Used strings are now of a value too!
Have you ever wondered what materials are used to produce strings?
Our strings are mainly produced from synthetic cores and a whole range of metals. We use high quality aluminium, stainless steel, brass, tungsten and pure silver as well as a variety of special alloys. The prices of these materials are skyrocketing these days. This is due to an increase in demand for industrial production but also due to limited supplies, which will one day be depleted the same way as the world’s oil supplies.
For example, silver cannot be replaced in the production of high quality strings. Each year hundreds of kilograms of silver end up in landfills and incinerators just because nobody considered recycling them. Once they cannot be used anymore for playing they are simply trashed by the musicians. Thus we, the musicians, contribute to a situation where we’ll have to pay more and more for high quality strings in the future.
Warchal has been on the market for a relatively short time, but we were the first to introduce the idea of recycling strings by founding Warchal Goes Green recycling program in 2012. It is definitely not an easy task. Strings are light and though they weigh just a few grams they consist of a number of different materials. It is rather difficult separating these materials and collecting them in a volume and degree of purity that would make recycling profitable. Nevertheless, we’ve decided to go forth with this idea.
Despite our reasonable assumption that recycling costs will exceed the profit generated, we still want to buy used strings from you. We believe that it is our duty to build the future of our planet in a responsible manner.
Customers in the European Union are currently the only ones who can participate in our recycling program. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to operate this service for our customers outside of the European Union due to increasing bureaucracy and extremely high customs clearance fees.
How can I get involved in the program?
Given shipping costs, it’s probably not in your greatest interest to send us each set of used strings separately. You can collect your Warchal strings, check their actual value and send them when you’ve accumulated an amount worth shipping. Thus, you will exchange your strings for credit on Warchalshop. We will give you credit for any Warchal strings regardless of when and where you purchased them.
This will give you a credit, which can be used for your next order. According to how much credit you have your strings will be cheaper or even free (in such a case you would pay for shipping only).
You need to register at Warchalshop to become part of the program. Please read these instructions before you send us your used Warchal strings.
