Klarinet Archive - Posting 000367.txt from 2003/06

From: P Ebersman <list-klarinet@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] On-line purchase
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 21:42:58 -0400

bbtkal> I think Music123 is a 2nd front for Woodwind and Brasswind. I've
bbtkal> bought a trombone from WWBW a few years back, and an R-13 just a
bbtkal> few months ago, as well as many little purchases in between,
bbtkal> have had no problems whatsoever.

Not quite. Music123 is a company in the northeast (RI?) that WWBW bought
to get additional internet coverage. Probably also because music123
lowballed every instrument they sold and WWBW would rather get 5% than
nothing when the WWBW website didn't get the sale.

Music123 can certainly handle transactions like taking money, pulling
boxes off shelves, and shipping them. I'd be amazed if they had anyone
who could play clarinet, much less fix one.

WWBW mail order vs the store is also a completely different
experience. Doing anything via the web that isn't "push button, order 3
widgets, choose shipping, pay" is painful. However, if you call up, you
get their sales folks in Indiana, who are quite helpful.

If you want an instrument warehouse to yank the next case off the shelf,
pack it and ship it, you'll get a cheap price. You just won't get
service on the instrument and take your chances on it being playable.

For reeds and other consumables, I also use the WWBW website. Prices are
good and they don't screw up too often. I would never buy an instrument
from their website.

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