The fine print …..
While its just me and my tuning fork, since hanging my sign out I have found it helpful to provide the following terms, conditions and warranties, which I hope you find helpful as you use my website and purchasing from my workshop.
Website content
Contents of this website are available for reuse under the creative commons CC BY licence, which stipulates the content must be acknowledged and linked too. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
While every endeavour is made to keep the website up-to date sometimes it isn’t, in particularly to pricing – my apologies. Corrections are welcome
Instrument warranties
Wether new, secondhand or repairs to your instrument it is important to note that Violins and other bowed string instruments are specialist delicate products made to vibrate and just a few mm thick in places. Being made of wood, a natural product, it has irregularities and imperfections that may effect its look and structural properties. Thus whilst every effort is made by manufacturer, suppliers, makers and repairers to ensure that instruments are robust, there are limits to their strength and must be treated delicately. Violin timbers of spruce, maple and ebony are also subject to the effects of ageing and climatic conditions, particularly in Queensland. Cracks, warping, opening of seams, changes to string projection and bow failure can all occur over time, in-particular with misadventure.
Regular servicing of instruments, or bringing them in when a problem is first noticed (eg a sticking peg) can avoid a costly repair.
Misadventure
It is the nature of children to have accidents, or to not always be the most gentle with their instruments, and accidents can happen for the young at heart too. Appropriate care of instruments with regard to heat, humidity, storage and handling can preserve these instruments integrity for many years. However I find myself sometimes in the unfortunate situation where an instrument has suffered misadventure, sometimes denied by a young user of an instrument. Whilst I am sympathetic to the situation, and the delicate dynamic between parent and child, please understand manufacturers cannot warrant instruments that have suffered misuse or mishandling. For this reason all string instrument warranties are limited and some parts of the instrument are excluded.
Generally speaking strings, bridges and bows do not carry a warranty once they leave the shop. Bows in particular are susceptible to developing hairline fractures from even the slightest drop, over tightening (and occasionally incidents sword play). Bridges also are prone to warping and are also not covered by most warranties.
New Instruments
All new instruments carry statutory warranties from suppliers to be free of defect and limited warranties. The warranty for new instruments is 12months from most suppliers, though are strictly limited to the workmanship, and some of the components are exempt.
Secondhand instruments
Whilst every care is taken in the refurbishment of instruments for resale sometimes some issues become apparent over time. Secondhand instruments are priced according to their condition and some are quite worn or heavily repaired. I warrant my secondhand instruments for 3months (with the exclusions mentioned above).
Repairs and Servicing
Regular servicing of instruments, or bringing them in when a problem is first noticed (eg a sticking peg) can avoid a costly repair
Repair estimates are usually accurate based on visual inspection and where necessary the removal of some fittings. I may offer a range estimate for more complex repairs. Should substantive variations to the quote occur I will contact you before proceeding. I try to offer repair solutions consummate with the value of the instrument, and where not cost effective, I will endeavour to let you know.
For more complex repairs there is an element of risk due to unknown damage, previous repairs or the quality/age of the timbers used that may or may not be apparent prior to work commencing.
While all care is taken, instruments tendered for service and are left at the customer’s own risk.
In general repairs are warranted for 3 months, excepting normal wear and tear and misadventure. Where I am unable to offer such, owing to the nature of the injury I will advise as such.
If instruments left for repair are not collected for a period of three months after contacting you or making reasonable efforts to do so I am entitled to recover costs according to legislation regarding uncollected goods
Bow rehairing
Replacing the hair on violin bows is a complex skilled task that requires complete disassembly, inspection and cleaning of a bow, before the installation of upto 3 new wedges to hold the new hair. Bows by their nature are fragile and there is an element of risk to the bows structure during the rehair process. For exceptional bows I recommend the services of a bow specialist.
Valuation
Instrument valuation is made based on a combination of factors including instrument brand if its a moder instrument, workmanship, age, condition, provenance and sound. Unfortunatelty for older instruments, as the industry is rife with fake labels and marks of age through antiquing. Instruments valued up to around $5000 can be made with reasonable certainty, beyond that i am happy to refer on.
Invoicing
For schools, music shops and corporate clients i am happy to invoice for sales and repairs, subject to bonafides being established.
Terms are strictly 14 days
Client details and financial transactions
I use the Square platform for all my financial transactions, which uses best in class encryption details to take payments. I do not keep a record of of your financial information though do take a name and contact details for all receipts issued that is held on the Square platform. I may charge a fee for some credits cards used (AMEX and afterpay ) though adsob commissions for VISA and M/C
I am a business registered for GST which is available as a GST credit for business customers
Liability
We will not be liable to you or any third party in respect of any claim for injury, death, loss or damage to any person or property caused or arising out of the use of products sold by us, or out of any services performed by us, except to the extent that liability is imposed upon us or implied into a transaction by this agreement or by any statutory provisions that cannot be excluded by this agreement.
