Carmine
Satriano di Lucania (PZ),#2Author 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),#3Author 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),#4Author 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),#5Author 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),#6Author 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),#7Author 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,#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.