>Dear Collected wisdom > > Some time ago, I ordered a baroque guitar from Luciano >Faria. When it was due to be finished, it was finished. It was >beautiful to look at, easy to play, and great sounding. Based >on that experience, I ordered three more instruments. A >theorbo, an arch lute and a Tielke. > When other people began to tell disparaging tales about >this maker, I responded with, "pshaw" or "Piffle" sometimes >even "harumph." What did they know? I had first hand experience! > In September - two years after it was due - my theorbo >arived broken. >Fed Ex acknowledged their fault and it was shipped back to >Luciano for repair or replacement. November, he told me that >my theorbo was ready as was the Tielke. He only needed a >couple of days for the cases to arrive.He sent me a new price >list and asked me for my opinion as to his competitive stance. >I told him that his prices were not his trouble - not >responding to customers was. > That is really the end of the story. He doesn't answer >emails on either of his accounts, he doesn't answer telephone >calls or faxes. I haven't heard from him in months. > The theorbo is paid in full. The other have 30% deposits. >I'm thinking that my chances of ever seeing any of these >instruments is slim. > > That is the cautionary tale. Here is the plea for advice: >What can be done? Am I really at this fellow's mercy? I have >spoken to some on this list who are admittedly smarter than I >am, but have gotten no clear path. >Interpol? > >Thanks in advance for any help. >Best, >Joseph Mayes
The lute world is not a large one and with the advance of the internet it is getting smaller. I would be surprised if Mr. Faria [email at: [email protected] ] did not contact a customer if he thought that his reputation was in danger through a failure to meet his obligations. RY (Did I mention his email: [email protected] ) To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
