Buying With Confidence
Family owned and operated. I've been a professional musician for over 30 years and have been running this store since 2018. Here's how we generally handle the things people ask about most.
How do I know I'm buying from the real Terry Carter Music Store?
Our only official website is terrycartermusicstore.com. We've identified copycat sites impersonating our store — copying our photos, product descriptions, and name, often with prices that look too good to be true. These sites don't ship real products; their goal is to steal your card details and personal information. We will never ask you to complete a purchase anywhere else. If you're unsure whether a site, email, or ad is really us, call or text (858) 290-4277, or email support@terrycartermusicstore.com before you buy.
Do you charge extra to see photos of an instrument before I buy?
No. If we have the instrument in our warehouse, we're often able to take additional photos or video on request — reach out and we'll see what we can do.
Do I have to pay for help deciding between instruments?
No. If you want input from our team on which model fits you, that's normal customer service. Call, text, or email us and we'll help you compare options.
What if my instrument arrives damaged?
If it arrived with real transit damage, let us know within 24 hours with photos of the damage and packaging, and we'll take care of it.
Note for international orders: due to carrier and platform limitations, we're not able to issue return shipping labels outside the U.S., which can make resolving certain issues more limited than for domestic orders. We'll still work with you to find the best solution available.
What's your return policy?
Most new products can be returned within 30 days of shipping for a refund, exchange, or 110% store credit — no restocking fee. You're responsible for return shipping costs, including the cost of original shipping if it was free — full detail on that is in our Refund Policy.
Instruments with custom work performed — strap button installs, pickup installs, and similar — are not returnable, unless the instrument arrived damaged in transit. Setup and installation labor follows the same rule: it's not refundable once performed, because it's a service we've already delivered.
Who do I talk to if something goes wrong?
Call or text (858) 290-4277, or email support@terrycartermusicstore.com. We read every message ourselves.
What else do you offer beyond the store?
Terry Carter Music Store is part of a bigger ecosystem built around actually teaching people to play. Between Uke Like The Pros and Rock Like The Pros, we've produced years of courses, workshops, and free lessons, and we run live lessons every week. We post constantly across Uke Like The Pros, Rock Like The Pros, Terry Carter Music Store, and our house brand Vosta — new videos, blog posts, and real content, not just product listings. Our team works across San Diego, Arizona, Peru, LA, and Orange County to keep all of this running and to keep improving the experience for our customers.