Klarinet Archive - Posting 000067.txt from 2006/03

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Buffet R-13 to be replaced AND I LOVE BUFFET
Date: Sun, 05 Mar 2006 11:10:17 -0500


> -----Original Message-----
> From: thomaswinds [mailto:thomaswinds@-----.net]
> Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 9:09 AM
> To: klarinetlist
> Subject: RE: [kl] Buffet R-13 to be replaced AND I LOVE BUFFET
>
> >>I can say that Buffet tends to sell them the ones that are less than
> perfect and then discounts them and WWBW is happy to work with Buffet on
> this.<<
>
> Also maybe because the reps hand pick them, and get the best ones, so the
> ones that aren't the best are what's left for everyone else....?
>
> >> WWBW can arrange for you to go to the
> Buffet warehouse and pick one out yourself<<
>
> You can call them yourself, as well. My husband did that once when he was
> over there. He said he didn't find that they treated him as well as they
> treat the reps that come over and sell the clarinets For them. So there
> ya
> go....
>
> Lynn
>

Lynn,

I have been to Buffet's distribution warehouse(s) many times. I have always
been given the best of treatment and I have noted that others (other players
and not ALL necessarily professional players) at the warehouse (at the
facility at the same time as my visits) were also afforded the best
professional courtesy possible. I have no knowledge of how Buffet treats
"reps"...whoever they are...but if they were treated "better" than I have
been in the past...wow, what a good deal.

I know very few "reps" (sales people?) that have the ability to "get the
best ones".
Add to that...these clarinets, coming through the US distribution warehouse,
do NOT stay in the warehouse long. Often not long enough for a player/rep to
even get there at the right time to play/evaluate any large number of
clarinets in one sitting. I have to call ahead and find out when they will
take delivery....and you have to be there within days of clarinets arriving
from France, as the clarinets are shipped and out the door as quickly as
Buffet USA can get them out the door. That's the objective if you are a
distributor!!

So this said....

From my experience, I doubt very seriously that Buffet grades their
clarinets out the factory door, A,B,C...XYZ. If it is good enough to be an
R13, passing all basic criteria, set up by Buffet, at the production
end...that's what "it" is, it's an R13...not a A quality R13 or B or C. That
is not to say that each clarinet is exactly the same. Differences are the
norm and as someone recently noted, probably a desirable thing. I know that
if Buffet did "grade" their clarinets (to dealers only) and represent them
as "equals" (to the consumer) there would be a serious liability issue in
the end. I don't think a conspiracy is brewing at Buffet, as Mr. Miller (and
maybe others) seems to believe.

And yes...you (anyone) can call Buffet and make arrangements to
play/evaluate clarinets...but you have to have made prior arrangements for
purchase through one of Buffet's licensed dealers. Walter Grabner, Brook
Mays, WWBW...whoever you buy from...purchase must be arranged before you get
to the Buffet warehouse. If you want to walk out the door of the Buffet
warehouse with your "perfect" clarinet...all financial arrangements must be
made in advance with a dealer. Price, method of payment...etc....and a P.O.
in place.

Buffet has a great professional team in their US distribution office. They
are easy to work with ..... but very busy.

Forest Aten

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