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 s l o w WWBWh
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2005-12-14 20:45

I ordered a couple of things from WWBW. It's now seven (!) weeks, status is still "on order". All articles were standard off-the-shelf items, either on stock or "ship within 1 to 2 weeks".
Was probably the first and the last time I ordered from them...

Grumble, grumble. Sorry for the rant.

--
Ben

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Gandalfe 
Date:   2005-12-14 20:58

That's the price of success. There are items that are just hard to get now that more people are finding what they want online. I have two to three items at a time that have been backordered for weeks. I have at least two that have be so for months. :o(

Nice pic in your profile. Wish more people would do that.

Jim and Suzy

Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington

Post Edited (2005-12-14 20:59)

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2005-12-14 21:04

Jeez, what's the problem? I ordered some Musical Talent 30 years ago and it STILL hasn't arrived!

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2005-12-14 21:09

> Musical Talent

LOL!

(But you can't order it anyway, just subscribe...)

--
Ben

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2005-12-14 21:17

Ordered a Mollard P conductiong baton from Musician's Friend a couple of weeks ago as a gift. Can't complain - 4 days from placing order to delivery at my house.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Kevin 
Date:   2005-12-14 21:49

I've been a WWBW customer for a bit over two years, roughly the same amount of time that I've been actually regularly purchasing clarinet related stuff. Within these two years I've placed a total of 7 orders that add up to close to 3000 dollars. I've never had any problems nor have I had any item that took longer than one week to arrive.



 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: cKaSully16 
Date:   2005-12-14 22:04

On October 3rd, I ordered a GEM Clarinet Swab and a box of size 4 Gonzales FOF Reeds. I just received them today. When I placed my order, the website said the reeds would arrive at WWBW in 2 weeks, because they hadn't received a new shipment of reeds yet. I guess it took them over two months longer than they thought....

"Music is the silence between the notes."
-Claude Debussy

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: sylvangale 
Date:   2005-12-14 22:15

You don't get an estimated time for delivery? I prefer wwandbw myself, but I go with giardinelli or samash too as sometimes they have different items/brands/prices.

Anyone know of any other good online "general" music stores? (that really isn't just wwandbe disguised as something else)

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2005-12-14 22:20

> You don't get an estimated time for delivery?

I did. A status report every week. Some items changed status to "in stock" and the next time it was back to "on order". Probably they sold it to someone else whose order could immediately be fulfilled that way. (FIWI, that specific item is still "on order". Go figure...)

--
Ben

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: seafaris 
Date:   2005-12-14 22:50

We had been a good customer of Music 123 (WWBW alter ego) for over 2 years. Had few problems. August we ordered some items for our Grandsons birthday, didn't arrive after 3 weeks, no response to e-mails or our phone calls. All was suppose to have been in stock and shipped. We cancelled the order on-line. Did a chargeback with Visa. 6 weeks later all the items showed up. LOL We sent it all back and got a credit. Needless to say we have been ordering all of our musical items elsewhere.

Jim

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Chalumeau Joe 
Date:   2005-12-14 23:15

I've had a mixed experience with WWBW. All of my reed and mouthpiece orders have come within a week's time. The silly little stuff, such as mouthpiece cushions and cork grease, have taken up to 3 weeks.

Their web-based order tracking system is useless...my orders usually arrive before the system shows they've even shipped.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2005-12-14 23:17

If you're gonna buy from wwbw, I'd call them first. When I spoke with a representative, he was able to look up EXACTLY how many of a certain item in stock, and didn't pull any punches about other items. I was interested in a neckstrap, and he told me plainly over the phone that they have been out for quite a while, and didn't know WHEN they were going to be back in (for the particular one I was looking at). However, when I order stuff over the internet with a few clicks, it ends up being more of a nightmare.

I'd use the internet to get the item numbers, call up their tollfree number, and state those item numbers to the sales rep who will be able to see if they have it in stock immediately. And if they don't, I don't order (I too learned the hard way about waiting those "two weeks")

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: susieray 
Date:   2005-12-14 23:31

Hey guys,

I had never had any trouble with WWBW being slow until the past few months. In the past, my orders had always been shipped right out.
Even if some of the things were on backorder, they would still ship whatever items they did have in stock and the rest would go out later.

But recently they have been very slow; and in fact two days ago I finally received most of an order I placed on August 29th! One of those items is still on backorder, and I have no idea when to expect it.

However I ordered a Protec bass clarinet case and a K&M bass clarinet stand just a few days ago, and those have already been shipped out via FedEx and are on their way. So maybe they are finally getting their act back together!

Sue

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: clrnt_squeak 
Date:   2005-12-15 00:09

I'm having a mixed experience right now. In one order I ordered Vandoren V.12 reeds and a Chadash barrel, they came in 2-3 days with free ground shipping.

In another order I ordered a Vandoren Optimum Ligature, K&M clarinet stand, a Black Legend swab, and thumbrest cushions. The only thing in stock when I placed the order was the ligature, that sent right away with free ground shipping and I received it in 3 days. The other items were "On Order". About three weeks later, I noticed the K&M stand was in stock and that was sent and I received it today. Yesterday, I noticed the swab was in stock and that is shipping right now. The only thing that hasn't been shipped is the thumbrest cushions, which I really don't mind all that much.

Overall, I'm satisfied with the service. They didn't have to send individual packages right when they were in stock. They could have waited until all times were in stock to ship but they thankfully didn't. I'm just mad they don't have too much in stock, people aren't going to be happy if everytime they order something they have to wait a month!

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Joe B 
Date:   2005-12-15 00:17

I don't know what you folks are complaining about, at least you're getting what you ordered. I ordered some boxes of V12 clarinet reeeds from WWBW and received a box of Alto Sax Rico Plasticover reeds. What more can you ask for?

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2005-12-15 00:31

Joe B wrote:

> I don't know what you folks are complaining about, at least
> you're getting what you ordered. I ordered some boxes of V12
> clarinet reeeds from WWBW and received a box of Alto Sax Rico
> Plasticover reeds. What more can you ask for?

you shoulda asked them to at least next time, send a sax to use them with too!!!

US Army Japan Band

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: bill28099 
Date:   2005-12-15 02:18

I've placed a number or orders with Music123 over the last year or so and never had a problem. I always order over the phone. These orders include Eb mouthpieces & ligature, an Amati C clarinet, a Grabner bass mouthpiece, etc..... Also ordered an Amati bass clarinet to low C, didn't like it and and returned it. All went well.

A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: clarnibass 
Date:   2005-12-15 06:36

I've ordered from WW&BW and a few other music stores in the USA and never had a real problem. One time one reed box took two weeks longer to be back in stock but they kept updating my order and saying exactly when it is supposed to be in stock. It eventually arrived sooner than expected. One time they accidently sent some sort of breath training game (I had no idea what it was when I got it) which was a lot more expensive than the clarinet swab I ordered  :) Strange mistake.
I was actually at the WW&BW store in South Bend, Indiana, and I am not crazy about how it's run (more like a department store than a music store). But, compared with what I have in my country WW&BW is like the best thing ever made. Here nothing is in stock, somethings you can special order, and you can never return anything, and I'm not even talking about the fact that in the USA you actually have several options to order from, so there is some competition.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: TonkaToy 
Date:   2005-12-15 13:38

Count me as another disgruntled wwbw customer.

I ordered a french horn straight mute for my son in September. I looked up the item number online, called in, was told the mute would be in stock the next week, and still haven't received it. I had to borrow a mute from a friend in the SLSO for my son's concert.

I understand just-in-time inventory and how it decreases overhead expenses but this is just stupid.

I order all my clarinet related gizmos from Muncy Winds. I went to school with Phil Muncy. He's a nice guy and a good, responsive businesman.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: jmsa 
Date:   2005-12-15 14:00

At one time or another I have tried all of the major suppliers and have found without a doubt that Weiner Music is superior in every way. They offer totally free shipping on all orders placed online that amount to $60.00 or more. They are extremely knowledegable and accurate and are always polite. Their prices always semm to be at least $1.00 or more below everyone else. They also have a well stocked inventory. Their web-site address is www.weinermusic.com and simply click on the large word enter. I am certain that if you try them you will surely agree with me.

jmsa

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: clarnibass 
Date:   2005-12-15 14:12

Like the above two posters, I've ordered from both Muncy Winds and Weiner Music (although not many times) and didn't have any problem with neither.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: DressedToKill 
Date:   2005-12-15 14:27

I'm going to have to throw in my $.02 for Muncy and Weiner...I fall a little more in love with both stores everytime I order from them. I gave up on WWBW *eons* ago.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Shorthand 
Date:   2005-12-15 14:59

Something has clearly happened with their inventory management, and they don't have a good system for creating item waiting lists, but instead only know when they expect the next shipment in, (though ovbiously not if you're going to be able to get in on that shipment).

The real question is how well they'll respond to this issue. I have a few things on order, piddly little stuff like pink selmer tuning slide grease and a Bonade inverted Bass Clarinet ligature (which I'm in no immediate need of, I prefer my Rovner - the Bonade is my backup - mainly for use when I need to use a Legere reed).

I'm pretty sure the issue here is supplier lead time for the volumes WWBW is going though. You can't just pick up the phone, call Walter Grabner and say "can you ship 50 mouthpieces in 1 week?". The same goes for the small shops in Europe - and then there's US customs these days. Vandoren can keep up, but little shops like Bonade can't.

This is why clothing designers have to have their designs set and orders in to Asia by about March to get the patterns cut and get the clothes into stores in time for Christmas shopping. Next year is when we find out how much inventory risk WWBW is willing to take on. (They'll need to raise prices on the low velocity items a little, but that's the right thing to do.)

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2005-12-15 15:38

Shorthand wrote:

> Something has clearly happened with their inventory management,
> and they don't have a good system for creating item waiting
> lists, but instead only know when they expect the next shipment
> in, (though ovbiously not if you're going to be able to get in
> on that shipment).

WWBW is no young pup when it comes to mailorder and Internet sales, and they've had troubles before. It's surprising that the same troubles keep re-appearing - I would expect that new troubles would be rearing their head.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: jmsa 
Date:   2005-12-15 20:30

Perhaps WWBW is doing the exact same things and hoping for a different result and we all know what that defines.

jmsa

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: BassClarinetGirl 
Date:   2005-12-16 00:04

I had a problem with them too-

I ordered a mouthpiece, black silk swab, and a Vandoren reed case, and a few other small things, in May and I recieved them at the beginning of October. I had nearly forgot that I had placed the order. I'm sure that WWBW delivers some things on time, but when I ordered, everything appeared to be "In Stock", so I think I'll take my business elsewhere next time.

BCG

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Chalumeau Joe 
Date:   2005-12-16 03:28

Quite a lot of WWBW's customers have the same kind of complaints. Perhaps now their management will address these long-standing issues (link below has 34 pages of customer comments about WWBW - some good, many bad):

http://www.shopping.com/xMR-Woodwind%20and%20Brasswind~MRD-302302~S-1~PG-4

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: A2Clarinetist 
Date:   2005-12-16 10:32

Our community band ordered a timpani back in June. It was meant for a special concert we had in October. The drum came, via FedEx, on October 14th...after me calling them constantly.

Well, FedEx destroyed the drum so we sent it back and asked them to order a new one. Two weeks ago we had someone from our percussion section actually drive the 3 hours to Indiana and pick it up. Got there and THAT drum was damaged. At that time they offered to let us purchase a drum that was not professional quality and that cost $500 more than what we paid for the one we wanted....we chose not to pay the extra $500 for the drum that would not match our set that we also purchased in June. I asked them to order a new one...

So here we sit, December 16, a full six months after we ordered the drum, with no timpani and the person I am supposed to talk to is not returning my calls and she never seems to answer her phone anymore.

I had always heard such wonderful things about WWBW but I am not seeing anything wonderful at this point.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: A2Clarinetist 
Date:   2005-12-16 10:35

OH yeah, and our order was CALLED in, not placed on the internet. They charged our credit card twice too, although that seems to be resolved.

I wasn't aware that WWBW and Music123 were one and the same...I'll keep that in mind and not order from there anymore.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: J B Lansing 
Date:   2005-12-16 12:14

Just to add my $.02 I ordered a simple common box of reeds from WWBW on Nov. 23rd and have not received them, nor have their customer service responded to my three inquiries. This does not seem to be a company I wish to do business with. What I have reseved is a constant stream of advretisments by E-mail.
J B

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2005-12-16 12:33

> constant stream of advretisments

I was pestered about a dozen time with a poll how happy I was with WWBW. This only stopped when I suggested they poll only /after/ the order had been actually shipped...(since then I got no status update mails either)

--
Ben

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: ohsuzan 
Date:   2005-12-16 12:37

There was a time, many years ago, when WW&BW was a stellar operation. Personal service, knowledgeable staff, great products, great prices.

The past few years, in my experience, it has not been so. Just the opposite of all those (except perhaps for the prices).

I suspect the shop may be a vicitim of its own success. But, how long should it take for them to get ahead of the curve, here?

We have also had some bizarre "right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing" shipping experiences. Like the time my husband ordered two Legere Bass Clarinet reeds, and they both arrived the same day, in separate boxes, each box large enough to hold a good-sized Bb clarinet.

Guess they had to make room for all the glossy advertising (which was included in each box).


Susan

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: J B Lansing 
Date:   2005-12-16 15:49

I'm a retread, and don't know who, online is a good source for reeds etc. WWBW was big and splashy so I started with them. Does anybody have any suggestions for alternate online suppliers?
J B

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2005-12-16 23:09

J B Lansing wrote:

> I'm a retread, and don't know who, online is a good source for
> reeds etc. WWBW was big and splashy so I started with them.
> Does anybody have any suggestions for alternate online
> suppliers?
> J B

I recently ordered a pack of reeds from www.usareeds.com and some supplies from their "sister site" www.saxplus.com. VERY reasonably shipping rates ($1 for first class mail), my reeds arrived in three days, and my supplies also (from their sister site).

You might want to give them a try. They also have a pretty good selection to choose from.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Markael 
Date:   2005-12-17 02:13

This thread caused me to look back in the files to see exactly how long I have been waiting for those Rico Grand Concert bass clarinet reeds.

WW&B sent me an email five weeks ago (November 12) saying that the reeds were on order and were expected in the warehouse by November 18.

I might add that I ordered an item from Amazon back in September that still has not come. But it is an unusual and hard to find item, and Amazon has notified me each time the shipment has been delayed, asking if I still want it.

Correction!

The reeds have come in after all, either today or yesterday. My wife and I were out of town for a couple of days and I overlooked some of the mail. Actually, what happened was that my wife had told me not to open any of the packages because they might be Christmas presents.



Post Edited (2005-12-17 03:08)

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: A2Clarinetist 
Date:   2005-12-17 03:07

J B, if you are in Lansing you can try Meridian Winds. It's in Haslett.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: J B Lansing 
Date:   2005-12-17 03:19

Weelll.... Actually I am from Lansing originally, but now live south of Boston. JB Lansing use to make very good speakers.
J B

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Iacuras 
Date:   2005-12-17 04:19

I've been ordering with WWBW/Music 123 for almost 3 years now. I've only had one problem. I had and order of Rico GCS for my Bass Clarinet, Vandoren 56 for my Bb, and LaVoz reed gaurds for both. Everything shipped right as they got it in except for the Bb reed gaurds, which I cancelled after a month. Other that that it's been great.

Steve
"If a pretty poster and a cute saying are all it takes to motivate you, you probably have a very easy job. The kind robots will be doing soon."
"If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly."

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2005-12-17 04:45

I had a very unpleasant experience with them this fall that I think I have recounted elsewhere. As a result, they offered me free shipping on any orders through sometime in January. (Since it was a "form" postcard, they must have had to extend the offer to a pretty large group.) Problem is, to take advantage of it, I'd have to order something else from them -- and I'm not about to do that. For a long time, their excuse was problems resulting from the consolidation of their warehouses. But I think it goes beyond that. Their systems appear to be a real kludge. In my last order, they shorted my quantity on one item and did not ship several others. Their packing slip, however, proclaimed that they had shipped everything. The only way they could fix it (after three long phone calls) was to pretend I had returned everything they hadn't shipped -- then process a new order. I finally did receive everything I had ordered after around 3 months. Order from them at your own risk. And if you get burned, don't say I didn't warn you.

Best regards,
jnk

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: J B Lansing 
Date:   2005-12-17 18:47

I just received an E-mail from wwbw sayng they would be shipping my order some times next week. So it seems they waited a month to get around to ship. They said something about the Christmas crush. However it was not Christmas when I ordered. Anyway, I ordered the same thing from usareeds.com last night and got shipping conformation today (Saturday). Let the race begin. :-)
J B

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Chalumeau Joe 
Date:   2005-12-18 15:48

I have complained to WWBW about my late orders and both times they waived the shipping charges. A small concession, but at least it's something.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: bass9396 
Date:   2005-12-18 16:29

Having worked a lot of retail I must echo Joe's analysis of the situation. If you complain loud enough you'll get something. That's just the way it is. Free shipping isn't much, but it IS something. Who knows, maybe the next time you complain you'll get a free order! ;o)

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2005-12-18 17:08

Free shipping would in my case mean I save >30$... no way, I guess.

--
Ben

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: seafaris 
Date:   2005-12-18 17:36

There was a question about the best price for reeds.

I found that 1st stop clarinet seems to always have good prices for reeds http://store.yahoo.com/1stopclarinet/bbclarreed.html
and for ligatures.

They don't have a huge selection but is adequate for my needs. The last time I bought vandoren reeds they where $12.95 per box. The same type of savings for Gonzales reeds.

I am just an amateur player and don't know these folks, but they have always delivered promptly.

I hope this helps.

Jim

www.bajaseafaris.com



 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Shorthand 
Date:   2005-12-18 21:18

Mark,

There is a game they make MBA's play in pretty much every intro to operations class taught. Its called the beer game. No actual beer is involved, but instead it simulates the over-long beer supply chain.

As many of you know, post prohibition, beer companies aren't allowed to distribute to retail their own products. Instead there are licensed distributors with exclusive terrorties (and much of the power). Communication up and down the supply chain is somewhat limited by law.

Demand is steady, but notches up ~20% at one point early in the game.

Inevitably, even if you have a room full of supply chain experts, you get all kinds of surges and they get worse the further up the chain you go. Its called the bullwhip effect and is pretty much inevitable if there is delay in communication/inventory anywhere in the supply chain.

The problems WWBW are having are unavoidable even with the best inventory management system. There is little surge capacity from most of the manufacturers, and because much of the stuff is international, there are enormous shipping delays, especially if you're waiting to fill a container.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2005-12-18 21:30

Shorthand wrote:

> There is a game they make MBA's play in pretty much every intro
> to operations class taught. Its called the beer game. No
> actual beer is involved, but instead it simulates the over-long
> beer supply chain.

That's MBA 101 ... Once you have your suppliers and their idiosyncracies down, the rules get both more complex and simpler. In wwbw's case, there is not a complex interrationship between the suppliers that would cause a JIT breakdown; they're idempotent. As it is, there is a simple case breakdown among various, unrelated items. Given that they've built historiocal data into their system (or should have), and that inventory systems tend to lag by only a few days (and, in today's world, near real time is becoming more common) there is no real excuse for the overall delays in consumables - except a lack of credit or working capital. If that is the case then all bets are off.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2005-12-18 21:42

> That's MBA 101

With all the knowledge around and all - sometimes it takes a seasoned enterpreneur with a "gut feeling" when to overstock what, anticipating the pending demand. In the end, this is what puts one company ahead of the crowd.
If it were purely a matter of "modelling the world" then what would we need good business people for? - the entire business could be run by computers...it's just that we stoopid consumers stubbornly refuse to be reason-driven. Sometimes all of us want the same thing at the same time, driving the supplier crazy. (Ever worked in a bar/restaurant/cafe? Ever notice how after an uneventful afternoon all of a sudden 200 people want to order something? Five minutes later, the usual boredom spreads its wings over the premises again...)
JIT concepts require you to have complete control over things. If you can't have it (as in real life), you need experience and intuition...

--
Ben

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2005-12-18 22:11

tictactux wrote:

> > That's MBA 101
>
> With all the knowledge around and all - sometimes it takes a
> seasoned enterpreneur with a "gut feeling" when to overstock
> what, anticipating the pending demand. In the end, this is what
> puts one company ahead of the crowd.

Exactly right. Having helped start 4 companies over the years (3 still running, 1 not - the one not around was my 1st and last experience using venture capital), I figure I have some small experience. The MBA is a great foundation in trying to avoid the stupid mistakes, but "gut feeling" (it's not really that - it's experience and observation bolstered by the cold facts and a lot of number crunching to test out why you think a particular way) works.

A long time back I worked at EDS (during the Perot years). It was a great place back then to get a business education - my former boss is now the CEO of UGS. The one thing that I've always remembered him saying is:

"Forget the technology. Do business with people you can do business with - everyhting else generally falls in place. People don't buy whiz-bang technology, they buy into a business that might have whiz-bang technology. The people matter."

Paraphrased somewhat ...

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: bass9396 
Date:   2005-12-18 22:12

You can't blame them (WWBW) for success unless they are unresponsive to you. Then you can complain. I sold shoes, a lot of shoes, part time, for a long time and I was never yelled at by a customer when I was responsive to them, whether they liked what was going on or not. Some things you just can't control (international shipping, customs, the production rate of the manufacturer, etc.) It sucks, but that's the way it is. Ease up off good ole WWBW unless, of course, they are unresponsive to you as a consumer. If that happens, jump ship like it's the Titanic! Otherwise, consider what a complicated business they run. Personally, I've bought a ~$10,000 Bass Clarinet from them for $5500 so I'm not complaining.

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: ohsuzan 
Date:   2005-12-18 22:46

<<Ease up off good ole WWBW unless, of course, they are unresponsive to you as a consumer. >>

Ah! But that IS just the point. They ARE unresponsive. They either don't respond, don't know what they're talking about when/if they do respond, promise things they don't follow through on, and do this time and time again.

I, for one, am really sad to see this happen, because, as I have said before, I remember when it was not so, when they were the best thing since sliced bread.

But this bizarre shipping/ordering situation has been going on for a long time now -- a year at least. Something's not right in South Bend.

Susan

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: A2Clarinetist 
Date:   2005-12-18 23:10

Well, since it's been nearly 7 months and I still don't have a drum for my community band (and ironically *I* am a purchasing professional and in my career I have never dealt with such crap). I'd have to say that they will lose our band's business, and most of the band member's business. Gee, that was a smart move on their part wasn't it?

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: clarnibass 
Date:   2005-12-19 05:42

I just remembered another problem I had with WW&BW.

I wanted to ask about the Wiseman bass clarinet case they have. The one they show on the website looks very different to the ones Wiseman has on their website.
I emailed and asked WW&BW and they said they had one in stock, but it is possible that the picture is old. I wasn't sure it will be the same as the ones from Wiseman so I asked if it had all those accessories exactly like the ones from Wiseman. They said they don't know and suggested I order and see and if it is not what I want I should return it. I can't do that because just the shipping costs and tax are so high.
I tried calling the actual store (what they call showroom) and at least they could tell me the model. When I asked if it had the specific things that Wiseman has she said that it is supposed to be the same but she can't check it, and directed me to someone who is supposed to know better. Who was it? The same person who answered my emails!
I asked and he said it is not possible to actually have someone check the case! What kind of a store is that if they can't get someone to check such a simple thing. He again suggested I should order and return if not happy, and I said I am not in the USA and can't do that, so he simply said that in that case I shouldn't order it at all.

So instead of getting someone to check the product, which is very easy, they recommended I shouldn't buy it. Great....

 
 Re: s l o w WWBWh
Author: bawa 
Date:   2005-12-19 10:19

Shipping and taxes add a lot to the cost outside of USA. Have never dared use wwbw and I am glad that I didn't after all these "incidents". There are too many just on this page to be a coincidence.

For anyone here in Spain, I recommend mundomusical.com; a small family-run store that I discovered "accidently". They ship things from one day to the next and all e-mail/or orders placed through the website are answered by a phonecall to confirm that they have been shipped (apart form the e-mail answer). The prices are not as competetive as the US, but they are the cheapest I have found here, and shipping is included if you spend a minimum amount.

Other than that, some teachers have recommended muncy winds to me.

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