Klarinet Archive - Posting 000672.txt from 2000/03
From: "Kloc, Francois" <Francois.Kloc@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] A general note of CAUTION to the clarinet community from Francois
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 09:32:19 -0500
Dear All,
I have been running throug some problem with players lately concerning
Buffet clarinets warranty and would like to make a statment to you all.
I want you to have the best support and product to fit your needs from
us. This is a "heads up" regarding the sale of Buffet Crampon clarinets
by North american retailers. There are several North American retailers
who knowingly put their customers at the risk every time they sale a
Buffet clarinet. It is very IMPORTANT that clarinetists purchase their
Buffet clarinets or any Boosey & Hawkes instruments only from authorized
B&H retailers. Many North American retailers obtain Buffet Crampon
clarinets through non autorized and sometimes illegal methods. When
these non authorized retailers get and sell B&H instruments,these
instruments are called "gray market" products and present sometimes
problems to the sometimes unknowing musicians who buy them.
First,these clarinets have not been"Platinum Serviced" by myself or our
technicians,which means that they have not been inspected for superb
quality,adjustments and playability. In many cases we found "gray
market" that were worked or adjusted by un authorized technicians who
destroyed the instrument by reaming the bore and tone holes in a manner
that is acoustically incorrect,again nobody have the proper reamers to
work on the Buffet clarinet exept Buffet. We cannot be held responsible
for the work somebody did wrong into our instruments. Plus the musician
is left with an expensive instrument that is not playing properly
anymore. Your only guarantee of the authentic Buffet Crampon quality
standar is to buy is from authorized retailers who purchase them from
Boosey & Hawkes in Libertyville,IL.
Second buying a gray market instrument from an un authorized Boosey &
Hawkes retailer negates the warranty for that instrument. It cannot be
covered for any reason under our warranty program just because we do not
know what happened or who work on this instrument before it is sold to
you. You must obtain warranty service from the non authorized retailer
who sold you the instrument and hope they will take care of you. Most of
them don't and will send you to us,and you will get stock. Every
clarinets has a serial number and can be trace no matter what countries
or individuals a clarinet was "laundered" through. When we determine a
clarinet to be a gray market instrument,your only course of service or
warranty is from the dealer you bough it from- not Boosey & Hawkes USA
or Buffet Crampon France.
I think you have enough well known and respected authorized Boosey &
Hawkes who do a great job and provide you with a fully
warrentied,quality clarinet.
How do you protect yourself and your clarinet from these less than
forthright business practices?Ask questions and make the right
decisions. Make sure your retailer is an authorized Boosey & Hawkes
dealer. You can check our website or call Boosey & Hawkes at
847-837-2500 or contact me to locate the authorized dealer close to
you. If a non authorized dealer offer you a Buffet clarinet.even if the
price seems to be to good to pass up, make your decision is a few
dollars saved worth the financial and emotional insecurity of your
purchase for a life time?Anything of value has a price. Things that are
sold at prices lower than you are accustomed to seeing usually lack that
value. In this case you are forfeiting your right to the product
support,quality and service that an authorized retailer will provide you
with.
I would like to thank all of the loyal Buffet Crampon supporters in
North America and hope that through communications like this, we can
insure Buffet Crampon customers the best all around musical instrument
experience and product support possible.
Sorry for this long post but I had to tell you this.
Musically yours,
FRANCOIS KLOC
Manager of Woodwinds North America
Boosey & Hawkes Musical Instruments, Inc.
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