It might be difficult to find a violin dealer you can trust, but there are several things to look for to determine what you’re getting for your money. One thing you can look for is if the dealer offers a guarantee with his violin. If the dealer doesn’t have a guarantee policy, it probably means that the dealer doesn’t really care much about what happens to the instrument once it’s out of his hands, nor does he care about how the buyer is satisfied with the violin. If there is a trading policy, or a money back policy, with the buying policy, it’s a good step to assuring a satisfactory purchase.

It’s also good to see whether or not the violin dealer plays the violin, or better yet, if he’s a violin teacher. Someone who’s involved with the product he is selling usually can be trusted to know the product and take care of it before deciding to sell. If will probably be a good indicator of the amount of help the dealer will be in meeting your specific needs, instead of simply looking to get rid of the violin and make money off of you.

Ask the dealer specific questions about the violin brands you plan to buy. Find out where the violin was originally bought and what kind of violin it is. If possible, play the violin, and determine whether or not the sound is good enough for the type of violin you’re buying. Changing weather conditions have different effects on violins, so be sure to ask about the changes that might occur in extreme cold or heat. If the dealer doesn’t know all the answers to your questions, it doesn’t necessarily mean he is not genuine, but make sure you note his attitude toward your questions. See if he is willing to help you find the answers you’re looking for. If he pressures you to buy his violin, it’s probably not the safest purchase to make.

Finally, make sure you ask why the violin is being sold for the amount he is selling it for. It’s not necessarily true that the more you pay for a violin, the better quality it’s in. Make sure you get what you’re paying for, but make sure you’re not getting ripped off either. A violin dealer who meets these requirements will probably give you the best product for your time and money.