 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mmatisoff
Date: 2016-07-21 17:42
Do any online stores allow you to try different mouthpieces before buying one? I bought my Vandoren M15 (used) and Backun barrel (new) from a local store where they allowed me to try different mouthpieces and barrels. My current mouthpiece (the M15) has small chips on the tip (you can see them with the naked eye in the right light). Thanks.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2016-07-21 17:49
I had a chip on the tip of my backup M30. It didn't come nearly across the rail. So I filed/sanded the tip smooth, and the mouthpiece plays fine.
Burt
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2016-07-21 20:11
mmatisoff -- they all do: WWBW, Weiner Music, Muncy Winds, Music and Arts, etc etc etc...each one will have a slightly different trial period and instructions, so it's important to read them thoroughly.
They'll also charge a $5-$10 "restock fee" when you return the items you don't want.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-07-21 21:04
Tobin wrote:
> mmatisoff -- they all do: WWBW, Weiner Music, Muncy Winds,
> Music and Arts, etc etc etc...each one will have a slightly
> different trial period and instructions, so it's important to
> read them thoroughly.
>
> They'll also charge a $5-$10 "restock fee" when you return the
> items you don't want.
>
As I remember (but I'm not certain), they will all charge your credit card with the total price of whatever you send for and then credit the cost of the ones you return back to the card you used. Also, (again, as I remember from the last time I did this) the restocking fee is applied if you don't buy anything, if you end up returning everything you ordered.
I may be wrong or out of date. They all have written policies on their websites.
Karl
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-07-21 21:20
tylerleecutts wrote:
> WWBW ended their trial program a while ago. Your best bet is
> the smaller stores.
What does it mean that the "trial program" has ended? Will they not accept returns if you order 4 mouthpieces and return 3? The may now be adding the restocking fee regardless of the final purchase, and if that's the case, you can certainly shop for someplace that doesn't do that. They will all charge to re-stock if you don't buy anything. You will, of course, pay for return shipping.
I haven't been online to read what they say about this, but it seems as if it doesn't take a formal "trial program" to do this.
Karl
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2016-07-21 21:57
They will do that yes, but there is no flexible trial program through them that would allow you to pay for the one most expensive, try up to 3 for 2 weeks, and send the unwanted items back. They used to have this about 2 years ago and they now do only "trials" which basically consist of a mass order with a return policy.
This kind of policy, you would imagine, does not work at all for college students.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-07-21 23:16
tylerleecutts wrote:
> This kind of policy, you would imagine, does not work at all
> for college students.
Why not?
Karl
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2016-07-22 01:28
Ordering more than one Vandoren, and if you were trying out other custom makes would run you several hundreds of dollars. The previous policy from WWBW (which is what I believe Muncy is still doing) works a lot better for the customer.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2016-07-22 03:52
Quote:
They will do that yes, but there is no flexible trial program through them that would allow you to pay for the one most expensive, try up to 3 for 2 weeks, and send the unwanted items back. They used to have this about 2 years ago and they now do only "trials" which basically consist of a mass order with a return policy.
I always appreciated that Muncy Winds would only charge my card for the most expensive item -- but that's not written in their policy...that's a courtesy. If they chose not to do it, I wouldn't have an issue.
One should expect a store to charge you for every item you have on trial.
If your credit card can't cover it -- that's not the store's problem.
Muncy Winds charges a restock fee on items returned regardless if you make a purchase. If you don't purchase anything, there is an additional 2.5% charged (although their policy describes this when speaking about instruments).
Gnothi Seauton
Post Edited (2016-07-22 04:02)
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2016-07-22 15:32
STOP. Before you work on the mouthpiece. You probably have a dent, not a chip. If so, the mouthpiece can be restored with a careful application of heat. A candle can work. I use a propane torch that has a hot air attachment. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, there are many repair techs that know this technique. The technique involves heating the heated area. I don't hold the heat over the spot but wave it over the area going in and out till the change takes place. Work on a junk mouthpiece first. It works like magic. I also restore dented tone holes on plastic clarinets this way.
Steve Ocone
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