Portland Music Company

I’m not sure if I went to the same store as the previous reviewers. I had to rent an instrument since my daughter decided to join band. I went here since it was the one recommended by the school. I was met with a friendly and knowledgable staff. He gave me all information I needed regarding price, rent to buy and instrument information. There was no hard sell and they have both new and used instruments for rent.
They do have a credit check and standard forms to fill out if you’re renting an instrument. He said if you purchase the instrument, you get full rental fee credit if you purchase within 6 months and 50% credit after. I appreciated that he could answer all my questions. I had to come back because the credit check guy wasn’t available but no biggie.
I looked around the store, it was very clean, well kept and the other customers in the store were getting equally helpful service. I would recommend this store to anyone who is looking to buy or rent an instrument.

Epitome of passionless, snobby sales people. They misquoted times of services provided and could care less about my experience as a customer. A worker there just decided to go home early and rudely talked me out of a sale process. No smiles from anyone. I’m not sure what their niche is and how they are still open because this location certainly does not deserve to be. Plenty of waaaay cooler music stores in this town. Skip this one if you can avoid it.

Wow all I can say is RUDE. I wouldn’t do business with these people if they paid me. Which is exactly what I was looking for, however, I will be taking my instrument somewhere else.
I have a flute that my dad bought years ago when I was in band. Since graduating it has just been in the case, I take it out from time to time and put it together to play a note or two. It is sentimental but not in a huge way. I recently thought, why don’t I sell it back to a music store so some other little girl or boy can enjoy it as much as I did. So, I contacted 4 or 5 businesses in Portland and Vancouver describing my story and asking what the flute might sell for. I received a few emails back and 3 of them basically said the same thing «Thank you for contacting us! We buy and restore flutes and would need to see yours to really let you know how much, we’d love for you to bring it in (et cetera et cetera)… have a nice day» and all that jazz.
One email, however, was not kind or considerate. In fact it, for the most part, was grammatically incorrect and plain rude. The manager of this store told me they sometimes buy instruments but right now wouldn’t be interested in a flute… (ok so he could’ve just stopped there right? Right. BUT he didn’t.) He then went on to tell me that because of my story (that I haven’t played it in years) it most likely has pad mites which he tells me are «kinda gross». As I read I just thought, are you for real?! IT GETS BETTER! (worse) the oh-​so-​unprofessional manager, Jason, then tells me if I want to I could still bring it in for them to take a look but a full restoration from my hypothetical pad mites would cost $ 300. Then he told me to «take care».
In one paragraph I felt like I went through a crappy break up.
First of all Jason, spell check and make sure your sentences actually make sense when you are sending emails representing your business. Second, if you aren’t interested in buying my instrument don’t tell me it probably is destroyed and to come in and spend more than its worth restoring it. Third, I wouldn’t send out an email about how I loved this instrument if I let the case rot and mites to accumulate. Finally, take care.

I had stopped by this place last month to check the prices of a couple of items that I was in need of. Just yesterday I happened to be by a couple other music shops, went in there and the items in question (a ¼″ cable and a portable stand) were twice the price! Needless to say, I made my way back to PMC. Ended up getting a 2^nd cable and an adapter. The receipt result being the same price as a single stand would have been at either of the two stores! (BTW, not some chintzy nickle stand either.)
Both times I have been in there, the clerks have been polite and conversational but not OVERLY helpful. I get freaked out when I can’t just browse in a store, especially since I’ve been a professional musician for over 15 years. (Or any store for that matter. G-​D– Chicken Hawks, if you ask me.)
I rarely patronize music stores because my primary instrument isn’t one that is catered to at a generic music store here in Portland (IE guitar/​uke store.) It was pleasant, though — and PMC said that they have a loyalty program and you apparently earn points for items that you purchase.
I’m a sucker for points.

Very poor customer service. Overpriced. Not worth it.

They had what I wanted… only place in the city for an Echo Harp C/​G harmonica!

Well, after bemoaning the Berkeley Unified School District & moving to PDX (for a variety of reasons), who knew the local school did not teach band? WTF?! Anyway, having 2 sons play music & wanting them to continue, I am forced to actually pay for private lessons & rent instruments. It’s all for the greater good, but somehow I figured this wouldn’t be an issue in Portland. Nevertheless, I was advised to check out Portland Music Company in order to rent a trumpet (this is particularly painful in the early learning phase) as well as a clarinet.
Despite a somewhat lengthy wait while my paperwork was being cleared, we had a great experience here. We had our choice of renting either new or used (tho’ the used is completely renovated & good to go). Very helpful & knowledgeable staff, air-​conditioned (which today made a huge difference), and overall terrific experience. I will be back to rent a clarinet or alto sax depending on what sort of teacher I can locate for our other son who wants to change instruments. It’s a great time to take care of this since once school begins things get a little chaotic & you will have less choice. I like doing business with this company. Now I just have to invest in some sound-​proofing while the trumpet lessons & practice commence…