Rentals? Which one should you choose?

There are certainly differences in rental plans from store to store. Our plan is designed to be simple and straightforward. If you choose to rent with us, rest assured that your child will have an instrument with which they can succeed. We feel confident that we offer some of the best rental values in terms of both price and quality anywhere in the state. So, make your decision based on your child's personality and on your family's needs and budget. With our plan you have the benefit of:

•   ♦   Low monthly payments. Our rental rates are among the lowest in the nation and have consistently stayed behind the rate of inflation.
•   ♦   Automated payments via credit or debit card.
•   ♦   No finance charges.
•   ♦   All instruments are educator-approved brands and models.
•   ♦   All instruments are cleaned, sanitized, adjusted, and ready to play.
•   ♦   We have an excellent, full-time, full-service accredited repair shop here at our store able to service your rental (or other instruments) quickly and professionally should a problem occur. No need to ship the instrument to another state or across the country and wait weeks for it to return.
•   ♦   All rental can be applied towards the purchase of a new instrument. See our Double-Discount Purchase Plan below for more details.
•   ♦   Or, get an extra 10% discount off the purchase of a student level instrument (see below for details).
•   ♦   End the rental at any time with no penalty.
•   ♦   You are never obligated to purchase an instrument, ever.
•   ♦   Free exchange to another instrument if needed (with POM Warrantee).
•   ♦   Free exchange to the next size up (string instruments only).
•   ♦   Free delivery to schools (for schools on our scheduled weekly runs only).
•   ♦   UPS delivery to your door for a modest fee (optional).

Many people take advantage of our rental plan (some stores call this a "Lease" program). Under this plan you have the use of a well-maintained instrument for the term of the rental. If you should decide to buy an instrument during the course of the rental or 30 days after it ends, you can apply your rental payments towards the purchase price of a new step-up or pro instrument, or receive an additional 10% off the cash price of a new student instrument. See our Double-Discount Purchase Plan below for details.

The best way to think of our plan is as a trial. During the trial you get the use of a real musical instrument for a small fee. Should your child decide that music is for them, you can rent until you are ready to make a purchase. And if music is not for them, you can turn in the instrument and owe nothing more. There is never an obligation to purchase the instrument or continue with the rental.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between "Standard" and "Deluxe" instruments on your site?

A: "Standard" instruments are those which we have rented in the past. These are always classic models from solid, well-known and respected manufacturers. All are well-regarded and approved by local music teachers. All are well maintained and are in top playing condition. As older instruments, they will often show wear from previous use. Any wear is superficial and will never affect the playability of the instrument. "Deluxe" instruments are those that are either brand new or have only been rented a few times at most. In general, those that are not brand new still look as though they are new. Like the Standards, they are all classic models from top manufacturers that are highly regarded by music teachers.

Q: What about Grampa's old trumpet in the attic?

A: Some of us may have an old instrument a family member or friend used to play when they were younger. In many cases these instruments are perfectly acceptable for use in today's school music programs. And in some cases, they are not. We are happy to give you a free assessment of your old instrument and tell you if it is suitable. In many cases old instruments can be used "as-is" with little more than some cleaning you can do at home. And in others, some work may need to be done to bring the instrument up to snuff, such as freeing stuck slides or replacing the pads. If we feel the repair work will cost more than the instrument is worth, we will tell you. We are not out to make a sale—we just want your child to succeed.

Q: Are there fractional sized band instruments like there are for string instruments?

A: No. Unlike string instruments, if band instruments were made smaller they would be pitched higher and sound different, making them much harder to play and unusable in band programs. Instead, band instruments for children are built differently to compensate for little hands (and less careful hands too!). They may have different balance points, bore sizes or keywork. Sometimes, in the case of flutes, baritones, or french horns, especially compact models are available. If your child is *exceptionally* small, much more than his or her classmates, a compact instrument might make sense for you. These are extremely limited (owning to the rarity of these situations) and may not be available all the time. Please ask us or inquire to your music teacher if you are concerned about sizing.

Q: What About Dimestore or Auction Site Instruments?

A: In our opinion, purchasing a band or orchestra instrument from an auction site or a non-music store may seem to be a value at first, but if the instrument is of poor quality or in bad adjustment, your child may have difficulty playing the instrument, getting a good sound, playing in tune or keeping up with their classmates. We have found this to be especially true with brand new instruments offered at extraordinarily low prices. The old adage "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" is especially fitting here. We have found that many such instruments, often referred to as "Instrument Shaped Objects" (ISO's for short) are constructed of such poor materials that they are not able to be adjusted or repaired. Often the only solution is to discard the instrument and purchase a new one, like so many other disposable small appliances sold today.

We believe that if your child uses one of these, they may be more inclined to quit early because they are unable to produce a sound, play certain notes or keep up with their friends. For these reasons, many teachers do not allow these ISO's into their programs, regardless of the cost paid to purchase. The result is not only a loss of your dollars invested, but also a loss of a promising educational opportunity for your child.

It is our opinion that our rentals, even though most are used instruments, are of a superior quality than many cut rate "ISO" instruments now available. We believe that our instruments will offer a superior experience for your child and help them move forward in music and in their education in general. We believe our instruments will be easier to play, have a better tone and be better in tune. We know they can be repaired or adjusted. If in doubt about whether a particular instrument might be an ISO, please consult your child's music teacher or give us a call. We'll be honest—many instruments available online and elsewhere are perfectly fine. Since our focus is to help your child succeed, we will help you make the right choice even if it results in your deciding not to rent with us.

This statement represents our professional opinion on this matter and is not intended to be represented as fact. We strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified music teacher or professional musician if you are in doubt as to the quality or usefulness of imported, off-brand, auction site or department store instruments.

Q: Can I buy the instrument I am renting?

A: No. These instruments are strictly rental instruments and are not for sale. If you like, you may purchase an instrument exactly like, or very similar to, the one you are renting (if available). With our rental program, you may apply the rental you have paid, or receive an extra discount, towards the purchase of a new instrument. See our Double-Discount Purchase Plan below for details.

Q: Is this a Rent-to-Own program?

A: No. Our instruments are rented on a "rent-to-rent" basis. Some call this a "lease." If you wish to purchase an instrument, you can apply the rental you have paid, or receive an extra discount towards the purchase of a new instrument (see our Double-Discount Purchase Plan below for details). We feel this plan is the best and most affordable way for you to have use of a high quality musical instrument and make a sensible and affordable purchase when the time comes to own an instrument.

Q: What is a Student instrument? Why is it better for my child?

A: Student instruments are specially designed for beginners, young and old. They're not simply cheaper versions of pro instruments. They are built stronger to be more durable. They are generally made with heavier, less expensive materials and at a lower level of refinement than instruments for advancing players. Most importantly, they have technical features specifically designed to make the instrument easier for a novice to get started. Some of these design features actually get in the way of the intermediate player's progress (keywork on flutes, bore sizes on clarinet and various brasses, slides on trombones, etc.). We feel it makes more sense to rent a student level instrument to start out, with an eye towards purchasing an intermediate or "step-up" instrument at a later date. Our plan is built around this philosophy.

Q: Do you rent professional or intermediate level instruments?

A: Our program is mostly for student level instruments. Some of the more expensive instruments that we rent are often in the intermediate class. These include open hole flutes, wooden clarinets, double french horns and F-attachment trombones. These are available on our site at slightly higher prices due to the instruments themselves costing more.

Q: Does Peace of Mind cover loss of the instrument?

A: No. Peace of Mind (POM for short) functions as a warranty to cover damage and repair service to the instrument. It does not cover loss or theft. If the instrument is lost or stolen, you will have to pay to replace it. Check with your homeowners/renters insurance agent for more information.

Q: Do I need a credit card to do a rental?

A: Yes. Either a credit card or a debit card bearing a credit card logo (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express) is required to do a rental. We will use that card for the duration of the rental, and that card must remain valid and useable. If you wish to change to a different card once the rental has started, just let us know and we can make the change, but a valid card is required throughout the rental term. If you do not have a credit card, your bank can usually provide a debit card off of your existing checking account for little or no fee.

Q: Can I make my monthly payments via cash or check instead of credit card?

A: Technically yes, but you have to be diligent to avoid a double payment or an inadvertant charge to your card. Your card will be charged on the renewal date automatically unless you make a payment beforehand. If your payment arrives after the card is charged, the payment will be used for the following month's rent. Regardless of your intended payment method, you still need to have a credit card on file and available in case your cash/check payment does not reach us in time.

Q: What are your rental-purchase options?

A: We have two.
  Option 1 - Double-Discount Purchase Plan: You may apply all of your rental payments, excluding Peace of Mind, sales tax, and any other additional fees, towards the purchase of a brand new intermediate or professional instrument of a similar kind in our store. The rental credit will be applied against the new instrument's current MSRP price, and then our current discount will be taken. This can result in a much lower purchase price - and in some rare cases, even "free" if you have rented for a very long time. There are of course some rules, and here they are:

1. By "similar kind" we mean an instrument that is similar to the one you are renting. So, for example, a flute rental can be used to purchase a flute or piccolo, but not a saxophone, guitar, or piano, etc..
2. Only one rental term can be applied towards a purchase (a "rental term" is the entire continuous length of the rental history for a particular instrument). If you have rented several different instruments from us, or the same kind of instrument at several different times in the past, only the most recent rental term can be applied, whether it be one month long or dozens of months long. If you have rented the same instrument several years in a row, but have returned it each summer, then only the most recent term applies, and not all the terms together.
3. The rental credit only applies to the purchase of intermediate (also known as "step-up") or professional grade instruments. Student grade instruments are ineligiible for this discount. We do offer a special deal on student grade instruments - see Option 2 below for details.
4. The rental credit can only be used on factory new instruments. It cannot be used on used instruments or consignment instruments.
5. If your rental credit exceeds the selling price of the new instrument (this is quite rare), then the excess credit goes away. The excess credit cannot be saved or used on another purchase, and it is not refunded or paid out. It's toast.
6. The rental credit only applies to new, in-stock instruments, or new instruments that are currently on order for stock but have not yet arrived.
7. Due to manufacturer agreements, some specific instruments may be excluded from this plan. Please inquire.
8. The rental credit must be used immediately at the conclusion of a rental period or within 30 days of it ending. After 30 days, the credit is lost. If you are undecided about making a purchase, then we advise continuing the rental until you are ready to buy, this way you do not lose out on this opportunity (and you continue to build value in your credit!).
9. The rental credit can only be used from one rental term against one instrument purchase. You cannot combine several rental terms towards the purchase of a single instrument. You cannot use the credit towards the purchase of multiple instruments. This is a strictly one to one relationship!
10. The math works like this: All the instruments we sell are discounted, and this discount varies depending on the instrument. We'll call the discount percentage the "Hickeys Discount Percentage" or HDP for short. If you decide to buy using your rental credit, we will deduct your rental payments from the MSRP of the instrument. Then, we will deduct the HDP from that result to arrive at your purchase price. For example, if we have a $1000 MSRP flute for sale for $700, that means there is an HDP of 30% ($1000 minus 30% equals $700). If you have $400 in rental credit built up, we will first subtract it from the MSRP to arrive at $600 ($1000 MSRP minus $400 equals $600). Then, we will deduct the HDP (30%) from the $600, to arrive at $420 (600 times .3 = 180, and 600 minus 180 equals 420). Thus, you will pay only $420 for a $700 instrument, saving $280 total. So you can see, the longer you rent, the more credit you will have for a purchase.

Q: Do I have to return my instrument when the school year ends?

A: No! The rental is not tied to the school calendar. You can rent as long as you like. We and your child's music teachers encourage you to continue renting over the summer months for a number of reasons:

•   ♦   Your child can continue to play over the summer, gaining skills and confidence.
•   ♦   We have books and fun music to play like Star Wars, Taylor Swift and others. They can also play along with other friends or even YouTube videos!
•   ♦   If your child takes private lessons over the summer, they will need an instrument, even if those lessons are freebies online.
•   ♦   If you child wants to participate in a summer music ensemble like a community band or youth camp group, they will have an instrument to use.
•   ♦   They can’t practice if they don’t have an instrument!
•   ♦   You’ll beat the price increases in the fall.
•   ♦   You won’t lose any rental credit you’ve built up for a future purchase*. Once the instrument is returned, the credit clock stops.
•   ♦   You won’t have to worry about having an instrument available in the fall (or be concerned about getting a different instrument).
•   ♦   Kids who study music generally do better in school and develop good and strong friend groups. Having the opportunity to get better at an instrument increases the chances they will stay in the program and succeed.

Q: How do I return my instrument?

A: If you have decided that returning is the best option for you, then the best way to do this is to bring the instrument back our store in person so you can be assured it has arrived here safely. If you live far away and our customer service rep visits your child's school, then we might be able to pick it up from school, provided you do the following:

1. Contact us. Let us know you need a pickup by calling us at 1.800.442.5397 (1.800.HICKEYS), text us using the Text Us button on this screen, or send an e-mail to rentals@hickeys.com to let us know you would like to leave the instrument at the school. If we have a pickup available at that school, we can advise you on your next steps.
2. Download and print out a Rental Return Form here: https://www.hickeys.com/assets/pdf/rentalreturn.pdf. Follow the instructions printed on it.
3. Take the instrument to the school and leave it with the band or orchestra teacher. Please DO NOT leave it with the regular classroom teacher, or the regular classroom music teacher, or the school secretary, or anyone else. It must be left with the instrumental music teacher only.
4. Please drop off the instrument well before school lets out for the summer. If the instrument is left off too close to the end of the year, or even after school is over, then we may not be able to locate it. The summer cleaning staff may move the instrument and it can easily become lost forever. Remember, you are responsible for the safe return of the instrument to our store. School pickups are provided as a convenience but ultimately the instrument has to get back to us to formally end the rental.