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Rental Program Help
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HICKEY’S MUSIC CENTER Rental Program Help |
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There are certainly differences in rental plans from store to store. Our plan is designed to be simple and straightforward. If you choose to rent with us, rest assured that your child will have an instrument with which they can succeed. We feel confident that we offer some of the best rental values in terms of both price and quality anywhere in the state. So, make your decision based on your child's personality and on your family's needs and budget. With our plan you have the benefit of:
Many people take advantage of our School Year plan (some stores call this a "Lease" program). Under this plan you have the use of a well-maintained instrument for the school year (until June 20th of next year). While there is a larger "up front" payment, you are free of any additional payments for the remainder of the school year. If you should decide to buy an instrument during the course of the rental or 30 days after it ends, you can apply 100% of the rental portion of your payment (full payment minus tax and POM warranty) towards the purchase of a new instrument. This can be a big help if your child is undecided.
The best way to think of our plan is as a long trial. During the trial you have a credit towards the purchase of a new version of the instrument you are renting. Or, you can re-rent simply by paying the bill that is mailed to your home near the end of the rental term. And of course, you can always turn it back in with no penalty. There is never an obligation to purchase or continue with the rental.
In our opinion, purchasing a band or orchestra instrument from an auction site or a non-music store may seem to be a value at first, but if the instrument is of poor quality or in bad adjustment, your child may have difficulty playing the instrument, getting a good sound, playing in tune or keeping up with their classmates. We have found this to be especially true with brand new instruments offered at extraordinarily low prices. The old adage "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" is especially fitting here. We have found that many such instruments, often referred to as "Instrument Shaped Objects" (ISO for short) are constructed of such poor materials that they are not able to be adjusted or repaired. Often the only solution is to discard the instrument and purchase a new one, like so many other disposable small appliances sold today.
We believe that if your child uses one of these, they may be more inclined to quit early because they are unable to produce a sound, play certain notes or keep up with their friends. For these reasons, many teachers do not allow these ISO's into their programs, regardless of the cost paid to purchase. The result is not only a loss of your dollars invested, but also a loss of a promising educational opportunity for your child.
It is our opinion that our rentals, even though most are used instruments, are of a superior quality than many cut rate "ISO" instruments now available. We believe that our instruments will offer a superior experience for your child and help them move forward in music and in their education in general. We believe they will be easier to play, have a better tone and be better in tune. We know that they can be repaired or adjusted. If in doubt about whether a particular instrument might be an ISO, please consult your child's band director or give us a call. We'll be honest—many instruments available online and elsewhere are perfectly fine. Since our focus is to help your child succeed, we will help you make the right choice even if it results in your deciding not to rent with us.
This statement represents our professional opinion on this matter and is not intended to be represented as fact. We strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified music teacher or professional musician if you are in doubt as to the quality or usefulness of off-brand, auction site or department store instruments.
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