 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2003-10-07 14:01
These questions might seem silly and so I apologise for my vagueness. Has anyone here visited the Buffet factory in Paris to select instruments? Can you buy them on the spot? and do they speak English. Say I found a pair of instruments I liked, but wanted to come home and sell mine first, would they be able to hold the ones you want? I am just planning because it is possible I might be going to Europe next year and will stop by. Thanks
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-10-07 14:24
They don't sell to the general public and I believe their phone number is unlisted. As all Buffet's that are French made come out of the Buffet factory it probably makes no difference where you get them from, it is a lottery all the same.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-10-07 14:35
My experiance has been with the Buffet, Selmer and LeBlanc facilities located here in the USA, but I suspect that Buffet in Paris would offer the same sort of deal. They all provided me with an overwhelming supply of assembled clarinets from which to select. At Selmer and LeBlanc, the audition room was small and not good accustically with people coming in and out and noise from ajoining assembly lines. The Buffet folls put me in a separate room which was adequate. All of them let me try as many instruments as my time allowed--but would not allow direct purchase from their factories. The clarinets selected would be shipped to one of their dealers (you get to select) which would then facilitate the purchase. LeBlanc allowed me to actually take the selected clarinets with me, but first required dealer "acceptance" over the phone. None of the factories would discuss their actual wholesale price with me--that is "privillaged" information, but I suspect any music store "retail price" is a 100% marketup. They then, of course, all offer "discounted" prices, and those are the ones you get to negotiate before selecting your final music store "of purchase".
A friend of mine has visited the Buffet (Paris) facility many times and has found them to be friendly, offereing tours of the plant and instruments to audition, and hopefully purchase--but only through a music store which deals with Buffet clarinets.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2003-10-07 15:20
How do I contact them to plan a visit if their phone number is unlisted. Or do you just show up? I have a music store that would facilitate the purchase so thats not a problem.
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Author: bp (F)
Date: 2003-10-07 16:15
Try this email. Philippe Leconte job's is Public and Artistics Relations.
I don't know if he speaks english...
philippe.leconte@boosey.com
Good luck!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-10-07 16:30
A word of warning. I don't know how much this would pertain to you, but I remember seeing many posts about how instruments change through shipping and climate changes. So a pair that may be "perfect" over there in France, may end up being less than once it's gone overseas back to your homeland.
However I believe this would be a change due to normal shipping overseas, in which case the clarinets may be stuffed together in the back of some plane which may/may not keep them heated and may/may not have the same humidity level available to each clarinet. If you carry it as a "carry-on" throught the airlines, those factors are more controlled and the clarinet should carry over well. So I would not stuff them in the suitcase when traveling back.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: beejay
Date: 2003-10-07 17:14
Where do you get this nonsense about Buffet Crampon having an unlisted number? You would find it if you looked in the right place. The BC factory is in Mantes-la-Ville, not Paris, and Selmer is on the same street. Leblanc are near Evreux at a place called La Couture-Boussay. I believe both BC and Selmer welcome serious professional musicians, but I have no idea what purchasing arrangements are.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-10-07 18:17
I agree--if you bring instruments back from France, carry them on the plane with you.
Here's a story of what happened to the president of our local "music mall" (large music store). When much younger and returning from his Fulbright Scholarship stint in France, he was challenged by US Customs as to why he was bringing two sets of clarinets into the states as professional equipement. Something about only personal professional items being allowed duty-free and, after all, 'who needs two sets?'. His explanation, "the Selmers are for woodwind quintets and the Buffets are for orchestras". US Customs OK'd--case closed (on both sets).
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-10-07 21:18
You have to arrange the visit through a dealer. Try Quintette Musique in Paris. AN, you can also arrange the visit through a dealer in your country of domicile and purchase on their dealer number. Difference is if you use a French dealer you can take the horns with you. If you use a dealer from home, they have to ship the instruments through normal distribution channels.
Totally worthwhile exercise if you time it to see the most selection of instruments.
As a side note, be aware that the instruments are quite inexpensive if purchased in France, but you may get dinged for VAT and other duties on your way out unless you can convince customs you aren't carrying brand new shrink-wrapped insutrments.
Best of luck.
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-10-07 21:25
I thought that the VAT does not apply to non-EU people leaving the EU but it does require filling out some forms upon departure. I did this a few years ago after purchasing some jewelry in France. I believe that the store charged the VAT on my credit card but deducted it later after I sent them the required customs forms. It is well worth taking advantage of this, as the VAT is something like 20%!
Henry
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-10-07 23:31
Ever wondered what happens to the instruments that are NEVER selected in the places where you may select. The duds.
My guess is that they are eventually returned to the factory.
Then what?
I have often wondered why, in the same shipment to little ol' NZ, there can be very widely varying serial numbers for the same model instrument.
I am not the only person to wonder which countries are the dumping grounds. Perhaps public exposure of what I encounter contributes to NZ getting OFF the list.
And even in a large place like USA, could the small shops be dumping grounds for instruments returned to the importer by the big outlets?
Food for thought anyway.
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-10-07 23:42
Very good question, Gordon! I have often wondered myself. The same is true for all these mouthpieces that don't get selected (according to some, 95% of all VD B45s are below par!). I guess all this stuff goes to the uninformed and gullible at the maximum price!
Henry
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2003-10-08 07:46
AussieNick - talk to Nikki at Brass and Woodwind, she went to the factory recently. She'll be able to help you out!
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Author: donald
Date: 2003-10-08 10:24
Gordon- i have seen in NZ shops the WORST BUFFET clarinets ever in the history of clarinets. US players who complain that Buffet are "inconsistent" have never visited xxxxxx music on xxxxxx road in Auckland. There they are very consistently BAD. Kirk Havelock got a very nice Greenline R13, but many of the top line Buffets i have examined in the last few years appear to have been reamed out by a drunkard. Clumsy stair stepping in the top joint, for instance, with dramatic effect on intonation and stability.
When you see this, you can't help (seriously) wondering if NZ is being sent the rejects from the Libertyville testing room (or wherever they are now, in CA?).
donald...
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-10-08 18:12
There was the cutest girl at the main door of Buffet's ...in Paris when I was there in 87.
Wonder where she went?
David Dow
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Author: Mark M
Date: 2003-10-08 20:18
I've tried several times to get into the Buffet and Selmer factories. All with no luck. I did get a response from Selmer that they take groups early in the morning. The best bet is to contact them well before you plan to show up and try and make arrangements. My last trip to France was just last month. I went to the Woodwind and Brasswind north of Paris and was talking to the sales person there about getting into the factories. He did mention that they have pretty good luck in making arrangements. So try contacting them also.
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