 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-10-11 19:09
There's a seller on Ebay of R-13's new, that doesn't actually HAVE the physical stock in their possesion!
A student of mine ordered (with "buy it now") an R-13 Silver Plated Clarinet from a European Dealer, waited a week for a shipping notice, wrote them, and immediately got back a reply that they were "waiting for it to arrive". Then a week later, it was "the Clarinet had a problem, so we sent it back".
So now 4 weeks later, she is getting told it will arrive next week, and they will express mail it.
They paid with Paypal - I think it's a scam......
What kind of seller doesn't have stock on an Auction?????
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: GBK
Date: 2013-10-11 19:32
With the number of reputable Buffet dealers in the US, anyone who buys a new R13 online from an untrusted seller (especially one who is not local) is just foolish.
Sorry, no sympathy.
...GBK
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-10-11 21:04
Absolutely! They wanted a bargain, thus they didn't listen to me.
They are still waiting for the Instrument, or will get a refund, as there are protections in place.
They did save about $700 though on it.
But aren't sellers required to physically have the sales item in stock to sell it there?
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-10-11 21:45
My guess is that if it didn't come through Buffet USA they can't get warranty work done in this country. It used to be called "grey market". There are different pricing structures in different countries. Plus depending on currency changes it can be cheaper to buy from another country. or the dealer could be breaking their dealer agreement. There is a minimum selling price for professional Buffet clarinets in the USA. Some people at Buffet don't like this because they feel they are loosing sales to Yamaha. But it allows people who provide service the ability to compete. For example, Lisa Canning (and some others) fly to Jacksonville, preselect clarinets, and then have some work put into them before the sale. They can do this and compete on price.
Steve Ocone
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Author: sbrodt54
Date: 2013-10-11 22:34
I’m curious about the actual savings involved. You mentioned that they would save around $700 for this clarinet, there are dealers close to me so I called them on their price for that clarinet, R-13 with silver keys. Both had a similar price of $2930/2950. Was the clarinet from Europe $700 less?
I know service is important to me so I will pay more to a place that services what they sell (lawn mower, chain saw, shotgun, computers....) stuff that we all own and need occasional servicing. I’m guessing that there is a dealer you know and use with confidence near you, are his prices for R-13s really that high that your student needed to shop around? Just curious.
Scott Brodt
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Author: Pastor Rob
Date: 2013-10-12 00:10
Or, it is not a real Buffet. I saw a brand new Festival at the instrument market here in Seoul that was priced at about $2,300. It certainly looked real to me. My teacher said almost everything they sell there are Chinese knockoffs. He said they even sound pretty good.
Pastor Rob Oetman
Leblanc LL (today)
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Author: hartt
Date: 2013-10-12 04:29
David
Despite this student not accepting your advice, do what you can to have them contact Paypal and cancel the sale. The sooner the better !!!!
These scammers open an ebay and Paypal account, receive payments then, close their paypal account and offer excuses for delayed/non delivery.
Paypal can freeze the funds. However, if the sellers bank account or CC was closed/removed, there isn't much that can be done, especially if overseas.
Years ago, I ran into this with a purchase in Canada. The seller got my $ and I got nothing.......despite ebay buyer protection ad PP. He had already 'skipped town'. Opened up shop later under a different name.........just as he had done prior to my transaction.
Also, as you may know, those European made R13's often had a s/n with an F prefix. Regardless of whether it was the tuning or just a different bbl, the F has no following here in the US.
Ebay and Paypal will tell the buyer to open a dispute, then wait 7 days. In meantime, PP will freeze the $ in question.
If she did this through PP using a CC on file (instead of a checking account), call the CC. they will stop payment, contact the seller and get the funds returned.
best of luck to her
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-10-12 15:45
She'll be lucky to get it in the first place and if she does, and it's for real, it might be a clarinet tuned to the European tuning, sharper than in the USA. As you said, she made a very bad choice. Very bad.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: TAS
Date: 2013-10-13 01:21
A sucker is born every minute, maybe more frequently.....
TAS
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-10-13 18:24
There is a time limit to file a dispute on ebay - don't let the limit expire of they're out of luck.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-10-15 02:10
Ed, a student came in today with a new A Clarinet he bought at a local store.
It looked gorgeous - the lettering (buffet) was perfect, and didn't look like the Clarinet had been played much at all ever.
Girl he bought it from at the store said "it may not have been played for 4 or 5 years".
I looked at it, played it, and guessed it to be from 1997.
Looked up the Serial # and yup!!
1997
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-10-22 20:10
So, the student's Dad got upset that I wrote the music store in Belgium, and they quit................ w.t.h. ?????
Really liked that student too!
This is the note I wrote back to the Mom:
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xoxox, I find that truly unbelievable!!!
The Belgian store was ripping you off. I stepped in to help remedy that situation, even driving 2 hours to personally pick out a Clarinet. They had ZERO business to have a Clarinet for instant purchase that they didn't have in stock. I was standing up for you.
Please read this thread - I posed the question to many College Professors, and their answers are:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=394390&t=394390
Your Husband is being *absurd* by switching teachers. Not only will you not find another one as good, but you won't find one as dedicated as I am.
David Blumberg
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Here's the note I sent to the Music store:
To: traxonmusic
Subject: Other:sent a message about Brand NEW Buffet Crampon R13 Clarinet - FREE Shipping WORLDWIDE !! #331013005580
Sent Date: Oct-14-13 07:27:47 PDT
Dear traxonmusic,
I am the Clarinet Instructor of the xoxoxs, who had ordered an R-13 Clarinet from you on Ebay.
It is completely unacceptable that you took an order on an Instrument that you did NOT HAVE IN STOCK. That is expressly against EBay's Seller's Policy. I will for now not report you to Ebay, however her Refund must be processed immediately, or I not only will report you, but I will post your seller's name/info on the Clarinet Bulletin Board, which I am not only a Sponsor of, but am highly regarded there as well.
You may NOT sell any items in which you do not have physical possession of at the time of the Auction!
COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, and that's with the assumption that you are legit in the first place, as that method of Sales are anything but legit.
David Blumberg - Philadelphia Music Festival Clarinet Instructor
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here's their reply:
Dear Mr. Blumberg,
I understand you are very annoyed with this. We do not offer auctioned products and don't often have more than one of each (rather expensive) clarinet in stock. It was very inconvenient that at the day xoxox (which we know in our records as xoxox) purchased the R13, we sold it in our local shop. You are absolutely right that this is not the way one ought to do business through eBay, but I hope you understand. Normally, we can restock these instrument.
We have contacted Buffet immediately about this and we were promised a replacement instrument. Unfortunately, this one has not arrived until today and we are still not clear about when we will receive it, which is clearly unacceptable, and forces us in a very embarrassing situation towards Mr. Fan. That is why we proposed him a refund for his purchase, because, as you say, this has been completely unacceptable.
We have until now never experienced anything like this and have offered our most sincere apologies to xoxox numerous times. I assure you we are a legitimate music store and did not ever intend to conduct business this way, as this is no business at all. This is a very unlikely situation, but as you say, it does not make it more acceptable. I hereby also wish to apologize to you as I assume you are in some way affected by the terrible delay in xoxox's purchase. The refund for his purchase shall be issued immediately.
With best regards,
Lorenzo Glorie
- traxonmusic
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Pretty mad by this situation!!! The student's father is angry at the wrong person!!
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
Post Edited (2013-10-22 21:14)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-10-22 21:16
However, the refund was not issued immediately. As of their lesson last Thursday, the refund had not been processed yet. The store told them that they "needed to wait until the weekend".
So the store locally that was holding a hand picked R-13 for them had to unhold it, as the hold was for a week.
Not cool at all by the Belgian "dealer"
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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