Maintenance Contracts – Good or Bad?
24/07/09 14:24
With the purchase of most items the addition of a maintenance contract to the price of the item is often an unnecessary expense and serves mostly as an additional revenue stream for the seller. However, with the purchase of a musical instrument that requires periodic maintenance, the purchase of a maintenance contract can prove to be a very smart purchase and one that can pay for itself many times throughout the life of the instrument. The situation that confronts the parent is when the instrument is placed in the hands of an inexperienced performer the necessity of repair becomes a question not of “if” but one of “when” and “how often.” Especially in the case of the flute, the clarinet, the saxophone, and any of the other woodwind instruments, the requirement for replacement of pads and periodic adjustments to the keys and springs makes the purchase of a maintenance contract even more attractive and necessary. For these reasons alone, the purchase of a maintenance contract is warranted.
One trap that parents often fall into is the assumption that with the purchase of a new instrument that the manufacturer’s warranty will cover all of these issues. This is not the case as the manufacturer’s warranty in most instances only covers defects in the construction and finish of the instrument, and then for only a year or less. The manufacturer’s warranty does not cover routine maintenance items. In this case, the addition of a maintenance contract to the purchase of the instrument is indeed a smart move.
While we do not sell new instruments and only have used instruments for sale your next question may be, “can I purchase a maintenance contract for my used instrument?” Our used instruments do come with a 90 day parts and labor warranty and a year’s labor warranty. However, we strongly recommend that if you purchase an instrument from us that you immediately visit your local music store and purchase a maintenance contract that is normally available after an inspection and approval by the repair department in that music store. The cost of this contract is usually very reasonable and can pay itself after only a couple of visits for repairs. In addition, if you do decide to purchase a maintenance contract we strongly recommend that you use it even if the instrument appears to be working perfectly. This preventive maintenance can prolong the life of the instrument and often prevents much more serious problems from arising. When you take your instrument in to a repair shop for preventative maintenance or repair that you have a maintenance contract to cover, ask for a loaner instrument if the work is going to take longer than a few days. This provision is normally a part of any maintenance contract. If you are seeking coverage for loss or theft then you can usually add this instrument to your homeowner’s policy at little or no additional cost.
One trap that parents often fall into is the assumption that with the purchase of a new instrument that the manufacturer’s warranty will cover all of these issues. This is not the case as the manufacturer’s warranty in most instances only covers defects in the construction and finish of the instrument, and then for only a year or less. The manufacturer’s warranty does not cover routine maintenance items. In this case, the addition of a maintenance contract to the purchase of the instrument is indeed a smart move.
While we do not sell new instruments and only have used instruments for sale your next question may be, “can I purchase a maintenance contract for my used instrument?” Our used instruments do come with a 90 day parts and labor warranty and a year’s labor warranty. However, we strongly recommend that if you purchase an instrument from us that you immediately visit your local music store and purchase a maintenance contract that is normally available after an inspection and approval by the repair department in that music store. The cost of this contract is usually very reasonable and can pay itself after only a couple of visits for repairs. In addition, if you do decide to purchase a maintenance contract we strongly recommend that you use it even if the instrument appears to be working perfectly. This preventive maintenance can prolong the life of the instrument and often prevents much more serious problems from arising. When you take your instrument in to a repair shop for preventative maintenance or repair that you have a maintenance contract to cover, ask for a loaner instrument if the work is going to take longer than a few days. This provision is normally a part of any maintenance contract. If you are seeking coverage for loss or theft then you can usually add this instrument to your homeowner’s policy at little or no additional cost.
Rent vs. Buy - Dilemma & Decision
25/06/09 08:11
One of the first decisions the parents of a beginning band or orchestra student must make is whether to buy or rent the instrument the student will use. Since at this early stage neither the child or the parent are certain that remaining in the program will be a long-term proposition, renting the instrument may seem to make the most sense. However, in some cases renting may not be the best path to follow.
Renting from a music store or company in most scenarios means that the instrument is placed on a contract that has, as the most compelling feature a clause that states that the instrument may be returned at any point without penalty. This allows the parent to return the instrument if for some reason the student drops out of the program and therefore avoids the necessity of having to continue to pay for an instrument that is no longer being used. While indeed, this can be a very strong argument for using this plan, other factors must be considered. In most band and orchestra programs the schools and directors will not allow a student to drop out of the program for at least one school term, and the parent is committed to at least a $300 to $500 investment in that instrument. When the instrument is returned before the contract is fulfilled, all equity in the instrument is lost and the payments are considered as merely being rent. The amounts listed above are for a used instrument. If the instrument rented is new then the numbers are much higher. Renting the instruments is very lucrative for the music companies as it allows them to re-coup their investments for most instruments within the first year of rental and subsequent rentals are then pure profit. Secondly, renting from a music company usually means that the rental price is based upon an inflated selling price that in some cases has the cost for owning the instrument at almost double what the selling price would be for an out-right purchase.
As an alternative, our company will sell you a used instrument at a very competitive selling price that has been totally refurbished and has a warranty that guarantees that the instrument will meet the expectations of the band or orchestra program and will offer no obstacles to the success of the student. Additionally, based upon our inspection and confirmation that the instrument has been taken care of during the time it has been used by your student, we will buy back the instrument from you at any point you no longer need the instrument at a price comparable to the average selling price for that instrument in effect at the time of return.
Renting from a music store or company in most scenarios means that the instrument is placed on a contract that has, as the most compelling feature a clause that states that the instrument may be returned at any point without penalty. This allows the parent to return the instrument if for some reason the student drops out of the program and therefore avoids the necessity of having to continue to pay for an instrument that is no longer being used. While indeed, this can be a very strong argument for using this plan, other factors must be considered. In most band and orchestra programs the schools and directors will not allow a student to drop out of the program for at least one school term, and the parent is committed to at least a $300 to $500 investment in that instrument. When the instrument is returned before the contract is fulfilled, all equity in the instrument is lost and the payments are considered as merely being rent. The amounts listed above are for a used instrument. If the instrument rented is new then the numbers are much higher. Renting the instruments is very lucrative for the music companies as it allows them to re-coup their investments for most instruments within the first year of rental and subsequent rentals are then pure profit. Secondly, renting from a music company usually means that the rental price is based upon an inflated selling price that in some cases has the cost for owning the instrument at almost double what the selling price would be for an out-right purchase.
As an alternative, our company will sell you a used instrument at a very competitive selling price that has been totally refurbished and has a warranty that guarantees that the instrument will meet the expectations of the band or orchestra program and will offer no obstacles to the success of the student. Additionally, based upon our inspection and confirmation that the instrument has been taken care of during the time it has been used by your student, we will buy back the instrument from you at any point you no longer need the instrument at a price comparable to the average selling price for that instrument in effect at the time of return.