Schaff vs. APSCO

[Dave Nereson]

----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Ballard <yardbird@pop.vermontel.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2002 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: Yes! We have no spoon benders!


> 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.
>

    There are a lot of irksome things about both Schaff and APSCO, which I
won't go into on this post, but I find the APSCO catalog to be more
extensive, more complete, with many items that aren't in the Schaff
catalog -- just an impression;  I'd have to go through item by item to prove
this hunch......                                --David Nereson, RPT, Denver