Klarinet Archive - Posting 000152.txt from 2004/06

From: Umar Goldeli <umar@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet issues - A or Bb??
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 10:01:56 -0400

Hello Andy,

> Although the instrument may have been in a factory sealed box at the
> time they received it, I would guess that your instrument has been tried
> and returned multiple times by other customers. The above statement is
> "misleading", to put it politely. :-)

Hmm.. I have a feeling that it is indeed in that category..

> Music123 seems to be a different front for the Woodwind & Brasswind
> store. See http://www.wwbw.com and you will find the web pages are not
> *exactly* the same, but they are sufficiently similar that it can not
> just be coincidence. If you go to wwbw.com and look at their FAQ, you
> will find the same FAQ statement as above, except it refers to "Woodwind
> and Brasswind" instead of "Music123"

Yep - and in fact at the time of purchase - I found that when I placed the
order - the listing for the Recital Bb disappeared from both store
listings simultaneously. ;)

> I would recommend that you contact Music123's customer service (their
> "Help" web page has a link) and ask them your question about the kind of
> clarinet you received. You should also ask them for the year of
> manufacture. They *should* be able to tell you exactly what kind of
> clarinet they shipped you; and if is an "A" when it should have been a
> "Bb", they should let you return this instrument and send you a new one,
> at no additional cost to you.

I've sent them a "please explain" email already an am looking forward to
hearing what they have to say.

> With all of that said, it is certainly possible that even if the
> condition of the instrument is not "new", it may be a very find
> instrument worth keeping. Still, Music123 should do something to make
> this up to you: send you a *brand new* case, sell you the instrument at
> an "outlet" or "used" price, etc. I would point out to them their own
> FAQ claim runs counter to the actual condition of your instrument. I
> understand that the instruments they send out may have been tried and
> returned by other customers, but I would think that after so many "try
> and return" cycles, there comes a time when the instrument is no longer
> "new".

Agreed thoroughly..

Actually the wood was also *extremely* dry on arrival and the keys less
than "sparkly" - but I must say that my resolve on this is a little on the
weak side as I've already spent some time oiling and polishing and the
clarinet at least is back to what a "new" instrument should look like.

I've also got some new reeds in the hope that it's an embouchure + reed
issue or somesuch and not the clarinet itself (I can only imagine the joy
I'll have trying to courier this package out of Japan.. think
"paperwork".. lots and lots of non-English paperwork for anything more
complicated than buying chocolate! ;)

Thanks again..

//umar.

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