'd love to try to one but again in the UK they are difficult to come across.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 14 2013 18:55:17

beno

Posts: 881
Joined: Nov. 3 2006
From: Hungary

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

I can just repeat myself: wire transfer was smooth and problem-free.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 14 2013 21:50:03

El Burro Flamencuro

Posts: 118
Joined: Nov. 28 2012

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to aeolus)

@ aeolus

quote:

You could have transferred the money at Western Union online

That might have been better but i think they still would have had an issue because i believe the place i went....they were basically just filling out the information online for me. As soon as he sent it, something came up saying the transaction was on hold and to call customer service. haha. Yeah about the cash thing, it was intense...i could have easily been stabbed right there by a few, definitely shady characters buying their lotto tickets.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 15 2013 0:27:36

El Burro Flamencuro

Posts: 118
Joined: Nov. 28 2012

RE: Buying a Castillo Safely? Or any... (in reply to El Burro Flamencuro)

@ beno

quote:

I can just repeat myself: wire transfer was smooth and problem-free.

thank you, yeah this seems like the only way to guarantee that he gets it. I have just sent it, it will be processed mon or tues.

Thank you everyone for all the comments and feedback, i'll let you guys know how it goes(going to take at least a month maybe month and a half haha).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 15 2013 0:36:33