Repair

Our current bench rate for all repairs is $140/hr, charged in 15 minute increments. There is a bench fee (per-item minimum) of $140 which covers admin time as well as the first hour of inspection, and troubleshooting on the bench (and sometimes even the entire job if it’s simple enough). Required parts are charged additionally and local repairs are subject to sales tax. Customer-supplied parts may be acceptable at our discretion.  On-site repairs, rush work, as well as pick-up and drop-off services are all possible, with fees varying depending on details. Contact us to inquire.

On smaller repairs where the direction forward is clear we may work up to a ceiling of $350 (as-needed) in parts/labour before contacting you. For larger jobs and restorations we will send a detailed quote by email with our recommendations and we can decide the best course of action together from there. Any declined work will still be subject to our bench fee ($140) before pick up.

Once we agree on the work to be performed, we may take a deposit to cover parts and other up-front costs. This is typically 20% of the estimated total, although this can vary depending on the specific job (some parts are more expensive than others). For pre-packaged kits (MIDI upgrades, etc), you can either order the kit yourself in advance of dropping your instrument here, or we can cost it out and order it on your behalf (with the total kit cost added to the initial deposit.)

While we will always strive to make our initial repair estimates as specific and detailed as possible, diagnosing and solving issues on complex equipment can be a layered process where solving one issue makes another one apparent. As a result it may be impossible to tell in advance of starting work exactly what it will take to make your gear functional and reliable again.  To keep surprises to an absolute minimum we make clear and ongoing communication a priority.  You will be kept in the loop during your repair or rebuild and allowed to make informed decisions as work progresses.

While your instrument is on the bench here, we will usually also recommend going beyond repairing any immediate issues and also replacing other common-to-fail parts, as well as cleaning and lubricating jacks and controls, and generally setting it up to be trouble-free again for the foreseeable future.

We do not have unlimited storage space and therefore ask that gear be picked up within 30 days of completion of repair work, or notification that it is otherwise ready for return. Equipment left beyond this window will be subject to a storage fee of $25/week, which will be added to the invoice. Unpaid repair and storage charges may give rise to a lien on the equipment under British Columbia's Commercial Liens Act. Unclaimed equipment may ultimately be sold or retained in accordance with the enforcement procedures set out in that Act.

Your equipment is well-insured while it is here under our care.

Repair Warranty

We care deeply about doing quality work and stand behind everything we do here in the shop.  Any work performed here is warrantied for a period of 12 months from the date of repair.  Any issue that may arise specific to the work we performed will be dealt with at no additional labour cost to the customer.  Of course we are not able to cover issues with your instrument that arise unrelated to the specific work we performed.  We are also not able to warranty any equipment that has been opened, repaired, or otherwise messed with by anyone other than us in the time since the initial repair.  We reserve the right to modify or cancel this warranty at our discretion, for example in cases of neglect/abuse of the equipment.

Shipping your Repair

If you would like to ship an item to us for repair, the first step is to send us a message so we know to expect it.  Pack your gear very carefully and be sure to clearly mark your name and contact info inside the box.  We will contact you once we have received and evaluated your item.

sales

Due to the nature of the consignment process, all sales of used and consignment gear are final.  Unless otherwise stated, all equipment listed has been tested, inspected, serviced, and repaired as needed and is sold in fully working condition.  If you have any issues with the gear upon receiving it, please contact us immediately and we will do our absolute best to resolve the situation. 

Shipping your purchase

Shipping has become very expensive over the past number of years. In an effort to keep shipping costs down for our customers, we have chosen to quote “surface” parcel rates as the default for smaller sale items here on the site. Surface shipping is uninsured and can take anywhere from 2-12 weeks to arrive (depending where on the globe you live). If you are interested in shorter delivery times and insurance for your item, please send us a message and we will get you a quote for your desired shipping method.

For larger instruments and gear, shipping is quoted on an individual basis. Please contact us before purchasing and we will get you a shipping quote to your location.

Please note: For instruments and gear that include some kind of aftermarket case, the shipping charge has been calculated for the instrument alone (or in the original box if applicable) and there will be an additional charge to ship the case to you if you would like it.

As it is impossible to accurately quote shipping to every global destination, the quoted rates here are also approximate. We always welcome messages to discuss shipping costs to your specific location, and similarly, we reserve the right to request additional shipping funds if the quoted rates are insufficient.

We have carefully packed and shipped gear to all over the world without a single issue to date, and always pack items obsessively to ensure their safe passage to you. Despite this, shipping delicate equipment all over the world will always carry risks of loss and damage, and the shop here is simply not large enough to assume these risks. Therefore, once your lovingly-packed gear leaves our hands, its safe arrival is between you, the shipping service, and any additional shipping insurance you have chosen to purchase.

Sell Us Your Broken Gear

Have a piece of cool but broken gear that needs saving? Depending on the item, we may be interested in purchasing it from you in as-is condition to repair and restore here at the shop.

Please send us an email containing:

• Your contact information

• Details of the equipment in question, including photos and serial numbers

• What you would like to get for your equipment

Please do not ask us to “make an offer.” This whole process works much more smoothly if you do a little of your own research on the value of your item and come to us with a number we can work from. Please ensure you are looking at SOLD prices rather than asking prices, which have gotten completely out of hand over the past few years.

Please also keep in mind that if you need to get the most money possible out of a piece you may be better off selling it on the open market as we will need to account for the time and other costs associated with repairing, servicing, and ultimately reselling an item when making an offer.