Musician’s Friend Review: Is Musician’s Friend Legit?
If you’ve shopped for gear online, chances are you’ve come across Musician’s Friend. Along with Sweetwater, they are one of the biggest names in online music gear.
However, with so many options available, including your local music store, you may be wondering if Musician’s Friend is a legit choice to buy your next guitar or amp.
Maybe you’re not used to shopping online, and would prefer to buy something in-person from a local retailer. Or perhaps you buy most of your music gear and other items from Amazon, and aren’t sure about trusting a company that sells only musical instruments and equipment.
Which begs the question…
Is Musician’s Friend Legit?
In a word: Yes. Musician’s Friend is one of the oldest online retailers, and it has been in business for over 30 years. Personally, I have ordered several items from them over the years and have never had a problem. They also offer free shipping and a 45-day “No hassle” return program.
In this post, we’ll explore all the ways Musician’s Friend is legit and the various benefits you will get shopping at Musician’s Friend.
Let’s get started!
Musician's Friend is one of the largest online music retailers in the world. Owned by Guitar Center, Musician's Friend offers a similar assortment of guitars and music equipments from the most reputable brands.
Is Musician’s Friend Legit? – Company Background Info
Musician’s friend was founded in 1983 by Rob and DeAnna Eastman. It became an online retailer in 1997. The company has grown from a dairy barn in Southern Oregon to a 700,000-foot distribution center in Kansas City, MO.
In addition to the distribution center, Musician’s Friend also maintains their corporate headquarters in Southern California, as well as call centers in Salt Lake City, UT, and Indianapolis, IN.
According to the company’s website, Musician’s Friend ships an average of between 9,000 and 10,000 orders each day, with 90% of orders placed before noon picked and shipped that day.
The company reported a little over $36 million in revenue in 2020, and they have approximately 10,000 employees nationwide.
Musician’s Friend was one of the first music retailers with a large online presence, and they continue to be a major player decades later. Many musicians still prefer to buy their gear through their site.
Is Musician’s Friend Safe? Musician’s Friend Reviews
Some players remain skeptical of online retailers because they prefer to buy more expensive items like musical instruments in-person.
For these shoppers, the thought of buying a new guitar, amp or pedal sight unseen online may seem like a risky endeavour.
If that sounds like you, you may be asking, “Is Musician’s Friend safe?”
Yes, Musician’s Friend is a safe place to buy musical equipment. The company has been operating for many years, and is one of the most-trusted names in the business. They offer price-matching, a 45-day return policy, and a free 2-year warranty on all guitars and basses.
If you’re still unsure, check out reviews on the Musician’s Friend website to see how other customers have been satisfied with their purchases.
Reasons to Shop at Musician’s Friend
Musician's Friend is one of the largest online music retailers in the world. Owned by Guitar Center, Musician's Friend offers a similar assortment of guitars and music equipments from the most reputable brands.
Whether you’re shopping for guitars or other musical gear online, Musician’s Friend is a great choice.
When you shop at Musician’s Friend, you can be sure that you are getting a fair price, free shipping, and the ability to return anything for up to 45 days with zero hassle.
When you’re buying gear that can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, it’s important to know that you will have security in case something goes wrong.
Here are some of the main advantages of shopping with Musician’s Friend.
Large Product Selection
Musician’s Friend prides itself on having a large selection of gear. In fact, they claim to have the largest selection of music gear in the world.
According to its website, Musician’s Friend has over 1,700,000 items in stock and ready to ship. You want it, they’ve got it.
While some stores may focus more on niche or boutique music gear, Musician’s Friend carries virtually every major brand, making it a great option for beginners and pros alike.
If there’s a guitar or other piece of gear you’ve had your eye on, odds are very high that Musician’s Friend has it.
Free Shipping
As an online consumer, I HATE paying for shipping. There’s no bigger bummer than thinking you’ve found a great deal on something, only to find that the shipping cost puts it out of your desired price range.
One great thing about shopping at Musician’s Friend is that they offer Free Standard Ground Shipping on most orders shipped within the continental United States.
Another plus is that there’s no minimum for how much you must order to qualify for free shipping. Many stores require that you order a certain amount before qualifying for free shipping, but not Musician’s Friend!
No matter whether you’re buying a $3,000 new guitar or a $5 pack of strings, Musician’s Friend has got you covered with free shipping.
Learn more about their shipping policy
Free 2-Year Warranty on Guitars
Having a good warranty comes in handy in case you run into any issues with your gear down the road.
Have you ever bought a guitar that sounds great out of the box but something breaks unexpectedly 6 months later? Maybe a tuning peg falls off, or the wiring to the pickups suddenly becomes faulty. Musician’s Friend has got you covered.
Every guitar and bass, new or open box, automatically comes with a Free 2-Year Silver Warranty.
This warranty covers any service, including parts and labor. You just pay the shipping costs.
Musician’s Friend’s warranty is separate from any warranty from the manufacturer, so you are covered either way. Often, stores will ask you to pay for extended coverage. Not many other retailers offer a completely free 2- year warranty, so this is a great benefit to shopping with Musician’s Friend!
Musician’s Friend Return Policy
A warranty is great if you enjoy the gear you purchased and just want to know it will be protected in case any issues arise. But what if you just want to return what you bought?
Musician’s Friend offers a 45-day “No Hassle” Return Policy.
That means that if you aren’t satisfied in any way, simply return the item (in its original condition) for a full refund, minus shipping costs.
If for some reason there are some minor dents or scratches on the item (Hey, it happens) then Musician’s Friend simply charges a 15% re-stocking fee. Still a great deal and likely way better than you would get trying to re-sell the item on a third-party website.
Sometimes we get excited by a certain piece of gear, but when it arrives, it just doesn’t meet our expectations. Knowing you have the option to return something for full price offers great peace of mind.
And at 45 days, Musician’s Friend’s return policy is one of the longest I’ve seen for any online music retailer!
You can find more information on their return policy here.
Should You Buy At Musician’s Friend?
Musician's Friend is one of the largest online music retailers in the world. Owned by Guitar Center, Musician's Friend offers a similar assortment of guitars and music equipments from the most reputable brands.
Now that we’ve established that Musician’s Friend is definitely legit, one question still remains.
Should you buy at Musician’s Friend?
That answer is up to you, but it’s certainly a great option. Though there are some close competitors (Sweetwater and American Musical Supply spring to mind) Musician’s Friend is one of the oldest and most successful online music retailers for a reason. With its huge selection, great return policy and free 2-year warranty plan, you can’t go wrong with Musician’s Friend.
If, however, you prefer to shop local because you like shopping for gear in-person or supporting local businesses, then you’ll be better off heading to your local mom & pop music store, or Guitar Center.
FAQs
Is Musician’s Friend a Legit Website?
Yes, Musician’s Friend is a legit website. It’s one of the oldest online music retailers, and the company itself has existed since 1983. They have a long-standing relationship with all of the biggest brands, a giant distribution center and 10,000 employees.
Where Does Musician’s Friend Ship From?
Musician’s Friend ships from its 700,000-ft distribution center located in Kansas City, MO. It also has corporate offices in California, and call centers in Indianapolis and Salt Lake City. Musician’s Friend offers free standard ground shipping on most orders, and will ship most orders placed by noon on the same day.
Is Musician’s Friend Owned by Guitar Center?
Yes. Musician’s Friend became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guitar Center in 2000, merging two of the world’s largest music gear retailers. However, the two brands maintain separate distribution centers and websites. And unlike Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend does not operate any stores for in-person shopping, preferring to stick to the online model.
