Schaff vs. APSCO

[David Love]

I've found that APSCO customer service is somewhat lacking.  Schaff, in my
experience is better.  APSCO does have some things in their catalogue that
Schaff doesn't.

David Love


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Nereson" <dnereson@dimensional.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: February 18, 2002 1:30 AM
Subject: Schaff vs. APSCO


>
> ----- 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
>
>