Chicago Music Exchange
Chicago Music Exchange
Chicago Music Exchange

Chicago Music Exchange

For over 25 years we have been serving musicians, collectors and friends who want straight answers, expertise, and first-hand knowledge. The CME team are passionate, knowledgeable, gear expert musici…
About Chicago Music Exchange

For over 25 years we have been serving musicians, collectors and friends who want straight answers, expertise, and first-hand knowledge. The CME team are passionate, knowledgeable, gear expert musicians. We sell the products we love and play every day.

As a premiere authority on vintage, new, and used music equipment, our goal at Chicago Music Exchange is to give you the finest selection of guitars, amps, bass, effects, and drums & percussion in the world, with service that will blow you away.

Stop by our flagship store when you are in town to meet us in person and experience our extraordinary store first-hand.

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Shipping Policy


                                                                                                                                                                            We want all our customers to feel informed and have peace of mind when shopping with us. Please review the details below regarding tax, shipping, and customer service. If you have any other questions, please send us a message and we'll respond as quickly as possible.

*Listing does not include applicable sales tax. Please see our Tax section below for a list of states we are collecting and remitting sales tax in.

*Free 2-day delivery service is not available on orders with offers. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We will ship your order via FedEx, UPS, or USPS - we also use Surepost (https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/tracking-support/sp-definition.page)
*If you'd like to request a specific carrier, additional fees may apply. Please let us know before placing your order if you prefer a certain carrier, or need the item by a certain date. We're happy to suggest the best method based on your location.

We ship most orders placed before 2pm Central Time the SAME DAY once payment has been approved. Exceptions to this include guitars, amplifiers, and drum kits that require setups and inspections and additional packaging time. When placing a single order that includes multiple items, please note that processing time may be delayed 1-3 days if a transfer is required, as we aim to ship the items together if possible. Please contact us for a shipping timeline if needed, we're happy to provide that info for you!

All orders with 2-day delivery service will ship within one business day via FedEx or UPS. Saturday delivery is not included, but is available for an additional service charge in most areas. Please note, UPS does not operate on Sundays. We are normally unable to use a PO Box for a UPS shipment, so please provide an alternate address at checkout to ensure you receive your order as expected. Guitars and amplifiers are automatically shipped UPS with certain exceptions - smaller items will ship USPS or Surepost unless otherwise selected or requested (an extra charge may apply).

Our shipping team works closely with the CME Repair Shop and our vintage experts to inspect and pack every instrument with the utmost care. These folks know what it takes to keep an instrument protected. As musicians ourselves, we know how important it is that you receive your CME package in perfect condition. Your instrument will be shipped using the highest level of industry-standard packing materials, in every attempt to make sure it arrives in ready-to-play condition. We will notify you prior to shipping your instrument if additional steps need to be taken in the packing process.




Return Policy

New Items

Returnable within 30 days of delivery.

Used & Vintage Items

Returnable within 3 days of delivery.

General Terms

Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs unless the item was not received as described.

Special Conditions

Thank you for shopping with CME! We greatly appreciate your patience, as we work to fulfill orders as quickly as possible while practicing recommended safety guidelines.

FEDEX, USPS, & UPS SERVICE:
*Please Note: Transit delays may occur with your package(s), due to increased volume at carrier facilities - we thank you for your patience, as scans indicating status may be infrequent or absent. Please contact our Customer Service team with any questions, as we strive for your order to be received in a reasonable amount of time :)

USPS has suspended their service guarantee for First-Class Mail, as well as for Priority Mail 2 and 3 day delivery service. *Potentially, packages may be in transit an extra 4-7 days or so, with absent or infrequent scans. Please visit https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/ for more details.

UPS' service guarantee is suspended as of 3/26/20, and until further notice. This applies to shipments coming from any origin, to any destination. Delays will normally be posted in the tracking details for the shipment as soon as determined. *If you've chosen to upgrade shipping, charges are nonrefundable in the event of a delay. *UPS Saturday delivery is an extra charge - please let us know if you'd like to make this upgrade prior to your order shipping.

Please let us know if you have any questions - we're always happy to help!

LOCAL PICKUP:
Our storefront is open to the public, Tuesday-Saturday from 12PM-6PM (closed Sunday and Monday). If you'd like to request local pickup (only available at our store), you'll be able to make this selection at checkout. We'll let you know when it's ready to pick up, via the Reverb messaging platform.

*Not all items are located at the shop and ready to pick up right away, as it may need to be transferred from our offsite warehouse,. This may take an extra day. We'll contact you via message here on Reverb when it's officially ready, but can also contact you via phone if you'd like - just let us know! When you arrive, please have your order number handy when you check in at the front counter, and one of our employees will happily assist you :)

INSURANCE:
Your package(s) is fully insured if found to be lost in transit, damaged, or defective upon receipt. A replacement or full refund will be provided. If needed, our team will file a claim for lost or damaged items, and will keep you informed. Please note, in most cases, an investigation must be completed by the carrier before a refund or replacement is provided.

Please be sure to make advance arrangements for the safety of your package(s) prior to, or upon delivery. Orders valued above $700 will automatically ship signature required. If you are concerned about the security of the delivery location, we advise requesting signature required if not applied, or using UPS MyChoice / USPS Informed Delivery to make any changes or requests for delivery. Be advised, not all orders can be replaced or refunded in the event of theft.

*Be aware that if the tracking status indicates that the driver completed delivery, and obtained a signature, the package might have been signed for by a neighbor or another resident at your location. Sometimes when a package is marked as delivered, it may not actually arrive to you for another 12-24 hours.

*If that is not the case, we advise waiting 36 hours from stated delivery before filing an investigation, or moving forward with another solution. Please let us know if any of these situations should happen to you, and we will facilitate resolution as quickly as possible.


CANCELLATIONS:
In the event you would like to cancel the order, please contact us as soon as possible. Cancellations, address changes, or shipping upgrades may not be able to occur if an order has been fully processed by our shipping department, and are subject to a fee if already in transit.

Orders are shipped via UPS or USPS, and tracking will become available once a shipping label is created. Please let us know if you'd like your order shipped Fedex before checking out - this service may have an extra fee.

ADDRESS CHANGES:
Please ensure you are entering the preferred shipping address at checkout. In the event an address correction includes a zip code change, the order must be cancelled and re-placed for sales tax reasons. Please let us know immediately if your order requires an address change.

*If you need your package rerouted, or marked returned to sender while it is in transit, please contact our Customer Service team for assistance. Only a UPS package would be eligible, and a fee may apply.

RETURNS:
Most new items may be returned within 30 days of delivery and most vintage & used items may be returned within 3 days of delivery for a refund, or may be exchanged. We simply ask that items are returned in their original condition and include any packaging and contents.

*PLEASE NOTE:
If your item was sent with Free Shipping (including Free Two-Day), the outbound rate will be deducted from your refund. This would not apply to items that are defective or damaged upon receipt, or there is an error on CME or the manufacturer's part. Restocking fees do not normally apply, less the product is returned with flaws, damage, or missing packaging/parts.

*A return label may be purchased or provided through CME. Please contact our Customer Service team to assist :)

Please contact the sales rep who assisted you, or our Customer Service team, when deciding to make a return. You can submit a refund request here in Reverb with details, or reach out to us via message. We'll get back to you as quickly as possible with easy instructions on how to get your product back to us safely and efficiently.

*Please ensure that the item is packed safely for the return shipment with the customer return authorization (CRMA) number clearly written on the box. Buyers are responsible for all return shipping costs, less the product is defective, damaged in transit, or otherwise not as described.

*Some products are not returnable due to the consumable nature of the product, copyright reasons, or sanitary reasons. Some of the items include, but not limited to: guitar & bass strings, amplifier tubes, previously installed instrument pickups or speakers, drum heads, drum sticks, cleaning products, software, books, microphones, harmonicas, earplugs, earbuds, headphones, as well as any other products designed to come in contact with the mouth or ears.

For logistical reasons we are unable to offer returns on any transaction involving a trade, both in store and online.

FINANCING AND RETURNS:
Please let us know if you've used Affirm financing to complete the purchase, if you opt to make a return. A return label may be purchased or provided through CME.

*Please let us know if you've used Affirm financing to complete the purchase, if you opt to make a return. A return label may be purchased or provided by CME, so we can refund the transaction in full.

REFUNDS:
We strive to process all refunds within 48 hours of the return been received at our location. Credit card refunds typically take 1-4 business days to post to your account, but could vary based upon your bank's processing times.

If your item was sent with Free Shipping (including Free Two-Day), the outbound rate will be deducted from your refund. This would not apply to items that are defective or damaged upon receipt, or there is an error on CME or the manufacturer's part. Restocking fees do not normally apply, less the product is returned with flaws, damage, or missing packaging/parts.

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS:
Our international shipping rates should reflect on the item listing. Feel free to message us directly for shipping quotes on specific items or with any questions. Please note, international shipments may take extra time and are subject to delays.  

All shipping rates are for actual transportation charges and do not include VAT, import taxes, or brokerage fees, which vary from country to country. We recommend planning for those fees in advance.

Most of our preset shipping rates are for USPS International Service. USPS is typically less expensive than UPS, but their international tracking system is not as accurate. Tracking updates are often infrequent.

*Be advised, international packages  shipped USPS are often in transit a number of weeks, and can be subject to delays. If you'd like to upgrade your shipping, please let us know before placing your order.  

USPS has also temporarily suspended acceptance and delivery of international mail items to several countries. Please reference this list if you are shopping with us from abroad: https://www.usps.com/international/mail-shipping-services.htm#readmore

We ship guitars via UPS Worldwide Expedited unless you request a different service. Arrival times may vary from country to country. Some large items such as bass guitars, drum kits, amplifiers, and speaker cabinets may not be eligible for shipping via USPS due to size limitations. Some brands cannot be shipped internationally due to manufacturer restrictions. Feel free to message or call us with any questions.

If you order contains Brazilian Rosewood, or any other CITES restricted woods, your shipment might be delayed due to Customs processing standards that CME is subject to as the shipper. All orders requiring CITES documentation must ship to the buyer's residential address. If your country requires CITES import permits, please work with your local Customs agency to obtain these permits prior to shipment.

We are unable to ship to Russia due to the current trade sanctions.

If you have any questions, we’re always here for you. Feel free to message us or give us a call at 773-525-7773. Thank you!

Make sure to check the return policy on each individual listing as some items may be sold "As-Described" and not eligible for a return.

Tax Policies

RegionRate
Delaware, USCalculated at checkout
New Hampshire, USCalculated at checkout
Oregon, USCalculated at checkout
Alabama, US*Calculated at checkout
Alaska, US*Calculated at checkout
Arizona, US*Calculated at checkout
Arkansas, US*Calculated at checkout
California, US*Calculated at checkout
Colorado, US*Calculated at checkout
Connecticut, US*Calculated at checkout
District of Columbia, US*Calculated at checkout
Florida, US*Calculated at checkout
Georgia, US*Calculated at checkout
Hawaii, US*Calculated at checkout
Idaho, US*Calculated at checkout
Illinois, US*Calculated at checkout
Indiana, US*Calculated at checkout
Iowa, US*Calculated at checkout
Kansas, US*Calculated at checkout
Kentucky, US*Calculated at checkout
Louisiana, US*Calculated at checkout
Maine, US*Calculated at checkout
Maryland, US*Calculated at checkout
Massachusetts, US*Calculated at checkout
Michigan, US*Calculated at checkout
Minnesota, US*Calculated at checkout
Mississippi, US*Calculated at checkout
Missouri, US*Calculated at checkout
Nebraska, US*Calculated at checkout
Nevada, US*Calculated at checkout
New Jersey, US*Calculated at checkout
New Mexico, US*Calculated at checkout
New York, US*Calculated at checkout
North Carolina, US*Calculated at checkout
North Dakota, US*Calculated at checkout
Ohio, US*Calculated at checkout
Oklahoma, US*Calculated at checkout
Pennsylvania, US*Calculated at checkout
Puerto Rico, US*Calculated at checkout
Rhode Island, US*Calculated at checkout
South Carolina, US*Calculated at checkout
South Dakota, US*Calculated at checkout
Tennessee, US*Calculated at checkout
Texas, US*Calculated at checkout
Utah, US*Calculated at checkout
Vermont, US*Calculated at checkout
Virginia, US*Calculated at checkout
Washington, US*Calculated at checkout
West Virginia, US*Calculated at checkout
Wisconsin, US*Calculated at checkout
Wyoming, US*Calculated at checkout
*Marketplace Facilitator State. Reverb collects tax on the seller's behalf.Learn More

Reverb Gives

Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music.

Carbon-Offset Shipping

Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments.

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