Author: smp
Date: 2019-03-22 20:31
Long-time lurker here, just now making a post. (long post, TL;DR at the bottom)
I bought a Buffet R13 online from Woodwind Brasswind back in summer of 2016. I chose a cheap former "display model" to save money (I already took out a loan); its only recorded blemish was a scratch on the C/F key.
Anyway, in it comes; it's got iffy keywork, a couple leaky pads, et cetera. Tenons are loose; no cork on the bridge. No mouthpiece in the case; an off-brand ligature. The stamp wore off in a couple weeks, but I thought that was normal considering how I gripped it. I went to register it on Buffet's website to no avail, so I assumed WWBW already did. It overall seemed close enough to the R13 test model I played and fell in love with, and I didn't particularly want to part with it, so I ignored all the red flags.
Fast-forward two weeks ago: someone knocked my clarinet over during a band rehearsal and one of the posts got misaligned, preventing the upper-joint rings from moving freely. I sent the whole thing off to a local music shop (also a Buffet dealer) through my professor to get it fixed, and also mentioned I'd like the pads realigned in the hopes it would fix my degrading tone on the instrument.
The music store called my professor and said a bunch of (metaphorical) blaring alarms went off. Firstly, the stamps on the bell and joints didn't look like those on any other R13. Secondly, the aforementioned mechanical issues; it was "one of the worst Buffets and one of the worst clarinets [they've] ever played". Moreover, they called Buffet and they have no record of the serial number printed on the clarinet. The interior bore doesn't even look right, apparently. Everyone's pretty confident it's a counterfeit.
After no e-Mail response from WWBW for two weeks, I took to calling them. They simply said my limited warranty is expired and they can't do anything about my clarinet as of now. Supervisor said the same thing, and so their supervisor. My professor, the repairman, Buffet and I are all just at a loss for words here.
Is there any way I can hold the parties involved accountable? Are counterfeit instruments even protected by any sort of law (in the US) after this time? I know this sounds a lot like a legal advice post, but I'm not really sure where else to ask. I've also done a good search here on the BBoard but nothing really fit my situation.
TL;DR: I've very likely been playing a counterfeit Buffet R13 for almost two years and the vendor won't hold itself accountable.
Much thanks in advance for any advice.
Seth Price, student
“Alto clarinets are the violas of woodwinds.”
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