CAREFUL with instrument rental
CAREFUL!
This review is concerning music instrument rentals. I don’t usually write reviews but this one hit me hard so here we are.
I always had a special respect for non-profit-community-helping organizations.. not this time. Although this one is marketed as one, their attitude, communication, and actions prove otherwise. Be careful before falling into this.
If you are an instrument beginner like me, first of all, be extra careful about the quality of the instrument that you get. Get professional help if needed, or find somewhere else to rent from. Although the renting prices may seem cheap, it’s really bad quality. I wonder how much effort or expertise they put into this! ESPECIALLY with their policy about the minimum renting period of 3 months. I received a bad instrument and realized that when my music teacher recommended me to find a better one. To be fair, first, I asked for new strings because the older ones were rusty and they ordered me new ones after two weeks. However, it was still a bad training instrument, based on my teacher’s advice. 2 days after I received the new strings I tried to ask for a return, or at least partial compensation, but was faced with an unfriendly and rude attitude. However, since I signed the contract for three months rental, I accepted my mistake and went on.
Finally after three months of not using the instrument. Having returned and signed the instrument delivery by their personal.. After two days I was accused of cracking the instrument. Pedro, the guy that works there, refused to give back my deposit (150 euros), claiming the cracks would cost him more than that to fix. Even though he signed the paper of receiving the instrument without checking it on the spot or anything. Thankfully I realized I had old pictures from the day I received the instrument (with the cracks clearly visible) and sent them to him. I received no response or whatsoever. The internal looking cracks were clearly a sign of the bad quality wood, and the cracks' location clearly showed to have nothing to do with bad treatment whatsoever.
Having received a slightly cracked/bad sounding instrument, after three months of not using the instrument (because of its bad quality) and finally returning it, i was framed to be the one cracking it and not getting back my deposit!!
One more thing, I just checked my money transfer at the start of the rental, apparently, I was asked to send it to his personal account. I wonder if this is legal and whether there should have been a business account for the school...