POLICIES

Pricing: We set our prices to protect all three parties involved: the customer, the manufacturer, and our shop. We respect and honor manufacturers’ minimum advertised or sales prices. We frequently survey the market to get a feel for the current average price of an item across the country. We set a fair, solid price based upon these factors plus the intrinsic value of a given piece. If a particular instrument is an incredible example of its kind or plays better than most others, we are not likely to discount quite as deeply. Each instrument is unique: out of 10 of the same model, 1 may be pure magic and thus trade higher, but still be the better value. All of our new instruments are custom ordered and, in many cases, are appointed in such a way that it would be difficult to find an exact duplicate anywhere. Our used instruments have had fret work and electronic work as needed and are set up and restrung with new DR Custom Fearless Balanced strings. We're confident this all leads to an above-average guitar buying experience.

Shipping: We will ship in-stock items the next business day. Special-order items will ship within two days so that we can inspect them. We pack with great care and ship via FedEx Ground or USPS Priority Mail. (You may pay extra for faster, overnight shipping; contact us for costs.)

Special Orders/Custom Builds: Special order (non- stock) items will require a non-refundable 50% deposit at time of order with the balance due upon delivery. We will happily take the time to make sure you are comfortable with the research you have done and want nothing more than to hand you your dream piece of gear. (Note: Most manufacturers will not take back a special order unless it is flawed. We have to protect ourselves from getting loaded down with pieces we didn’t intend to order.)

Returns: We have a strict return policy of 72 hours from the time of purchase (receipt for shipped items) for the customer to work with a piece of gear in her/his normal listening environment. Because we encourage you to spend ample time, before you purchase, to explore the gear at our shop and ask questions, we try to minimize the likelihood of returns; we should be able to place the right piece with the right person.

Consignment: We are happy to take items in on consignment. Our rate is 20% based upon a minimum sales price agreed to and signed off on by the owner and the customer. We write the consignments for 30 -60 days after which if the item hasn’t sold we discuss customer feedback and review the current market to determine whether a price drop is necessary. This way the staff has a similar margin of profit and is motivated to sell the piece, but the customer knows what their piece is actually priced at on the floor and online.

Trades: It is very important to make sure that the customer understands how this industry works. We feel it is only fair to keep our profit margins similar no matter where the merchandise comes from. If you bring an item in for possible trade, we will talk with you about the difference between list, or m.s.r.p, and actual sale price. Because we are wholesale buyers, we pay less than a consumer, regardless of whether we are buying or assigning trade value (this, of course, is so that we have room for profit when we resell the item.)

The difference in our policy is that we explain this up front and do not expect to make 50 -100% profit on a trade or street buy like many shops. We feel this is fair and encourages future trade as well as providing another source of gear for our shop and customers.