Terms of sale

Effective November 4, 2026.

1. Who you are buying from. These Terms govern every instrument sold by Belforti Instruments LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, 10840 Northland Dr, Big Rapids, MI 49307 ("Belforti", "we"). Placing an order or paying a deposit means you accept these Terms, our Limited Warranty, Refund Policy and Shipping Policy. We build and sell instruments. We do not offer repair services.

2. Prices and taxes. Prices are in US dollars. They do not include shipping, insurance or taxes. We charge sales tax where the law requires it, including on deliveries in Michigan. For deliveries outside the United States, import duties and taxes are yours to pay (see Shipping Policy). The price on your accepted estimate, or at checkout, is the price you pay.

3. Custom orders

3.1 Estimate. After our consultation we send a written estimate: specifications, price and an estimated ship window. It is valid for 30 days.

3.2 Deposit. Your order is confirmed when your deposit of 30% of the estimate total clears. We select tonewood, order parts and reserve your build slot only after that. Wood shown to you before the deposit may be sold to someone else.

3.3 Why the deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel for your own reasons, we keep the deposit as liquidated damages. It covers costs that are hard to measure and do not come back: consultation and design time, wood and parts bought for your build, and a build slot we can no longer fill. Anything you paid beyond the deposit is refunded.

3.4 Changes. You can change specifications until 14 days before production starts. Later changes may change the price and the ship window; we confirm both in writing before going ahead.

3.5 Ship window and delays. The ship window in your estimate is our shipping commitment. If we cannot ship within it, we email you before it ends with a revised date and your choice: accept the delay, or cancel for a full refund of everything you paid, deposit included. If the revised date is more than 30 days after the original window, or we cannot give a date, your order is cancelled and refunded in full unless you agree to the delay or we ship within 30 days of the original window. You can cancel by replying to our email. Refunds go out within 7 working days.

3.6 Balance. The balance, shipping and any tax are due before the instrument ships. We send photos and a payment request when it is finished.

4. Stock instruments. Instruments listed as in stock ship within the time stated on the product page, or within 30 days if no time is stated. Payment is due at checkout.

5. What "custom" means. We build to the agreed specifications and stand behind the workmanship. Tone and feel are subjective. A difference between the sound you imagined and the sound you got is not a defect.

6. Warranty. Instruments come with our 5-Year Limited Warranty, which forms part of these Terms. Nothing in these Terms reduces your rights under it.

7. Limitation of liability. Our total liability for any claim about an instrument is limited to the price you paid for it. We are not liable for incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation may not apply to you. Nothing here limits liability that the law does not allow us to limit.

8. Photos. We may photograph your instrument during and after the build for our portfolio and social media. We never publish your name without consent. Tell us in writing when you order if you object.

9. Events beyond our control. We are not liable for delays caused by events we cannot reasonably control, such as carrier failures, customs holds, natural disasters or supply shortages. Your right to cancel under 3.5 still applies.

10. Governing law and disputes. Michigan law governs these Terms. Contact us first; most problems are solved by email. If not, the state and federal courts serving Mecosta County, Michigan have jurisdiction, except where the law lets you sue in your home court. If you live outside the United States, nothing in these Terms removes consumer protections that your country's law says cannot be waived.

11. Changes. The Terms in force on the day you place your order or pay your deposit apply to that order.