Re: [Harp-L] Suzuki Firebreath

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Winslow Yerxa wrote:

> To reply briefly:

I don't really do brief, but fortunately, your brief is similar to  
mine, so I shall try to mimic it.

> Yes it's a public forum and everyone has the right to say what they
> want.

Glad we agree on that.

> But I don't see people trumpeting to the world that - gasp! - a reed
> failed! - every time it happens. It's not earth shattering news.

No, but that's why you have to put it into context (my favorite  
word).  The context here may not be known to you.  If you check the  
archives, you will see that Richard posted a long and favorable  
review of the Suzkie Firebreath.  In that review he said he would  
keep the list updated on long-term progress and especially mentioned  
reed longevity.  Thus, this post about a failed reed can only be  
understood within that context.  As I said, perhaps you did not know  
that, in which case I understand your confusion.  Reeds fail, so  
that's not something usually posted to the list.

> But let's say it *is* earth shattering news. That means that it's so
> unusual that it may not be typical of the product and warrants the
> manufacturer's attention.

Or, it could mean that it is unusual for most harmonicas but highly  
typical of this particular one.  Either way, it's good to let the  
manufacturer know.  But, it's also good to let the rest of the world  
know as well.  If this were a car, would you rather know about a  
possibly significant defect, or have it covered quietly by the  
manufacturer and never mentioned to lists on cars or in magazines?   
As a customer, I know which I prefer.

And, as I said, one harp is not a representative sampling.  But, if  
people keep posting their experiences--all of them, without filtering  
(ie, both positive and negative)--then eventually conclusions might  
be drawn from that.  If everything is dealt with hush-hush, well,  
then no conclusions could emerge--or worse, false conclusions.

> Sure, you can say what you want when you want. But if this is such an
> unusual occurrence, then the fair thing to do is talk to the
> manufacturer first, then report both that and the result of the
> exchange to the list.

I don't see how "fair" comes into it. It's not like there are pre- 
existing relationships here.  Richard is effectively Joe Schmo--it's  
not like Suzuki made him a special, custom instrument.  This is an  
off-the-shelf, stock model harp.  For sale to anyone.  As such, the  
manufacturer can't have any expectations of people coming to them  
with any and all problems.  It would be nice from their standpoint,  
but not necessarily from the consumer's standpoint.  This is  
massively different from the relationship I have with Richard Sleigh,  
for instance--but that's because both the product and the nature of  
that relationship are significantly different.  Still, I wouldn't  
hesitate to point out something I didn't like about Richard's harps  
on-line (I'd probably tell him privately as well--and first, as  
that's a different relationship).  Fortunately, there is nothing I  
dislike about Richard's harps.  Not even the waiting list.

This is more along the lines of me buying a microwave, going to a  
forum on microwave cooking and noting that something was wrong with  
it (after a previously ecstatic review).  Sure, it would be nice to  
contact the manufacturer (I'd be wise to anyway), but there is no  
reason to do so before or in leu of telling the forum.  Indeed, that  
would be a bit dishonest.  Again, I point out long term tests in  
automobile magazines: they do contact the manufacturer or dealer, but  
won't not mention a problem just because the publication date is  
before they can contact those people.  That is the position Richard  
was taking, essentially, when he wrote his initial review and  
promised follow ups.

To me, fair is that Suzuki or their representatives can respond on  
this public forum if they wish--unedited even.  What could be more  
fair than that?

Moreover, I am sure that if Richard decides to contact Suzuki or  
their US agents he will also post a follow up yet again--just as he  
wrote this time.  And again, I thank him for being so active in this:  
few people bother to write a detailed review, and fewer still follow  
it up over time.



 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()   & Snuffy, too:)
`----'