Xref: utzoo rec.music.synth:11590 rec.music.makers:6991 misc.consumers:17472 comp.music:799 Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!hrc!pieta!ostreicherg From: ostreicherg@pieta.UUCP (Gary Ostreicher) Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.music.makers,misc.consumers,comp.music Subject: Bad Vibes from Schroders Keyboard City Keywords: fraud,music,keyboard,buy Message-ID: <48c8010c.13778@pieta.UUCP> Date: 21 Feb 90 19:24:21 GMT Distribution: usa Organization: gte Lines: 107 This letter is a copy of a letter I sent to the Arizona Attorney General, Better Business Bureau and other organizations. The letter is meant to be a warning about the type of dealerships that exist and some of their crooked practices. You should not buy from Schroeders dealership, as they will sell you defective equipment and give you lousy service. ################################################################# I purchased an electric keyboard from Schroeders Keyboard City in the Paradise Valley Mall on December 20th, 1989. My salesman was Mr. Robert Fisher. The keyboard has twenty sound options. After a week, I discovered that the Jazz Organ sound has an obnoxious and loud clicking sound. I then checked all the sound options. All the other sounds were alright, but one of the keys produced no sound. I took the keyboard back for repairs. Mr. Fisher said the repairs would take less than a week. He offered to loan me another keyboard. I told him that I could wait a week. On January 3rd, I returned to the store. I was told that my keyboard would not be fixed for a couple of weeks because it was a busy time of the year. I waited for two weeks. I called Mr. Fisher on Monday Jan. 15th, he assured me that my keyboard would be repaired by that Thursday. I went back to Schroeders that Saturday. Mr. Fisher told me that my keyboard was fixed and it was on its way back to the store, but that it would be a couple of hours. He told me the broken key was fixed, but the clicking sound was normal. I argued that an obnoxious sound louder than the notes is not normal. He said that he agreed with me, and maybe they could muffle the clicking sound a little. I said that I would be back in a few hours to see the condition of my keyboard. Mr. Fisher then told me that maybe the keyboard was not on its way to the store, and he wasn't sure when my keyboard would be returned. I told him that I wanted my money back, and I would never do business with Schroeders. Mr. Fisher told me that he could not refund my money. I would have to talk to his supervisor. His supervisor, Greg, would be in on Monday. I talked to Greg on Monday, Jan. 22nd. Greg told me that Schroeders does not refund money. He told me I had signed an agreement stating that I understood that I could not get a refund if there were any problems. I told him that when I signed this agreement that I was told it was an acknowledgement of receipt of the keyboard. Mr. Fisher filled out this agreement, then he told me that I needed to sign to show that I acknowledge receipt of the keyboard. He showed me the line that reads "RECEIPT is hereby acknowledged for payment by cash, check or charge in the amount of $433.47". Reading this made sense, so I signed the agreement. There is fine print all over this agreement, and I did not read all of these paragraphs. I told Greg that Mr. Fisher had told me many things when he was selling me the keyboard. He told me how the keyboard was half price, because it was a discontinued item and the last one in the store. He said, if I buy the keyboard he would throw in a thirty dollar adapter and a set of headphones. When the paper work was being done, Mr. Fisher said his computer wouldn't allow him to show that the adapter was free, so he put down ten dollars on the receipt. I found out that this "thirty dollar" adapter sells for ten dollars in their store, and the keyboard was sold to me at full retail price. I told him that I would not take any exchanges, I wanted a full refund and did not want to do business with Schroeders. He stated that it would be hard to prove all the things that his salesman had done. I said I didn't think it was worth perjuring yourselves for a few hundred dollars. He stated that he would not refund my money. Greg told me that I needed to talk to his boss if I wanted to try to get a refund. Her name is Karen and can be reached at 264- 6115. She then told me that I needed to talk to her boss. His name is Tim Proskins. I told Tim my problem. He said he would check out my story and call me back. He apparently talked to his people, because the next day Greg called me at work. Greg told me that I could use the purchase price of my keyboard toward buying another keyboard. I told him that I was lied to by Mr. Fisher about the price, the adapter, what was wrong with my keyboard and when it would be fixed. I found that Schroeders used deceptive practices to sell damage merchandise. I said I did not want to deal with the company, and I definitely did not want to spend more money on another keyboard, which is what he suggested. After Greg's call, I tried to reach Tim Proskins at his office. I was told that he had gone out-of-town for a keyboard convention, however he had left a message for me that stated "Schroeders would not refund my money". My keyboard total cost was four hundred thirty three dollars and forty seven cents. The highest level of management that I have been able to reach is Tim Proskins, Ph: 230-2206, Addr: 1945 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, Az 85016. I have enclosed a copy of the signed agreement. I am willing to cooperate with the AG's office to prosecute Schroeders Keyboard City for fraud and deceptive business practices. The latest update has just occurred on February 2, 1990. I received a call stating that my keyboard has been fixed. The clicking sound is still there, but it is a normal sound. I continue to want a complete refund. I refuse to deal with these crooked business people as a customer. ################################################################# Gary Ostreicher UUCP: {ncar!noao!asuvax | uunet!zardoz!hrc | att}!gtephx!ostreicherg