Hello

If I wanted to use your trade up policy and buy a banjo with intentions of trading it, how long do you reccommend that I wait to trade? Thanks

With this trade-up policy, you're welcome to take advantage of it a month after you purchase your instrument, or even years after.

A lot depends on when you feel you've outgrown the instrument you're trading up...as you develop better skills, and become more attuned to what you're looking for in tonal quality...and playability, you will then have a better perspective on what to trade up towards.

Hope this helps, Mickey

Subject: Trade-Up question


Hi Y'all,

I purchased a KM150S from you last November and have been very happy with it. I've been thinking of upgrading because I'm playing so much and think a slightly longer scale would be useful. How much trade in value would I get for this instrument with a gig bag PLUS a professionally installed McIntyre pickup (which sounds great)?

Also, I'm interested in you opinion about what model I should trade up to, specifically the KM380 versus the KM620 or KM630. Although I really like the looks of the F models I keep thinking of my English friend who likes to say "don't be seduced!". Is the KM380 the best of those three?

Thanks for your help.

Scott Holland

Greetings Scott,

We give a full trade-up value on any instrument purchased through us...sorry, any upgrades made to the instrument would not apply to the trade-up value. It would only increase the value of the instrument nominally for resell...you might try selling the instrument on Ebay to see if it brings more than you originally paid.

I'd have to say the KM-630 is my personal favorite of the 3 you're interested in...the 380 does have solid maple back and sides...and is a great sounding mandolin...there's just something about the f-style mandos that just feels good in the hands.

Mickey

O.k. this sounds too good to be true. You are saying that if I buy an
instrument from you that I can trade it back in at any time and get
credit for the full purchase price? That would be incredible! Most
places that I know won't give you more than half of what you paid once
you walk out the door with the instrument. If this is the case I will be
buying from you in the future. By the way, where is Ruidoso N.M.? I live in
Utah and I am wondering how long it would take to drive there.

Thanks,

Ryan Dearing


Hello Ryan,

Yes, that's what we're saying...as long as you own an instrument originally purchased as new through FOTW, you'll have your full trade-up value...that means that you retain your initial purchase price towards a more expensive instrument of your choice. This applies to whatever our discounted price may be at the time you trade in your instrument. Additionally, the instrument you're trading up towards does not have to be the same exact instrument...(a banjo for a more expensive mandolin qualifies).

Let's set up some examples for what the trade-up process may entail:
1. You purchased a new SV-200 full-size violin for 225.00 through us...you bought this instrument with the intention to learn to play fiddle. After 3 months of struggle, you decide that fiddle may not be what you want to learn after all. You call us or us that you'd like to trade up toward a Saga Style III banjo (current discount price 375.00 + 20.00 shipping). You ship back the SV-200 violin with a check or money order for the difference of what you originally paid:
1 SV-200 Your original purchase price 225.00 (shipping not included)
You upgrade to a Saga Style III banjo for 395.00 which includes shipping/insurance costs...
395.00 - 225.00 = 170.00 You pay a difference of only 170.00 utilizing any method of payment you wish: Money Order, Personal Check, or Credit Card (called in, faxed in, number sent with letter of instrument being traded in or dividing up the numbers into two s)

2. You purchase a beginner banjo such as a new Goodtime II for 375.00 (shipping price not included)...which includes a free 50.00 accessory package (you still get to keep the free accessory package after trading up to another instrument!). 1 year later, you decide to upgrade your Goodtime II to a Deering Sierra (with a hypothetical current discount price of 1100.00 + 35.00 shipping costs). You call us or us that you'd like to trade up your Goodtime II towards the Deering Sierra. We schedule that you will be returning your Goodtime II for a trade-up to the Deering Sierra. You send in the Goodtime II with your payment difference as follows:
1 Deering Goodtime II Your original purchase price 375.00 (shipping costs not included)
You upgrade to a Deering Sierra for 1100.00 (current discount price) + shipping of 35.00
1135.00 - 375.00 = 760.00 You pay a difference of only 760.00 utilizing any method of payment you wish: Money Order, Personal Check, or Credit Card (called in, faxed in, number sent with letter of instrument being traded in or dividing up the numbers into two s)

Hope the above is descriptive enough for you...be sure to forward any other questions...

We're located in Ruidoso, New Mexico...this is between Alamogordo and Roswell. We have a 2800sq ft showroom dedicated to acoustic music and acoustic tools...please come on down and pay us a visit. From Utah, you're probably looking at a 6+ hour drive.


Let me know if you have any further questions or if I can assist you with anything else...
Mickey Cochran