Kind of Dissapointed with Kessler and Sons

13548 Views 13 Replies 6 Participants Last post by sycc, Oct 8, 2007

Grambo

Discussion Starter · Jul 10, 2007

I just thought I would add my negative review to the generally positive reviews of Kessler Music. I realize a lot of people on the board support the store, but my experience was not entirely positive.

I have to be fair and point out he did say he was busy, and I understand that things happen with small businesses. I also did change my order 3 times (not after the sale had gone through).

My complaint is that they are difficult to get a hold of, and they ship out orders slow. I didn't receive an email reply for 2 weeks at one point, and I had to leave 3 phone messages over two days to talk to Dave. Also, after confirming my order and promising I would not change it again, it still hasn't been shipped since June 30th. I called today to see when it would arrive and was told it should go out tomorrow. Finally, they don't have an answering machine (for their local number at least), so I couldn't leave a message after the store closes.

I decided to cancel my order because I don't like waiting days for a response, and I don't like waiting for more than a week for something to ship.

Cliff's notes: If you want expert advice on what to buy I hear Kessler is good. If you want a quick, easy, online experience I would go elsewhere.

Hope that helps future sax buyers.

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powellnselmer

· #2 · Sep 9, 2007 (Edited)

Positive too...

I recently bought a Ref 54 alto and Powell signature flute from Dave. He was very helpful, and as everyone knows has good prices. For me he replied very quickly, so maybe he was in a peak period or something...
I would most certainly suggest Dave.
If only there were a store like Dave's in Australia

I posted the above on the first day that they arrived here in AU and have forgotten to post this since... The flute was set up beautifully, but on the other hand, the Reference 54 was quite the contrary. Another bonus was that the low B tone hole was buckled, so it didn't seal at all. I guarantee that this did not happen during shipping since my dad carried it as hand luggage on the plane; not in the hold. I suspect that because I hadn't seen which instrument he was going give me when I bought it, he gave me the dud one.

I've gotten all of these problems fixed now. I would still recommend Kessler's to international customers, although he is wary of accepting payment by foreign VISA, Mastercard or PayPal etc. as I found out... He's still a lot cheaper than what it would cost to buy it here...

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Joe Jazz

· #3 · Oct 7, 2007

I called Kessler's a couple of weeks ago asking for the "real not MAP" price on a Shadow tenor. I was told Dave was the only one that could give me that info, and that they'd have him call me. Surprisingly, I never heard from him.....so I ordered one from Prowinds....

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vivace1

· #4 · Oct 7, 2007

Tried to buy my soprano from them...they never returned my email. ?! Bought elsewhere.

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gary

· #5 · Oct 7, 2007

Sorry, but this complaint is nothing new. And the answer is the same not only regarding Kessler but darn near everybody. If you want immediate response and to nail down specifics about an order use the telephone.

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vivace1

· #6 · Oct 7, 2007

Gary said: "Sorry, but this complaint is nothing new. And the answer is the same not only regarding Kessler but darn near everybody. If you want immediate response and to nail down specifics about an order use the telephone."

I have no hard feelings toward Kessler and Sons...I'm sure they run an honest business as all the guys that love them on SOTW are guys I respect and learn from. My point is that I wound up doing business with the guy that returned my emails. I didn't go elsewhere to spite Kessler...I just don't have time to track people down via phone tag. As a buyer, online is easier for me so that is how I do most of my business. The seller that can meet me online will earn my business.

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Joe Jazz

· #7 · Oct 7, 2007

gary said:
Sorry, but this complaint is nothing new. And the answer is the same not only regarding Kessler but darn near everybody. If you want immediate response and to nail down specifics about an order use the telephone.

Uh, Gary, which part of my post about getting no response to my phone inquiry did you miss?

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gary

· #8 · Oct 8, 2007

Joe Jazz said:
Uh, Gary, which part of my post about getting no response to my phone inquiry did you miss?

I was talking to Grambo, dude.

But anyway, it would be nice if everyone answered single-shot phone calls or was diligent with their emails. I personally don't care how anyone wants to to their business, but as a general rule-of-thumb, if someone is interested in doing busines with a particular vendor there is no substitute for telephone calls...with follow ups.

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sycc

· #9 · Oct 8, 2007

I know September is very busy for kessler w/ the start of school band season. Dave said so on his phone message. When they are not busy the Kesslers are extremely helpful and will talk to customer at great length about saxes. I think the dissapionted posters caught them at a bad time(bad for phone customer but good for kessler w/ school band students in the store).

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Joe Jazz

· #10 · Oct 8, 2007

gary said:
I was talking to Grambo, dude.

But anyway, it would be nice if everyone answered single-shot phone calls or was diligent with their emails. I personally don't care how anyone wants to to their business, but as a general rule-of-thumb, if someone is interested in doing busines with a particular vendor there is no substitute for telephone calls...with follow ups.

Sure Gary, and if I'd have said I called three times, you'd have said there is no substitute for calling four times....

it's just nice to know that Kessler's business is so good he doesn't have to be bothered with phone calls and e-mails...that's the kind of business I need to be in....

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Joe Jazz

· #11 · Oct 8, 2007

sycc said:
I know September is very busy for kessler w/ the start of school band season. Dave said so on his phone message. When they are not busy the Kesslers are extremely helpful and will talk to customer at great length about saxes. I think the dissapionted posters caught them at a bad time(bad for phone customer but good for kessler w/ school band students in the store).

The SN981 will probably be for the better, unfortunately for your finances!

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sycc

· #12 · Oct 8, 2007 (Edited)

Joe Jazz said:
The SN981 will probably be for the better, unfortunately for your finances!

I am quite excited about it!!!!!!!I got the reeds and swab. All I need is the sopranino(James said one time they got one in 2 months,another time 6 months and another time 7 months). I ordered it from wwbw.com because of the excellent interest free financing deals they have and because James Grondin has always been escpially nice and helpful. I would not hestitate to order from Kessler again. I just choose wwbw.com this time around. The Yani SN-981 is a 40th b-day present to myself. Really milking the 40th b-day thing as my Black nickel sx-90 tenor was a 40th b-day present. The big day is in nov. So since I bought the tenor in may,interest free for the nino when it arrives will be nice(I told the wife the nino will count as a 09 purchase{wwbw.com usually has intersest free for a year},the tenor a 07 purchase,my deford flute{interest free til 09} a 08 purchase{I have a nice wife!!!!!!!!!}).After the nino I must chill I'm outa control!!!!!

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Joe Jazz

· #13 · Oct 8, 2007

You can join my "off da chain" club!

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sycc

· #14 · Oct 8, 2007

After the nino arrives I assure you I will be back on "the chain"!!!!

(wife says no more saxes!!!LOL) Which is good as the nino will consume alot of time(won't have time to be sax shopping)!!!

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