Musical Instrument Rentals
We offer both online and in-store rentals for our customers’ convenience, featuring our own instruments. Most maintenance is done in-house, and we meticulously check the playability of every instrument before renting, ensuring they are all ready to play.
Since our instrument rental programs involve our own instruments, there’s no need to order from external warehouses for replacements. We can swiftly address most issues on the same day.
For most instruments, we have service loaner instruments and additional instruments available for immediate switch-outs in case of major repairs or size changes, eliminating any waiting time for our customers.
Our instrument rental customers have the option to prepay at any time during the rental term, resulting in a 10-25% reduction in fees. With these prepay options, we offer the most affordable rental shop in the area.
We proudly serve Centreville, Fairfax, Bristow, Chantilly, Sterling, Manassas, Haymarket, Clifton, Vienna, Gainesville, Oakton, and South Riding.
Feel free to reach out if you have any specific preferences or if there’s anything else you’d like me to review
Our RENT ONLY program VS. Rent-To-Own from other stores.
Almost all other rental instrument programs in the US are rent-to-own. Most of them limit the maximum credit to 12-24 months only and even restrict the use of accumulated credit to a maximum of 50% of the purchasing instrument. With these rent-to-own programs, customers may face unexpected balances when deciding to buy the instrument.
Alternatively, they may continue to pay rental fees for additional months or years until the student grows to use a full-size instrument after the maximum credit limit has already been reached.
Payments exceeding the 12-24 months will not be accumulated at all. The most concerning fact that customers might not be aware of is that the cost of the instrument is much higher than what they could buy upfront from the same store or online retailers. Eventually, customers may end up paying about 50-100% more than the market price if they choose the rent-to-own option.
Moreover, many customers simply return the instrument without using the rental credit at all because the student stops playing the instrument or is unsure about continuing after the school year is finished.
In contrast, our rental program is designed for customers who do not intend to buy the instrument.
While we previously had a rent-to-own system, we realized that about 90% of customers returned the instrument, and only 10% of rental customers ended up purchasing. For this reason, we have lowered the rental fees and eliminated the rent-to-own options.
We believe this decision satisfies the majority of customers, and we have seen an increase in instrument rentals during the first year after the change, with many customers returning to rent again in the second year. If you decide to purchase an instrument after renting for more than 10 months, we offer a special discount on any purchase.
If you have any questions about musical instrument rentals and rent-to-own options, please contact us.
Buy or Rent?
Nearly all parents of young musicians and beginners face the question, “Should I buy or rent?” Renting is an affordable and attractive way to try an instrument without a significant upfront investment.
Most rental programs in the USA have no obligation to buy, allowing renters to return the instrument after the rental contract term ends.
Renting is a preferable choice for stringed instruments as students often outgrow them within a year or two. However, when a student uses a full-size instrument, it may be more cost-effective to buy instead of continuing to rent for several years.
While most rental programs offer a rent-to-buy option, these programs differ, and customers may not be aware of the variations. Many rent-to-own programs only credit 12-24 months of rental fees or allocate only 50-80% of the fees towards the purchase.
Consider violin rentals, where students often start with a ½ or ¾ size. Most kids may not reach full size before the initial 12-24 month rental term concludes.
It’s crucial for customers to be aware that rental credits may cease after the term, and continuing to make payments may not contribute to eventual ownership.
The cost of renting can be much higher than purchasing an instrument outright, sometimes exceeding 100% more than online stores or even the same store’s in-person prices.
In conclusion, renting is an excellent choice for most beginners. Still, after a year of trial, purchasing may become a better option, especially if the student is committed to playing for more than two years.