Hi all,

First, it took me three seperate days, three seperate visits to the Forex dept of our bank to finally get my little money transferred overseas. I was told by the bank that I could only have ONE such transaction during my lifespan unless SPECIAL permission granted from the tax dept which takes a very long time to obtain???

So onto nect phase...

All my new Ketron Audya updates and "New software Goodies" have been mailed to me long ago. It arrived over here within three days or so. Next, our "customs" siezes it and keeps it for nearly two weeks.

This Monday morning, after numerous phone calls from me, they finally released it, put it in a container & sent to our local Post Office. Went there yesterday, was told it would be here early this moring.

Took off early from work in big estacy to finally fetch all my new Audya software.

Back at work! The Post Office is on strike. The container with my "goodies" is lost somewhere between ORTambo Int & Pretoria.

Oh, the joy of living in this country...So...I am still stuck with OS20C and no new Ketron sounds or styles whatsoever...

AJ, I hope that when I purchase your AJAMSONIC upgrade by month end that there is a better way to get it to me. I hope that I do not also have to wait yet another month for it...

I just HAD to get that off my chest although it did not make me feel any better!!!

Henni

I tell you no lie,

I visited the Forex Dept of our bank on Friday, Saturday and only on Monday could I get them so far as to transfer my little cash overseas. Upon doing so, they even miss spell the account holders name & I freeze once again!!! Next, the bank official informs me that I'm only allowed ONE such transaction during my entire lifespan. For any more, I need to apply for some SPECIAL permission from our tax dept which, according to this official, takes a very long time to obtain.

I need to mail someone else $40 in an envelope. The bank point blankly REFUSES to sell $40 to me!!!

It took more than a week from the first attempt to transfer the cash to when it first shows up abroad.

Now, I still intend to get the AJAMSONIC upgrade, and next the new Robert Messier style upgrade....

Yeah, what can I say?

Henni

You can just download the OS upgrade from www.ketron.it
Also, maybe you could set up a Paypal account. I use mine all the time and have for years.
Wish I could help more.
DonM

Hi DonM,

Tx, I made a big boo boo & I am waiting for restoration DVDs before I can upgrade higher. If I do so myself, I loose all live guitars unless I stay on OS20C - so stuck I am!

I've now approached some local importers for the AJAMSONIC upgrade. Waiting for their reply.

Keep well my friend,

Henni

Like Don suggested can you use PayPal to buy overseas to avoid transferring money?

It seems very odd that the bank there is so restrictive.

I think u and I are the only south africans
On this board. Unfortunately our music shops
Don't keep ketron

Hi Nigel,

Hard to believe, yet true. I'm with ABSA bank which is a very large organization. I've even Googled this yesterday & found many other instances of private individual South Africans voicing same complaint. I firmly believe the major corruption over here, of which most takes place at government level, is to blame for all of this. It's easier to control small fry like myself, as officials just get away with whatever they want. And at least they HAVE to try to clamp down on something...

However, I've just had long correspondence with AJ & he assures me Western Union can bypass all of this. I've only seen one Western Union sign before. I'll try to locate & see them myself. Maybe there's a better way.

In the meantime, the contract workers at the Post Office are still on strike. My stuff is with their main sorting office. All of this is so utterly frustrating to me. I am so desperate for all those upgrades as I'm loosing out on a lot of new stuff.

Hi Rolandfan,

Yes, not one music dealer that I've approached thus far has even heard the word "Audya". So much for their interest in the latest arrangers. It's a shame really. I believe I have the only one in South Africa.

Keep well my friends,

Henni

Correct.they don't know its a keyboard lol.

It's pretty much the same in the U.S.! Frank is a dealer, and A.J. I don't know of any others, except for a few online dealers such as Jay Fox, B&H Photo, etc.
Our local independent music stores rarely stock ANY arrangers of any kind. There are two reasons for this. One, by the time they order inventory, usually with a high mandatory initial order, pay qualified sales staff, charge sales tax (the online companies don't have to most of the time), most of them can't make enough profit to make it worthwhile. Reason two--there just isn't a large market for high-end arrangers in the U.S. They are likely to sit on a supply of arrangers until they are out of date, and then lose money selling them.
Shoppers come in, try them, ask questions, then go home and order on line to save a few bucks.
I feel in a short time, there will ONLY be a few large music retailers in the U.S., and those few will depend primarily on on-line business.
We ARE blessed to have two members here on SZ who offer competitive pricing and wonderful support, Frank and George, but unless you live close, you can't just pop in and try something.

DonM