Schmitt Music Credit Card Surcharge Policy

Effective 12/12/25, Schmitt Music will apply a 2.5% surcharge on all credit card purchases totaling $10,000 or more. This policy allows us to continue offering competitive pricing while managing rising payment processing costs.

This surcharge applies only to credit card transactions and only when the order total meets or exceeds $10,000.

Why a Surcharge

Credit card processing fees increase significantly for large purchases. Implementing a surcharge on high-value credit card payments helps us:

• Maintain fair and transparent pricing
• Offset increased processing costs
• Continue offering exceptional products, services, and educational support

Customers always have the option to choose non-credit-card payment methods to avoid the surcharge.

When the Surcharge Applies

A 2.5% surcharge will be applied if ALL of the following are true:

1. The order total is $10,000 or more (before taxes & shipping), and
2. The transaction is paid via a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, etc.).

This may include:

• Instrument purchases
• Special and custom orders
• Multiple item orders that reach the threshold

The surcharge will be added to your order after purchase and an invoice might be sent for the additional amount if needed.

States Where a Credit Card Surcharge Cannot Be Applied

Due to local and state regulations, the following states do not permit credit card surcharges on purchases:

Effective at the time this policy was published.
Customers located in these states will not be charged the credit card surcharge, even if the transaction total exceeds $10,000:

• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Kansas
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New York
• Oregon
• Texas

If your billing address indicates one of these states, the surcharge will not be applied.
(This list is based on current state regulations; it may be updated if laws change.)

Payment Methods Not Subject to the Surcharge

You can avoid the surcharge by choosing any of these payment types for purchases of $10,000+:

• Debit cards
• ACH / bank transfers
• Checks
• Wire transfers
• Schmitt Music-issued gift cards or credit
• Purchase orders from approved institutions

If you have questions about alternative payment options, our team is happy to assist.

How the Surcharge Appears on Your Order

On qualifying transactions:

• The surcharge will be listed as a separate line item titled “Credit Card Surcharge (2.5%)”
  

For store or phone orders,

• The surcharge will be itemized on your invoice or receipt

Returns & Refunds

If you return an item purchased with a surcharge:

• The surcharge amount is refunded when your refund is issued
• Refunds will be processed to the original payment method used

If you exchanged an item and the final purchase still meets the threshold, the surcharge will remain applied.

Exceptions

The surcharge does not apply to:

• Purchases under $10,000
• Any non-credit-card payment
• Tax-exempt organizations paying by check or ACH
• Financing through approved financing partners (varies by program)

Still Have Questions?

Our team is here to help you navigate payment options for large purchases, school orders, and special projects.

Contact us anytime:

OnlineOrders@schmittmusic.com

Or visit any of our Schmitt Music locations.