Palm Strings Policies
Trade-in Policies for Fractional-Size Violins & Violas (1/8-3/4)
A child usually changes instrument size approximately every two years. Please see a qualified string teacher or visit Palm Strings in person so that we can measure your child for the appropriate size fractional instrument he/she needs.
Original Purchase Trade-in Policy (Fractional Sizes)
If you originally purchased your fractional sized violin or viola from Palm Strings and you want to trade it in for the next size up, we will give you a 100% credit towards the purchase of your next instrument minus a $250 depreciation/reconditioning fee from your original instrument purchase price. This amount includes costs associated with restoring trade-in instruments to resale and warranty condition. For example: if you paid $595 for a la Mia Violino 100 model violin and you took good care of it (no cracks or major scratches, etc.) you could expect to receive $345 as your trade-in credit toward your next size instrument. There are only three basic requirements:
1. Your trade-in instrument must have been originally purchased from Palm Strings.
2. Your trade-in instrument is for the same type of instrument (i.e. violin for a violin; viola for a viola; etc.)
3. Your trade-in instrument has been reasonably well maintained and has not suffered any significant damage at the time of trade.
Cases and bows do not retain any trade-in value.
Rental Investment Program & Exchanges
Palm Strings does not offer a "rent-to-own" purchase program. However, you may use rental credit you have earned using our Rental Investment Program by renting one of our instruments over time and applying your credit towards the purchase of one of our excellent retail instruments in the future. There is no time limit for how long you can rent the instrument, but the minimum required amount of time to rent is three (3) months. Our Rental Investment Program also allows exchanges!
*Please go to our RENTALS page for more information about how our Rental Investment Program works.
Full-sized Instruments (Student level up to $4,000)
We will accept any one, full-sized instrument in trade at 100% of the original sales price minus a reconditioning fee if the instrument was originally purchased from Palm Strings. The requirements we have are the following:
1. Your trade-in instrument must have been originally purchased from Palm Strings.
2. Your trade-in instrument is for the same type of instrument (i.e. violin for a violin; viola for a viola; etc.)
3. Your trade-in instrument has been reasonably well maintained and has not suffered any significant damage at the time of trade.
4. Receipt from the original sale is provided to Palm Strings by the customer.
Please note that the trade-in value of your instrument is based upon the purchase price of the instrument alone, not including cases and bows.
*Full-size trade-in instruments will also incur depreciation/reconditioning fees in order to bring them up to our standards for resale and warranty. If your trade-in instrument is in excellent condition at the time of trade, you should expect the following depreciation/reconditioning fees:
Violin: $250
Viola: $300
Trade-in Policy for Full-size Instruments Valued Above $4,000
If you would like to trade in your instrument for another one of our instruments valued above $4,000, we will credit any one, trade-in instrument at 100% of the original sales price minus a depreciation/reconditioning fee. The fee amount will be determined at the time of trade-in. The other conditions and requirements are the same as mentioned above. In addition:
1. Palm Strings cannot guarantee trade-in value towards consignment instruments.
2. Any Certificate, other than a Palm Strings shop Appraisal, sold with an instrument must also be returned to receive full trade-in value. If the Certificate is lost and/or not provided at the time of trade, the cost of replacing the Certificate will be deducted.
3. The trade-in instrument is due back to Palm Strings at the time you purchase your new instrument. If you are a mail-order customer, we will allow you two weeks to return the trade-in instrument to us. If we do not receive the trade-in instrument within the two-week time frame, we will charge your credit card for the value of the trade-in instrument and will assume that you are keeping it. If, at any time after the two week return deadline we receive your trade-in instrument, any additional damage or depreciation is assessed, we will charge your credit card or account accordingly. Please contact Palm Strings if you have any further questions.
*Any exceptions to these trade policies are at the sole discretion of Palm Strings.
Local Instrument Trials
Instruments under $4,000
If you are a customer that lives within the local Fort Myers, Florida area (within a 100 mile radius), you are more than welcome to visit our shop and take one of our instruments out for trial free of charge. Instruments priced under $4,000 must be paid in full as a security deposit before we allow the instrument to leave our shop. These instruments can be returned to our shop within two (2) weeks for a full refund. After the two-week trial period has expired, we charge $10 each additional day that the instrument remains out on trial. If the instrument is returned to our shop after the two-week trial has expired, we will fully refund your security deposit MINUS the accumulated charges for the number of extra days that the instrument remained out on trial.
Multiple trials for instruments under $4,000 require that one of the instruments be paid for as a security deposit in advance while awaiting final approval. The unwanted instrument(s) should be returned after the first week if the customer knows for sure that he/she will not purchase it. The trial period for the preferred instrument can then be continued for a total of two weeks.
The customer assumes full responsibility for the condition of our instruments until they are returned to Palm Strings. If instruments are damaged during the two-week trial period, you agree to pay for the costs of repairs including depreciation in value of the damaged instrument.
Instruments over $4,000
The instrument trial policy is the same as above. The only difference is that we allow instruments priced over $4,000 to go out on trial for a total of three (3) weeks. If instruments are returned after the three-week trial period, the customer is subject to our normal trade-in policy.
For multiple instrument trials, the unwanted instrument(s) should still be returned to Palm Strings within one week.
Mail-order (out-of-town) Instrument Trials
Instruments under $4,000
For our mail-order (out-of-town) customers, trying out our instruments is easy. Instruments valued under $4,000 must be paid in full as a security deposit before they are shipped out from our shop. These instruments can be returned within three (3) weeks for a full refund. *The trial period begins from the date that the instruments arrive to your residence or local post office. The three weeks trial includes the time it takes to ship the instruments back to our shop along with a 3-day grace period. If the instrument is returned to us after the 3 week trial period and 3-day grace period has expired, you will be refunded your security deposit MINUS our normal trade-in policy fee.
For multiple instrument trials under $4,000, one of the instruments has to be paid in full in advance while awaiting final approval. The unwanted instrument(s) should be returned to Palm Strings after the first week. The approval period for the preferred instrument can go on for the duration of the three week trial.
The customer assumes full responsibility for the condition of our instruments until they are returned to Palm Strings. If instruments are damaged during return shipping, you agree to pay for the costs of repairs, including depreciation in value of the damaged instruments. We strongly advise that you purchase shipping insurance coverage! Please examine any instruments shipped by us and make sure you have received them in good condition. You have 3 days after receiving the instrument(s) at your residence or post office to inform us of any suspected damages during shipping.
Instruments over $4,000
Same policy as stated above for Mail-order (out-of-town) customers.
Late Payment Policy
We always strive to provide the most positive experience for our customers as we can, but we also encourage our customers to return the positive experience. The customer can simply maintain a positive experience for us by simply staying current on rental payments. Palm Strings has employees and suppliers that we need to pay on a consistent and regular basis, and we can not afford to fall behind paying them for their services and products. When you are unable to, or forget to pay your rent, it can cause a chain reaction in delinquencies between us and everybody else we have to pay. So, we feel that for a customer's account that becomes delinquent, the customer should have to pay small fees needed to cover his/her delayed payments. We appreciate your understanding as we pass on the costs that we suffer due to delinquent payments onto the customer as well at a rate of 1.5% per month on balances over 90 days past due. Thank you.
Rental Instrument Shipping Policy
The customer is responsible for shipping charges for new rental contracts and instrument size exchanges on existing rental contracts. Shipping charges also apply to instruments and bows shipped for maintenance and repairs. Damaged instruments, bows and cases are not covered under rental damage waiver insurance. There may be special shipping rates for multiple rental-contract instruments shipped to the same address.
Shipping Policy for Instrument and/or Bow Trials
The customer is responsible for shipping costs, both to and from our shop for trials. However, if you decide to purchase an instrument that we shipped to you for trial, Palm Strings will cover the shipping charges for the specific instrument you choose to purchase, but shipping costs for other instruments shipped on trial will still be the responsibility of the customer. In order for our shop to be reimbursed for shipping charges, a major credit card will be required from the customer to secure the instruments until they are returned in good condition to our shop.
*Any exceptions to our policies are at the sole discretion of Palm Strings.