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Hakam-Din & Sons Clarinets sent did not comply with specs - fraud Sialkot, Pakistan & Internet
On March 9th, 2008 I ordered 3 clarinets from Hakam-Din, based on a pro-forma they had sent me (from their USA based offices: hakamdinusa@yahoo.com). In particular, I ordered 3 clarinets (one Bb Boehm, one Bb Albert, and one Eb Boehm, all of them in blackwood and with silver-plated keyworks). In the pro-forma they stated instruments would have been shipped after 35 days. Payment was made via PayPal the day after, in full (USD 787.59).
After 35 days I sent a message to find out what was going on, as I had no news, but I got no answer. I opened therefore a dispute on PayPal. After that, I was contacted several times, by phone, by somebody telling me to be the manager of Hakam-Dim, who informed me that the factory had been closed for 10 days because of his marriage, and they were going to ship my order in the next 10 days, asking me, at the same time, to cancel the dispute on PayPal (he said that it could be opened again afterwords, if needed, which is not true). I did not cancel the dispute, which was transformed in a claim. Just few days before the expiration they did make a shipment.
The instrument I received, though, were not the ones I ordered, they shipped a plastic Eb Boehm, while the two Bb clarinets (Albert and Boehm) present mistakes in their production making them unusable (The barrel of the Bb Albert is out of specs and standard mouthpieces do not fit in it; the speaker-key of the Bb Boehm is too short, so the intrument can only be played in its first - lower - register). Moreover, the bells are not in the specified wood (but in hard rubber), all instruments present the keywork as nickel-plated, rather than silver-plated. I complained and informed PayPal. PayPal however closed the claim in favor of the seller, as they cover only the case of not-shipment (therefore the seller can just ship anything to bypass PayPal protection).
I contacted them several times, and they offered to ship me an extra instrument, and eventually to exchange, or fix, the instruments, if I was willing to pay their shipment to Pakistan (about 150 USD), which I refused, as I was sent instrument different from those ordered at purpose (to bypass PayPal rules). They informed me, indeed, that instruments with the specs of the ones I had ordered would not have been ready before another 45-60 days. I want everybody to know about this fraudolent action by Hakam-Dim, and I think they should refund me in full.
Carmine
Satriano di Lucania (PZ)
Italy
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Carmine
Satriano di Lucania (PZ),Europe,
Italy
Problems with clarinets by Hakam-Dim & Son, Sialkot, Pakistan, solved
#8Author of original report
Sat, May 30, 2009
It took some time, but following an e-mail message from Jamal Pasha the Export Executive at Hakam-Din & Sons, I received eventually my fixed instruments, they were fair, not great (needing some minor adjustments, but ok).
There was a good surprise, though, as they sent me a very nice extra Eb Boehm wooden clarinet (very well done and with nice sound), their Eb clarinets, both plastic as well as the wooden ones are a bargain, and well done (indeed, as I already stated in my first report, the first Eb plastic Boehm they sent me had no problems).
They also sent me, for compensation, a Boehm clarinet with golden-plated keys (they say they make the same also with silver plated keys) from the new line of clarinets they are producing now. This new clarinet is on a different class in comparison to the other ones, it is a nice instrument, very well done, the Vandoren mouthpiece I use fitted on it without any problem, and it has a very nice sound. They say this is the line of clarinets they plan to sell in Europe and elsewhere now on.
The management realized apparently the need to improve the quality of both instruments and customer relationships.
It is clear the change was overdue, and I have to honestly state that the Export Executive, Mr. Jamal Pasha, made possible to solve my problems with them fast, and this is good news for everybody willing to deal with Hakam-Dim.
Eventually I ended up with the three clarinets I originally ordered (including the two fixed ones), and with two extra clarines of very good quality.
Carmine
Satriano di Lucania (PZ),Europe,
Italy
HAKAM DIM & SONS: They refuse to ship what I paid for
#8Author of original report
Thu, December 25, 2008
Apparently PayPal canceled their account, so now they (Hakam Din) want me to write to PayPal to say all problems were solved, if I do not do that, they will not ship my instruments.
I have all the correspondence (e-mail) by somebody from Hakam Din (Shaheryaar Mirza, Hakam Din & Sons. 21/176 Hakam Din street. Karimpura road. Sialkot 51310 Pakistan. Phone: +92 52 458 2085. Fax: +92 52 459 8865 www.hakamdin.com).
As they are not going to ship my instruments I requested a refund and informed PayPal of that.
I'd advise everybody to avoid this company, in any case, should things change I'll keep you posted.
Carmine
Satriano di Lucania (PZ),Europe,
Italy
Hakam-Din & Sons problems with clarinets not yet solved - Sialkot, Pakistan & Internet
#8Author of original report
Mon, December 08, 2008
Things have not changed, that is, I have not yet received my instruments fixed back. At the beginning of November they sent an e-mail saying my clarinets were ready but - again - the manager had a ski accident, and so could not ship the instruments.
Every time there's a problem, apparently. It also appears PayPal closed their account, so they contacted me with another e-mail asking I write a letter to PayPal stating all is ok, I am not sure if I understood correctly but it sounded like I had to do it if I wanted to receive my intruments.
Of course, I just said that any dispute can be closed when I receive my instruments in working order. So they asked me to send them again the list of problems (!), which sounds strange as they were saying the instruments were ready, well, maybe they just want be sure they addressed all problems.
In any case they got my money last March (2008) and I had to ship back the instruments in July (at a cost), but I still have to receive my clarinets in working order.
Carmine
Satriano di Lucania (PZ),Europe,
Italy
Hakam-Din & Sons, Sialkot, Pakistan & Internet -
#8Author of original report
Sat, June 07, 2008
After I filed this report, and informed them about it, they just resent their previous message, asking me to pay for the shipment back to them of the defective instruments. It is clear they are taking time. I answered it was their duty to pay those expenses as their previous shipment was intentionally made only to bypass PayPal protection's plan (and included defective items, different in any case from the ones I ordered). I also added I could send back those items back to them, at my expenses, only if they refund me in full.
I strongly advise people to avoid to buy instruments from this Company, as it is clear they are not up to the usual standards of fairness and correctness, moreover, they seem not capable to produce playable clarinets (I do not know about the other instruments they produce).
Carmine
Satriano di Lucania (PZ),Europe,
Italy
Hakam-Din & Sons, Sialkot, Pakistan & Internet -
#8Author of original report
Sat, June 07, 2008
After I filed this report, and informed them about it, they just resent their previous message, asking me to pay for the shipment back to them of the defective instruments. It is clear they are taking time. I answered it was their duty to pay those expenses as their previous shipment was intentionally made only to bypass PayPal protection's plan (and included defective items, different in any case from the ones I ordered). I also added I could send back those items back to them, at my expenses, only if they refund me in full.
I strongly advise people to avoid to buy instruments from this Company, as it is clear they are not up to the usual standards of fairness and correctness, moreover, they seem not capable to produce playable clarinets (I do not know about the other instruments they produce).
Carmine
Satriano di Lucania (PZ),Europe,
Italy
Hakam-Din & Sons, Sialkot, Pakistan & Internet -
#8Author of original report
Sat, June 07, 2008
After I filed this report, and informed them about it, they just resent their previous message, asking me to pay for the shipment back to them of the defective instruments. It is clear they are taking time. I answered it was their duty to pay those expenses as their previous shipment was intentionally made only to bypass PayPal protection's plan (and included defective items, different in any case from the ones I ordered). I also added I could send back those items back to them, at my expenses, only if they refund me in full.
I strongly advise people to avoid to buy instruments from this Company, as it is clear they are not up to the usual standards of fairness and correctness, moreover, they seem not capable to produce playable clarinets (I do not know about the other instruments they produce).
Hakam Din
London,Europe,
United Kingdom
Customer Service, 98 years in Business, hakamdin.com check out complete history
#8UPDATE Employee
Sat, June 07, 2008
We agree with this report, but the last bit is not true, we still stand by our commitment.
This is the exact email we sent to our valued customer;
Dear Sir,
Thank you indeed, we provide our best service to our customers.
But, as a metter of fact our management has decided that we want your satisfaction and in order to satisfy your goodself, we want you to send the whole order back to us, so that we can
rectify the problems you are facing.
As a fact, you are bound to pay both way freight but, as a compensation you will only have to pay one way freight to Hakam Din.
Please write down all the problems you are facing regarding your order, and put it in the parcel.
If you want any key to be changed then mark that key with the marker for us.
Please mention the sizes of the barrel on the paper as well, we want everything in writing to be exact.
We hope it will make you happy.
Thank you.
Regards.
Shaheryaar Mirza.