Dr.Hoy
27 posts
Apr 16, 2015
2:25 PM
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Back in January I ordered a set of Special 20 reed plates in low F#. Long story short, 30.99 pounds were taken from my account (it wasn't a Paypal transaction) or around $60 USD, and I got an email telling me that plates were shipped. Plates never arrived, numerous email and phone messages to the company were never answered.
I filed a complaint with consumer.gov and I'm still waiting to see what happens. In the meantime, does anyone here have any experience with this company?
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SuperBee
2553 posts
Apr 16, 2015
2:47 PM
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No, but the proprietor is a member here I think. Ben Hewlett.
That's a pricey set of reed plates.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Apr 16, 2015 3:13 PM
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SuperBee
2554 posts
Apr 16, 2015
2:52 PM
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Ha ha, edit tag!
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Dr.Hoy
29 posts
Apr 16, 2015
3:04 PM
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Very pricey, Bee.
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benhewlett
11 posts
Apr 17, 2015
3:53 AM
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Hi this is Ben Hewlett - but not from The Harmonica Company UK. I am from Sonnyboys Music Store in the UK.
We have never shipped F#low sp20 plates ever.
We supply Sonnyboys Special, Mojo, and Classic (tuned to equal, just and compromise.)
I also run HarpsCool, am NHL chair, and a few other harmonica related things!
You can get me on +44(0)7973 284 366 if you need to.
I called up The Harmonica Company which is about 30 miles from me but got no answer so I left a message asking them to come back to me and answer you direct.
Hope that helps!
Ben
ben@benhewlett.com
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SuperBee
2559 posts
Apr 17, 2015
6:17 AM
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whoops! my bad, sorry Ben
Last Edited by SuperBee on Apr 17, 2015 6:17 AM
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Dr.Hoy
30 posts
Apr 17, 2015
11:14 AM
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Hi Ben - that's really kind of you, thank you.
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benhewlett
12 posts
Apr 19, 2015
7:01 AM
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No problem, just trying to be clear in everything.
What goes round...
Matter of fact I have been talking with Adam lately to invite him to perform and teach at the NHL festival in Bristol UK. We know what a significant part of the harmonica community he is. We couldn't hook it up for this year but I'm sure it will happen soon.
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Yeomanthefirst
37 posts
May 04, 2015
1:52 AM
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Sorry to continue putting nails in the coffin of the Harmonica Company but I had exactly the same thing happen. They took the order and the money and despite phone calls and emails I never received the goods or a single response. I can't understand it, I've ordered from them before and they've been fine. I'll never buy from them again though. I eventually got the money reimbursed through my credit card. Always best to use a credit card when buying goods on the internet. You have some comeback usually then.
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Kingley
3873 posts
May 04, 2015
5:15 AM
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My advice would be to use Harmonicas Direct. Peter is a really great guy to deal with and I've never had a problem yet. I'v never dealt with him, but I'm sure Ben Hewlett is a good guy too, from what I've heard.
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kudzurunner
5415 posts
May 04, 2015
5:22 AM
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Guys:
Since I've got a semi-banner for The Harmonica Company on my "harmonicas for sale" page--an unpaid favor I'm doing for the owners, compensated for by a reciprocal link on their website--=I'm naturally following this conversation with great concern.
I've been going through my emails and I can't find the email address for the person in charge there, with whom I have exchanged several friendly emails. If you've got a name and an email address for one or two of the people in charge there, please send them to me (asgussow at aol dot com) and I will get their attention, fast. I have no intention of allowing that banner to sit on my website if these problems continue.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 04, 2015 5:26 AM
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Dr.Hoy
34 posts
May 04, 2015
11:34 AM
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Hi kudzurunner - the only one I have is:
theharmonicacompany@blueyonder.co.uk
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kudzurunner
5416 posts
May 04, 2015
5:04 PM
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Thanks. I've just emailed them, expressing concern and giving them a link to this thread.
In response to that email, I received an immediate reply, as follows:
"Hi there,
Thanks for contacting the harmonica company and we
are
sorry that we are out of the office at the moment.
We will reply to your
message as soon as we can but if you wish to
speak to us sooner please feel
free to call us on (0750) 1277590, we
will be pleased to hear from you.
kind
regards
The harmonica company"
I would urge those of you in the UK who are dissatisfied with the service you've received to call that number. If you do so, please post the results of that call-attempt here.
I'm sure the situation will correct itself quickly.
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PropMan
52 posts
May 04, 2015
9:33 PM
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Just so you know I ordered a HerIng chromatic about 18 months ago and it came to me in Los Angeles is about 10 days. About 3 months ago I placed another order and my paypal was charged immediately and I never got anything- no merchandise, no email when I tried to contact them - nothing. I was about to lose $175 so I filed a claim with paypal and got a full refund. Never did get a response.
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kudzurunner
5420 posts
May 05, 2015
4:15 PM
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I've just had a reply from Andy Stradling, my contact at The Harmonica Company. He has asked "for the customer[s] to contact us directly [through the website] and we will do our very best to help resolve their problem."
He has also written "I will personally guarantee to look into it for them."
So I'll urge the three of you to do exactly that. Please put "for Andy Stradling" into the header or at the top of the email. I trust that your complaints will be resolved in short order. Please post the results of your inquiries here.
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Dr.Hoy
35 posts
May 05, 2015
9:17 PM
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I've tried to contact Andy directly through the website multiple times. Every time I get a prompt that tells me the email address I enter is wrong, even though it's the exact same email address in my profile. It's my email address!
Why won't he return my telephone messages? Why didn't he sign for the registered-mail letter I sent him?
Last Edited by Dr.Hoy on May 05, 2015 9:18 PM
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kudzurunner
5421 posts
May 06, 2015
4:25 AM
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Hoy: Write directly to Andy using the following email address: theharmonicacompany (at) blueyonder.co.uk
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Dr.Hoy
36 posts
May 06, 2015
11:48 AM
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I'll try. Thanks kudzurunner.
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Dr.Hoy
37 posts
May 06, 2015
5:15 PM
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So, I sent the new email and received the automatic response, kudzurunner. We'll see how this turns out, I guess, although I'm not holding out any hopes.
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Dr.Hoy
38 posts
May 07, 2015
1:29 PM
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It looks like Andy's personal guarantee is pretty worthless. That's $62.28 I'll never see again.
My advice: do not of business with the Harmonica Company. He'll take your money and you'll never hear from him again.
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nacoran
8481 posts
May 08, 2015
1:44 PM
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Dr.Hoy, have you checked their FB page and/or tried to have the charges reversed? Even banks usually have a way to do that. I've had to do that once. There is sometimes a charge, but it should be less than the cost of the harp.
Also (as posted in your other thread) please keep complaint threads consolidated. It is much easier to keep the information in one place that way, so that we can try to get follow-up information to anyone affected.
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Nate
Facebook
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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kudzurunner
5423 posts
May 08, 2015
2:04 PM
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Actually, this is one place where nacoran is being a little too nice. Dr. Hoy, you've been given a chance to air your complaints fully in this thread. I have taken those complaints very seriously; I responded to them immediately, making clear to Andy Stradling that I wouldn't be able to continue to do business with him unless he responded to your complaint and others. I gave you a course of action to take. I'm sorry to hear that your email to Stradling has gone unanswered. But there was absolutely no need for you to start another thread and air precisely the same complaint there. Please don't do it again. Thanks.
I've deleted that other thread.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 08, 2015 2:06 PM
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kudzurunner
5424 posts
May 08, 2015
2:18 PM
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FYI, I have just taken the Harmonica Company icon off my "harmonicas for sale" page and informed Mr. Stradling that I've done this. I've also told him the truth, which is that this is the first time that I've felt I needed to do this in the eight years I've been in business.
Trading links is a delicate business. If I put an icon for a harmonica-focused business on a high-traffic page, as I did in this case, and I get a series of complaints, I become concerned. All I've got, ultimately, is my word. I certainly don't want anybody to come to this website, take my recommendation for a harmonica provisioner, and come away deeply frustrated by the experience.
So I depend on honest feedback from folks here and others who have taken my recommendations. This forum can be a useful tool in that respect.
If any of you have had distressing or unpleasant experiences with any other company whose link and/or icon shows up on this website, please don't hesitate to let me know. I will investigate; I'll try to make things right; and I'll act in a way that seems just to me.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 08, 2015 2:18 PM
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Dr.Hoy
40 posts
May 08, 2015
2:24 PM
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Sorry, thank you for deleting the other thread, and thanks for trying to help me, kudzurunner.
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Raven
46 posts
May 08, 2015
7:20 PM
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A round of applause to Adam for his integrity. It's rare today and much appreciated on this forum. Many of us use the information here to make purchasing decisions.
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marine1896
128 posts
May 09, 2015
3:17 AM
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Here, here for Adam...that tell's you lot about him!
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kudzurunner
5426 posts
May 10, 2015
10:03 AM
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Just a quick follow-up to say: thanks to Dr. Hoy and yeomanthefirst for alerting me to this particular vendor. When I sent Stradling an email a day or two ago informing him that I was going to be forced to take his icon off my website, he replied with a lively email beginning "listen Gussow" and ending with a four-letter word. In between he expressed sneering disdain for contributors to this thread.
Professionals--heck, smart business people--don't do that when they're disappointed. They remain rational, get to the bottom of whatever complaints have been tendered, do their best to resolve them, and then, if nothing can be done to make people happy, walk away without rancor.
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Dr.Hoy
41 posts
May 10, 2015
6:37 PM
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I'd like to see that email to see how he justifies taking customer's money for merchandise that he doesn't deliver and not responding to customer's emails and telephone messages.
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kudzurunner
5428 posts
May 11, 2015
11:32 AM
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I've shared enough of the contents of his email for the purposes of this thread. Believe it or not, my own code of ethics leads me to believe in a certain minimum level of discretion. I'm old fashioned that way.
I don't blame you for feeling frustrated, though, and I hope you're able to find justice down the line.
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Ian
22 posts
May 13, 2015
5:02 PM
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I work in a relatively small industry myself, and I see this kind of behaviour from some of my competitors all the time. Well done Adam in keeping away from anyone who could damage your credibility. I don't know what it is here in the UK... Small to mid size businesses , seem to hate dealing with customers in a decent way. Its as if once they get beyond the, 'desperate for custom' phase, they throw caution to the wind and ignore the needs of their customers. The except from your email is typical of what I here from my customers dealings with some of my competitors.
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Dr.Hoy
46 posts
May 13, 2015
6:26 PM
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Thanks for that insight, Ian. I've given up. The bastard can keep my money, for all the good it does him.
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Harmlessonica
153 posts
May 14, 2015
2:35 AM
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I don't know that it's fair to say this is a UK thing... probably as common here as anywhere else unfortunately.
Dr Hoy, I would like to thank you for posting this issue, as that site used to be one of my 'go to' places to check when I'm looking to buy another harmonica. Now I know better.
I hope you can take some solace in the fact that you have helped save many people from a similar experience.
Thank you.
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Dr.Hoy
47 posts
May 14, 2015
11:02 AM
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Hi, Harmlessonica - Without this forum I'd have had nowhere to post, so let's both thank Adam Gussow.
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Harmlessonica
154 posts
May 14, 2015
2:12 PM
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Well said, Dr. Hoy.
Here's to Adam, a credit to the harmonica community!
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Last Edited by Harmlessonica on May 14, 2015 2:12 PM
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thejapsniper17
1 post
Sep 11, 2015
9:15 AM
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Hi All, I have finally found somewhere to voice my opinions. I am a total novice having never even blown a harp but was really interested in learning so unbeknown to me my wife and a friend bought my first harp from the harmonica company a po box in frome? the one recomended was a hohner echo celeste tremelo and just looking at it was daunting. so tried to contact the harmonica company by e mail /phone /fcebk also the friend who got it for me did the same without success having realised from other sellers that this model harp is not what they would recomend for a learner. Not knowing what else to do we sent the harp back to them with a note attached with my mob no home no email etc still no reply wanted them to swap it for a diatonc 10 hole about same price. The harp was signed for so I am in the position with no harp paid postage twice and paid for the item and this is now over 2 months since ordering harp.Also i have now noticed thier website has closed! We paid through paypal so maybe that will help a little. Can anyone recomend who to buy a new harp from and what are your recs for a total beginner. only found this site by googling thier phone no. Sorry for the rant and being a bit long but I realise i am not the only customer to be treated like this. Best regards Wayne.
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Pistolcat
852 posts
Sep 11, 2015
9:39 AM
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I'd go into a music store and buy a harp if I where you. That way you can get what you want. Thomann has a lot of stuff pretty cheap but the postage is 15€ so you'll have to buy a couple to have it break even.
I recommend a Hohner Special 20 in the key of C.
I'm guessing you are in Britain so maybe some of the Brits here have better recommendations.
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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Baker
415 posts
Sep 11, 2015
9:41 AM
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thejapsniper17 – If you are looking to buy online in the UK I would highly recommend these guys: www.harmonicas-direct.com.
I've always had a great experience with them, and if you're worried about ordering through the website you can call them up. Always really friendly and helpful.
As far as a good harp for beginners, everyone will have their own opinions but I always recommend a Hohner Special 20. It's a good quality harp, good tone, not too pricy and has a plastic comb. C is the most common harp to start on as it has no sharp or flat notes and is in the middle of the standard range.
If you're planning on learning from Adams lessons on YouTube you might want to get a Bb too. Many of his lessons are done on a Bb harp.
Hope this is some help.
Last Edited by Baker on Sep 11, 2015 9:42 AM
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Ian
76 posts
Sep 11, 2015
12:38 PM
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@japsniper. Bad luck with the harp purchase... Not sure where you are exactly but hobgoblin music are good for harps. Plus they have a few real stores so they have good after sales too.
As far as harps go I'd second special 20 or possibly bluesmaster, both very good harps.
Don't buy the cheapest on the rack, you will regret it.
Happy harpin
Last Edited by Ian on Sep 11, 2015 1:30 PM
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Gipsy
174 posts
Sep 11, 2015
12:52 PM
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@japsniper. I'd second the recommendation of Harmonicas Direct. Peter is great to deal with.
At the risk of offending peeps here I feel Harmonicas Direct here in the UK, bears comparison with Rockin Ron's in the USA, and Mandol Harp in Australia, as well established businesses, who are excellent to deal with.
BTW I have no affiliation with any of the above named.
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nacoran
8680 posts
Sep 11, 2015
3:08 PM
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Can't go wrong with a Special 20 in C.
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Nate
Facebook
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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kudzurunner
5653 posts
Sep 14, 2015
6:53 AM
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I recently had an email from somebody who confirmed our sense that the Harmonica Company and its owner were trouble. Here's the full text of his letter, reprinted here with permission:
"I too have had a bad experience with the Harmonica Co. Ordered a harp in early July, a week or so later nothing had arrived so I emailed him. He said sorry, that one's out of stock, he would send a refund. But I never got a refund. Last week I tried to chase it again but found his website was down and his mobile phone number out of action. So I phoned his home landline (you can google him, his name's Andy Stradling and he's a harmonica teacher in Frome). He told me he had closed the business and wouldn't be sending me a refund! He advised me to claim it from Paypal so this is what I'm doing now. (Very glad I used Paypal). Paypal has a mechanism for sellers to reject a payment if they can't fulfil the order, so the cash goes straight back to the buyer, but he just took my money anyway - very sharp practice. So to anyone still owed money I would say, just claim it from Paypal or your credit card company.
Hope this may be of interest to your members."
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Sep 14, 2015 6:54 AM
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Gary 62
34 posts
Sep 14, 2015
8:28 AM
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Sadly these kinds of instances are becoming more and more common. I was given the name and phone number of a person who reputedly could make me new decals for a road racing bike i have. I ordered the decals he took my money and i never got them. I phoned him and the excuses were endless; his wife was just going to post them etc. etc.
Eventually i got a local paper who have a judge that sorts out customers queries to contact him and tell him by law he had to refund my money. Didn't do any good i never saw the cash again.
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TheHarmonicaCompany
2 posts
Jun 22, 2017
7:28 AM
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Hi All -
Just wanted to let you know that The Harmonica company is under new ownership, has professional warehouses, new website and a brand new team surrounding it.
The previous owner no longer has anything to do with the company. It is a shame to read some of the past stories.
We hope you drop by and test out the new service :)
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https://theharmonicacompany.com
Last Edited by TheHarmonicaCompany on Jun 22, 2017 7:31 AM
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