Internet Instruments

Almost every band room in the United States gets a regular supply of catalogs from online music companies.  The catalogs, websites and their prices are no secret to anyone in the school band business.

While some of the prices from online companies don't represent savings over your music store, some are lower than what can be offered by a local full-service school music store.

The reason for a price difference is also no secret.  There's a large difference in services.  An online company doesn't offer personnel who call on schools, a store to go into, a showroom or instrument displays, open accounts, and service facilities.  An online operation needs personnel only to process credit card payments, man computers, and fill and pack orders.  Trained sales people are replaced by telephone operators at a computer, financing is replaced by credit cards, Paypal and electronic checks, and few service problems or questions make it back to the company because of the distance and inconvenience.  It is the instrument supply business reduced to a bare-bones form.

An online company couldn't afford to provide the services of a school music store while selling at online prices and neither can a school music store.  A good illustration of this is that some of the online music companies are divisions of a school music store, operating from the store's back warehouse.  These divisions sell only online, and send catalogs only to those more than a few hundred miles away.  Customers who go into these stores see only a typical music store and aren't offered the prices given to online customers.

For someone who doesn't require any of the services of a music store in trying and selecting instruments, who doesn't require financing or a pre-rental, and who is willing to handle all service after the sale themselves, buying from an online only company could be the right choice.  Many college music students fall into this category. 

Most school band directors, however, have considered the differences in service and price and do their business with their music store because they value their representative's service and advice, and need a local service company.

In recommending new instruments to parents, directors recommend a school music store for several reasons.  First, parents are generally far more concerned about service and support, particularly with a product they know little about, than a college student might be.  More than 90% of parents buying an instrument can't pay cash, and the director knows the rep will work out an agreeable payment plan, give them rental credit, and will even take the old instrument in on trade.  Most parents want to see an instrument, have the child play it, and talk to a representative before they buy it.  Finally, the director feels the store's step-up plan and support are needed to create and maintain interest in better instruments.

If you feel the services Amro offers helps you and your band, your support of Amro will be appreciated.