Anyone else think this is a rip-off (kid's band class) [View All]

[xmas74]

So, my kid will begin band in the fall. She's decided to play the trumpet. I have found a nice beginner trumpet, used, for a very reasonable price. I've checked it over and it works well. The person selling it is moving up to a more professional model. (I used to be a trumpet player so I have an idea of what to look for.)

The kid's school has since sent home a note stating that they personally need to "check over" all instruments that have not been purchased at a sponsored store. (There is only one on the list.) The store isn't even local-it's a smallish chain in the area. They also do not have sales-only rentals at about $40 a month. The trumpet I found used would be much cheaper. I would save money in a just a few short months.

Anyway, I spoke with a coworker about this and she said they ran across the same thing. Her stepdaughter played a different instrument in another school district and decided band wasn't for her. She sold them the instrument (which was only a year old) and their son took it with him to practice. His instrument was found to be "unreliable" and they were promptly informed that if they didn't sign a lease agreement within the week he'd no longer be allowed to play with the band. She said others have had similar complaints.

So, does this whole "rental" thing sound like a rip-off to anyone else here? Should I pass on buying the used model, in case the instructor doesn't pass it?