"They used to be a top end shop that specialized in tubas, and using dial calipers does not require an expert. It requires that you understand how the blades are shaped and how the inside of a tube is shaped. It also requires that the calipers be accurate. They are selling these as new tubes, and they advertise a lot of *very* specific OD/ID numbers. These have been mic-ed out with numbers that are (again) *very* specific marked onto the tubes themselves. Someone measured every tube. Yet some of them are very badly off, and I bought some of this stuff. I even asked him to check it again before boxing it up, telling him what I needed. He sent me a photo and asked if that was accurate enough? Yes, what shows on the dial is accurate enough, but what arrived at my house (twice) is still off by three hundredths, which is an enormous error. As I said, these have to fit so there is a gap of about .002" or so. (.003" can be too loose, and .001" can require a LOT of lapping, so my term "or so" is meaning a variance in the ten thousandths range) and what I got both times was off by .030" or so. That is inexcusable for a place selling these as accurately measured tubing. Sorry - inexcusable. Niceness has nothing to do with knowing how to do your own business"
They should have refunded your money, then you go elsewhere, possibly Allied next instead of deal with someone you felt was incompetent. (At least I would have moved on and sought the parts somewhere else).
"Not disputing what you say, but I have over a dozen emails from him and he always signs it Sankit. He says it on the phone, too. Perhaps it is two different guys? I have never seen his name printed (or heard him say it) as "Sank". Your comments on this make it sound like you eat lunch every Tuesday with the man, HAHAHA!!!
I don't think either of us know him at all. And I am saying his name is Sankit because that is what he says and signs, etc. to me. I was pointing this out to you. When I spoke to one of the managers on the phone he called the man Sankit. Call him what you want. I included the full name because it might help the OP to know this.
Any my observations on their phone skills is documented above by another person, so I am not in a vacuum on this. Remember that just because *you* had a good experience does not mean they have it together over there, especially if people tell you they had bad or sketchy experiences. This is not Fred's old company. It is a completely different animal nowadays. Again, my personal experience (multiple times) gives the vibe of a company that is now doing something else and is just selling off old stock. They have several NOS tubas, a lot of NOS mouthpieces, a lot of repair parts, and some brand new, top drawer bassoons and other stuff. I think they are shifting gears and no one there knows what is up with tuba stuff except to get rid of it. That is not a bad thing or an "accusation" but a simple observation."
I have called and e-mailed a dozen times and heard both his full name and "Sank" (his shortened name) being used by him and the receptionist. Just like Bill & William are the same thing. They do owe me lunch now that you mentioned it, considering the one horn I did buy once from them that ended up being a demo model they couldn't sell and I tried it. I've had (a guy I won't name) give me short answers when asking over e-mail but figured it was due to them being busy and getting right to the point which I didn't find too offensive. Not paid to plug them, just reporting my experience. I never heard of any negative experience until now, from you guys. Considering how much business they have done, that is not a good sampling overall though your experience does suck. It happens.