|
Feel free to click on "Contact
Us" at the left, and ask. Also feel free to e-mail a question
that you would like to see answered here.
General
questions
USA
questions
General
questions:
1. What is the
difference between the EBF and ECBF versions of The Black Folder?
2. Is there a right-handed
or left-handed version?
3. Do you take credit
cards?
4. Our budget is tight...how
can I save money with Black Folders?
5. How can I get the
best per-folder price for my order?
6. What is the best
way to convince my choir to go for a set of Black Folders?
7. I have a big concert!
I need my folders "yesterday..."
8. Would the price
be different if I were in Canada/ USA/ Mexico/ Sweden/ Hong Kong/
Brazil/ Kenya/ Antarctica...etc?
9. I called and heard
a beep like a fax so I hung up right away...
10. I did a domain name search for "musicfolder.com"
and found an address in Victoria, not Vancouver?
11. Do the double cords make the folder wider?
1.
What is the difference between the EBF and ECBF versions?
The
EBF is the standard version. The ECBF (deluxe) is improved over the standard version in that it has a detachable bottom cross
strap, allowing it to open flat on a stand or your piano. It's also a little easier to load music into the folder when it can open flat.
Both types now come with TWO double-stitched pencil holders - one in the top left and one and the top right panel. Singers, sorry, there's no longer an excuse for not being prepared with a working pencil :-)
The EBF (standard) version is $1.49-$1.70 USD less than the ECBF (deluxe),
depending on the volume discount level. However, given the extreme durability and expected liftime of the folders, the vast majority of orders are for the ECBF (deluxe) version, when comparing those two versions.
(Point of interest: The new Choralex Compact folder is the next biggest seller after the ECBF (deluxe)).
[ General questions | TOP ]
2.
Is there a right-handed or left-handed version?
The hand strap on the folder
is ambidextrous. There used to be a pencil holder in just the top of the right panel but we have now included pencil holders both in the top of the left and the top right inside the folder. Left and right-handed people now have a choice and room for a spare pencil.
[ General questions | TOP
]
3.
Do you take credit cards?
VISA and MasterCard are accepted in US dollars. American Express cards are
accepted from the Canadian dollar web site (go back to musicfolder.com and choose Canadian dollar pricing) but you'll probably end up paying less at the end of the day if you avoid currency changes, so compare carefully. Transactions of all sizes are electronically authorized.
Using a credit card for payment is the best way to have your order en route to you as quickly as possible, and can also save
you money when currency exchange is involved, compared to a bank draft or cashiers' cheque.
[ General questions | TOP
]
4.
Our budget is tight...how can I save money with Black Folders?
This is my favourite
question. The first Black Folders were made over 10 years ago
and are still going strong! The quality and durability of The
Black Folder is without equal. Therefore, on a yearly basis,
you will be spending less on folders because they last
longer, and you won't be replacing them every few years (or more
often), as you would have to do with all other types of inferior
music folders. The initial cost will be offset by your future
savings, giving you more funds left over for music and your programme.
My qualified guarantee is that The Black Folder "outlasts
most singers in most choirs"!
Furthermore,
over those years, you will enjoy the many ergonomic and practical
features of this superb folder while taking advantage of the
yearly cost savings of such a durable folder. Some choirs
with yearly membership fees add a few dollars, and can have them
paid off over 3 years through that increase, while enjoying the
folders for so much longer. The math and economics are simple
when remembering these issues. See question 5 also.
[ General
questions | TOP ]
5.
How can I get the best per-folder price for my order?
You can get the
best per-folder price on your order by reaching the best volume
discount level that you can. When choirs in the same city combine
their order into a single shipment, they can take advantage of
price breaks, and a lower per-folder price for both choirs based
on the total number of folders ordered by both choirs. Work with
your neighbours!
I am very accommodating
with separate invoices, etc...
When people order
a folder to show their own choir, and also take the initiative
to show other local choirs The Black Folder, they can combine
orders to have two or more choirs save significantly.
[ General
questions | TOP ]
6.
What is the best way to convince my choir to go for a set of
Black Folders?
A folder in the hand does far
more than printouts and flyers could ever do. One could extol
The Black Folder's features, comfort, design, professionalism
etc. for a long time, or just put an ergonomic Black Folder in
a singer's hand, and not have to do so.
Take a folder or two (an EBF
and an ECBF model, for example) and show them to your choir director(s),
board and/or committee members and singers. Pass one around and
listen to the feedback. If you ask, extra information flyers
will be included for you to give away and/or photocopy for your
choir. Because one or two packaged folders usually fall in the
same weight range, you don't generally pay any more for shipping
and handling when taking two instead of one. That effectively
halves the shipping cost per folder - so take two!
[ General questions | TOP
]
7.
I have a big concert! I need my folders "yesterday..."
Chances are, it can be done.
I take pride in giving exceptional customer service. If I can't
take your phone call when you dial, it's likely because I'm on
another call, singing, or sleeping. When out of the office, toll-free
calls go to my mobile phone. That mobile number is +1 (604) 970-5489.
Since business is done world-wide, please check the time first
if you call that number directly.
The current time here is
11:40 AM
Don't ignore the overnight shipping - check the
good rates that I've been able to obtain, or call for a custom
quote if your location is not listed. If you've missed the cutoff
and it is still possible to drive your folder(s) to the airport,
yes there's a surcharge, but it can often be done. People on
the East coast are often surprised to order 'overnight' late
in the afternoon and still be able to have their folders the
next morning.
[ General questions | TOP
]
8.
Would the price be different for folders shipped to Canada/ USA/
Mexico/ Sweden/ Hong Kong/ Brazil/ Kenya/ Antarctica...etc?
The pricing is
the same, only the shipping costs differ. In countries that already
have a national or stocking distributor, the price from the local
distributor is probably a bit higher and that largely reflects
the shipping costs, VAT and/or duty that may apply to commercial
imports in that country; these costs have already been incurred
on importation by your local distributor. However, you will likely
pay much lower shipping within your country. The goal is to eventually
have distributors in each country so that delivery times and
costs are as low as possible. Please forward your local music
store or choral organization to me. It is not difficult to become
a distributor for The Black Folder.
[ General
questions | TOP ]
9.
I called and heard a beep like a fax so I hung up right away...
More patience
is required! If I am unavailable, you will hear a 1-second beep
and a 2-second pause before the voice mail system begins. This
allows for detection of incoming faxes as well. The number is
both a fax and a voice number.
Note that you
will usually have a reply to your e-mail, faxes and voice-mail
within minutes or hours during the business day.
[ General
questions | TOP ]
10.
I did an Internet domain name search for "musicfolder.com"
and found an address in Victoria...not Vancouver???
The internet service provider
that hosts this web site is Island Net (www.islandnet.com),
in Victoria. My company moved from Victoria to Vancouver in 1996,
but Island Net still provides excellent service and I see no
reason to change (the physical location of a web server is not
important on the Internet).
All current company contact and
location details are on the "Company
Information" page.
[ General
questions | TOP ]
11.
Do the double cords make the folder wider?
No, the folder is the same width.
The extra set of cords goes in the same hinge notches as the
first set, so you now have a pair of cords through each notch
in the hinge. The notches are approximately four millimeters
apart (~0.16").
[ General questions | TOP
]
USA
- specific questions:
1. Do I have to
do the US dollar / Canadian dollar exchange rate calculations?
2. I've used the worksheet
to calculate the amount I have to pay using a cheque (or bank
draft or international postal money order)...will I be charged
exactly the same amount if I use my credit card?
3. What's the deal
with UPS and possible brokerage fees?
4. Would there much
of a price difference for shipping if International Distribution
for The Black Folder were located in Seattle instead of Vancouver?
1.
Do I have to do the US dollar / Canadian dollar exchange rate
calculations?
No, you can just phone or e-mail
if you like and I will do this. If you are ready to order you
can call toll-free from the US or Canada at 1-877-246-7253. Note
that "877" is a new toll-free prefix, like "800".
I can work out your price right away. It may take a minute or
two for me to verify the exchange rate.
E-mail is also great because
I can answer your questions and carefully work out a quote for
you, and show you how your price will vary with different options.
Printing out and faxing in the worksheet (toll-free!)
(on the "tools to help" page) is best because
it prompts you for all the contact information and details that
I need to answer you or create your quote or invoice.
[ USA - specific questions | TOP
]
2.
I've used the worksheet to calculate the amount I have to pay
using a cheque ( or bank draft or international postal money
order)...will I be charged exactly the same amount if I use my
credit card?
No, you will likely pay just
a bit less than the Canadian dollar worksheet amount, if you
pay by credit card.
The bank that issued your credit
card will set its own exchange rate (so I can't calculate that).
However, it's a good deal for you. This is because the cash conversion
(the conversion that you calculated in the worksheet) is generally
about 4% above the "true" (inter-bank) rate, and the
credit card conversion is generally only about 2% above the "true"
(inter-bank) exchange rate.
[ USA - specific questions | TOP
]
3.
What's the deal with UPS and possible brokerage fees?
This was an issue
in 1999 and earlier but I'm absorbing those costs for USA shipments
now, to keep things simple. There are no applicable taxes or
duty or brokerage charges on your folder shipments from Canada.
If any shipping company tries this on you (I see it about one
time in 500) please contact me immediately.
The savings
in my not having to charge you state tax works very much to your advantage
, especially with choir-size orders. If certain funding restrictions
with grant money require you to purchase in-state, simply work
with me to find a local music store to handle your purchase.
Folders are capital items that are perfectly suited for funding
applications.
[ USA - specific
questions | TOP ]
4.
Would there be much of a price difference in shipping if International
Distribution for The Black Folder were located in Seattle, USA
instead of Vancouver, Canada?
Not anymore. On a box of folders,
shipped across the States, I once calculated it to be $0.06 per
folder less expensive from Seattle. However, since then (late
90's), I've obtained much better shipping rates, and there
are still the advantages of no tax or duty on the folders. You're
now taking advantage of the shipping prices I can offer due to
the many tons of folders shipped each year.
[ USA - specific questions | TOP
]
Back to TOP
|