DID HE TAKE OFF WITH YOUR HORN, TOO?!?!

[pnuttbutta]

OK - I've got a problem here. I'll try and be as diplomatic as possible while still trying gain as much insight as possible. There is (or was) a well-known repairman in the DFW area who had a horn of mine on consignment for about 6 months. I called to check in on things because I hadn't heard anything in awhile. His phone was disconnected. Through research here on SOTW, I come to find out that he's relocated to North Carolina (along with my King Super 20 Silversonic tenor, I assume!). Is this sounding familiar to anyone, yet?
I'm trying to see if anyone else is in the same situation. I'm trying to find out as much as possible about what he's up to, because it appears VERY suspicious. I DID get his wife on the phone in NC, and she was very apologetic and said she would ask him what was going on with my horn (did he still have it, or had he sold it?). I haven't gotten any other response back since that conversation.
Has anyone reading this ever has a similar problem, and if so, what if anything can I do about it?
Thanks, everybody.

PB

[Stencilman]

I've been trying to reach said sax tech myself, not because he has a horn of mine, though. I have not been able to get anyone on the phone and I do have his correct phone number. I'm hoping it is just a busy time for him.

Best of luck to you.

[Hurling Frootmig]

Give USAHORN a call I believe they are trying to get a hold of him as well.

[miles_ahead_music]

Sounds like it's time for a linch mob!

[pnuttbutta]

After placing several phone calls, finally resulting in a threat of legal action, I received a call this morning and was told that the money for the horn would be mailed out to me today. I guess the horn was sold at some point and I was never informed (in the form of MONEY!!). So, we'll see if they keep their word.

[Razzy]

That's ridiculous. You should pursue legal action anyway, this is definitely criminal. Selling goods that do not belong to him.

[pnuttbutta]

Well, I authorized him to sell it while he was still living in the Dallas area. Where I have a problem is, he moved out of state with several peoples' horns on consignment and DIDN'T NOTIFY ME or anyone else I've spoken to. If I would have known he was moving, I would have driven up tp Dallas, picked up the horn, and sold it myself. They were very apologetic about the matter, and blamed it on his "absent-mindedness." Excuses are swell and all, but SHOW ME THE MONEY!

[pnuttbutta]

For the record, I should add that he has a great talent in what he does. His skill stands up to any of the other major repairperson anywhere. If his business practices were as sound as his repairwork, I would recommend him to people in the Carolina area.

[mr00420]

Consignment means the store was selling it for him so that they could find this member a buyer, and in turn, make a percentage off the sale. The problem isn't that the horn was sold (that was the goal,) the problem is that owner of the horn was neither informed, nor paid his cut of the sale.

That would **** me off too. Did they say how much the check is made out for, and is it a satisfactory sum? You don't want anymore suprises so I'd at least try to get a verbal (maybe recorded) agreement over the phone incase the sum that comes in the mail is short. Then hope the check doen't bounce.

[pnuttbutta]

They supposedly are sending me a check for the amount that I asked him to sell the horn for. I've sold several horns through him, and usually he takes 10%. So, if I ask him to get me $2000 for a horn, he'll sell it for $2200, give me $2000, and keep the $200 for himself. As long as I get what I think it's worth, then I'm OK with it. Yes, this check better not bounce! :x

[awholley]

For what it's worth, I knew he was leaving but only because I heard it through the grapevine, and my tenor was one of the very last repair jobs he did. My check wasn't cashed for about 6 weeks.

I certainly understand your concern, but I think the whole decision and move happened in about 3 weeks time. I can see where a LOT of details could slip through the cracks. If he was really after your money, I think my check would have cleared in about 2 days.....

I think he's honest, and as you said his repair work is as good as it gets anywhere.

[SAXISMYAXE]

Could someone please E-mail me with the name of who this vendor is? Untill recently I lived in Dallas, and am curious(read nosey) who this could be. Thanks.
MICHAEL.PAUL.SEMANN@juno.com

[john]

I have to agree with awholley, I'm comfortable he's honest. His business practices are, shall we say, ... unusual though.

He was the only guy in DFW area whom I really trusted to fix my horn. He was the only one with whom I was most comfortable leaving my horn unattended. I have referred dozens of players to him but always with the warning about his business practices and the admonition to STAY AWAY if they can't live with those.

He was an absolute one-man shop and like all the other really good techs WAY overworked. He was also a real artist who took his work as much a calling as a job. He was also a darn good player.

Pity he's moved. :cry:

no he doesn't have any of my horns. :D

For those of you in DFW area I've had really good luck with Rivard Bros in Arlington. Dana is a great, honest, guy who's also a player.

just my $0.02-


john

[morgan]

For the record, I should add that he has a great talent in what he does. His skill stands up to any of the other major repairperson anywhere. ..
Now that he's kinda far away, it's worth mentioning that Kent at Sam Bass music (conveniently located in Round Rock) has a mighty good reputation among the locals (I've not used him yet but the opinion in the street is unanimous).

The guys at Brook Mays South are also worth considering: a number of people recommend Paul; Duane seems less well known but I've talked with him and seen him work; I think he's a safe bet too.

[morgan]

Could someone please E-mail me with the name of who this vendor is?

I wonder if his last name is a pun on 'the male offspring of an insect' ?

Always, of course, respecting his anonymity until this thread resolves quietly to the expected "everything turned out ok" conclusion.

[Stacey]

Hmmm. I don't know who this repairman is. I don't really care who this repairman is. I do, however, wonder about the value of a discussion thread in which all sorts of good and bad things are shared about a repairman, yet those who actually know him won't write his name.

What, exactly, is the general SOTW reader supposed to learn from this thread? Stay away from all NC repairmen, because you might be getting the one who's loony?

I just wanted to point that out. This thread would become about 50x more valuable if someone would actually put a name with this "dealer evaluation".

[pnuttbutta]

People who need to know who he his have emailed me directly and we have discussed the situation. The original purpose of the thread was to find out if he had left TX with anyone else's horns, and what THEY were doing about it. While what he is doing is fishy, at the time I initiated the thread, I wasn't sure what the circumstances were...did he have a family tragedy?? Did HE HIMSELF have something terrible happen to him? I didn't want to crucify anybody until I got the whole story. I've been able to protect his identity in a public forum while still gaining valuable info that I need to resolve the problem. Those who are having the same problem as I am KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT. If I determine that this truely was bad business taking place, I'll be more willing to give up details.
So far, I have not been given any good excuses as to why he left TX with my horn without telling me AND still don't know what has happened to the horn (whether it was sold or what). I have yet to receive my money which I was told would be mailed to me over a week ago.
We'll see how it works out. If I think everyone should be alerted, then I'll let you know. I'd love to hear some input from Harry or Hurling Frootmig as to what is an appropriate way to handle this.

[pknight]

I am simply an interested observer. There is no chance that I will ever encounter this repair tech. However, FWIW, I think that his behavior has crossed the line of what is acceptable, and that it would indeed be a service to our friends in NC if they knew who to avoid.

It is, however, your call.

[awholley]

I disagree.

What we have here is an upset customer who has told us only his side of the story without the vendor being able to respond.

I would WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend this tech without reservation. He has repaired all of my horns without incident and has also sold horns for me without incident.

As for why the name isn't revealed, people who support the tech know revealing the name then makes the negative claims have a target, and I'd guess the complaintant is concerned about his inability to prove any true malfeasance, as opposed to an unfortunate situation that he finds himself in.

That said, I'm "dialing out" of this thread.

Alan

[Stacey]

Of course, there is at least one other place on the net where a person can find the name of this tech. I personally located it without any trouble. However, for the benefit of those who are unable to do so, I do hope the eventual resolution of this issue gets posted here, so that the unfortunate casual bystander isn't left with an unnatural fear of North Carolina in general.

Then again, perhaps it's only natural to fear North Carolina... :twisted:


__________________________________________________ ___
*Not a paid endorser for any state or province.

[pnuttbutta]

I received my money this week, as promised. So, to sum up, IMHO, Ken is relatively honest, extremely talented, but HORRIBLY disorganized. Being that he's in NC and I'm in TX, I won't be sending my horns to him anymore. If I knew I could personally go bang his door down to get business taken care of, I would still use him. I think for folks in NC, it would still be worth the hassle. OK - I'm bouncin'...

[Harri Rautiainen]

I received my money this week, as promised....Thanks for the follow-up, pnuttbutta.
I am glad that you did get your money, and this case is closed.

[Stacey]

Thanks for posting your resolution on this - now I'll get some therapy and see if I can't get over my irrational fear of North Carolina...

Glad things worked out well in the end!

[AMASAX]

i know two people who got ripped off by KB...one for a couple hundred, the other for major $$

So much so that the big $$ guy had to file on KB and have
the local Sheriff go out and 'serve' them. His wife is/was
the gatekeeper, works the phones with "the check's in the
mail" crap, doesn't answer door knock, etc., etc.

They KNOW the system extremely WELL, to be able to stall
and yet know at which point things are getting serious
(small claims court, Sheriff, etc).

This guy finally got his $$ outa him, but it took a couple of
years.

NObody is that good that they're worth putting up with this
kinda garbage...

I'd be interested in knowing why KB bailed out of DFW and
headed for the Carolina hills...could be statute of limitations
is more favorable in the Carolinas :)

[Bubba924]

I would like to know a good tech in who still lives in Dallas. I DO NOT trust Brookmays lol. Anyway I havent seen a shop other than the big ones.

[Mark R]

Bubba924, I am originally from Dallas area (relocated to New Orleans area in '97). These days most of my pro playing buddies trust their horns with John Butler in Carrolton....My all time favorite is Anne McMillian who use to be with BrookMayes but now teaches instrument repair at UNT....don't know if she takes on work these days but if she does trust me it would be worth the trip, her work is very good.

[john]

Bubba,
I now take most of my horns to Dana Rivard at Rivard Brothers Music (817) 459-2263. He plays and repairs. He's straightforward. He's honest. He won't work on junk though (he's declined some chinese horns while I've been standing there in the shop!).

He's also a Cannonball dealer and is offering some spectacular deals on these horns. I played one of the new Raven tenors. Wow. Great sound. Great feel. Better price than modern I've seen recently.

Good luck,

john