 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2007-05-26 17:50
Folks,
To make a long and frustrating story shorter, one of the students at the high school agreed to buy an older R13 A clarinet from me that I had on trial from Walter Grabner, who worked on it to get it up to snuff before he sent it to me.
I bought the horn from Walter rather than send it back (I'd decided to get a Rossi to compliment my Rossi Bb by then) just so this student could have a decent A clarinet for college. It's a nice instrument, though older (later '50s vintage, as I remember).
Our arrangement was that he would pay me before he left for college, but now he wants to back out of the deal because he's found some other whiz-bang instrument that he wants. AND, he's had the instrument for over six months! (The kid is an equipment freak, and though a good player, not good enough or well-heeled enough to be that picky.)
Anyway, he wants to return it to me, and he's proposing that he pay me a rental fee for the time he's had it.
I've in no way agreed to this, but I'm considering it. If I agree to it, I'm going to expect him to pay the "going rate" for a well-adjusted professional-level instrument, plus what it will cost to send it to Walter to check out and bring it back up to where it was, if necessary.
Sorry about the long-winded preface, but what should I charge this kid per month for six months rental? I've never rented a professional-level instrument of any kind from anyone, much less the standard A soprano.
As you may imagine, I'm not in the mood to make it easy on him, but I don't want to punish him either. He's already burned his bridges with me, and any more punishment will come if he tries to pull this sort of thing again with others.
Thanks for your advice.
Bruce
Post Edited (2007-05-26 18:25)
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2007-05-26 18:36
One way to proceed would to put a dollar value on the instrument and see what The usual rental fee is in your area for an instrument of similar value (perhaps saxophone or oboe or even cello since pro clarinets aren't usually part of anyone's rental pool)
Barb
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2007-05-26 19:12
Barb,
Thanks, but in this area the only instruments that are rented are the usual student instruments, and I don' t even know, outside the area (SW VA), who might provide such a service.
I'll poke around with the D.C. suppliers, if necessary, so if anyone might have information about outfits anywhere who rent good stuff, that would be welcome too.
Thanks.
B.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-05-26 19:24
To get an idea on rental fees, try calling the larger retailers (Fred Weiner, Muncy, etc...) and see what their rates are for a short term rental of a pro instrument, or if it is even offered.
I was once hired to play a show recently that asked for alto flute, as well as flute, piccolo, clarinet and alto sax. When I told the director that I did not own an alto flute, they rented one (and a VERY good one, btw) for me from Fred Weiner, for one month.
Unfortunately, I don't know what they were charged...GBK
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-05-26 21:49
What's the old hack, "Possession is 9/10 of the Law". I'd get the horn back in my possession and absorb the cost of experience.
Bob Draznik
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-05-27 04:05
I would suggest pretty much what Bob Draznik said. You will probably sell this clarinet anyway, and he will pay a lot for another clarinet, so I wouldn't try to get as much money from him as possible. I would probably just let it go, but if he offered to a pay a rental fee I wouldn't refuse (actually, maybe I would, very depending on specific situation), but would agree for something minimal.
Nitai
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2007-05-27 05:35
Thanks for input, folks.
Were he not a kid who I've been helping out for three years now who I have a personal relationship with, and had something similar to this not happened several times before, I'd let it go.
I'm giving him a chance to redeem himself, as silly as that may sound in this day and age.
I also want him to learn a lesson about being responsible for one's actions, too...and that sounds REALLY silly in this day and age.
But there you have it, "unwise" though it may be as far as my self-interest goes.
(Also, I'm not "trying to get as much money from him as possible," as I said.)
This is not a situational conundrum for me. I'm not confused about the appropriate way to handle this, just the cost of rental.
Cheers.
B.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2007-05-27 16:46
You should have gotten at least a deposit from him when he first decided he wanted it. You stated yourself this wasn't the first time the student had dome somthing like this. That way he would lose some money on the deal if he backed out of it. Chalk it up to experience, get the clarinet back and let it go. Kids will be kids and don't think about others the way they should these days. Also, what comes around goes around.........
jbutler
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Author: tdinap
Date: 2007-05-27 18:12
"This is not a situational conundrum for me. I'm not confused about the appropriate way to handle this, just the cost of rental."
Well, *I* think that you shouldn't make it easy on him, but you shouldn't punish him either. It seems he's already burned his bridges with you, and any more punishment will come if he tries to pull this sort of thing again with others.
But in all seriousness, it seems you'll have to contact a rental place directly to find out the rates. After a quick search, it seems that there are indeed places that rent professional instruments, but none will give you a quote online. I suppose you could charge him for the equivalent of a Woodwind-Brasswind type of financing deal, which for a vintage R13 A looks to be about $125 per month. That may be a bit more than you're looking for, though, if you're trying to avoid really punishing him.
Tom
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-05-27 18:25
As a good rule of thumb, here we calculate with a 24 month lease (for whatever product, not just instruments or cars).
So a $2400 clarinet would be 100$ per month plus whatever's the financing cost (interest, amortisation etc).
Edit: For a pure rent (vs. lease) calculate with 48 or 60 months.
--
Ben
Post Edited (2007-05-27 18:29)
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Author: katie_netie
Date: 2007-05-28 16:45
Hi.
Well from a student's perspective, I agree that he should learn the lesson.
If he rented the instrument for 6 months, he should pay for it. His options should be to pay his way out with rental fees for the last six months, or to buy it from you as he promised and then it will be his responsibility to find a good home for it.
I think around 100 would be fair. So that's 600...
If you have a teacher kind enough to lend you an instrument, you need to learn to respect that. I think this is a spoiled kid who has no idea what a sweet deal he got. If I wanted an A, I'd have to wait until I had enough money to buy one.
He shouldn't get it for free... You sound like an amazingly kind teacher, but you can't be that kind!
If he's a gizmo kid then he's probably not hurting for cash and he needs to learn a lesson and grow up.
I'm around his age, and I would never treat a teacher (or an instrument) like that.
Katie
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Author: kuteclar
Date: 2007-05-28 17:47
....just a quick thought after reading this - a lesson in maintenance and responsibility....how about have the instrument re-padded or tweaked into better adjustement after his use and this he will be responsible for paying?
It's up to each individual to charge or not to - I've had professional instruments lent to me without charge, but it's assumed that you will return it in as good or better condition than when you walked out the door with it. I agree with letting him pay a rental fee since his initial decision was to purchase the instrument. Had it just been a loan, I believe giving it back would be acceptable; but, he backed out on his word.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2007-05-29 00:02
Hello,
I just rented an e-flat clarinet out for just over one month for $250.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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