Don’t Be Taken In
As people who sell and buy violins for a living, and also help other people do the same, one thing we warn others about more than anything is getting scammed. And not just by people calling about your car’s extended warranty or to convince you that you need better life insurance. Which I mean, joke’s on you buddy…we’re classical musicians, we can’t afford life insurance!
Seriously though, while the classical musical world is a small one, and string sellers like us tend to be a close-knit community, scammers are out there and they try to get away with things all the time.
Whether it’s falsifying paperwork, covering up (and then lying) about previous damage and repairs, overpricing instruments, to flat out creating fake labels and papers to convince you that $100 Temu is actually a 1674 Stradivarius, complete with state of the art plastic pegs…we hear stories and even unfortunately run into people trying to pull a fast one more than we should.
Fortunately for you, our clients, there are some things you can do straight away to know if you’re being scammed or even prevent it before it happens. Here are some tips we tell everyone, whether they are shopping with us or someone else, to avoid being taken.
1) Ask questions. We get it-you walk into a shop or a one-on-one appointment with this person who has all these beautiful instruments, and they are telling you how they sold a guy this rare, one-of-a-kind, mint condition Del Jesus for below market value, and it can be intimidating. Don’t let it stop you from asking any and all questions you have. No question is too obvious, nor too stupid, and want to know something? More than likely, the same question you’re asking, the person selling you the instrument once asked someone else the same exact question. So ask questions, lots of them, and demand answers. An honest seller will be upfront, blunt, and if they don’t know the answer, they will tell you.
2) Check the paperwork. Now, not all instruments will carry certificates of authenticity. Those are usually reserved for the rare and higher valued violins and violas. However, most people will carry insurance policies on their gear, and insurance policies usually require appraisals. So ask to see the policy or appraisal, proof of ownership, anything in writing pertaining to whatever you’re looking for. Even if it’s just a bow…because higher quality and antique bows are just like the instruments they are used on. Some people may not have anything (students, for instance, rarely worry about such things), but it never hurts to ask.
3) Search, Research, and search again. We live in an age where information is available with a simple prompt into our smartphones, laptops, tablets, or, if you’re really tech savvy (like our Director of Operations), a push of a button in your car or on your watch. So do not be afraid to Google what you want before you buy it, and make sure you look for recent sales and prices. A little trade secret? Most shops (ours included) do this so often that if a high-value violin ever went missing and Interpol could access our search histories, we’d be questioned for sure. We’re not criminals, we’re just obsessed with making sure no one pays more than they should. Another resource? You’re favorite teacher, mentor, or another shop. We don’t mind you checking up on us…we welcome it. And any honest seller should do the same.
And finally…
4) Trust your gut. The number of times we’ve heard “Well, I had a funny feeling, but I ignored it” is too many. And if we’re being truly honest, we’ve said it ourselves more than once, and not just about whether the Browns are going to win the Super Bowl (our gut says no, but our hearts say “please!”). So trust your gut. As a player, parent, or someone who just really loves music, you know more than you think, and your gut twinging is your brain’s way of reminding you of that. So if your gut says “walk away”, then walk away. After all, who knows you better than you’re own stomach?!?
We hope these tips help you out the next time you’re searching for your new violin, viola, bow, or accessory. And following our own advice, if you do have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We truly want to see the right instrument go to the right person, so we would love to help you out.
Go Brownies! (A girl can dream…)
~Written by Jennifer Ford Fayette, Director of Operations and disappointed football fan (she also roots for the Dolphins).
