Whenever my husband, son and I go to Perfect Pitch, JB or Yamaha, we sense an immediate rapport between my son and the clerks drawn from their affinity to music. Never mind if the clerks have tattoos, a tongue ring or whatever scary stuff in their bodies, they jibe.
The past week I’ve been calling this store up, (ok, Lyric) its 3 branches in fact, in search of a piano bench. One that’s adjustable height wise. At first they said they had none, but I was persistent/insistent and eventually they found one. P8.5 k, made in China, the girl I spoke with said. I asked if they gave discounts for cash purchases, I got an evasive/tentative answer. That surprised me because usually music stores are “kind”. Not so this one, although Aida initially said they might give.
Thus did the series of discordant views/information emanating from the people of the store begin.
Did I say the bench was made in Korea? When I called again, I was told it was made in Japan, Watanabe brand. Then when we got there, the box said China. Hayyyyyy.
When I called earlier, I asked if I could pay using my credit card because anyway cash payment would not merit a discount. Aida said it was ok to pay with my credit card. When we got there, the first girl we asked (Aida wasn’t around) said we couldn’t. The old man said we couldn’t. Then another lady said we could.
It was a very frustrating afternoon really although we did get a bench made in Japan. Second hand, it cost P3 k cheaper. SO why was I frustrated? I gave one credit card. The girl asked if I had another because she got the message “Call up” and she said it would take time. When I gave her another card she said it would take a while because it was Citibank. Then she got my BPI card again and she said “Denied”. I was incredulous because I had just used it in Unimart. One lady suggested she call up the bank which she did and in no time, the card was approved for use. Then she opened the drawer to look for a charge slip. She opened many drawers – in her desk, in the filing cabinet, explaining that they had a re-layout so she didn’t know where things were. She went upstairs, still nothing. I asked if there were a bank nearby so we coudld just withdraw and get it over with. She said it was not that near. Meanwhile our groceries were simmering in the car. And I think had we withdrawn, no matter how far the bank was, it would have been quicker all around than waiting for her to find a charge slip.
Finally she did find a charge slip after one lady said the equitable one could be used for BPI. Then she tried to swipe it and the thing wouldn’t work. She wasn’t doing things correctly. And she didn’t look like she was a new employee. How utterly frustrating. I thought she’d again say the swiping machine wouldn’t work and could we pay in cash.
What a store. A pity really because they have a good line up of stuff: musical instruments, music sheets, guitar straps even, a cello case, say it they had it, well almost. They had grand pianos, melodicas, a wooden xylophone for kids, a pink violin, pink guitars, guitar picks, etc. Two floors of stuff, branches with a library of music pieces. But sadly the personnel weren’t really into music. They could have been selling bagoong, medicines, anything. No passion. sad, sad, sad.
On another note, trying to make friends with one of the personnel, I thought of asking if they had pianos in MV Princess of the Stars because I saw packages which read Lyric Cebu strewn on their floor. The guy said they did have 7 upright pianos in a container aboard the ship. Some amps for the guitar too.
Corny joke but my husband couldn’t resist it. He said, “the fish will learn to play the piano.” He added, “and the pianos will not be destroyed by termites because there was a pesticide aboard the ship.” Endosulfan. Now that’s another story…
The Lyric Music Store that might be a mecca for musicians but for the personnel is located in N Domingo Street across Nestle. It’s near the entrance of Horseshoe Village. For the stuff it has, go. But be sure to have infinite patience. There was one lady there who looked very competent and was very accommodating but I guess because of those very traits, she was not able to attend to us because there were so many things demanding her attention.
This is very frustrating, no?
I really really hate it – and can’t resist throwing barbs – if store personnel are not knowledgeable or are lazy or both. And I think this is the price a lazy owner – one who just invests his money in the business but is not a hands-on owner – has to pay.
Sayang.
There was an old man there, he may have been the owner. You said it, frustrating, especially because it’s so easy to fall in love with music – musical instruments, music sheets, etc. I wouldn’t mind working there or in a bookstore.