How to save money when buying musical instruments – words Al Woods
Buying musical instruments can be an expensive affair, especially when you consider that a basic drum kit costs up to a grand.
Whether you are a professional musician or just learning, you need to save money without sacrificing quality when buying musical instruments. Here are some tips that will help you to save money when buying musical instruments:
Research Prices Online
Before you buy any musical instrument, you should conduct a thorough online search to compare prices. For instance, you can search for used Gibson guitars to find the cheapest offers online. When you do this, you will have an idea of what the real item should cost at the store.
You never know, you might come across price deals such as discounts or Guitar Center coupons at Deal News. After completing your online search, you can browse at your local physical stores to do a price comparison. You should print the results of your research to get a discount at your local store.
Buy Used Equipment
Buying used equipment is the best way to save money. Check for used equipment on sites such as Amazon and eBay. You should also check the return policy and reseller rating of the seller that you are considering. If you choose to buy an instrument from Craigslist, you should meet the seller in a public place.
Local pawnshops might also have cheap instruments and you can bargain to get a better deal. If you are thinking about purchasing from a pawnshop, you need to test the instrument thoroughly before parting with your hard-earned money.
Check Competing Stores
If you have your eye on a certain instrument at your local store, you should also check the nearby stores. The other stores in your area might have better prices. In some cases, you can find a hidden gem at a great price even if the seller does not have a huge online presence. In this case, it will pay to walk from one store to another while comparing the different prices.
Once you find the perfect instrument at an affordable price, you should compare it with online store prices. When buying online, you need to factor in the cost of shipping your musical instrument.
Use Social Media
If you have a huge social media presence, you should use it to find your preferred instrument. For instance, you can mention the instrument that you are looking for and ask for help finding it. One of your followers might know where to get it at a cheap price.
Even if none of your followers knows where to find one, they might know a person who does. In this case, it pays to have a huge online presence because you can always find great help in the online community.
Pay for Quality
Buying an expensive instrument right off the bat might seem counterintuitive but you might end up saving money. For instance, saving $50 to buy a cheap guitar does not make any sense if the instrument will break down in a year. When you do this, you will spend even more money than you would have to buy a new guitar.
However, choosing to invest in a quality instrument that will give you a lifetime of service makes sense. A quality instrument might be expensive to buy but it will save you a lot of money in the end.
Conclusion
If you use the above tips to save a considerable amount of money, you should think about improving your finances. You can put the money that you have saved into an account and use it to buy other instruments in future.
