Instrument Trade-Up Program
Your instrument should grow with you. As students advance and musicians develop, their needs change — and the right next instrument can make all the difference.
When you purchase an instrument from Atelier, care for it properly, and are ready to take the next step, our Trade-Up Program is designed to make that progression easier, more personal, and more practical.
How to Begin Your Trade-Up
Every trade-up begins with a personal consultation. Because every fine stringed instrument is unique, the instrument must be evaluated in person by one of our luthiers before a trade-up allowance can be confirmed.
Walk-in evaluations are welcome during regular shop hours, subject to luthier availability. Trade-up evaluations are not conducted by mail or shipping.
Trade-Up Eligibility
Instruments Purchased from Atelier
The Atelier Trade-Up Program applies only to qualifying instruments originally purchased from Atelier for Fine Stringed Instruments.
Instruments purchased from another retailer, dealer, private seller, auction, online marketplace, or other source are not eligible for Atelier's Trade-Up Program. Atelier may separately consider such instruments for purchase or trade at its discretion.
A True Instrument Upgrade
Trade-up allowance is intended for players advancing into a higher-quality or higher-level instrument. Trade-up credit may not be applied toward bows, cases, strings, accessories, or other supplies.
Same Instrument Family
Trade-up allowance remains within the same instrument family. A violin may be traded toward another violin, a viola toward another viola, a cello toward another cello, and a bass toward another bass.
How Your Trade-Up Allowance Is Determined
We do not publish fixed trade-up percentages. Fine instruments are individual by nature, and a rigid formula would neither serve our customers nor accurately reflect the realities of the instrument market.
Your trade-up allowance is evaluated based on factors including:
- Original purchase price at Atelier
- Current condition and playability
- Reconditioning required to return the instrument to resale standard
- Current market demand for the instrument type and maker
- Overall resale value and marketability
Our luthiers will walk you through the evaluation and explain any factors affecting the trade-up allowance offered.
Condition & Reconditioning
Instruments returned in impeccable condition are the strongest candidates for the maximum available trade-up allowance.
If an instrument requires cleaning, strings, bridge or soundpost adjustment, seam repairs, peg work, or other service to restore it to acceptable resale condition, the cost of that work may be reflected in the trade-up allowance.
Extensive damage, significant cracks, excessive varnish wear, structural problems, or alterations affecting integrity, playability, authenticity, or resale value may significantly reduce the allowance or make an instrument ineligible.
Final trade-up allowance cannot be confirmed until the instrument has been inspected by an Atelier luthier.
Valuation Validity
A trade-up valuation is valid for 30 days from the date of evaluation. After 30 days, the instrument may require re-evaluation because its condition or market circumstances may have changed.
Growing Students & Fractional Size Exchanges
Growing into the next size does not always mean growing into a different level of instrument. As students grow, Atelier allows qualifying fractional-sized instruments to move forward into a larger size within the same instrument family.
The size progression does not need to be sequential. If appropriate, a student may move from a 1/4-size violin directly to a 3/4-size violin, for example.
The next instrument must represent forward progression — either a larger size or a higher-quality instrument. A trade-up or size exchange may not be used to move backward to a smaller-sized instrument.
When a customer moves to a larger-size instrument of substantially the same quality and level, Atelier treats the transaction as a fractional size exchange rather than a traditional quality-level trade-up.
The instrument being returned must meet Atelier’s applicable condition and eligibility requirements.
$65 Fractional Size-Exchange Fee
A $65 size-exchange fee applies to every fractional-size exchange. This fee covers inspection, cleaning, preparation, setup, adjustments, and related service necessary to prepare the next instrument.
If the student is also moving into a higher-quality or higher-level instrument, the applicable trade-up allowance will be determined under Atelier’s regular Trade-Up Program. The $65 fractional size-exchange fee still applies.
How the Trade-Up Allowance Is Applied
Atelier customers may receive up to 100% of the original instrument purchase price as a trade-up allowance toward a qualifying higher-level instrument, provided the instrument was originally purchased from Atelier and meets our condition and eligibility requirements.
- Trade-up allowance is applied directly to the purchase price of the new instrument at the time of sale.
- Credit from one instrument may not be divided among multiple purchases.
- Trade-up allowances from multiple instruments may not be combined toward one instrument.
- Trade-up allowance has no cash value.
- Trade-up allowance may not be refunded, transferred, or carried forward if the trade-up transaction is not completed.
Items Not Eligible for Trade-Up
- Bows, cases, and accessories
- Strings, rosin, and other consumable supplies
- Electric instruments and amplification equipment
- Instruments with significant structural damage or alterations affecting value or playability
- Instruments with missing, altered, or unverifiable identification or documentation where applicable
- Instruments whose prior repair or alteration materially affects their integrity or value
General Terms
- All trade-up evaluations and final approvals are at the sole discretion of Atelier for Fine Stringed Instruments.
- Atelier reserves the right to decline a trade-up based on condition, marketability, authenticity, or other reasonable business considerations.
- Atelier may modify this policy from time to time. Changes apply upon posting and do not retroactively alter trade-up transactions already in process.
- By initiating a trade-up, the customer represents that they are the lawful owner of the instrument and that it is free from liens, financing obligations, or ownership disputes.
Ready for Your Next Instrument?
Bring your instrument to Atelier and let our luthiers help you evaluate where you are today — and find the instrument that can take you where you're going next.
Begin a Trade-Up Inquiry
