Has your son or daughter decided they want to play a musical instrument in their school’s orchestra or marching band? While this is fantastic news for a variety of reasons, some parents aren’t sure if they should rent or buy their child’s first instrument. Whether they’re concerned about their finances or don’t want to rush into purchasing an instrument until they know their child will stick with it, for many parents and families renting makes the most sense. For those who choose to commit to renting online, most have one question on their minds: “is it safe to rent an instrument online?” The answer is “yes!” and here’s why.
Safe Delivery
At Music & Arts, we make it easy for you to get your hands on your instrument rental. Either you can have it shipped to your child’s school (which is free!) or it can be shipped directly to your house. Depending on where you live in the United States, the typical UPS shipping times from our warehouse to your home are less than four days (unless you select delayed delivery on your rental.) We’ve been packing and shipping instruments for years, so you won’t have to worry about your instrument getting damaged due to poor packaging. And, if it does, it takes us to our next point…
Free Repairs
If you opt for Maintenance & Repair coverage and select our Liability and Damage Waiver (LDW), repairs are free for the life of the rental. Although this coverage is optional, we do recommend purchasing it–especially if a younger child will be handling the instrument. At the end of the day, accidents happen and even the most careful child can accidentally break or damage their instrument. Even routine maintenance is covered under this package. Is your child’s instrument making a weird sound? Not sure if it needs a cleaning? Bring it into our repair shop and we’ll check it out on the house.
Flexible Rentals
With our instrument rental plans, you won’t be forced to sign a contract you aren’t comfortable with. Our rentals are flexible and convenient and range from month-to-month to yearly contracts. Plus, you can return the instrument at any time after the initial rental period. Each of our rentals includes a free case and a few maintenance accessories your child will need to get started, both of which would need to be paid out-of-pocket with a traditional purchase. As the largest chain of music stores dedicated to the beginning musician, we’re dedicated to keeping our rentals flexible and easy for parents to figure out.
Free Exchanges
Some parents are concerned that their child may outgrow their instrument throughout the course of the rental. Although this is a valid concern, it doesn’t have to be if you rent your child’s instrument from Music & Arts. We understand that upgrading to a larger, more sophisticated instrument is a normal part of the learning process, which is why we offer free exchanges when your child is ready for an upgrade. Simply visit one of our stores or reach out to our customer service team when you think your child is ready for a larger instrument and we’ll handle it from there.
Instruments are Educator-Approved
As a parent, it can be difficult to know exactly which instrument your child’s music teacher wants you to rent for your child. Fortunately, we work closely with Music Directors to offer their preferred instruments and classroom materials. Simply search your school online or head to your local store for a list of instruments and accessories that have already been approved by your child’s teacher. Not only are all instruments educator-approved, but they’re in like-new condition and go through a rigorous cleaning and repair process before they’re re-rented to other students.
Rent Counts Towards Purchase
Ready for the icing on the cake? Your rent counts towards the purchase of the instrument! 100% of rental payments apply towards the purchase of a new instrument within the first year, and any instrument of equal or greater value thereafter. Some think of renting or leasing as “throwing away money”, but with our rent-to-own programs you’ll be one step closer to purchasing your child’s instrument with each payment. After all, our end goal is to get an instrument in your child’s hands for good. Music has been proven to relieve stress and improve self-esteem, and everyone deserves to live a better life through music.
Have more questions? Head to your local store or check out the rest of our Rental FAQs!