I expected a practice set with mainstock cup in January and drones in June from a Canadian maker. He told me that he is several months behind, which is not unreasonable. I’ve had the balance of payment just sitting around waiting for him to finish the pipes. With the economy like it is, I would prefer the money not be just “chillin” in my bank account…I’d like to use it for making more money.
What are your thoughts there? I don’t want to be a ball buster, because I respect the craft, but I would like to wrap things up.
Be patient… these pipes+reeds are not machine made stuff.Some reedmaking+ tuning etc. issues can take quite longer time U can think with making process, if your pipemaker want U to be really satisfied with his works..let few weeks/month over the deadline.There could be quite many before U in orderbookline.
I am not really sure what your question is. Are you considering canceling the order and buying something used? June is not too far off. I am not a financial guy, but I suppose you could by a short term CD and make a little interest? If you are considering canceling your order, you would need to consider the fact that you could be losing the opportunity to work with your (new set) maker in dealing with future (e.g. reed) issues, regs, etc. etc. Not sure what you are asking.
Thanks for the replies. I guess I’m anxious about the money and the wait. I certainly don’t want to bother the maker every couple weeks asking when he’ll be done, but I have considered buying a good used set rather than waiting indefinitely. I know it takes time to make a good hand made product, and I really value a good relationship with the maker.
I’m going to wait it out. What are your suggestions about how often to ask the maker how much longer it will take?
If your patience wears too thin and you do find a good used instrument, you can approach the maker directly (and politely!) to see whether he would like to refund your deposit and shed some workload. The answer might be yes. However I think this approach depends on having established a trusting, friendly relationship with the maker already - if the maker feels you have made vague threats or are unhappy, he may take this as another threat and react negatively.
regards
Bill
[edited to add: rory’s advice below also makes some sense; however realize that there is no guarantee that a maker will actually meet a “firm” date despite intentions. If you ask for a revised “firm” date you should, IMO, ask the maker to set a date on which the pipes will either be delivered, or, in the ‘unlikely’ event that they are not, the money refunded. Probably you should add 30 days to that date on the spot - it communicates to the maker that delivery time doesn’t take precedence over the quality of the pipes, shows good faith, and probably improves the chances of your set being completed. ]
I don’t think I’ll get much argument if I state that this is how the world of Uilleann pipes is. I ordered a chanter from a newer maker early last summer and the chanter was delivered many months late. It was more than worth the wait…it does sound incredible and because it was from a maker just starting out, the price was downright cheap. I ordered a flat chanter from a maker in April of 2008 and was quoted a 3 month wait. It has now been a year and I’m still waiting. I orderd a full set from a maker almost 3 years ago and was told that the wait was around 18 months or so. I’m still waiting, but I was prepared for that as others had told me that the delivery times for that maker were closer to 3 or 4 years. I’ve seen and heard several of the sets he’s made recently and they are awesome in sound and craftsmanship. The maker has also been in touch occasionally and has accepted a change in my order from a concert pitch set to a flat set. Some say the word Uilleann means “union”, some say it means “elbow”…I contend that it means “delayed”.
As gratifying as it is to think that bill thinks I at least make some sence ,I think he should edit his post a fifth time to say “rory’s advice makes alot of sence”
The maker of the Hump’s pipes seems to be acting fairly and has kept in contact to explain the situation .He has not fobbed him off with the “they’ll be ready next tuesday” excuse with no intention of them being ready. The idea at this stage of saying ,if they are not ready on such a date I want my money back is very unfair to the maker.
Back to my advice ,if you ask for a revised but firm delivery date which the pipemaker gives you and then fail’s to deliver on this date ,I then think you should let it be known that you are not happy and could then start negotiations with either I want my money back or a very near delivery date with an agreement from him that if they are not delivered on this final date that you will get your money back.
Arrrgh, mark your calendars, I’m agreeing with Rory twice in one day
On reflection, it is probably too soon to start talking about refunds unless you sense that the maker is looking for a way out. As Jeff says, it’s the nature of the beast, even though I think it’s hard on customers; most makers’ estimates are IMO well-intentioned but over-optimistic.
The original post indicated that Hump was expecting delivery of a practice set in January, with the drones to follow in June. The maker has already indicated that they are ‘several months’ behind. One could read this to mean that the practice set could be due anytime soon. I would certainly speak with the maker again and seek a mutually agreeable date.
After all, the options are to wait a few weeks or even months for a good practice set (to your specification) or cancel the order and try and find a secondhand set for sale. Each will have it’s plus or minus points. You may buy an absolute ‘pup’ of a set which will cause you no end of bother, with no maker’s support.
This has been known to happen…
You don’t indicate you’re level of playing proficiency, however my opinion is that however good you are, it takes a few months to tune into the particular characteristics of a new chanter anyway. Whilst you’re doing this, you’re drones are on their way ( and you’ll cherish them even more the longer you wait).
In either case, speak to you’re maker and voice your concerns ( unless you’ve used this thread as a method of doing so!! - in which case, poor form (in my opinion again)).
In that case, I’ve been very fortunate. My pipemaker, Nick Whitmer, has always respected his estimated delivery time. In addition, while the various parts of my set were being made, he emailed me photos at the various stages of completion. Gestures like that are very much appreciated.
I did email the maker. He always responds and is very nice. I haven’t heard back from him yet, but I know I will soon. I’m totally cool with waiting but would like to know when I need the money ready. It’s more of a money thing than anything else. Thanks very much for the replies!
In this day and age of email and telephone it take only but a few minutes for a maker to let his customer know if he is running late on finishing a order, and should then notify his next customer on what date he will be starting there order, and when so he should contact that customer to let he or she know there order is now in progress, three months over the top is taking the mickey without any contact to that customer, just tell the customer the truth, we know sickness can knock one back a couple of weeks behind in finishing an order, makers just need to keep there customers updated on there progress and of any problems, after all the customer is paying for the item, just give the customer a little bit of consideration an email once a fortnight or so on the progress once the making of the instrument has started, is that to much to ask?, I don’t think so.
