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You just bought a new car, shiny, well-packaged. You didn't buy the first one you wanted because it cost $18,000. This one you bought looks like a car, has a brand name: FARD, but costs less than one-fifth the bucks of the real one. And you bought this automobile at Crazy Ed's National Drug Wholesalers or Sounds Grrrrrreat or Coldcosts.
As you take delivery and anxiously work to take it for a test drive, you notice that it's quite a bizarre colour-not something you'd see usually see on a car. The doors don't fit very well. As you pull on the handle to enter your new toy, you discover that the metal handle is very, very soft. It bends easily. As does the steering wheel. It flops under your grip.
The gear shift is very difficult to move. Your efforts cause it to bend.
You're very cranky. You want to complain. You look for a VIN number: there isn't one or it's very unusual like 123456789. The brand name...it doesn't have one. Whoops! It's a FARD. You've just learned that it's not allowed on the road because it can't be driven in a useful fashion. And no one wants to service it.
Honestly, gang...would you buy a car like that???
Like the car, above, some Ebayers are buying musical instruments like that. Very, very inexpensive, oddly coloured, no brand name. The young music student they bought it for brings it back from school because the music teacher says it's badly out of tune, the keys bend very easily, the odd lacquered colours are peeling off, and it can't be assembled; the parts don't fit. You're incredulous because it LOOKS SO NEW, SO SHINY.
In a few words: these instruments are a horrible frustration for the student and the teacher.
How to avoid this: Visit a music store, one that specializes in band or orchestral instruments, check out the prices of student quality instruments with familiar brand names. Talk to the music teacher who will give you suggestions on buying a quality new or used instrument. Ebay often lists quality used instruments. A good used flute can often be had for about $150. with perhaps $50. of service by a qualified repair person to have it meet standards for school. The music store should be reputable, have a service department, and offer exchanges or warranties and MUST guarantee that the instrument will meet school standards or be exchanged.
A sample price (US$) guideline; these are only speculative and can vary substantially, but approximate the costs of a new, reputable student quality instrument. Used instruments can be very good and lower in price. For new, expect a flute to cost about $500., a clarinet $500, alto saxophone $1,000., tenor saxophone $1200, trumpet $800. trombone $800.00. But because of all kinds of uncontrollable issues, don't be shocked if prices vary by 20%. There are many older, used, instruments on the market. Some may be in need of repair, but their quality is there. Rely on the advice of an experienced music teacher.Ask the music store dealer for "sale pending approval of the music teacher." That's not an unreasonable request. A warning: some established brand name manufacturers are sinfully selling some rather questionable quality stuff with their brand name on it. If the instrument you're looking at is the lowest priced in a manufacturer's line, be prepared to ask lots of questions about it and don't forget the "exhange privilege."
And school band instruments are usually silver plated or brass lacquered. Very, very few quality instruments are red, green, blue...Clarinets, by the way, are pretty much always black with "silvery-coloured" keys. And besides all of that, in my experience, I've seen students get very tired quickly of an oddly coloured instrument, no matter who makes it.
On Ebay, check the number of people bidding on an instrument. The clients have become much more sophisticated and you'll often see a healthy parade of bidders lined up to win quality instruments. Much of the junk is going unpurchased. I will unashamedly say that I've won many used instruments on Ebay or advised students or their parents on bidding and, thanks to my experience, we've never been scammed.
The above suggestions are only guidlines. Situations vary. Trust your consumer wisdom.
I'm a music teacher and performer. I want our art to grow and prosper. With quality instruments, new or used, in the hands of enthusiastic students this is a reality. Otherwise, it's a disappointing tragedy.
As you take delivery and anxiously work to take it for a test drive, you notice that it's quite a bizarre colour-not something you'd see usually see on a car. The doors don't fit very well. As you pull on the handle to enter your new toy, you discover that the metal handle is very, very soft. It bends easily. As does the steering wheel. It flops under your grip.
The gear shift is very difficult to move. Your efforts cause it to bend.
You're very cranky. You want to complain. You look for a VIN number: there isn't one or it's very unusual like 123456789. The brand name...it doesn't have one. Whoops! It's a FARD. You've just learned that it's not allowed on the road because it can't be driven in a useful fashion. And no one wants to service it.
Honestly, gang...would you buy a car like that???
Like the car, above, some Ebayers are buying musical instruments like that. Very, very inexpensive, oddly coloured, no brand name. The young music student they bought it for brings it back from school because the music teacher says it's badly out of tune, the keys bend very easily, the odd lacquered colours are peeling off, and it can't be assembled; the parts don't fit. You're incredulous because it LOOKS SO NEW, SO SHINY.
In a few words: these instruments are a horrible frustration for the student and the teacher.
How to avoid this: Visit a music store, one that specializes in band or orchestral instruments, check out the prices of student quality instruments with familiar brand names. Talk to the music teacher who will give you suggestions on buying a quality new or used instrument. Ebay often lists quality used instruments. A good used flute can often be had for about $150. with perhaps $50. of service by a qualified repair person to have it meet standards for school. The music store should be reputable, have a service department, and offer exchanges or warranties and MUST guarantee that the instrument will meet school standards or be exchanged.
A sample price (US$) guideline; these are only speculative and can vary substantially, but approximate the costs of a new, reputable student quality instrument. Used instruments can be very good and lower in price. For new, expect a flute to cost about $500., a clarinet $500, alto saxophone $1,000., tenor saxophone $1200, trumpet $800. trombone $800.00. But because of all kinds of uncontrollable issues, don't be shocked if prices vary by 20%. There are many older, used, instruments on the market. Some may be in need of repair, but their quality is there. Rely on the advice of an experienced music teacher.Ask the music store dealer for "sale pending approval of the music teacher." That's not an unreasonable request. A warning: some established brand name manufacturers are sinfully selling some rather questionable quality stuff with their brand name on it. If the instrument you're looking at is the lowest priced in a manufacturer's line, be prepared to ask lots of questions about it and don't forget the "exhange privilege."
And school band instruments are usually silver plated or brass lacquered. Very, very few quality instruments are red, green, blue...Clarinets, by the way, are pretty much always black with "silvery-coloured" keys. And besides all of that, in my experience, I've seen students get very tired quickly of an oddly coloured instrument, no matter who makes it.
On Ebay, check the number of people bidding on an instrument. The clients have become much more sophisticated and you'll often see a healthy parade of bidders lined up to win quality instruments. Much of the junk is going unpurchased. I will unashamedly say that I've won many used instruments on Ebay or advised students or their parents on bidding and, thanks to my experience, we've never been scammed.
The above suggestions are only guidlines. Situations vary. Trust your consumer wisdom.
I'm a music teacher and performer. I want our art to grow and prosper. With quality instruments, new or used, in the hands of enthusiastic students this is a reality. Otherwise, it's a disappointing tragedy.
Guide created: 06/03/06 (updated 09/04/08)
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