Klarinet Archive - Posting 000658.txt from 2000/06

From: Karel Vahala <vahalakv@-----.au>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: price of instruments/Weiner
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 10:21:17 -0400

They may expect you to make the effort to read their "on-line" catalogue.

Karel.

mus_ldj@-----.edu wrote:

> This is a good point. I've encountered hostility and even just a no answer
> when inquiring about reeds, mouthpieces of this sort. It's almost as if they
> don't want to discuss these issues, but want you to just purchase these items.
>
> peter.stoll@-----.ca wrote:
>
> > I'm continuing with this thread as someone requested more info. First to
> > Ed Lacy, thanks, that's a good analysis of the other side in this
> > situation. My problem was not with the price being offered by Muncy so
> > much as the attitude of the salesman, which became a bit hostile when I
> > explained how much I thought was a fair price. If you can't meet that--no
> > problem, just put me off politely. I'd never tried to sell an instrument
> > to one of these places before. One of the things that surprised me was the
> > insistence by the manager at Muncy that I not call on their 8OO number
> > ("that's only for sales"), but use the toll line. Now having bought from
> > them before, that struck me as a bit unfair. You either provide an 8OO
> > number as a general service to your customers or not. And he was not
> > polite about it either.
> >
> > As for Weiner, oh boy! What a mess. I wanted to try a particular bass
> > mouthpiece. I called up, and the order clerk said no problem, they had one
> > in stock and could ship it out right away. I asked about the shipping to
> > Canada, was told it was something like $1O or so. Fine. Having had
> > problems in the past, I called back in 2 days to confirm that it had been
> > shipped. Oh, not yet came the reply. I'll have to call shipping and
> > confirm that we actually have the item in stock, it might just be on our
> > computer system.
> >
> > Well no confirmation call, one way or the other, ever came. Now Weiner's
> > 8OO, like several other mail-order barns, doesn't work to Canada. So each
> > time I'm calling it's long distance. The third time the mouthpiece has
> > reappeared and should be sent out "the next day". You know what's coming.
> > Two more go-rounds, with the item being "lost" in their shipping
> > department.
> >
> > What finally transpires after several more long-distance calls is that
> > yes, they have the mouthpiece, but don't want to ship to Canada, as
> > shipping would be prohibitively expensive (that's never been the case
> > before). I said fine, but I've made a lot of long distance calls, as a
> > public relations gesture and since it was the ever-conflicting stories of
> > the cust.service reps that kept me calling back, I'd like a refund of $1O
> > to cover my long-distance bill, so at least their mistakes didn't end up
> > costing me money.
> >
> > Well this request got me transferred to some very high up gentleman, I
> > think it might have even been Mr.Weiner himself. He did actually laugh at
> > this request! Said it was too bad but they'd never have done a transaction
> > with Canada anyway (I guess he figured we were located next to Albania or
> > something) and that no way would he refund my long-distance expense, but
> > I'd have a credit for $1O the next time I bought something there!!!! He
> > was about to hang up when I said, "uh, do you want to write down my name
> > for this credit?" And was told, "No, I'll remember!"
> >
> > I don't have a problem with any business setting it's own policy about
> > where they will do business or not, but after several of their customer
> > service reps told me Canada was no problem, you see my frustration.
> >
> > The overall impression was one of chaos and a complete lack of concern
> > over any but their side of a transaction. I posted about this crazy
> > situation at the time and a number of listers responded with "Yep, no news
> > there" confirmations. Buyer be warned.
> >
> > On the positive side I had a few problems with International Music
> > Suppliers a few years ago, as had others, but from all the positive
> > feedback on the list, it seems they've improved their customer care
> > since then. So a business can wake up to these issues.
> >
> > Peter Stoll
> > Instructor, University of Toronto
> > Toronto Philharmonia
> > Continuum
> > ERGO ensemble
> >
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