Terms of Purchase

Please read carefully before placing an order.

Manufacture, tuning, and balancing of a fine musical instrument is a time-consuming process. The following order and payment structure ensures every customer receives their instrument on schedule and to the highest standard.

Lead Time & Scheduling

All chanters, bag/bellows combinations, practice sets, half sets, full sets, and upgrades require a pre-determined waiting period — commonly known as a lead time. Your place in the queue is determined by the order in which your deposit is received. Orders are processed strictly first-in, first-out. A calendar period appropriate to the work required is allocated to each job; the delivery date is set at that time and cannot be moved or bumped.

A half or full set can be built in stages. However, if a half or full set is ordered, a practice set cannot be delivered in the interim, as doing so would displace previously ordered practice sets. If you initially order a practice set and later wish to upgrade, a new 50% deposit is required for the upgrade and a new lead time is assigned.

Non-Refundable Deposit

A deposit of 50% of the asking price is required to secure a schedule opening. This deposit is non-refundable except in the event that BC Childress is unable to complete the work.

30-Day Completion Grace Period

Upon notification that your instrument is complete, the final balance payment is due within 30 calendar days. After 30 days, the instrument becomes forfeit to the original purchaser. However, your original deposit may be applied toward the purchase of another instrument for an indefinite period after expiration of the grace period — subject to standard lead time rules and any applicable price changes.

Price Protection on Deposit

Price increases do not apply to orders already on deposit. Your quoted price is locked from the time your deposit is received.

Adding Items to an Existing Order

Main set items (chanters, drones, regulators, bag & bellows) cannot be added to an existing work order once the receipt and lead time have been written. Such additions require a separate work order and a new lead time. Accessory items may be added to an existing work order without affecting the lead time, provided the addition is made no later than approximately 2 months before the quoted delivery date.

Warranty

All pipes and accessories produced in the BC Childress workshop are warrantied against defects in materials and workmanship for life, with the following exceptions:

  • Bellows — warrantied for 5 years
  • Bags — warrantied for 10 years
  • Reeds — cannot be warrantied against future detrimental playing characteristics, for reasons well known to anyone familiar with the Uilleann Pipes

Warranty does not apply where abuse or neglect are found to be a factor. No set of pipes will leave the workshop without first confirming that the chanter, drones, regulators, and their respective reeds function properly. Audio/visual documentation to this effect is available for every set produced.

Reed Support

Due to the challenges beginners often experience with reeds, Bruce is always available for advice and, if necessary, reed replacement. The workshop schedule is adjusted to accommodate reed replacement, adjustments, and instrument repairs, with a typical turnaround of no more than 2 weeks.

You will be directed to the quote request form after agreeing.