Anyone want to share the pros/cons of ordering whistles straight from the manufacturers vs the retailers? Say like a Susato 3 whistle set…
Deb
My general plan is order from The Whistle Shop whenever possible, and when the maker of a whistle (like Mack Hoover, Tony Dixon, Fred Rose) sells on their own, go with either the best price or whoever answers my questions best. The great thing about the whistle shop is they work with you if you have a problem with your order. The great thing about direct from maker is that they are experts on their particular items.
I’ve ordered from Noah Herbison, Fred Rose, and the whistle shop. At the whistle shop once I bought a Dixon and had a problem with one of the notes. Both Thom (whistle shop owner) and Tony Dixon were highly courteous and accomodating, and I ended up getting a brand new one shipped from Tony’s shop within two weeks of my contacting Thom.
Bottem line? As long as you can trust the seller and there is ample communication, you can’t go wrong.
If I email the manufacturer/distributor and don’t get a reply within two weeks, I don’t order form them (at least not without some response like “sorry, I was on holiday” or the like)
I think if its a generally-available piece like Susato or Clarke or such, it’s best to deal with a retailer like Thom Larson. For mass-market whistles, the company has more stake in keeping its dealers happy than single customers. And, sadly IMO, cheaper whistles are more likely to be dissatisfying. A dealer can make the experience more pleasant - and besides, those I’ve dealt with re whistles are generally a joy to work with.
For a custom or limited-availability, then by all means go directly to the maker. You can discuss special needs if there are any and it’s a special treat to have your pride and joy at first hand, so to speak.
For mass produced whistles, go for the best price, selection and return policy in case you get a dud.
For a handmade whistle, go with the maker. If you have any technical problems, a dealer will probably refer you to the maker anyway. Who better to deal with a problem than the person who made the whistle in the first place. A reputable maker will WANT to do the work himself ( btw-- are there any women making whistles?). Trust me on this one.