Klarinet Archive - Posting 000384.txt from 2006/03

From: "Christy Erickson" <woodshome7@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] "Doesn't play or sound right" My thoughts on the matter--RJM (long)
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:24:16 -0500

George, It isn't hard for ME to believe that this might be true after my
recent experience with two bass clarinets I ordered for my daughter to try
out. Ididnothave he sense that either instrument had ever been tried out or
used before but both instruments had some minor flaws that made it
difficult, if not impossible to test play them. The woodwind staff said the
instruments had been checked by their staff before being sent out but that
they themselves could not actually test play the instruments before sending
them. If they did, the instrument would then be considered "used" and would
have to be cleaned and sterilized.

However, I'll have to say that one of the flaws (the floor peg on the Selmer
that would not tighten to hold the instrument in place) was a definite
oversight on someone's part and would have been an easy fix I should think.
The Woodwind brand low C I ordered had a mouthpiece/ligature combination
that made it impossible to keep a reed on the mouthpiece. We could play
only one or two notes at time and the reed would fall on the floor.

I suspect the Woodwind is making up what they lose on instrument sales at
cost or below is being made up in shipping and handling, as well as
sterilization charges for returned instruments. It is really a hassle (and
very costly) to have to return an instrument that is flawed and I suppose
they sometimes get lucky and have people keep the instrument and have the
flaw repaired locally to avoid the hassle.

Some of these problems we experience with mail order instruments, I suppose,
are the result of our insistence on getting the "best deal." As the old
saying goes, however, you get what you pay for sometimes. Unfortunately, I
paid to have two instruments shipped to me that my daughter and I could not
live with. The local music store probably would have the same experiences
but I'll have to say that if the manufacturer's were more conscientious, we
perhaps would not have this problem. To me, my musical instruments are
investments, and one does not make an investment without doing some homework
and yes, sometimes that means spending a little extra money.

I'm sure the attorneys would love to make more money but I'd rather see that
extra money go into making a good quality instrument that plays well and
does not have the annoying flaws that cause such hassles. Christy

> It is hard to believe that a large, successful business like WWBW would be
> intentionally making advertising claims about their products and how they
> are prepared that are false.
>
> This is not about ethics; it is about liability and lawsuits. Big
> operations
> like WWBW have attorneys that monitor their claims and management that is
> aware about issues of false claims and legal liabilities.
>
> After all, if they were selling you and everybody else legally "used"
> merchandise as brand new, you and all of their other Buffet customers
> could
> form a class action law suit and try to get some refunds while at the same
> time paying your attorneys large contingency fees. If these guys were that
> bad, attorneys would be contacting you trying to get you to join a class
> action suit (so they could get a large contingency fee).
>
> Has anyone on the list ever heard of a successful (or even unsuccessful)
> class action suit against these guys? [Didn't thing so.]
>
> George
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rommel John Miller [mailto:rjmiller@-----.net]
> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2006 8:19 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Fw: [kl] "Doesn't play or sound right" My thoughts on the
> matter--RJM (long)
>
> Mark,
> I just got WWBW's Woodwind Catalogue for 2006, and I read everything
> pertaining to clarinets in it, that's where I got WWBW's own words in
> saying
> that they work closely with Francois Kloc, and that they "climatize" and
> inspect and adjust each and every....
>
> Still sounds to me like WWBW are the big bad wolf in this scenario, for
> if
> their claims are spurious, they have some serious ethical issues to deal
> with.
>
> Rafi
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Rommel John Miller" <rjmiller@-----.net>
> > To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2006 11:07 PM
> > Subject: Re: [kl] "Doesn't play or sound right" My thoughts on the
> > matter--RJM (long)
> >
> >
> > > If I am paying for a brand-new factory sealed model, then that is what
> > > I
> > > expect, for that is only one of two ways that WWBW lists the R-13 on
> their
> > > website, either factory-sealed or NOT factory-sealed.
> > >
> > > And if I am paying the full price and expect one thing, but are given
> > > a
> > > second, or something completely other, is that not a breech of Ethical
> > > trust, and a violation of truth in advertising?
> > >
> > > I suspect that I have been sent those "rejects" rejected by others,
> > > and
> as
> > > such that neither makes them "new" nor "Factory Sealed."
> > >
> > > And implied warranty in truth in advertising states the consummer is
> > > entitled to that which he or she pays for, and no substitute.
> > >
> > > Clearly I have been sold seconds, when I paid for a "Top of the Line"
> but
> > > WWBW are to blame, not me.
> > >
> > > Rafi
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
> > > To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> > > Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2006 10:58 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [kl] "Doesn't play or sound right" My thoughts on the
> > > matter--RJM (long)
> > >
> > >
> > > > Rommel John Miller wrote:
> > > > > The problem rests entirely with WWBW and whether or not they sell
> > > first-run
> > > > > production R-13
> > > >
> > > > They do
> > > >
> > > > > or if they, as I and others believe, are a reseller, or one
> > > > > who deals in factory "seconds" or those rejected from being first
> > > > > or
> > top
> > > > > choice.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > They do (in a way).
> > > >
> > > > And they're very upfront and obvious about it. 'A', 'B', and 'C'
> grade.
> > > > As explained VERY clearly on their site and in their literature.
> > > >
> > > > But from reading your postings, I'm not sure that you read the
> > > > literature provided to you very thoroughly.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
>
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>
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>
>
>
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