The Frugal Corner?

[keepoffgrass]

Thank you sir for the kind words. I stand by my assertion. These are good pipes for beginners who wantsto find out if bagpipes might be something they are interested in or even as a set for instructors for students and at a price under $125 the worse case would be they would end up being a great addition to put up over the fireplace. Out of the 25 or so sets we have sold 1 has been returned with problems, eveybody else has left good comments. We have never had to sell more products to FIX issues. Again i believe for the money (not much more then a tank of gas) a person can get a nice pair of bagpipes that they won't feel to bad about tossing into the closet beside a pile of work out equiptment after they decide bagpies are not for them.Stop by our booth at the Minnesota Highland Games and We can have a drink together

Thank you and have a great day
Mark

Just my two cents here, but... I think Marks being pretty cool about all this, hes even willing to send a set out for review. The bottom line is however, that most people don't have or aren't willing to shell out a grand on a set of pipes if they're thinking about learning to play. I understand that the true pipers in here have a problem with cheat pipes, but someone who just wants a set a pipes to "play with" or check out isn't likely gunna shell out $800+ on something he or she might not ever seriously get into. And the majority of people in here, or any where for that matter are going to fit into that category. I curious what the ratio of "serious pipers" to people thinking it would be cool to have a set of bag pipes is in here, about a 1 in every hundred or so? its cool you're passionate guys, but be realistic. most people buying these pipes aren't ever going to be a great piper, or have any aspirations of the such. they just want a cheap set of pipes to play with

[Arlen]

Learning to play the pipes is difficult enough on a rock-steady quality set, and virtually impossible on a $135.00 **** set of crap!
[/b]

I'm just going to make one request in all of this, and PiobBear here is just one example in many.
Can I request that people stop using the term ****.
i grew up with a lot of people whose parents were Pakistani but the children were Scottish through and through.
To me, **** is a very derogatory term that I heard enough of seeing my friends being abused as I was growing up.

Yes, some companies in Pakistan there produce cheap stuff and sell it to the unaware. So does almost every country in the world.
Some companies in Scotland produce dreadful, cheap Whisky and market it to the U.S and Canada as quality Scotch.

[cloves]

Can I request that people stop using the term ****.
To me, **** is a very derogatory term that I heard enough of seeing my friends being abused as I was growing up.

Thank goodness somebody finally brought that up. Good on ya Arlen. I've always found it distasteful as well.

[Mr. MacDougall]

I have to say that Mark has displayed a great deal of class, here. He's been called a liar, and he responds by offering to buy the insult-giver a drink. He's offered a free set of pipes for review to another member. These are the marks of a gentleman, and I know he's won at least one order with these actions -- mine.

[mddock58]

Whatever your personal opinion PiobBear, that is why there has been this discussion here.

Attacking the man does no good, the product will either prove good or bad, and if Mark stands behind his products, then he will work those things out.

The vehement language you use is not necessary, there have been many discussions regarding pipes, and learning to play them, on this board. Most of us here regard the fellow boardmembers opinions highly, and we have heard many times that if you choose to play the pipes, choose a good set and be willing to pay for it.

Does this mean that what Frugal Corner carries is garbage? No. I stand by my opinion that a good piper can evaluate the quality of these pipes, if they choose to be unbiased from the start. Sure they are not going to be like a nice set of Dunbar pipes, but that's just it.

High schools are cutting back funding for music, so many band members have to buy their own instruments. Currently there is a glut of "cheap instruments" (flutes, trumpets, etc.) that can be purchased on ebay. Do they sound great? No. Do they play well enough until the player is good enough to know the difference, and then is willing to put out the money for a "good" instrument, yes, in many cases (though not all).

If i was buying a Pinto, and Mario Andretti was available to evaluate it, I would trust his opinion. (He lives 15 miles from me)

[sean_cummings]

Mark -I just want to let you know I think it is great you are willing to come to our board and participate in discussions. And the way you have handled some abrasive comments is quite good. I have myself have dealt with customer service for many years and had similar type of comments given to me. I know how you would like to respond in kind however you handled yourself with grace and class. I look forward to purchasing from you in the future. Good luck with you business.
Sean

[slohairt]

Dia Dhuit!

I agree, personal attacks in the world of business are never a good thing. Let the products stand on their own merits. Mark has clearly stated what his market niche is and makes no claim to his product being a superior instrument. It is merely something for a beginner to dabble with. As a guitarist who has taught guitar for many years I would NEVER tell a beginning player to buy something like a 1962 Fender Jaguar Reissue (often priced at over $2000)! I would tell them to buy a Squier Stratocaster within the $200-$300 range (significantly less, if bought used).

A price tag in the thousands of dollars is simply too much for a young person to save up for, and too much for a parent to spend on something the child may lose interest in after a short while. If the interest remains, the player will move up to a superior quality instrument in due time.

As my first guitar teacher told me: You can have the best equipment in the world. But if you suck, then you'll still suck.

Words to live by!

Slán

[Shriner]

A friend of mine has a set in that price range, that he plays around with. He not too bad. I let him play my shepards, he was awesome. He said my set was easier to play. He is now shopping for another set of pipes, but the cheaper ones did thier job. It goes to shows you if you can play those you can play anything.

John

[Kid Cossack]

Arlen:

Well said on all counts. I've seen the difference in "country of origin" quality level assumptions in my own lifetime. Why, back in the day, EVERYONE just KNEW that Japanese products were at best cheap, rinky-dink knock-offs of quality goods. Well, my Honda Civic del Sol is 12 years old, runs like a top, and hasn't had any unscheduled maintenance.

The Pakistanis produce crap, yes, but they can also produce first rate goods.
The Scots produce crap, yes, but they can also produce first rate goods.
The American produce crap, yes, but they can also produce first rate goods.
In all three cases, a lot depends on the vendor's specifications and rigorous standards.

[slohairt]

I agree, Arlen. I, too have friends of Indian and Pakistani ancestry, and I'm getting tired of seeing the term "****" being bandied about. It's about time someone said something. I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure racial slurs are against the rules here. Bad products don't equate bad people.