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Why Use This Site?
| It is difficult for buyers and sellers of a violin-family instruments to find one another. A buyer usually must go to a dealer. If there is not a dealer in the buyer's home town, he or she must travel elsewhere. Furthermore, the buyer must pay a premium to the dealer. There are several clear advantages to buying from a dealer. First, the dealer's name and reputation stand behind the claim of authenticity. Second, the dealer will usually repair the instrument with specail care and often at a special price as long as the buyer owns it.
At strads-etc.com, we are only able to connect buyers and sellers. We cannot make any claims as to the condition or autneticity of the instrument. But we have a link on this site to escrow.com, whereby buyers and sellers can use an intermediary. Escrow.com will collect the money from the buyer, track the package, and keep the money for five days. If the buyer decides to buy the instrument, he or she need only to contact escrow.com. They will then release the money to the seller. If the buyer should choose to return the instrument, escrow.com will track the package again and send the money back to the buyer when the seller receives the instrument by return mail. We believe that this arrangement will enable the buyer to try out the instrument and use what ever means he or she may have at hand in the five-day trial period to make sure the deal is to his or her satisfaction. |
Top of Page Are There Other Sources on the Web for Violin-Family Instruments?
| Of course. There are several on-line auction houses. These have varying reputations and different ways of insuring quality. Some of them even have escrow services. But they are auction sites on which many people compete for the same item--the object is to get the highest price possible for the seller. Several sites also offer a particular product line. For example, many luthiers (makers of stringed instruments) have web pages. A buyer may contract to have a new instrument made. This will take some time, however, and the buyer is forced to pay at least some of the money up front. Others may offer instruments, but most do not have the escrow protection offered by strads.com.
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Top of Page Does strads-etc.com Charge for Its Services?
| Yes. a nominal 2% charge should be sent when the deal is made. If you sell your instrument by other means, it is not necessary to send us the money. Please let us know, however, so we can remove your notice and keep our website up to date. |
Top of Page Will strads-etc.com Sell My Instrument for Me?
| Yes. If you send us your instrument description or the instrument itself, we will sell it for you for a commission of 15%, payable by the buyer. We will list the instrument on our website and make all the arrangments. Contact Jack@strads.com for more information. |
Top of Page Does strads.com Have Its Own Insruments For Sale?
| Yes. We have some new instruments on hand. They are listed on the appropriate pages. |
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