If your credit card is declined or otherwise invalid...
Sometimes the credit card number provided to us does not work. This can be caused by anything from a simple typing error to an overlimit account. When this happens, we will e-mail you. Alternatively, we may telephone you (if you are a USA customer) or send you a postcard explaining the problem. Once notified, it is important that you contact us as soon as possible. If we contact you by e-mail or phone, your order will be held for a maximum of three days until we hear back from you. After three days have passed with no response, your order will be cancelled and the merchandise returned to stock. Once cancelled, you can reorder by placing the order a second time via our website as usual.
PERSONAL CHECK/MONEY ORDER: If you do not use credit cards, you may place an order by mailing us a personal check or money order along with a printed copy of your order. Do Not click the Send button. We will process your order when we receive it in the mail with your payment. Be sure to include enough to cover shipping charges, as the shopping cart system will not include an amount for shipping in the total. Any overpayments will be credited to your store account for future purchases. If you are outside of the USA and are sending a check or money order, please note that your payment must be in USA dollars drawn on a USA bank. If there are any price increases between the time that you place your order and the time when we receive it, we will contact you via e-mail about how to handle the difference. Okay
PURCHASE ORDERS: We welcome purchase orders from schools and other institutions. You can shop online, call, fax or mail your order in to us. If you shop online, use the Purchase Order Number box to cite your PO number. You may also print out your order and mail or fax it to us along with your PO. Purchase orders can be mailed or faxed to our store if your school requires them. If your school does not require POs, simply place your order and instruct us to bill the appropriate office. All such orders may be subject to review and confirmation before shipping.
Back to TopWe offer trial periods on in-stock music, mouthpieces and instruments. You may try a maximum of three in-stock mouthpieces, one in-stock instrument or $1,000 worth of music for up to ten days. We can not allow trials on out-of-stock or special-order music, mouthpieces or instruments.
How it Works:
We'll sell you the item(s) you wish to try. You have the right to return any trial item within ten (10) days of receiving it (see exception below for music). Upon arrival in our store, we will issue a refund of the purchase price less the outgoing shipping cost, plus any clean-up fees or damage assessments (see below). The cost of return shipping is yours—we regret that we can not provide free return labels for trials.
Mouthpieces: We allow trials on up to three in-stock mouthpieces. These are done as a standard purchase with a right to return within ten days of receipt. When we receive your return, we will credit your credit card, less the original shipping charge and a $5 per-item clean-up fee. All mouthpieces should be rinsed out and wiped down prior to return. Woodwind players—please use a patch during the trial to prevent teeth marks. Returned mouthpieces must be free of patches and have no marks whatsoever as a result of the trial. Brass players—please be careful of causing excessive scratching of the shank. For all mouthpieces, boxes must be clean, straight and in resalable condition with all parts included. Please be careful when unwrapping and testing to avoid additional charges. If damage is evident, the loss of value to the mouthpiece will be deducted from your refund.
Instruments: We allow trials on most in-stock instruments. These are done as a standard purchase with a right to return within ten days of receipt. When we receive your return, we will credit your credit card, less our cost of shipping the instrument to you. If you received free shipping on your instrument purchase, then we will deduct our actual cost of shipping when processing your return. There is no clean-up or restocking fee on instruments that were in-stock when shipped. The instrument must be in exactly the same condition as when it left our store. If new damage is evident, the cost of repairs and/or the loss of value to the instrument will be deducted from your refund. Instruments are shipped to you expertly packed and fully insured, and must be returned in the same manner. Any damage sustained during the return will be your responsibility to rectify.
Music: We now offer a "Half & Half" program for music trials. Under this program, you may purchase a quantity of music totaling $250 to $1,000, with the right to return up to half of it within a trial period of ten days. Returned music must be neat, clean and unmarked to receive return credit. No copies of any sort whatsoever may be made during the trial period (we have a way of knowing, so don't try it). Credit for returned music will made in the form of a refund to your credit card.
Other Stuff: We regret that we can not allow trials of CDs, DVDs or software due to copyright issues. Mouth instruments (recorders, harmonicas, etc.) can not be sold on a trial basis for reasons of hygene.
Back to TopIf you choose to create a user account to shop our site, it is accessible only to you. We have no way of seeing or modifying any user accounts. We can not see or modify your user name or password. If you have forgotten your password, or simply wish to change it, all you need to do is enter your user name and click the "Forgot Password?" link. The system will send an e-mail to the address on file instructing you how to proceed.
Back to TopFor international customers only: Many countries add VAT and/or import duties to packages shipped from the United States. We do not pay these for you. Instead, you must pay them yourself when presented with the package by your postal service or UPS agent. Import duties and/or VAT are often assessed according to the value of the package. We are required by law to declare the package's value for your country's customs agents. If the value is not shown on a package, it may be returned to us. We are often asked if we can lower the declared value of a package so that any import duties will be less. Regrettably we cannot as it is illegal to do so. There are however a few techniques that may be employed that might help lower or eliminate import duties altogether. We do not guarantee any of the following, however we are told that they have worked in some situations.
Following many of the titles on this website, you will see a set of numbers or abbreviations enclosed in square brackets. These codes indicate the precise instrumentation of the work listed. Their format varies depending on the type of ensemble (woodwind, brass, string, orchestra or band), Click on the following links to see explanations of each type (these links will open popup boxes):
Following many of the titles in our Wind Ensemble catalog, you will see a set of numbers enclosed in square brackets, as in this example:
Order Qty |
Description | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Qty. |
Rimsky-Korsakov Quintet in Bb [1011-1 w/piano] Item: 26746 |
$28.75 |
The bracketed numbers tell you the precise instrumentation of the ensemble. The first number stands for Flute, the second for Oboe, the third for Clarinet, the fourth for Bassoon, and the fifth (separated from the woodwinds by a dash) is for Horn. Any additional instruments (Piano in this example) are indicated by "w/" (meaning "with") or by using a plus sign.
This woodwind quartet is for 1 Flute, no Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Horn and Piano.
Sometimes there are instruments in the ensemble other than those shown above. These are linked to their respective principal instruments with either a "d" if the same player doubles the instrument, or a "+" if an extra player is required. Whenever this occurs, we will separate the first four digits with commas for clarity. Thus a double reed quartet of 2 oboes, english horn and bassoon will look like this:
Note the "2+1" portion means "2 oboes plus english horn"
Titles with no bracketed numbers are assumed to use "Standard Instrumentation." The following is considered to be Standard Instrumentation:
Following many of the titles in our Brass Ensemble catalog, you will see a set of five numbers enclosed in square brackets, as in this example:
Order Qty |
Description | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Qty. |
Copland Fanfare for the Common Man [343.01 w/tympani] Item: 02158 |
$14.95 |
The bracketed numbers tell you how many of each instrument are in the ensemble. The first number stands for Trumpet, the second for Horn, the third for Trombone, the fourth (separated from the first three by a dot) for Euphonium and the fifth for Tuba. Any additional instruments (Tympani in this example) are indicated by a "w/" (meaning "with") or by using a plus sign.
Thus, the Copland Fanfare shown above is for 3 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 3 Trombones, no Euphonium, 1 Tuba and Tympani. There is no separate number for Bass Trombone, but it can generally be assumed that if there are multiple Trombone parts, the lowest part can/should be performed on Bass Trombone.
Titles listed in our catalog without bracketed numbers are assumed to use "Standard Instrumentation." The following is considered to be Standard Instrumentation:
Following many of the titles in our String Ensemble catalog, you will see a set of four numbers enclosed in square brackets, as in this example:
Order Qty |
Description | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Qty. |
Atwell Vance's Dance [0220] Item: 32599 |
$8.95 |
These numbers tell you how many of each instrument are in the ensemble. The first number stands for Violin, the second for Viola, the third for Cello, and the fourth for Double Bass. Thus, this string quartet is for 2 Violas and 2 Cellos, rather than the usual 2110. Titles with no bracketed numbers are assumed to use "Standard Instrumentation." The following is considered to be Standard Instrumentation:
Following some titles in our Orchestra & Band catalogs, you will see a numeric code enclosed in square brackets, as in these examples:
Order Qty |
Description | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Qty. |
Beethoven Symphony No 1 in C, op 21 [2,2,2,2-2,2,0,0, tymp, 44322] |
$150.00 | |
Qty. |
Jones Wind Band Overture [2+1,1,3+ac+bc,2,SATB-2+2,4,3+1,1, tymp, percussion, double bass] |
$85.00 | |
Qty. |
MacKenzie Hines Pond Fantasy (DePaolo) [2d1+1,1,2+1,1-2,2(+2),3,0, perc, tymp, 44322, Eb clarinet, SAATB saxes, trombone solo] |
$75.00 |
The bracketed numbers tell you the precise instrumentation of the ensemble. The system used above is standard in the orchestra music field. The first set of numbers (before the dash) represent the Woodwinds. The set of numbers after the dash represent the Brass. Percussion is abbreviated following the brass. Strings are represented with a series of five digits representing the quantity of each part (first violin, second violin, viola, cello, bass). Other Required and Solo parts follow the strings:
Principal auxilary instruments (piccolo, english horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, wagner tuba, cornet & euphonium) are linked to their respective instruments with either a "d" if the same player doubles the auxiliary instrument, or a "+" if an extra player is required. Instruments shown in parenthesis are optional and may be omitted.
Example 1 - Beethoven:
The Beethoven example is typical of much Classical and early Romantic fare. In this case, the winds are all doubled (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets and 2 bassoons), and there are two each horns and trumpets. There is no low brass. There is tympani. Strings are a standard 44322 configuration (4 first violin, 4 second violin, 3 viola, 2 cello, 2 bass). Sometimes strings are simply listed as "str," which means 44322 strings.
Example 2 - Jones: (concert band/wind ensemble example)
The second example is common for a concert band or wind ensemble piece. This ficticious work is for 2 flutes (plus piccolo), 1 oboe, 3 clarinets plus alto and bass clarinets, 2 bassoons, 5 saxes (soprano, 2 altos, tenor & bari), 2 trumpets (plus 2 cornets), 3 trombones, euphonium, tuba, tympani, percussion and double bass. Note the inclusion of the saxes after bassoon for this band work. Note also that the separate euphonium part is attached to trombone with a plus sign. For orchestral music, saxes are at the end (see Saxophones below. It is highly typical of band sets to have multiple copies of parts, especially flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone & percussion. Multiples, if any, are not shown in this system. The numbers represent only distinct parts, not the number of copies of a part.
Example 3 - MacKenzie: (a fictional work, by the way).
In the third example, we have a rather extreme use of the system. It is an orchestral work for piccolo, 2 flutes (1 of whom doubles on piccolo), 1 oboe, 2 clarinets plus an additional bass clarinet, 1 bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets (plus an optional 2 cornets), 3 trombones, no tuba, percussion, tympani, 6 first violins, 6 second violins, 4 violas, 3 cellos, 2 double basses, Eb clarinet (as an additional chair, not doubled), 5 saxes (soprano, 2 alto, tenor & baritone) & a trombone soloist.
Note: This system lists Horn before Trumpet. This is standard orchestral nomenclature. Unless otherwise noted, we will use this system for both orchestra and band works (in most band scores, Trumpet precedes Horn, and sometimes Oboe & Bassoon follow Clarinet). Also, it should be noted that Euphonium can be doubled by either Trombone or Tuba. Typically, orchestra scores have the tuba linked to euphonium, but it does happen where Trombone is the principal instead.
Saxophones, when included in orchestral music (they rarely are) will be shown in the "other instrument" location after strings and before the soloist, if any. However for band music, they are commonly present and therefore will be indicated after bassoon as something similar to "SAATB" where S=soprano, A=alto, T=tenor and B=baritone. Letters that are duplicated (as in A in this example) indicate multiple parts.
And finally, here is one more way to visualize the above code sequence:
This is a popular question. A backorder occurs when something is temporarily out of stock at our store and we have to turn around and order it in from the publisher or manufacturer for you. Being "backordered" does not mean that an item is out of print, discontinued or no longer available. It's just out of stock here at Hickey's and we have it on order. For most (most, not all) publishers and manufacturers, we can obtain backordered items in ten days or less. In many other cases, the publisher or manufacturer is also out of stock. In these cases the backorder may take a few extra days to a few extra months to obtain. Times vary depending on the item and the maker, so there is no way to give a general answer.
Back to TopOur systems are designed to ship most orders in less than 24 hours of being submitted, providing the item(s) you ordered are in stock. Many orders ship in less than 6 hours. Generally, if you place your online order before 2PM Eastern time, it will usually be shipped that same day. If you've ordered a single item and it is found to be out-of-stock, we will notify you via e-mail and place the item on backorder. You will not be charged until the item arrives and is shipped to you. If you have ordered multiple items, and one or more is found to be out-of-stock, then please refer to our Out of Stock policy for more information. Orders placed after 2PM on Friday usually ship Saturday (or Monday for UPS). During our busy season (August through late September, and again around Christmas through to February) there may be a delay of a day in processing orders due to high volume. UPS orders are shipped Monday through Friday, Post Office orders ship Monday through Saturday. No orders are shipped on Sunday.
Back to TopAll packages shipped via UPS and Post Office Priority Mail are assigned a unique tracking number at the time they leave our store. Customers who request UPS will automatically receive an e-mail from our UPS server when their order is shipped. At the current time we do not have a method to automatically inform Post Office customers of their tracking numbers. Post Office customers wishing to know their tracking number should send an e-mail to orders@hickeys.com with your request. We will look up your order, retrieve the USPS tracking number and e-mail it back to you. You can then use that number to see your package's in-transit progress by using USPS's Tracking webpage. As Post Office tracking numbers are more difficult for us to obtain and transmit to you, we ask that you do not request these unless the package seems to be running late and you wish to use it to confirm its progress.
Back to TopYou will receive three or four confirmations from us.