05/29/2026
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
This is a work shop, or atelier, that actually makes the instruments it sells. Currently, I am the only craftsman here, and the website indicates that it may take as long as six months to make your order if it is not already in stock.
I had a custom order from Europe that was told specifically it would take some six months to complete, considering how much of a backlog I have. She agreed and paid. Four months in and her instrument is about ready to ship, but she filed a complaint with PayPal that her order was "taking too long" and "never delivered". This despite several updates I sent her on the status. Per their practice, PayPal took the money from my account to hold pending a resolution, yet she would not respond to my inquiries. I had to "fire the customer".
Less than a week ago, I received an order for a historical repro fife that I DO have in stock. The website indicates that we ship once a week, usually on Fridays, and I sent him a personal email to that effect. This morning, he demanded a refund for he had not received the instrument nor an official response from my website (ignoring my message to him). The fife is sitting here for shipment today. I refunded him his money and let him know why... This isn't Walmart, I don't stock instruments shipped in from a third world country, everything is made here, and his impatience implies that he merely found the website and made a purchase without reading anything. I just "fired that customer".
Those few of us still in this business make most of our instruments to order. There isn't enough cash flow to hire a dozen workers, and it's such a niche market with everyone looking for something different... It takes time and patience to fill the orders. Please be patient with we makers and communicate. Ask questions. But don't be unreasonable. You place your order and bust our respective ass to get it done for you and to the best of our ability. And even then, we try to keep the prices down, making only a very narrow margin of profit to make it worth the effort.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. It would be helpful if this word was spread among prospective buyers who expect us makers to behave like Amazon or such.
