I brought this up 5 or 6 months ago with a slightly less aggressive title being a little more cautious, now I’m feed up and he deserves all he gets.
I paid for a high D whistle via PayPal in November last year and was given a 4 week delivery time, after many emails it got the point that all it needed was to be polished when he got back from Paris.
He’s still taking orders but I’ve no idea if he is fulfilling any of them.
Because I paid with PayPal after 45 days I’ve no claim for my money back and he probably knows this. This is fraud.
So my advice to anyone thinking of ordering from Mr Le Meur is don’t, save your money or buy from a reputable maker.
I’m so sorry to hear it didn’t resolve.. As you know, i got mine eventually, and it’s very nice too. I just wish instrument makers in general and Jean Pierre in particular would be realistic about waiting times. I don’t mind waiting 2 years if i am being told from the time of ordering that it will probably take that long, but please makers out there, be realistic.
He often has a booth during festivals (Interceltic festival at Lorient being probably the most well known to non-French people), and this is definitely a better way to get in touch with him than by phone or email. You can even buy a whistle directly in such events, as he always brings a few ones with him.
I know this is not what you’d like to hear in this situation… but just to say there is a painless way to get one of his whistles.
Le Meur whistles are very nice whistles but there are indeed too many problems with ordering. But it’s not a fraud problem, as Lars said it’s more a problem about being realistic about waiting times. We had some people on the french flute and whistle forum who had the same problem as you have and they all eventually got their whistles.
I agree that it’s not a good way to behave with customers, and it’s good to let people know that but I’m sure you’ll get your whistle.
I’m glad you said that Bran as I’m also waiting for one of these whistles (overdue by eight months) and looking forward to seeing if its as good as some people say.
Others might want to consider funding Paypal through a credit card as in this case you might be able get a refund from the credit card company. I think Paypal always defaults to your bank account so you have to alter the method each time you purchase to do this.
I’ve also been waiting some time and had thought about posting on the subject. I wondered if it was really very fair as its only one side of the story (even if I think I’m in the right). But then do I also have a duty to others who might want one of these whistles? Interesting debate to be had there.
I a way I feel for the guy as even though I would not have ordered if the true delivery timescale was advertised it must be difficult to get back to a sensible and / or realistic times without loosing a lot of income.
Well, not long after my previous post there is a knock on the door and a delivery man hands me a package. In it is my whistle from JP Le Meur! First impressions are good.
I had the same Paypal issue with a different type of vendor for non-delivery. You can still chase your money down on your own if its worth it. Perhaps vendors ought not be allowed to utilize Paypal unless they can comply with Paypal’s 45 day limit for delivery. Or perhaps Paypal ought to change the limitations. I am really just as angry with Paypal and how easy they make it for abusers of their service.
I hope you get your whistle soon. Sad, its not a perfect world.
Actually, PayPal disputes can be filed for 180 days. They may not cover some custom (bespoke) items, but they don’t specify in what instances that might apply. The 45 day limit was lifted some time ago (maybe 1 year). You’re past that now, but take it into account in the future, if you buy or sell.
I had a similar problem a few years ago. JP told me 3 months and then it just kept extending. He never met the deadlines he subsequently made and then finally I received no answer to an email. I then sent him one last email saying I realised I had lost my money but I would make sure I let everyone on the forums I am on know of his practices and that he would end up losing far more than me in lost orders. I quickly got an apologetic reply and the whistle arrived shortly after. Its a very good whistle.
Paypal disputes are a hit-or-miss thing I guess. I had a recent dispute over an item I bought that never arrived – in my experience, Paypal’s “buyer protection” amounts to little more than doing absolutely nothing for the jilted buyer!
I agree totally with the previous poster. There are a number of excellent whistle makers out there, and most of them go out of their way to make sure their customers get a whistle they can cherish.
Why bother with a maker who can’t or won’t honor his commitments?
Because the product is worth the hassle after all?
I’m thinking of buying a C whistle too from J-P, this time i’ll set the timer on 18 months before worrying though.
It may be a good product but is it right that he picks and chooses who he sends them to when they’ve all been paid for.
‘Oldfiddler’ wrote that he has just received his after 8 months, ordered I take it in April.
I’m not holding my breath as I may have burnt my bridges, if it’s good great but I’ll not be ordering more.
Ok so as our friend from Aus ‘gariwerd’ found you put a little pressure on and J P Le Meur comes up with the goods.
My whistle arrived just over a week ago.
As every one who has one says it’s a very good whistle, not as loud as my two Goldies and certainly an easier blower.
C nat is nicely in tune with oxxooo and the top of the second octave is easy to reach.
Workmanship is first class, nicely finished off and has an internal brass tuning slide.
It’s been 15 months since I ordered this whistle and have since moved on to just playing my Goldies
and a couple of Cheiftain low whistles so this whistle is up for sale because it’s just going to sit in the
flower vase with the cheapies and not get played.
Details of which I’ll post separately.
I wonder if some of that is emotional as well. I know for myself, personally, that sometimes when an item I’m looking forward to is tainted by a bad buying experience, it casts a shadow over the item itself.
MT I think you’re right it’s all emotional, I just have no interest in the thing which is a shame because it’s
a really good whistle.
It plays well and sounds really good but ‘hay ho’ such is life and someone will get themselves a nice whistle.
