Hi there,
Has anyone had problems when ordering a new box from the Castagnari factory in Italy?
I ordered my box mid November last year and paid 50% deposit. I was told at the time of ordering it would be delivered January 1st. By the beginning of February I was starting to worry so I emailed them again. They said it would be the end of February. March 15th they emailed me asking for the remainder of the payment and said my box would be sent at the end of March. I paid the remaining 50% and then did not hear anything for 2 weeks - no acknowledgement of payment! so emailed them again asking for a a receipt. They acknowledged my payment on the email but still have not provided a receipt. Now they tell me my box will be delivered at the end of April or beginning of May. I've been waiting for 4 1/2 months already. If it's the beginning of May it will be over 6 months. How long does it take to build an accordion anyway?
GRRRRR!!
Meanwhile I have no box to play. Not a bad thing altogether because it makes me concentrate on playing my flute. However I have signed up for the free reed class at a national festival at the beginning of June and I'm wondering if I will even have an instrument to play by then.
But now I am wondering if I have been duped. What should I do, other than wait? I can't phone them up as I can't speak Italian and they have very poor English.
Anyone had any similar experiences? Please tell me I haven't forked out over 1400 Euros for nothing (especially at current exchange rates).
Hey there - Hang in there K, it will come. I am sure that they are reputable and will supply you with the dream box... but it can't be nice... all that waiting and not knowing.
Hi "buttons 'n' whistles"... I know... Castagnari have long time to delivery an accordion, is very busy, but... there's another way!
You can try to contact Mr. Beltrami (an accordion maker in northern Italy... a my good friend). He is an Castagnari agent and his time is very short and you can ask to Mr Beltrami some customization on your accordion (type of sound, action etc).
Mr. Beltrami have some client from New Zealand and he can ship to you faster and securely.
You can try to contact at http://www.beltrami-fisarmoniche.it/index.php
Is a lovely person and with a acceptable english. I'm sure that he can help you.
Say to Mr Beltrami that you have received suggestion from me (Silvio from Parma . Italy).
Thank you N. I suppose I can be patient for a bit longer. It should be worth the wait anyway.
See you in June... hopefully with my new box? If not I will be transferring to the flute class! But was really hoping to benefit from Duncan's class.
Silvio64 - I appreciate your suggestion. If I hadn't already paid the full price to Castagnari, I would do this, knowing what I know now! If I ever need another accordion I will remember your suggestion. Thank you.
I've never known Castagnari to offer a 6 week delivery service! Everyone I've known has waited 4-6 months - I waited 4 months plus for both of mine. Take heart - once you cradle this precious baby in your arms, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven!
They did exactly the same to me i ordered my box in March 2007 through e-mail and was told it would take 2 months and to make 50% payment straight away. Sound i thought paid them they then said it could only be picked up from Castlefidardo as they don't deliver to private customers!! Aaargh so i e-mailed them again and told them it wouldn't be ecconomical for me to have time off work (Self employed builder) and fly to Italy tp pick up myself. Plus the wife would want to come for a shopping spree and i didn't have the diamonds for that malarky. So this went on untill they gave in and agreed to post at a cost of 90 Euros. It took 4 months in total which looking back now wasn't bad but the thing with Castagnari is the language barrier they speak little if any English and they only reply to e-mails on a Thursday (don't ask) so i was asking them things like "Is my accordion ready yet" on a Friday and the following Thursday the reply would be "No" Anyway hang in there as the end product is well woth it and i've got no regrets.
I sent an e-mail to Mengascini asking about the price for a replacement set of reeds. Never got a reply. I think they may even have gone out of business. Perhaps the industry's in a bad way?
Don't even go there i've been asking Castagnari for a year now through my local tuner to supply me with a middle reed block and they just don't want to know.
Castagnari
Castagnari
Hi there,
Has anyone had problems when ordering a new box from the Castagnari factory in Italy?
I ordered my box mid November last year and paid 50% deposit. I was told at the time of ordering it would be delivered January 1st. By the beginning of February I was starting to worry so I emailed them again. They said it would be the end of February. March 15th they emailed me asking for the remainder of the payment and said my box would be sent at the end of March. I paid the remaining 50% and then did not hear anything for 2 weeks - no acknowledgement of payment! so emailed them again asking for a a receipt. They acknowledged my payment on the email but still have not provided a receipt. Now they tell me my box will be delivered at the end of April or beginning of May. I've been waiting for 4 1/2 months already. If it's the beginning of May it will be over 6 months. How long does it take to build an accordion anyway?
GRRRRR!!
Meanwhile I have no box to play. Not a bad thing altogether because it makes me concentrate on playing my flute. However I have signed up for the free reed class at a national festival at the beginning of June and I'm wondering if I will even have an instrument to play by then.
But now I am wondering if I have been duped. What should I do, other than wait? I can't phone them up as I can't speak Italian and they have very poor English.
Anyone had any similar experiences? Please tell me I haven't forked out over 1400 Euros for nothing (especially at current exchange rates).
# Posted on April 8th 2009 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: Castagnari
be patient... try waiting 6 years for Briggs box. www.briggsaccordions.com, its a one man show!!
# Posted on April 9th 2009 by csparpd
Re: Castagnari
It's Italy. Schedules are to be taken with a grain of salt, like in Ireland, but much more so.
# Posted on April 9th 2009 by GaryAMartin
Re: Castagnari
Hey there - Hang in there K, it will come. I am sure that they are reputable and will supply you with the dream box... but it can't be nice... all that waiting and not knowing.
N
# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Brown Creeper
Re: Castagnari
Hi "buttons 'n' whistles"... I know... Castagnari have long time to delivery an accordion, is very busy, but... there's another way!
You can try to contact Mr. Beltrami (an accordion maker in northern Italy... a my good friend). He is an Castagnari agent and his time is very short and you can ask to Mr Beltrami some customization on your accordion (type of sound, action etc).
Mr. Beltrami have some client from New Zealand and he can ship to you faster and securely.
You can try to contact at http://www.beltrami-fisarmoniche.it/index.php
Is a lovely person and with a acceptable english. I'm sure that he can help you.
Say to Mr Beltrami that you have received suggestion from me (Silvio from Parma . Italy).
Good luck!
# Posted on April 9th 2009 by SILVIO 64
Re: Castagnari
I'm forget... Mr. Beltrami have an agent in New Zealand... see on Beltrami website!
# Posted on April 9th 2009 by SILVIO 64
Re: Castagnari
Thank you N. I suppose I can be patient for a bit longer. It should be worth the wait anyway.
See you in June... hopefully with my new box? If not I will be transferring to the flute class! But was really hoping to benefit from Duncan's class.
Silvio64 - I appreciate your suggestion. If I hadn't already paid the full price to Castagnari, I would do this, knowing what I know now! If I ever need another accordion I will remember your suggestion. Thank you.
# Posted on April 9th 2009 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: Castagnari
I've never known Castagnari to offer a 6 week delivery service! Everyone I've known has waited 4-6 months - I waited 4 months plus for both of mine. Take heart - once you cradle this precious baby in your arms, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven!
# Posted on April 9th 2009 by boxershort
Re: Castagnari
They did exactly the same to me i ordered my box in March 2007 through e-mail and was told it would take 2 months and to make 50% payment straight away. Sound i thought paid them they then said it could only be picked up from Castlefidardo as they don't deliver to private customers!! Aaargh so i e-mailed them again and told them it wouldn't be ecconomical for me to have time off work (Self employed builder) and fly to Italy tp pick up myself. Plus the wife would want to come for a shopping spree and i didn't have the diamonds for that malarky. So this went on untill they gave in and agreed to post at a cost of 90 Euros. It took 4 months in total which looking back now wasn't bad but the thing with Castagnari is the language barrier they speak little if any English and they only reply to e-mails on a Thursday (don't ask) so i was asking them things like "Is my accordion ready yet" on a Friday and the following Thursday the reply would be "No" Anyway hang in there as the end product is well woth it and i've got no regrets.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by upmine3
Re: Castagnari
I sent an e-mail to Mengascini asking about the price for a replacement set of reeds. Never got a reply. I think they may even have gone out of business. Perhaps the industry's in a bad way?
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by bc_box_player
Re: Castagnari
Don't even go there i've been asking Castagnari for a year now through my local tuner to supply me with a middle reed block and they just don't want to know.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by upmine3