Lafayette Music

Very poor customer service. Price quoted on the phone totally different from what they said at the store and they were not interested in making it right. Suggested I had called a store in Louisiana by the same name. Please… i think I know a Colorado area code when I see one! I had done my due diligence, calling several denver area stores about the cost of a short term rental. Was quoted two prices by Lafayette music depending on the level of instrument. I drove 15 miles out of my way because they were so reasonable. Besides not trying to work with me or come to some compromise they were exceedingly rude. I would drive out of my way to avoid this store.

I really want to like this store more. I think the selection is pretty good, but there is a aura of non-​friendly customer service.
I would recommend craigslist or other venues for finding a used instrument for a beginner. The payment plan is probably a good option if you were planning on spending the cost that the instruments sell for. Just be aware, that it is a payment plan and not a «rental service».
As much as I want to support a local business, the music store does not have a friendly vibe that encourages me to return. Personally, if given a choice, I prefer ordering music online. Their new location is definitely an improvement — much more spacious and not nearly as claustrophobic as their previous one.

This was such a cluster… where do I begin? I went to Lafayette Music to buy a violin for my daughter so she could begin lessons. Here is the cliff’s notes version of what happened:
1) They measured my daughter and sold us a violin. I had to fight in order to get them to let me just pay for the darn thing as they kept trying to sell me on their payment plans. Yeesh.
2) We get to lessons to find that the violin was completely the wrong size.
3) I take back the violin and exchange it for one in the correct size, having to go through the third degree from the older lady (owner?) who acted like it was MY fault that we were sold the wrong size violin. Super uncomfortable.
4) We get home and take out the violin — my daughter barely touches one string and it snaps. Not a big deal, just annoying since I’m not thrilled about having to go BACK to the store after my previous experiences. However, when I turned the violin over I saw that there was a crack running down the middle. Seriously.
5) Call the store and the associate on duty assures me that I can go in and they will refund me since at this point I’m done and have ordered a violin from a reputable online retailer.
6) Get to the store where the older lady openly accuses me of breaking the violin (literally — I greeted her and asked if her associate had explained the situation and her response was, «Oh, you mean the violin that YOU BROKE?!) and states that she has cameras in the store and she can show me that we looked at the violin and that it was obviously fine. I said I would love to see that, which just upset her even more. She also said she wouldn’t stand behind what the associate said earlier in the day because she can’t be responsible for everything that happens in her store. She then continued to keep me standing at the counter and give me the third degree about anything and everything while an older man was in the back, talking on the phone about this violin. They were speaking rudely about me while I’m standing lesson than ten feet away. Eventually (literally twenty minutes of this later) he gets off the phone and says to her that it was a humidity crack and could have been missed. Like a magic wand, suddenly she’s willing to refund me, except she keeps criticizing my decision to buy online and repeats over and over again that nothing that happened is their fault.
It was a painful experience from start to finish and I will do everything possible to never have to go back there.

We came in 3 minutes before closing, I called ahead and they had everything we needed.

I ordered a Peak music stand for iPad online, and received it. Wonderful product, and great customer service. There was a small problem with the box being damaged, but they corrected the problem and made it right. Things always can’t go perfectly, but when they don’t, excellent customer service and nice folks are really appreciated. I highly recommend Lafayette Music! I would shop there again! Best prices too!

The only thing this store has going for it is a huge selection of music books, otherwise I’d avoid it altogether. The white-​haired lady who I think is the wife of the owner is a titanic witch. I’ve witnessed her berating employees for made-​up problems, treating them poorly, and when I tried to rent an instrument there she practically called me out as a criminal and demanded a much larger deposit than was necessary. The instrument prices are the typically absurd overpriced «band instrument store» prices as well. You pay 3x as much as you would from a decent online music store and get treated poorly at the same time. Avoid this music store unless you need some printed music. Go elsewhere for anything else.

Saw a guitar on their website that I wanted. When I called, I was told that they didnt have any in stock. When I explained that I could order it from a number of online sites but I would prefer to spend my money locally, they reluctantly offered to order one, but they would have to wait until they «had a big order». Not very good customer service. I ordered it from an online site. I guess I’ll go back for smaller things, but the whole experience left me grumpy.

This store is really very nice. A little crowded but then they have a huge collection of music books. if they don’t have a book, they order it for you and make at least several reminder calls when the books come in. They are *slow* so don’t try to pick up books just before a lesson, plan ahead!
That said, they are the only book store in the area! The other one that our music teacher recommends is in Lakewood!