Planet Violin, does anyone have any experience with them?

Question

I am looking and perhaps getting a violin off of eBay and have come across Planet Violin several times. Is this seller and their products any good? Are they reliable? I have been reading their feedback and things seem to be okay there, but I would prefer to get some first-hand information from someone. I would rather not rely simply on what what is given as feedback. Any information that you can give will be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

Answer 1

Do NOT buy a violin from Ebay.  Also see:

http://beststudentviolins.com/violins.ht...

Answer 2

I strongly urge you to avoid buying musical instruments off of eBay. A quick search will show I am not alone in this. To often buyers end up with instruments that are completely poor in quality and not worth what they paid. I reviewed this seller and his products and a few red flags came up.

1. The seller only provides a 7 day money back guarantee - You should consider buying only from a dealer that offers at least a 30 day money back guarantee

2. The seller does not offer any warranty. When buying an instrument, a warranty adds extra security that what you purchase will last, and if it doesn't it will be repaired at the manufacturer's or dealer's expense.

3. The seller appears to be selling musical instruments for more than what you would pay from reputable dealers.

You may want to try a more reputable dealer. Below is a link to one that I've had great experiences with in the past (also, they provide a full 1 year warranty on most of their instruments, have some of the lowest prices that I’ve seen, and offer a full 30 day no questions asked guarantee on all of their products). I hope this helps. Good luck!

Answer 3

Well, the first thing you asked is whether the "seller" is any good -- unless you mean the brand, I can't help you with this.  There are thousands of sellers on eBay at any time, and therefore I don't know which is selling the violins that you've come across.  Therefore, just look at the seller feedback and their percentage of satisfaction.

I have heard of Planet Violins, much of which has been positive, some negative.  However, I strictly caution you against buying an instrument from eBay.  If you must, do so only if you can get all of your money back.

I know someone that was assured and convinced that she was getting a great violin -- great instrument details, great seller, and so on.  She paid over a thousand dollars, and the instrument she received was one that I honestly wouldn't pay as much as twenty bucks for.  Even if an instrument is of a good brand or seems to be of high quality, eBay instruments are often not.  Many sellers keep the violins in horrible conditions -- while many believe that the instrument being in a safe place should be enough, it's not.  The temperature, humidity, and so on so forth, should all be considered.  I know buyers that have also purchased great instruments, only to find that they have been damaged by the seller's care.

If you do wish to purchase an instrument from eBay, the best method is by requesting a clear guarantee that if the violin is not as described, you can get your money back.  Otherwise, you may even find a seller that would allow you to try it out first, depending on your eBay feedback, how cautious they are, and so on.

Just the same, I've heard many good things about Planet violins.  I almost purchased one once; went with a Franz Werner instead.

Good luck =)