How many of you have used turtle Hill banjo Company? I'm having a little bit of trouble with them, but I'm hoping they will resolve professionally. Just wondering what the community at large has to say
I have in fact "used" Turtle Hill Banjo Co." and I know Danny personally. IMHO he's a great guy and I believe would do anything possible and REASONABLE to make sure a customer is happy. Having said that - reasonable is the magic word. I also am of a firm belief that some customers simply cannot be made happy.
Hi there! Danny from Turtle Hill Banjo here!
Please reach out directly with any questions or concerns and I’ll get back with you ASAP!
My best,
Danny
570-269-5330
Www.turtlehillbanjo.com
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Originally posted by lestermattHow many of you have used turtle Hill banjo Company? I spoke with Danny this morning. He's very accommodating. Good dude!
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Originally posted by lestermattquote:
Originally I spoke with Danny this morning. He's very accommodating. Good dude! We worked out a solution.
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Originally posted by lestermattHow many of you have used turtle Hill banjo Company? I'm having a little bit of trouble with them, but I'm hoping they will resolve professionally. Just wondering what the community at large has to say
Please let us know if it was resolved to YOUR satisfaction.
I don't go in for all these nuanced word semantics. Either you are a satisfied customer or you are not!
No grey area.....there's black and there's white. There's happy and not. Let us know which way you were treated!
By the way....he's not a friend of mine. So, I'm willing to be very objective....LOL.
I understand from the OP that the 2 have gotten together and are working out the problem. Hopefully, both will be happy with what happens.
I feel sure we'll hear from one or both when they are finished talking.
I got my first decent banjo the Goldtone WL-250 I play in my hangout picture from them 22 years ago when the great Dave Schenkmen ran it. He has retired and some younger people have taken over it. Old Dave was a solid banjo man and ran a business iwth high reputation. I doubt he would hand off to less reliable persons.
It never ceases to amaze me....how the onus is ALWAYS on the customer to prove he has been disappointed or mistreated!
It also never ceases to amaze me how there is ALWAYS someone here on the forum that knows the owner/manager/operator of the business and can vouch for the fact that he's a stand-up guy!
Why don't we wait to hear back from Matt before we draw any conclusions?
But, but, but Mark ... speculation is much easier before the facts are known. 
And fwiw, further along the tangent, lestermatt's avatar pic initially reminded me of the statue of Flintabbatey Flonatin https://www.travelmanitoba.com/directory/statue-of-josiah-flintabbatey-flonatin/
Edited by - Owen on 12/30/2025 11:50:02
quote:To me there is a simple answer to your well deserved question, if I take myself as an example. BHO has a lot of people who are deeply concerned with the banjo and banjo buying and selling, some of us for decades. I was steered to buy from Turtle Hill more than 32 years ago by a banjoist I had known for 25 years then, and had that seconded by a local banjoist here in Florida. Over the years, I have steered people, especially people close enough to drive by and talk with people in that place that this might be a good place to purchase a banjo. I have seen both broke beginners looking for something affordable come up with better than I thought they would and seen well off professionals come up with decent instruments do well by Turtle Hill.
I was worried when the founder retired and was replaced by younger people, but the reviews of sales there keep good.
So, I have a hope that Turtle Hill remains a good place to buy a nice banjo at a decent price operated by people who can be trusted since there are other places I cannot compliment that way. There are places where I hear bad things from other or have seen bad things.
I started playing banjo when I was in my late 40s or early 50s after having played guitar since I was 14. I continue to be shocked at how generous and caring people in the banjo world were to me when I was new and looking to buy a banjo and knew nothing. I want to return the favor. One of those favors for me was to get my first thing after a good time from Turtle Hill even though at the time I lived in Miami Florida.
I want to keep those doors open!
My hats off to Turtle Hill Banjo Co. for reaching out to lestermatt to resolve his concerns. Glad to hear a solution was worked out. 
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Originally posted by Mark DouglasIt never ceases to amaze me....how the onus is ALWAYS on the customer to prove he has been disappointed or mistreated!
It also never ceases to amaze me how there is ALWAYS someone here on the forum that knows the owner/manager/operator of the business and can vouch for the fact that he's a stand-up guy!
Why don't we wait to hear back from Matt before we draw any conclusions?
Well Mark, it's just one more thing (I) don't have to worry about!! sleep easy,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Originally posted by 3 FingerMy hats off to Turtle Hill Banjo Co. for reaching out to lestermatt to resolve his concerns. Glad to hear a solution was worked out.
This is the ONLY forum where folks give a "hats off" to the retailer/owner just for doing the right thing! Oh how I miss the days when doing the right thing was just part of being a decent, honorable human being! Does every single act of decency require acknowledgement!!!
My goodness.....has the world changed so.much that we have to recognize....and thank.....and congratulate.....and praise.....and shout out......
EVERYONE WHO JUST DOES WHAT THEY SHOULD DO AS PART OF BEING A FAIR AND HONEST AND KIND MEMBER OF THE HUMAN RACE!
What a concept! "I treated someone with respect, dignity and grace today. I did not expect or receive thanks or acknowledgement!"
To paraphrase Gen. George Patton:
"Oh, how I hate the 21st century!"
Edited by - Mark Douglas on 01/07/2026 22:23:19
I see nothing wrong with giving kudos to a business who tries to right what a customer sees as a wrong. That's what happened here and I say the company definitely deserves a kind word, not sour grapes.
Excellent response, Sherry. There is nothing bad about acknowledging good customer service. While it should be standard behavior, it has become less common.
Yes it’s good to give kudos to a business. The original poster was looking for what the community at large has to say about the Turtle Hill Banjo Co. and several here shared their thoughts and experiences which were all positive. Even the original poster said he was a “good dude”
I know one individual here (Mark) who doesn’t like to hear it but I can also vouch for the fact that Danny's a stand-up guy. Danny and his family have done more for the bluegrass community than most people will ever know. There is no doubt in my mind that he and his family would go to great lengths to make things right in their dealings with others.
For the most part many here gave a "hats off" in response to the op’s question and Danny the owner stepped up to the plate not seeking praise for doing so but got it anyway.
By your own words Mark you should heed the very thought of being a “KIND MEMBER OF THE HUMAN RACE”. The Banjo Hangout doesn’t need any sour grapes.
Edited by - 3 Finger on 01/08/2026 06:11:42
This is the ONLY forum where the successful resolution of an issue elicits a diatribe.
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Originally posted by 3 FingerYes it’s good to give kudos to a business. The original poster was looking for what the community at large has to say about the Turtle Hill Banjo Co. and several here shared their thoughts and experiences which were all positive. Even the original poster said he was a “good dude”
I know one individual here (Mark) who doesn’t like to hear it but I can also vouch for the fact that Danny's a stand-up guy. Danny and his family have done more for the bluegrass community than most people will ever know. There is no doubt in my mind that he and his family would go to great lengths to make things right in their dealings with others.
For the most part many here gave a "hats off" in response to the op’s question and Danny the owner stepped up to the plate not seeking praise for doing so but got it anyway.
LOL.....
I was in communication with the OP.
The issue was ONLY resolved because the OP made numerous phone calls and expressed his outrage and anger with the owner!
And because the owner had been put on notice here on this forum!
It was NOT resolved because he's such a nice guy! He stepped up to the plate because it would have been bad for him to let the OP come back here with a bad report.
Has it dawned on any of you....that if the OP had NOT gone public there very well may not have been a resolution to this customers satisfaction?
We should ask ourselves:
"Why did the OP feel it necessary to come on here in the first place?"
You want the truth?
Again....I exchanged PMs with the OP....
The OP had nothing good to say about this business! He did not want to come back on here and "stir the pot!"
It was resolved. But the owner did not make it easy for him!
Edited by - Mark Douglas on 01/08/2026 08:54:37
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Originally posted by Mark DouglasHas it dawned on any of you....that if the OP had NOT gone public there very well may not have been a resolution to this customers satisfaction?
We should ask ourselves:
"Why did the OP feel it necessary to come on here in the first place?"
You want the truth?Again....I exchanged PMs with the OP....
The OP had nothing good to say about this business! He did not want to come back on here and "stir the pot!"It was resolved. But the owner did not make it easy for him!
The problem was resolved and it looks as if you are the only one not happy here. Seems you are the one stirring the pot, get over it.
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Originally posted by 3 Fingerquote:
Originally posted by Mark DouglasHas it dawned on any of you....that if the OP had NOT gone public there very well may not have been a resolution to this customers satisfaction?
We should ask ourselves:
"Why did the OP feel it necessary to come on here in the first place?"
You want the truth?Again....I exchanged PMs with the OP....
The OP had nothing good to say about this business! He did not want to come back on here and "stir the pot!"It was resolved. But the owner did not make it easy for him!
The problem was resolved and it looks as if you are the only one not happy here. Seems4 you are the one stirring the pot, get over it.
You people crack me up with your skewed sense of reality.
You're just cranky because your friend's reputation was called into question. Get over it.
Edited by - Mark Douglas on 01/08/2026 10:03:11
Yes sir!
The guy from Turtle Hill stepped up to the plate and did what's right.
How about an attaboy and pat on the back for him!
The world is a happy place!
The situation has been resolved and this thread has reached an end, although not all are happy about the ending.
Enough already!
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Originally posted by reubenstumpThis is the ONLY forum where the successful resolution of an issue elicits a diatribe.
That's not accurate.
Diatribe implies that Danny or his business was personally attacked. Not true!
Only his business practice was called into question!
Clarification was needed.
I won't be satisfied until I find out how much wiggle room there is between kind word/kudos and sour grapes.
Is there no middle ground on BHO in the 21st. century?
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