Klarinet Archive - Posting 000414.txt from 1999/07

From: Margaret Squires <margeaux@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Buffet E 11
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 02:02:11 -0400

When somebody comes in with a mail order catalog expecting us to match the
price, we order the instrument from the factory, and don't go through it first.
They are charged the catalog price and then have to pay to have adjustments
made.

My personal experience and experience through the shop where I work has been
that the mail order companies claim to go through the instruments before they
are shipped, but they don't. If it had happened only to me, I would not say
anything. But we have had several people bring instruments in to us to fix. We
refuse to work on them and tell them to send them back to the mail order
company.

Ian Black wrote:

> Well, there's nothing like starting a good argument, huh? Maybe I should
> stick to lurking...?
>
> I have to agree that there is nothing to beat the personal service you get
> from reputable instrument shops. (do I need to add that I don't include the
> local guitar shop in this?) But is it really worth the price premium? When I
> got my clarinets (some 10-12 years ago) I was not aware of the existence of
> mail order, and bought from a local shop and got great service. I got to try
> out several different instruments in my own time before making the purchase
> (Buffet C12 Bb and R13 A). I later found out that I'd have paid less mail
> order.
>
> I can't, therefore, speak from experience about mail order companies. I
> have, however, heard nothing but good reports about Myatt's, a dealer in
> Hertfordshire, and I've not been able to find many cheaper instruments
> anywhere in the UK. John Myatt is an accomplished clarinet player, and I
> don't believe that he'd allow his staff to mail badly set up instruments.
> This is borne out by the reports I've heard. In my experience, local dealers
> have a hard time matching their mail order price. In any case I _always_ use
> them to check other people's prices against. (http://www.myatt.co.uk)
>
> ...and no, I'm not on commission!
>
> P.S. Anybody have any suggestions as to an alternative for the (lost)
> plastic sleeving at the point where the LH B/C# (clarion) levers reach the
> rest of the key mechanism?
>
> Thanks.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CEField@-----.com>
> To: klarinet@-----.org>
> Date: 14 July 1999 14:49
> Subject: Re: [kl] Buffet E 11
>
> >
> >In a message dated 7/14/99 1:25:22 AM, margeaux@-----.com writes:
> >
> ><<I have spent hours with customers trying out all of the pro
> >flutes/trumpets/clarinets in our store to be told that our prices are too
> >high! Well, what do people expect from personal service!!>>
> >
> >I have to agree with Margaret. Mail order is great for many things, but you
> >take your chances with a clarinet. Unless you can tweak the instrument
> >yourself or can pay someone locally to provide that service, you might be
> >better off visiting a GOOD music store where they know clarinets. (I'm not
> >referring to the local guitar shop that happens to carry some clarinets.)
> You
> >know the adage "Penny wise and pound foolish."
> >
> >Cindy
> >
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