Selling Your Instrument
Instruments are not just “things”…musicians often have a deep affection for their instrument. Many of our customers tell us it has taken years to come to terms with selling a beloved instrument, as parting with a long-term companion can feel like a betrayal. Instruments are often cherished by the whole family, having been purchased by older relatives many years ago, and it can be a daunting task to find a new home for them. Musicians often prefer selling through a shop rather than via an impersonal auction. We see hundreds of people looking for their dream instrument every year, and we specialize in matching people and instruments, so your instrument might be of interest to us. We offer two options:
1) Commission sale
Providing your instruments are in perfect order and set-up to our standards, we can offer them for sale on commission. When your instrument sells, you will receive a return of 76% (20% commission + VAT at 20%) of the total price once the sale is complete. If repairs, restoration or a set-up are required to bring the instrument to selling standard, this will have to be paid for upon leaving the instrument with us and the work will be completed before your instrument is presented for sale. Unfortunately, we can’t give you any indication as to how long it will take for your instrument to sell, as this is highly variable. We don’t charge a handling fee and you are free to take your instrument back at any time. The instrument or bow must be insured by yourself until it is sold. We insure it if we lend it out on a trial basis but it is insured by yourself whilst in the shop.
PLEASE NOTE: All of the above only applies to antique instruments and modern instruments by individual makers. New factory or workshop instruments may be part-exchanged if they originally came from us. If not, we may or may not be able to part-exchange them, but please do bring them in to ask us. We do not buy instruments back.