Tim80

I've read elsewhere on the internet that Walmart or Sam's sells the Chinese made Simba brand trumpet and that Costco also sells a Chinese made trumpet. Allora is made by Vogtländische Musikinstrumentenfabrik GmbH. They are the same makers of B&S trumpets. Here is a link to a review of an Allora trumpet from TrumpetReview.com

http://www.trumpetreview.com/showpro...cat=106&page=1

The Gerhard Baier trumpet that I have is the same as an B&S Challenger I and probably is comparable to an Allora. My valves after breaking in are pretty good.

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Tim (formerly known as 80)

Tootsall

Maybe so, Tim. But if this individual says she bought it at Costco, then that's where she bought it. Just this evening someone in our trumept choir said that they saw these horns... priced at $199 Cdn at Costco. You think that's a B & S?

And it says "Allora" on the bell (but that's all it says). Has a fairly attractive looking grey foam/ripstop nylon case (zippered). Outside of valves are stamped with casing numbers, valves themselves aren't marked at all.

And if Allora is a WW&BW horn built and branded for them by B & S (which I don't doubt), then what is this thing being sold by Costco? I need to get the Michelins rotated and rebalanced so I'll be at Costco this weekend; I'll see what they've got on the shelf and get back to the forum with anything I find out. If they still have any I'll be checking serial numbers to see if they're all the same or not.

MUSICandCHARACTER

There is no way it is a B&S. No way. The importers have learned the "serial number" trick. On eBay they now advertise these junk horns as "a real horn with a serial number." Yep, stamping it with a serial number makes it a real horn. They can stamp different numbers on them, it is no big deal.

Some cheap importer has used the Allora name. Either illegally or WWBW didn't get a trademark. Next week they will have "Laval" or "Wild Trumpet" marked on them. Bottom line, CostCo is not the place to buy a trumpet. I wish CostCo, WalMart, Penneys, Sears, Sam's Club and some of the other big retailers would quit selling this junk on unsuspecting players and their parents. My school district sends out a note every year warning about it. But still, a $200 "new" trumpet sounds like a bargain, until you hear the "sound."

M&C

__________________
Dr. Jim Fox
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Mouthpiece chart: www.ibowtie.com/tmptmpccharts.html

Tootsall

Well, as promised I stopped by the local Costco shop Saturday morning. I walked every darn aisle in that store: no musical instruments of any kind to be found anywhere; not even plastic toys. Now I'm wondering if she purchased that horn at a different Costco (and if so... which one?) Unfortunately she's out of town all week so it'll be another while before I can pose the question. (But pose it I will!)

What gets me is why the companies who actually hold the rights to these names would allow Costco, Walmart, etc. to even handle the product. Sure, it's "our lawyer is bigger than your lawyer" but there is a LOT of money to be made or lost through this type of counterfeiting of trade names. (and its not as if WW & BW were the smallest player on the block!)

Ash

Costco frequently has "touring displays." They move with a certain selection of products from one store to another. That's most likely why it is no longer there.

__________________
1974 Raw Brass 37
1933 King Cornet

Tootsall

Yes, I am familiar with their touring displays. One of our employees is married to a Costco employee so we get their "inside" magazine delivered to our coffee room also: it shows that different stores run different "promotions" or specials at different times. I'm keeping my eye on it.

MUSICandCHARACTER

A touring display for a specialized product like a trumpet. They would only sell for a little while, and then BOOM, off to another store.

It upsets me that COSTCO and these other retailers will actually sell this junk. Sure, WWBW could do something about it if they caught it in time, but hey, doesn't the retailer owe it to its customer to not sell junk?

If they sold junk tires, they would quit as soon as they had a few complaints. But who is going to complain a trumpet that is no longer at the store?

Grrrrrr .......

M&C

__________________
Dr. Jim Fox
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Mouthpiece chart: www.ibowtie.com/tmptmpccharts.html

Tootsall

HUGE screw-up, folks. I have been posting about this junker "Allora" trumpet allegedly purchased at Costco.

I have made an appointment to see my optometrist (if I can see that far).

The horn is branded "ATLANTIS" in some strange font (looks kind of like the Comic Sans MS font on computers.


Yeah, I know... pile it on, I deserve it.

Sorry for the goof. I'll leave this apology up for a week or so and then flush the whole thread (if I can find the handle).

W Scott

O.K.---but did it come from Costco? I've checked a couple of stores and can't find any trumpets, just keyboards.

Bill

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Gabriel is NOT a woodwind player!

Tootsall

Yes, Bill. It did come from Costco.