Klarinet Archive - Posting 000380.txt from 2004/06

From: <dwh46@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Re: [kl] Clarinet-related comments
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 10:04:02 -0400

I think it's a state decision, WV is as you describe, and governed by the same conditions that cover rent-to-own stores. As a result they can charge the same finance rate as a finance company like American General or Beneficial, on the retail price. We have a couple of stores, though, that have found inventive ways around the law without breaking it, and can offer the buyer a discount if they purchase within X-number of months, with the rental payments applied.

You need to understand as well that most band-instrument-oriented stores still depend on the rental season as their Christmas season, from late August to mid-Septemeber. As a result such dealers depend (or depended...many are gone because of the discounters selling student-grade instruments at LOOOOW prices) on that chunk of the pie to keep the doors open the rst of the year. I could go on and on about the subject, as I worked for two different dealers here who have branched out into the full-line music business to stay alive, and even then the discounters make it tough.

So I will always buy locally as long as I can get a decent deal from them, as I know their repair techs and reputations. I worked hard with at one store to establish a rental program with quality used instruments for low-income folks. On a related note, our AFM local has worked hard for a few years to collect attic instruments, clean and fix them, and provide them for the kids whose parents can't afford them.

> I've wondered whether it's unusual (nationwide) for the first three
> months of rental to be applied towards purchase of a student
> instrument
> (if the student decides to stick with it)?
> ------------------------------------------
>
>
> It is required by law (not sure if it is my state or national) that
> the rental be applied to the purchase cost (in effect it isn't a
> "rental" it is a purchase over time which can be cancelled). The game
> that the retailers play with it is that they jack up the price to
> retail instead of a discount.
>
> David B.

> I've wondered whether it's unusual (nationwide) for the first three
> months of rental to be applied towards purchase of a student
> instrument
> (if the student decides to stick with it)?

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