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After two years there is no excuse that is acceptable to me. He still owns me a set of strings and honor the warranty. He is simply not a good businessman that makes up excuses rather than honor his word or back his product. Or
Lionwood is still not to be found…….Hmmm……..Still no phone, no website, just returned mail………………I guess he is out of business after a year plus…..Still think “he’s had ill luck”?……still think “it’s probably not a high priority for him to figure out how to rehost his site”?………….I guess it’s not a high priority for him to figure out how to reestablish a phone number either.
I can’t understand your defending him. He has not had any bad luck here. He simply is not returning phone calls, disconnected his fax line, stopped his Email and letters to him have been return. The fact is he owes me a set of string, along with honoring his warranty and his word.
I once felt strongly about his product and recommended Lionwood. To day advise al to steer clear of him, YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET BURNT.
Procrastination does not make a good businessman. His Fax line has been reassigned to residental number and still no answer at the regular Lionwwod Number. The server should have been back up by now or he should have found a new providor.
If I was to treat all the people who call me for Harp performances like this, I would have no gigs.
I do not buy that Lionwood’s website is down because his server burnt up. I believe that Lionwood is either out of business or Mike there is not making himself available ro his past customers.
I purchased my last Harp from Mike at Lionwood in 2004. While he is a good craftsman, he is far from being a good businessman. I had to stay on his case constantly about the status of building and shipping of the harp, as I had to do on the 2 previous harps. He stated a lead time of 8 weeks to build, but it was over 6 months before I received my harp. Secound item I was to receive an extra full set of strings and a string chart for my harp. He constantly between September and December 2004 told me that the strings were back ordered.
Since before Christmas 2004, I have been unable to reach Mike at Lionwood. His Email is no longer available, website is no longer, the FAX line is disconnected and the business line has a computer picking up, so no messages can be left.
Question I have is “My Harp has a 5 year warranty, if some happens, will Lionwood repair it? Is Lionwood even around?”
I think it would be best for one to look at other Harps. There are many fine Harp makers out there. Best to choose one that will be around and deliver on their promises.
I am sometimes amazed at the amount of self-control it takes to play the harp successfully under varoius trying circumstances. This was one of those times. I was hired to play for a fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration of an Italian couple. They were from the old country and spoke almost no English. The son and daughter-in-law had just opened up a restaurant and lodge, and the first event to be held there was the anniversary celebration. There were about 120 guests in attendance, of all ages, including many children under the age of 10. The array of food set out was incredible- a table groaning with homemade pastries and cookies, a salad table loaded with dozens of ingredients, several pasta stations, a carved meat station,etc. I was set up on the dance floor with my harp, square in the middle of all the activity. In order to get to any station the waitstaff and guests had to walk across the dance floor. I’ve been in much closer quarters before, so that didn’t bother me. But just as the buffet items were being set up one of the waitresses skidded on the dance floor with the tray of desserts she was carrying. She maintained her balance, but (unfortunately for me)the platter of jello she was transporting slipped. The glass dish stayed on the tray, but the whole jello mold landed intact on the floor just in front of my harp, perfectly framed in by my harp strings. Now, anyone who has ever worked with jello knows how it loves to jiggle at the slightest invitation, and how hysterically funny that can be. And jiggle it did. At every step on the dance floor it quivered in fear that someone would step on it. With every chord I played, the jello shook in perfect time. It shuddered delicately during the slow airs. It quivered with ecstasy when I played a rousing crescendo. It shivered in perfect mimicry to the lilt of Italian voices and the expressive gestures of the guests. There was absolutely no way to avoid looking at it. I died several thousand deaths during the course of the evening until, just before the dancing started, one of the waitstaff came with a broom and shovel to pick it up. Dorothy Walsh
