Terms of Purchase

Manufacture, tuning and balancing of a fine musical instrument is a time consuming process.
Therefore I have found that the following order and payment structure is required.

All chanters, bag/bellows combinations, practice sets, 1/2 sets, full sets and upgrades to any of
the previous, require a pre-determined waiting period, more commonly known as a “lead time”.
The lead time for any of the aforementioned items is determined by the order in which the
required deposit of 50% of the printed price of the item ordered is received. I process orders on
a first-in-first-out basis. A calendar period, appropriate to the amount of work time required is
allocated to the job. The delivery time is thus determined and cannot be bumped or moved. A
1/2 or full set can be built in stages. If, however, a 1/2 or full set is ordered, a practice set cannot
be delivered in the interim, as it would bump any previously ordered practice sets. If a practice
set is initially ordered and the customer wishes to upgrade to a 1/2 set (for instance) several
months later, a 50% deposit is required for the upgrade and a new lead time is dedicated to the
1/2 set upgrade. This outline of the lead time process perhaps seems a bit complicated, but it is
the best method I have found for being able to deliver within a reasonable amount of time to the
lead time initially quoted on sale/deposit. This system has considerably reduced lead time error.

As stated above, a deposit of 50% of the asking price is required to secure a schedule opening.
This deposit is non-refundable except in such a case as I am unable to finish the work. Payment
of the balance is required, after notification of completion, for delivery. A period of 30 calendar
days after notification of completion is allowed for the final balance payment. After 30 days, the
ordered instrument becomes forfeit to the original purchaser. However, the original deposit can
be applied to purchase of another instrument for an indefinite period after the expiration of the
30 days notification-of-completion grace period. In such a case, standard lead time rules, and
any price changes, apply.

All pipes and accessories produced in my shop are warranted, against defects in materials and
workmanship, for life. This, of course, does not apply where abuse or neglect are found to be a
factor. Reeds (for reasons well known to anyone familiar with the Uilleann Pipes) cannot be
warranted against future detrimental playing characteristics. No set of pipes will leave the BC
Childress workshop without first confirming that the chanter, drones, regulators and their
respective reeds function properly. Documentation to this effect, in Audio/visual form, is
available for every set produced. Due to the problems some beginners experience with reeds, I
am always on call for advice and (if necessary) reed replacement. For this reason, I have
adjusted my calendar schedule to accommodate reed replacement, adjustments and instrument
repairs, with a short (usually no more than 2 weeks) turn-around time.

 

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