They are wearing me down. Granted, I want my customers to be happy, and granted, I want to keep a fair and honest reputation as a reedmaker and a businessman, but reed returns are definitely wearing me down. And I can’t even explain why they’re being returned. I am not sure why 6 of 25 of the reeds sent to Jillian are leaking and weird. I can’t explain why the exact same reeds that I made for Mr. Georgia the first time around were “great” and “perfect”, but now they’re too light. And I have no idea why reeds sent to Mr. Delaware were “bright” and “thin sounding” to him, but came back and were absolutely wonderful to me. I can’t explain it.
I’m trying to figure a policy. I hate to do this, but I think it’s going to come down to this; I’ll return “Dead on Arrival” reeds that are received cracked, and I’ll guarantee the reeds of my subscribers, but I think I’ll have to crack down on reed returns.
I’ve decided that if you’re buying reeds, they just won’t always turn out just right every time. Everyone’s climate changes. Everyone’s humidity changes. Many people’s embouchures get stronger or weaker with practice (or lack thereof), and I can’t guarantee that my reeds will “change with the times”.
I really need to get a website up to explain prices, return policies, etc. I’ll have to do that within a week or two.
