Yes! We have no spoon benders!

[Bill Ballard]

At 11:37 AM -0500 2/17/02, Tvak@AOL.COM wrote:
>Finally my order came, and guess what?  No spoon bender.  So I called APSCO
>to tell them that one of the items I ordered was not included in the
>shipment, and she matter-of-factly stated, "It must be out of stock."
>
>Since she didn't mention this when I placed my order, she probably didn't
>know it was out of stock at that time.  OK, that can happen.  But when it
>does happen, it seems to me that APSCO should call the customer and let them
>know that the item they have just ordered will not be coming to them when
>they expect it.  At least then the customer could take measures to order the
>item from another supply house if they needed it by a certain date.  To find
>out 10 days later when your order arrives minus the one item you actually
>needed by now, doesn't seem right.

I figured out a long time ago that APSCo doesn't have its inventory 
computerized and networked. That means that if knowing whether or not 
any of the items on your list are going to be back-ordered, you have 
to confirm right at the time of the order that everything is in 
stock. MaryAnne will say, "I'll have to check on those items for 
you". You hear her shoes go clip-clop clip-clop out of the room, the 
phone is silent for a couple of minutes, and her shoes come back into 
the room, and you get your report. Make sure that this is on their 
nickel (the 1-800 PN), and a speaker phone  is strongly suggested. 
But when she's been out back to actually look at the quantities, her 
report is reliable.

I would not expect bringing APSCo's stock management in to the 90's 
is high on Schaff's to do list

At 1:02 PM -0500 2/17/02, Billbrpt@AOL.COM wrote:
>But if you're talking about the odd shaped tool I think you are, I 
>would bet that you would have ended up >being even more frustrated 
>if you had received it!  I won't say that it can't be used but I 
>sure never >could get it to work.

Similar to APSCo's T-handle stringing hook, with the hook parallel to 
the handle, forcing an unnecessary 90 degree twist in your wrist. 
It's been years since anyone at APSCo  in charge of placing orders 
with their tool fabricating shops, has actually done any piano work 
and knows exactly what shape these tools should be made to.