Is buying instruments off the internet better than buying at a local music store?

Question by sax_pon_plar: Is buying instruments off the internet better than buying at a local music store?
hi, i am really perplexed in sales online and at music stores. according to amazon and places as such, instrument reviews gets 5 stars (5/5 total) and the people write saying that thier teachers recommend it and they couldnt tell the difference between music store bought instruments, and instruments they bought online. the good rated instruments online is sold in the 200-800 dollar category, but all the instruments sold in music stores im aware of reguardless of the brand is in the 1,000-3,000 dollar price range which is way out of my budget and im really confused..

This is the item i want: http://www.amazon.com/Conductor-Model-300-Alto-Saxophone/dp/B002UBNXT2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1268541655&sr=1-3

its a concert alto saxophone and im debating whether to buy it or not. right now, i have an average yamaha sax, but i want a better one to play in concert season. so far it only has three reviews and that also makes me sceptical about it. please, im asking for your suggestions on what i should do. should i trust the seller and buy it? or should i just stick to buying instruments in music stores?

Best answer:

Answer by AJB
I don’t know about saxophones, but my family owns a guitar store; and to answer your question as to whether there is a difference, my answer is yes. Though you might see instruments online, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are high quality, or not a scam. This is often the case on sites, including E-bay! Experienced musicians usually prefer to try their instruments, as for the most part all instruments have a different feel, or sound to them. Kijiji.ca(com) is a good site for local trades/sales. Through this site you can find and post ads and actually contact the person and meet up with them in order to try the instrument and make your decision, which is a lot safer than putting your credit card out on the internet, and trusting someone you don’t know.

HOWEVER, your local music store does offer the upside of supporting locally owned businesses, as long as this business is not apart of a chain. Be wary though, because although these retailers obviously have to make a profit by dealing goods that may be unaccessible, they may also be overcharging. If you live in a smaller area, you may be better off heading to a major city, as the prices in music stores there will be cheaper because they move their product faster.

Anyways, I hope this helps!

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