Rant: Snobby shop people

[tictactux]

(I post this under .general, as it's not neither clarinet-specific nor repair-specific. Moderators feel free to move this to the .rant section)

Anyone else who feels humiliated by sales people, for not having a $9000+ instrument? This saturday it was about the third time in a row I got scolded for buying a student-class instrument (which I overhauled and that plays fine, btw).

I was about to inquire about a one-piece case for a Bundy Bass. (I bought a bell with a spike (my Artley didn't have a pegged bell) and it came with a clarinet attached, but sans the case around it).

The clarinet case salesperson did the Spock eyebrow thing and asked "uh, er, is it one of those Vee-toe clarinets?" (emphasis and approx pronounciation by me) and I sez "actually, it's a Selm..." - "Oh!" (and his face reddened) "...one of those plastic instruments! You should know that they have nothing, nothing, I repeat nothing! in common with Selmer!" (not that I didn't know) "Sorry Sir, no, we don't have cases for those. Good afternoon."

The time before was when I needed a pivot screw for a Mazzeo Bundy, different shop, same reaction. Even before it was about a broken trill key for an Amati - near same reaction.

Meanwhile I found a repair person who just - repairs. Doesn't sell. Just fixes, solders, bends and pampers. I think I'll stay clear of shops that don't actually sell one of the model's I'm having an issue with.

I can understand that a technician or a sales person won't marry you just because you bring in an instrument they wouldn't touch with a conductor's baton, but is it really necessary to let the customer know what a closefisted cheap a* he is?

Hrmph. End of rant.

[Carl H.]

I've got no time or money for those sort of shops/people. Too bad they are so common.

[Gandalfe]

I went through a couple of those places before I settled on the ones that get my business. And I know their tech's by sight and name. Finding disappointing places --> easy. Finding quality places --> priceless. 8-)

[Groovekiller]

I repair instruments for the majority of the professional woodwind players in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale/West Palm Beach area. From the pros I get a lot of top of the line bass clarinets. However, the top baritone/bass clarinet doubler uses a Bundy bass clarinet. Recently, he bought another bass clarinet for a spare, and also because the case was in great shape. What did he buy? Another Bundy!

[saxismyaxe]

Brick and mortar retail stores are in enough trouble these days trying to surviving to allow such deplorable bed side manners from their sales staff. They should be happy to get your business and keep their personal opinions about brand/model selection to themselves unless solicited.

I repair my own instruments, but when utilizing one of my favorite techs, you can be sure that they 100% professional and glad to have my business, whatever it is I bring to them.

Find another, more appreciative retailer/tech asap.

[Helen]

I had a similar issue at one of the big music stores in Vancouver years ago when I was shopping for a bari sax. When I told the retail guy that I wanted to try the Mark VI they had, he started going on about how Selmers were no good, and how I should really be playing Yamahas because of X, Y, & Z.

I told him I wasn't interested in debating the relative merits of Selmers versus Yamahas, but just wanted to know if the Mark VI bari listed in their computer was still in stock. He then grudgingly looked it up for me. I won't say what I thought of him or I'll get a red card by one of the mods ;-), suffice to say, I never dealt with him again.

Oh, and BTW, the horn was already sold, but just not removed from their system yet. I guess some other fool who didn't know better, bought it instead of a Yamaha. :twisted:

[zagor]

yeah, here in stockholm you can have similar experiences...
Last week I was in a store, looking around... no one came and ask something. I´ve been walking and watching about 25 minutes, and no one from the crew (I could count 5 people who had the store t-shirt, so I guess they´re working there) come and asked me something.
By the way, I was the only customer...
so I just left...
Sometimes in certain store you can have the VIP factor... some famous musician come in in the store, and everyone jump on him... and you, poor doubler/not TV famous musician/studio owner won´t get some help...

[tjontheroad]

They're everywhere. You're not alone.

Superiority complexes among techs and sales people is an all to common issue. Humility and sense of appreciation for the business to the non-"brand name" part-time musician (like myself) gets me coming back with repeat business. I don't care how good you are (or think you are), if you're a jerk, I go elsewhere. Even if you are a top player, you should take your biz to those who support everyone as equals.

[Ed Svoboda]

When I need to shut someone up I pull out the five digit Mark VI alto.

Someone recently asked me why I didn't play a Mark VI bari instead of my Yani. I said I could buy three or four Yani's and since they did such a good job copying the VI (although I think the VI is a little more robust in contruction). They did such a nice job with the copy that the early Yani's have the same lousy response with the 1 and 1 b flat as the VI.

Sticking with a guy who just does repairs is probably the right thing to do.