BAGPIPE> Lark in the Morning???
Turpen, David T.
Bad prices. For what you get, VERRRA bad prices. They may have the
best selction of different kinds of pipes, but the GHB stuff is way
overpriced and even the Paki pipes are pricey. However, one of my
students bought the $300 Pakis and they are actually sounding good after
$200 of upgrades. This is one of the few Pakis sets I've heard of that
is playable and capable of being turned into something resembling a
decent set of pipes.
Dave
> ----------
> From: AC
> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 1998 1:29 AM
> To: bag...@piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu
> Subject: BAGPIPE> Lark in the Morning???
>
> Does anyone have thoughts on Lark in the Morning.The music shop in
> California.Good service/bad service? Good prices/bad prices?
>
> AC
>
>
>
>
Michael Duell
With a minimum shipping charge of $8, I'd think twice
about buying from them!
Mike
---AC <accam...@MINDSPRING.COM> wrote:
>
> Does anyone have thoughts on Lark in the
Morning.The music shop in
> California.Good service/bad service? Good
prices/bad prices?
>
> AC
>
>
>
>
>
_________________________________________________________
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David Williams
AC wrote:
>
> Does anyone have thoughts on Lark in the Morning.The music shop in
> California.Good service/bad service? Good prices/bad prices?
>
> AC
They've got bad reviews on the Piping Supplies Homepage :
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~dawill/supplies/
check the retailer guide page.
d.
scott white
>With a minimum shipping charge of $8, I'd think twice
>about buying from them!
Well, my Clanrye plastic reed fiasco began with Lark in the Morning -- and
you're right, they charged me $8 to ship something they could have sent in
a standard envelope! That's not much less than what I'm paying to have my
new practice pipes shipped from Scotland to the US.
Scott
Al Watters
Their service stinks. I dealt with them once last year and I will never
order from them again. I ordered a Shaw Low "D" tin whistle from them,
they told me it was in stock and that I could expect it in about two
weeks. Got my credit card statement and it showed that I was billed the
same day for the whistle. After 3 to 4 weeks I called them back to find
out why it had not shown up and was told that it was on back order and
would take about 3 months for the shipment from Shaw to come in. The
fact that they did not let me know that the status of my order had
changed should warned me. Anyway I changed the order to a different
make of whistle and requested that it be sent parcel post due to the
impending UPS strike. It was sent UPS and I did not see it until about
2 weeks into the strike.
Michael Duell wrote:
> With a minimum shipping charge of $8, I'd think twice
> about buying from them!
>
> Mike
>
> ---AC <accam...@MINDSPRING.COM> wrote:
> >
> > Does anyone have thoughts on Lark in the
> Morning.The music shop in
> > California.Good service/bad service? Good
> prices/bad prices?
> >
> > AC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> _________________________________________________________
> DO YOU YAHOO!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
--
Al Watters - New Frontiers Information Systems
E-mail: awat...@RT66.com Web site: http://www.RT66.com/~awatters
"A craftsman must respect his material. How much more meaningful it
becomes if one wears a bit of humility that allows him to acknowledge
that it is truly God who is the Master Craftsman. He uses us. Our
hands are his instruments." - Sam Maloof
Pete Macko
>>Their service stinks...
I've had some bad luck with their shipping department, but only when
something is backordered - i.e. Ordered $400 worth of odds and ends,
shipment was delayed for a month (before I called to complain) because
one $10 book wasn't in stock.
I've learned the hard way not to deal with them for bagpipe supplies,
but their hammered dulcimer kits are very nice if you're on a budget and
know how to use a screwdriver and drill.
If you live near one of their stores, check 'em out - they have all
sorts of cheap 'conversation piece' percussion instruments.
-pm
Marc Fournier
They are not GHB specialists (see how polite I can be).
Being forewarned is penny wise because you'll a half mile up ---- Creek before you realize
you've jumped from the frying pan into the fire!
Cheers
AC wrote:
> Does anyone have thoughts on Lark in the Morning.The music shop in
> California.Good service/bad service? Good prices/bad prices?
>
> AC
--
Marc Fournier
Extreme Hack Piper and author of The Dirk Claymore Trilogy
Arnprior-MacNab Pipes And Drums
http://www.areyou.kidding.wewill/neverbe/thatorganized.html
Renfrew Highlands Pipes and Drums
http://www.whatis.the/internet?.com
Mickie
We cannot compete on pricing on some items with someone that has a "in
the garage" home business. It is true that I have seen some quality
highland pipes at sometimes a less expensive and sometimes a more
expensive price. We are not a discount house and mark things up in
accordance with music industry standards. As it is we sell lots of
quality Scottish made pipes. I will quote Mr Turpen "This is one of the
few Pakis sets I've heard of that is playable and capable of being
a better product that costs us more and sells for a little more.
It is true that our Pakistani pipes are a little more expensive than
some others that are available.
I actually took the care to go to Pakistan and went to the workshops of
many of the makers and chose the pipes we sell by quality rather than
with a bargain basement mentality. The ebony pipe that we carry from one
Pakistani maker are actually marked in Scotland as "Made In Scotland" by
a few of Scotlands leading makers for a lot more money and we call them
what they are rather than trying to make a fast buck!
> Bad prices. For what you get, VERRRA bad prices. They may have the
> best selction of different kinds of pipes, but the GHB stuff is way
> overpriced and even the Paki pipes are pricey. However, one of my
> students bought the $300 Pakis and they are actually sounding good after
> $200 of upgrades. This is one of the few Pakis sets I've heard of that
> is playable and capable of being turned into something resembling a
> decent set of pipes.
>
> Dave
>
> > ----------
> > From: AC
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 1998 1:29 AM
> > To: bag...@piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu
> > Subject: BAGPIPE> Lark in the Morning???
> >
Mickie
Lark In The Morning is a small company and does not have an automated
shipping department. Our minimum shipping charge covers UPS, packaging
and the labor to do it. Some companies such as Damark and many others
have a minimum shipping charge for each item which if you ourder 3 or 4
items makes a large shipping charge. After years trying to figure out a
way handle shipping charges and not pad it into the pricing we examined
sales for over a 2 year period and came up with the $8 minimum charge
without padding the prices. Having individual pricing for the size of
our company and the upkeep is impossible. We try and use UPS and not the
post office. We are a 10 mile round trip from the nearest post office
and the rural route drivers do not pickup packages. Although the post
office rates are a little less expensive it makes no sense in our case
to throw everything in a car pay some one to drive to town and weight
forever at the PO. I hope this clears up or minimum charge to get a
package to a customer.
Michael Duell wrote:
>
> With a minimum shipping charge of $8, I'd think twice
> about buying from them!
>
> Mike
>
> ---AC <accam...@MINDSPRING.COM> wrote:
> >
> > Does anyone have thoughts on Lark in the
> Morning.The music shop in
> > California.Good service/bad service? Good
> prices/bad prices?
> >
> > AC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
Mickie
Lark In The Morning is a small company and does not have an automated
shipping department. Our minimum shipping charge covers UPS, packaging
and the labor to do it. Some companies such as Damark and many others
have a minimum shipping charge for each item which if you ourder 3 or 4
items makes a large shipping charge. After years trying to figure out a
way handle shipping charges and not pad it into the pricing we examined
sales for over a 2 year period and came up with the $8 minimum charge
without padding the prices. Having individual pricing for the size of
our company and the upkeep is impossible. We try and use UPS and not the
post office. We are a 10 mile round trip from the nearest post office
and the rural route drivers do not pickup packages. Although the post
office rates are a little less expensive it makes no sense in our case
to throw everything in a car pay some one to drive to town and weight
forever at the PO. I hope this clears up or minimum charge to get a
like plastic chanter reeds although I see some people swear by them.
scott white wrote:
>
> >With a minimum shipping charge of $8, I'd think twice
> >about buying from them!
>
Mickie
I am very sorry for your experience on getting the low whistle. We have
4 people that take orders, it is quite possible that whoever took your
original order went and looked on the shelf and saw one in stock and
another order taker sold it and got the whistle before your order was
processed. At no time would we quote something in stock if the order
taker wasn't sure if it was. I am also sorry that your order during the
strike was send UPS rather than post. I can think of no excuse other
than the person you talked to just blew it and didn't do their job. We
try very had to give good service but rarely something slips. Again my
apoligies.
Marc Fournier
Mickie wrote:
> [snip]The ebony pipe that we carry from one
> Pakistani maker are actually marked in Scotland as "Made In Scotland" by
> a few of Scotlands leading makers for a lot more money and we call them
> what they are rather than trying to make a fast buck!
>
I will concede that it is not inconceivable that Scottish pipe manufactures contract out
work. Having said this I also to say that you are being awfully coy. Why not name names.
What Scottish companies are contracting out pipe manufacturing to Pakistan and then
marking them as "Made in Scotland"? What models of ebony pipes are you speaking of. What
is the difference in the price charged for these ebony pipes. If you speak the truth then
defamation will not be an issue. If you can not or will not back up these claims then
don't make them. Until you do I have to believe that you freely engage in unfair business
practices.
Cheers
scott white
>> Well, my Clanrye plastic reed fiasco began with Lark in the Morning
>PS I am a 30 year piper and personally do not
>like plastic chanter reeds although I see some people swear by them.
Yep, the Clanrye was horrible.
My conversation with your 'order taker' went thusly:
"Hi, I'm interested in the Clanrye reeds. I've only been playing for a few
months and wonder if you've got a piper on hand to talk to."
"No. But lots of people have been ordering them."
"OK, what strength should I order?"
"Well, pipers have told me the mediums play like hard reeds, and the hard
reeds are unplayable."
"OK, send me a medium."
It split right down the middle the first time I played it. $70 down the
toilet.
Well, live and learn. I now only deal with pipe suppliers where I can get a
real piper on the phone -- someone who would have said, "Don't order that
crap! Learn proper reed breakin procedures and do it right. What sort of
chanter are you using? Here's the best reed for that, etc."
The personal touch and expert advice is what keeps me coming back again and
again. That's why I've spent hundreds of dollars and placed a score of
orders with Henderson Imports and the like; and why my the first $70 I
spent with LITM will be my last.
Scott
Michael Duell
Most companies have minimum shipping charges. The
minimum shipping charge is a factor that must be
considered when ordering from any vendor. Case in
point, if one vendor charges $8.00 shipping for
chanter reeds, and another charges $3.75, the $3.75
wins (especially when the price of the reeds is $4.00
apiece less).
For piping supplies, most of us prefer to deal with
shops that specialize in pipes, price being one of
the factors.
I saw a book in the catalog that I wanted. The
shipping costs increased the cost (to me) of the book
by 50%. I looked elsewhere to avoid the high
shipping charges. I ended up getting the book
delivered to me for $11 total cost, as opposed to $25.
We are seeing competition at work. If someone else
has lower shipping costs, you can complain all you
want about what it costs you to ship the goods. The
fact of the matter is, that if you are not cannot
compete on price with vendors that have lower costs,
then you will lose business to them.
Some have complained about the sales people not being
knowledgeable about pipes. This comes down to
service. If you cannot provide someone knowledgeable
about pipes to answer my questions, then you cannot
compete on service with vendors that have a
knowledgeable staff.
I have nothing against your business. Your catalog
is fascinating, and I have even ordered from it.
Recently I even sent your URL to someone requesting
plans for building Uilleann pipes. As far as
diversity of musical instruments, I don't know of
anyone that comes close to what Lark offers. It is
obvious that you have chosen to compete on the basis
of diversity of products, rather than price, or
piping specific service. Unfortunately, this is a
news group of pipers (and dominated by GHB pipers at
that), and we spend so much on our piping supplies
that it is in our interest to shop around. Most of
us are very focused on our craft, and expect very
focussed service.
Some of the criticism is probably too harsh, but the
fact of the matter is there are business that are
better tailored to our needs (in terms of price,
selection and service) than Lark.
> Michael Duell wrote:
> >
> > With a minimum shipping charge of $8, I'd think
twice
> > about buying from them!
> >
Mickie
I give advice to many pipers each day but I am not here for 24 hours a
day. If you left a message for me to call I would have returned your
call. Most people love Clanrye reeds, I don't. I am sorry that you broke
your reed.
MaleneMC
Aww you broke your reed and are blaming this company. What BS
JuddWalt
I like the Clanrye reeds a lot. The information Lark gave you sounds correct to
me. Maybe there is a chance that you broke the reed, likely.
pi...@pacwest.net
>
It would seem to me that if you look carefully at the "Shark" catalog and compare prices and
wade through the "Disney Speak" you would see what a load of crap they push. A little off
topic, but a friend of mine wanted a DigerieDoo {sp}. He looked at the Shark who was selling
them for around $250. He decided to take a chance and called Australia, got the name and
number of a music store who got him in touch with a store that sold Digerie Doos {sp}. With
shipping and duty, he spent less than $40. What does that tell you.