dahlquistador Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 quote: Originally posted by: stern ....There are many suppliers who do much better and are happy to provide good service. My experience... Would you mind naming a couple of them? Thanks. dahl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stern Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Some already mentioned above-International Violin Company, M & M with Shar, Southwest Strings, Nordenholz to mention a few that have provided me with good service over the last twenty years. There are others as well for various specific requests such as Dov Schmidt who carry some good products. Reliable companies with dependable service and policies. Unfortunately a few bad experiences with a company and it is easy to find someone who is gladly willing to have your business. Some companies don't seem to care about customer service-guess they can afford to lose customers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Blatz Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 To Whom it may concern, I just got an email yesterday saying that the company is relocating... As many of you know, we are expanding into a new location. We will be moving our staff, computer system and telephone service this coming weekend. Beginning Monday, February 5th, you may experience some disruption in our normal services. WE WILL BE OPEN! However, we suggest that you place your orders this week (Jan. 29 - Feb. 2) in order to avoid any possible delay. All orders placed by the end of the day Thursday, Feb. 1 will ship this week. For details, log into our Dealer Site. Best Regards, Howard Core Company LLC This sort of change can impede the expedience of day-to-day-business. I would give them some time to re-establish the quotidian of daily transactions. All the best for a happy and peaceful new year, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AMORI Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 <<They're the worst company I've ever tried to deal with in terms of response to e-mail enquiries>> Ditto, except to say ".......one of the worst". www.dov-music.com has been terrific as far as USA based suppliers is concerned. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnCockburn Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I've bought strings in the past from Dov, and been very pleased with his prices/service. I'm tempted to try his fittings but the prices (eg $3.50 for a set of ebony Swiss pegs) seem a bit too good to be true. Is the quality OK? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dean_Lapinel Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I trust Dov. I also trust Howard Core. I find them to be congenial folks to deal with. Ordered an edge clamp two days ago and have it in my house now. Dean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sooyeon Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 My experience with Dov was so-so... Yes he was very quick to answer emails and all that, but to me it seemed like he didn't like a retail customer like me ordering just one or two items at a time. Maybe if you're a shop owner or a business that orders a large quantity at a time, you might be treated differently. As for the product I received, it was worth the price I paid but no more than that. The best service experience I had as a retail customer so far was with Johnson String Instruments in Boston. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
muddycreek Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I've only ordered from dov on time. I ordered 3 items an it seemed to me that it was a bother to him to take my order. He didn't have a way to make a customer feel at ease. I'm not saying that I wouldn't order from him again but I can usually get everything I need from International violin, Howard Core or JSB wholesale. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlixD05 Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 I've sent Howard Core for at least 5 emails in these two months but they never reply me. I'm wondering why they provide a website with online order system but in fact it doesn't work at all or nobody there take care of online customers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kittykatjaz Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 AlixD05 Wrote I've sent Howard Core for at least 5 emails in these two months but they never reply me. Do you have an order with them or is it an enquiry? This has happened to me with an order that was placed online and was not getting charged/shipped but it was quickly resolved by ringing them. I do know which country you are in but as I am Australia the number I used was +1 (256) 2368887. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlixD05 Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 Thx Kitty. I didn't ring them I just put my order online. I suppose they will process it asap. How long it takes to get the items? If it takes more than one month, I would rather choose International VIolin tho their price is higher than HC. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kittykatjaz Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 The order I made was through the web but it just did not get transacted. So after quite a lot of e-mails I rang them and it was sorted. Overall with my patience of waiting for responses it took nearly 2 months to get the order. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
texbambam Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 What about International Luthiers supply... I placed an order a month ago and nothing. Called them and one items is back ordered. Now been trying to call for ever and the line is always busy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
muddycreek Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 I think if you search some previous posts you will find that a lot of people have had trouble with International Luthiers Supply. Not to be confused with International Violin which has superb service. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlixD05 Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 Is there any improvement of Howard Call's email order system? Do you guys still need to wait for above 1 month to get your order? My friend told me Kim is responsible for ordering in Howard Core but she seems not very reliable, Is it true? I do want to buy some tools from them coz I can't find other online shop provide what I need. But if I have to keep email and call them in order to get the order, I would rather choose to order from European companies even tho the price is much more higher. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Pollard Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 After having troubles with a previous supplier (St. Louis Music), I have just started ordering from Howard Core -- 2 orders so far -- and have had great service. I have not used e-mail ordering, but rather their toll-free number. On my last order, phoned in on a Friday, they called me back the following Tuesday to see if they could substitute a viola neck-block for the violin neck-block I had ordered. One minor quibble -- I had ordered plain wood for both a viola and a violin, and maybe that's hard to get. The ribs in particular had fairly good flame. But, that's ok. They apparently moved me up a grade to get the order out. I received the order about 10 days after I called it in. AlixDO5, if the e-mail system isn't working for you, why not try the phone? And then mention your e-mail troubles there as you order. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jacob Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 I got to the stage where I started to doubt that "Kim" actually existed, and that the few times I did have two-way communication must have been in a dream state. As far as I'm concerned, forget about HC and find other more reliable sources. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlixD05 Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 I did talk to Kim by making an international call. But unfortunately I still can't get her email reply which she promised to do so. Now I know that this company or Kim herself doesn't like to deal with international order. Its nonsense for overseas buyer to keep calling them in order to make and receive the order. Extremely disappointed with this company Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kittykatjaz Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 AlixD05, Give International Violin Co a go as they have been spot on with every international order that I have made with them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlixD05 Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 yea, I know International Violin provide much better service. But I have to order different kinds of products include strings in large amount not only tools, so HC was my first priority. Now I gotta look for other companies which can provide me all kinds of things in competitive price and they are not rude to overseas buyers. Honestly, I dun understand why its so hard for them to reply customers' email....And I can't even find their contact tel number on their webpage.. hmmm....very interesting company Quote Link to post Share on other sites
muddycreek Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Here is their contact phone number 256-238-9966. I couldn't find it on the website either, but it is on their catalog. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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