Orla and Ringway UK dealership discussion - not closing down!

[ken horton]

I was trying to chase up by phone a couple of unanswered e.mails sent to Music Traders the Uk distributors, one a few weeks ago and one three days ago only to have the phone answered by a man who told me they were no longer in business.
He is answering what he can as a gesture of goodwill to old customers, but there is officially no customer support anymore.

Fortunately we have a wealth of knowledge among the members of several Organ forums who have always given advice and I am sure they will respond as before to help any struggling owner no matter what make of organ. Ken

[KC9UDX]

Is Orla even in business?

[RogerM]

So Böhm and Bemore will also be without UK distributors now?

[andyg]

Well, if Paul has shut up shop, then it would appear so. Who is left to step in. Allens, of course, but is there anyone else?

[KRG]

So Böhm and Bemore will also be without UK distributors now?

Bohm no longer have a UK distributor as they now do everything in house and purchases are made through Keywerk. Claus Riepe is the front man for the excellent support given to customers.

[RogerM]

Bohm no longer have a UK distributor as they now do everything in house and purchases are made through Keywerk. Claus Riepe is the front man for the excellent support given to customers.

I was going by MusicTraders’ web site which is still up and running and says, “As well as securing the UK Distribution for both ORLA/Ringway & Bohm Organ & Keyboard products, we are pleased to announce the UK Distribution rights for BEMORE ORGANS.”

[KRG]

I was going by MusicTraders’ web site which is still up and running and says, “As well as securing the UK Distribution for both ORLA/Ringway & Bohm Organ & Keyboard products, we are pleased to announce the UK Distribution rights for BEMORE ORGANS.”

Web sites are notorious for being out of date. It must be at least a year since Bohm and MusicTraders parted company.

[Max Green]

I am surprised that the website has no message looks like everyone abandoned ship.

- - - Updated - - -

I have emailed someone who might know will let you know as long as it's not private.

[KRG]

I was trying to chase up by phone a couple of unanswered e.mails sent to Music Traders the Uk distributors, one a few weeks ago and one three days ago only to have the phone answered by a man who told me they were no longer in business.
He is answering what he can as a gesture of goodwill to old customers, but there is officially no customer support anymore.

Fortunately we have a wealth of knowledge among the members of several Organ forums who have always given advice and I am sure they will respond as before to help any struggling owner no matter what make of organ. Ken

I think that Paul and Esquin were on holiday at that time and may have decided that answering emails while on holiday was not for them. The demise of Orla/Ringway in the UK must impact upon MusicTraders' business but to what extent we will have to wait and see. I wonder what the Europe wide situation will be.

[RogerM]

I’m confused now. Are we talking about the demise of Orla/Ringway or of MusicTraders?

[Markr]

Still currently showing as active on Companies House website, and made last document filing 2 weeks ago

[KRG]

I was trying to chase up by phone a couple of unanswered e.mails sent to Music Traders the Uk distributors, one a few weeks ago and one three days ago only to have the phone answered by a man who told me they were no longer in business.
He is answering what he can as a gesture of goodwill to old customers, but there is officially no customer support anymore.

Fortunately we have a wealth of knowledge among the members of several Organ forums who have always given advice and I am sure they will respond as before to help any struggling owner no matter what make of organ. Ken

The original message mentions the Orla/Ringway dealership and I suspect that it is the Orla/Ringway company that supplied MusicTraders that has folded.

[RogerM]

I’ve just spoken to Paul Carman of MusicTraders and he observed that everyone was speculating about the status of his company but no-one, until me, had phoned him to get the facts. MusicTraders is still in business and still dealing with Orla/Ringway and Bemore. They have changed the way they do business to reflect the state of the market and that involved closing their showroom. Paul said people just don’t go to organ showrooms any more. MusicTraders answers the phone as MusicTraders, as I have witnessed, and Paul says they continue to offer after-sales service and warranty support.

That’s the story from the horse’s mouth.

[andyg]

That's good to hear. That's obviously not the message that the OP got when he did phone them, or maybe there was some misunderstanding.

I do think that if you are going to buy an organ you do need to hear and try it in person, so I guess that will be possible, even if there isn't a shop to visit. It would be interesting to know how this will be organised for those thinking of committing to an expensive purchase like the Bemore.

[abacus]

As everything now seems OK, here are some demos of the Ringway and Bemore.

Ringway https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...8FMttM_3pMNI3q

Bemore https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...vSf0eaFQx5c7Vd

Enjoy

Bill