My experience with Richard's Guitars was completely faultless, I would highly recommend them to anyone in the market for a quality acoustic that isn't from one of the big name brands.
I really love the idea of booking a private appointment at the showroom. That gives you plenty of time to try all the guitars you want, ask questions, and figure things out in a completely stress-free (and pressure-free) environment.
In a normal music shop you will either be ignored for large periods of time whilst over-worked staff rush around or you will have someone standing over you trying to convince you to go for the most expensive thing you've looked at. Richard's Guitars is the exact opposite of that and I found the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable. As a result I left the showroom completely happy that I made the right choice for me.
All the guitars I tried were beautiful, you can really tell that the inventory has been carefully selected and researched. I also feel that by going for lesser-known brands you can get some incredible value for money as well.
Having a free setup included in the price, along with 6 and 12 month check-ups is a huge bonus and meant that the guitar was absolutely perfect out of the box.
The setup was done and the guitar shipped out within a week. It arrived in perfect condition and I was well-informed throughout the process. I never met Richard himself but every member of his team did their jobs perfectly. The guitar I have purchased will likely meet my needs for many years to come but if I ever feel the need to get another I will be going straight back to these guys.