The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aures22
Date: 2005-01-26 10:15
Hello, I am new to this board. I purchased a new Buffet R-13 Bb soprano clarinet about a month ago at Weiner Music in Mineola, NY. I tried 6 R-13s, a vintage R-13 that I didn't like and eliminated almost immediately, and a festival, which had a warm sound. I payed with a credit card and on the receipt it says 30 days return or exchange.
So, I thought that I could do this within thirty days, although I was not really thinking of doing it. About three weeks after I bought the instrument, I brought the instrument for some adjustments and repair. After he does the work, the repair technician there tells me that the return or exchange policy for instruments is 5 days now. I was not told of this 5 days policy and was completely unaware of it. I was thinking, did this guy lie to me?
I want to know what your experience has been in purchasing at this store and is the 5 day policy really true? I am beginning to find a lot of fault with this instrument and regretting it quite a bit. The intonation is not even and I am not sure if perfect intonation, even tone quailty and response is possible without significant tweaking. The low E, F, F# flat by 10-15 cent, the low A plays sharp, the LH Eb, E, F plays flat, the throat G#, A play sharp-brought it down by lowering the pad height, but the tone is now stuffier, the 12th is wide by about 10-15 though the range. I made some adjustments, but not helping too much
I am getting away off the subject here, but I am looking for technicians/acousticians doing customizing of the Buffet R-13 like replacing the register tube with a smaller one to improve the 12th, and possibly adding a Stubbins (sp?) mechanism to improve the throat Bb, and adjusting toneholes to lower or raise the pitch.
Also does anybody know dealers who carry Patricola or Rossi instruments within the NYC area?
Thank you for your response.
Post Edited (2005-01-26 10:24)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-01-26 11:08
Also, it's very simple:
Your receipt states "I payed with a credit card and on the receipt it says 30 days return or exchange. "
End of story.
Weiner is an extremely reputable dealer - he wouldn't sell an instrument and change the terms midstream if he changed them at all.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-01-26 13:19
I would check with the owner/operator of the store. As large a company as they are, I would think they would honor what is stated on the receipt. But go straight to the top on this one.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-01-26 19:56
"about three weeks" could be 25 days - that would leave 5 days left on the thirty day return/exchange period, no?
maybe there's a misunderstanding
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-01-27 12:37
I would not be surprised if they had changed the policy. After 30 days, an instrument is quite used and could never be resold (honestly) as new. But, if you have a purchase document that says 30 days, they must and no doubt will honor it if you exercise the option.
As for intonation, it is always a good idea to play-test the instruments with a strobe/tuner before plunking down the credit card. Also, know your own proclivity for playing in/out of tune note-by-note. A lot of times as a player you learn to adjust to the variability of one instrument, and then compensate the same way with a new one forcing the pitch out of tune. Is the low A truly sharp on the horn, or was it flat on your old instrument and you are conditioned to compensate up?
There are a lot of great techs in the NY/Phila area, including Guy Chadash, Tomoji Hirakata, Mark Jacobi, Jimmy Yan, among others. Any could help you out.
Call Fred directly and discuss it with him. I'm sure he'll deal straight. Good luck with it.
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Author: Aures22
Date: 2005-01-28 23:02
It looks like Fred Weiner doesn't like to give in to customers demands. I went to his store and talked to him today and he flat out ignored or answer my right and complaint of unnotified 5 day exchange and return policy. It definitely seemed that he does not have a proper explaination for the policy that is stated on the receipt and the website and the 5 day policy. Instead, he took my instrument and told me he was going to adjust it-whatever that means really, was too vague- and have it ready to try again on Wednesday. He also offered to buy back the instrument as used although its only a month old, which I did not exactly like. I am getting tired of this really, Wednesday either I get a better insturment, exchange to another brand or return it and get my money back. Never dealing with this store ever again.
Post Edited (2005-01-28 23:07)
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