Buying a handpan online without trying it: the checklist

Short answer: you can buy a handpan online without playing it first, as long as you check seven things before paying: the real sound note by note, who the seller is, a realistic price, the total lead time, who pays import duties, the returns policy and a protected payment method. Then make three checks on delivery day.

1. Hear the real sound, note by note

When you can't try an instrument in a shop, sound is the first thing to check, and the easiest to dress up. A polished video with reverb and background music tells you very little about the instrument you'll actually receive.

• Ask for a raw video: each note played on its own, no effects, phone set down about a metre away. A serious seller will happily send one.
• Listen to the sustain: a good note rings for several seconds and fades smoothly, without buzzing or wobbling.
• Check the scale: a name like D Kurd or Pygmy should come with an exact list of notes. A product page without the notes gives you nothing to compare.
• Play it yourself where you can: every Enixpan scale can be played in your browser with the Nixis sound tester, using real samples.

Still torn between two scales? Our guide on how to choose your first handpan helps you decide based on your level and how you'll play.

2. Make sure the seller is real

Handpan players regularly report fake online shops: orders paid, parcels never delivered, nobody answering emails. The same warning signs keep coming up: no address, no company number, photos lifted from other makers. Five checks take ten minutes:

1. Full company details: business name, postal address, company registration number. In the EU, the e-commerce directive requires online sellers to display this information.
2. Terms of sale that state lead times, shipping, returns and warranties, with the same figures as the product pages.
3. An email address that answers: ask a precise question before paying (real lead time, exact notes, return costs) and judge the reply.
4. The site's age and reputation: search for "site name + reviews" and check handpan forums. Be careful with a brand-new site that claims years of history.
5. Consistent photos: a reverse image search quickly shows whether they belong to another maker.

At Enixpan, our terms of sale set out lead time, shipping, withdrawal and warranties, and you can ask anything before ordering at contact@enixpan.com.

3. Be wary of a price that's too good

A new, hand-made and hand-tuned handpan usually costs between €1,200 and €2,500, according to the specialist buying guides we compared in our article on handpan prices. Two situations should stop you:

• a new handpan for a few hundred euros on a big marketplace: the tuning rarely holds and the steel is often of lower quality;
• a famous instrument at a bargain price ("original Hang for €800", "last one, 60% off"): the classic script of fraudulent listings, usually with payment upfront.

A high price proves nothing on its own either: it has to come with points 1 and 2. At Enixpan, prices run from €1,590 for the D Kurd 10-note handpan to €2,890 for the E Amara 20, with shipping, duties and taxes included.

4. Lead time, shipping and customs: get it in writing

Many handpans are made to order, and many travel a long way. Before paying, three answers should be written down:

• The total lead time, including making the instrument, not just "dispatch". "Ships within 24 hours" for a made-to-order instrument is a warning sign.
• Who pays import VAT and duties. With DDP delivery (delivered duty paid), the seller pays everything; otherwise the carrier may ask you for VAT, duties and a handling fee on delivery. The details are in the hidden costs section of our price guide.
• Tracking and insurance: an instrument worth this much should travel with a tracking number.

For an Enixpan handpan: about 30 days in total (around 15 days to make it and 15 days in transit), free DDP shipping with duties and taxes included, and a tracking number emailed when it ships.

5. Returns: your rights and their limits

In the European Union, an online purchase from a business can be cancelled within 14 days of delivery, without giving a reason. The official Your Europe portal points out two limits that matter for a handpan:

• return shipping is at your expense if the seller told you so before you bought. For a bulky instrument sent abroad, that adds up: ask for an estimate before ordering;
• made-to-measure or clearly personalised goods can be excluded from this right. Check the terms of sale to see whether the model you order is affected.

Outside the EU, and between private individuals, these rules don't apply: on the second-hand market, everything is decided before you pay. At Enixpan, catalogue models come with 14 days to withdraw from receipt, return shipping at the buyer's expense, in the original packaging; only personalised instruments are excluded (see our returns policy).

6. Pay in a way that protects you

• Card or PayPal: if the parcel never arrives, you can dispute the payment with your bank or open a PayPal claim. With a seller you don't know, that's your best protection.
• Bank transfer: once sent, it is almost never recovered. Keep it for a seller whose identity you have checked (point 2), never for a stranger met on social media.
• Money transfer services, crypto, gift cards: say no. That's the signature of a scam.
• Pay in instalments: make sure a known provider runs it and look at the total cost.

On Enixpan you can pay by card, PayPal, Klarna or bank transfer; instalments are offered by Klarna and PayPal, subject to eligibility.

7. On delivery day: three checks

1. Inspect the parcel in front of the courier. If it is crushed or pierced, write precise reservations on the delivery note, or refuse it: once a parcel is accepted without reservations, transport damage is very hard to claim.
2. Play every note as soon as you unpack: no buzzing, no note that wobbles or dies too fast.
3. Measure the tuning with a tuner app: write down the note and the deviation of each tone field. That list becomes your reference; our guide to 440 Hz vs 432 Hz tuning explains how to read it.

Keep the original packaging for the whole withdrawal period: that's what an instrument is returned in. The table below sums up the checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Is it risky to buy a handpan without trying it?

Much less so if you hear the real sound note by note, check who the seller is and what their returns policy says, and pay by card or PayPal. The real danger is fake shops and bargain prices, not buying at a distance as such.

How can I spot a fake handpan website?

No company details (address, company registration number), prices far below the market, photos taken from other makers, payment by transfer or gift card only, and no precise answer by email. Also search the site's name followed by "reviews" or "scam".

Can I return a handpan bought online?

In the EU, yes: you have 14 days after delivery to withdraw from a purchase made from a business. Return shipping is usually at your expense, and made-to-measure instruments can be excluded. At Enixpan, catalogue models can be returned within 14 days, return shipping paid by the buyer.

Who pays customs when buying a handpan from abroad?

It depends on the shipping terms. With DDP, the seller pays duties and taxes before delivery. Otherwise you pay on delivery, often with a handling fee from the carrier. Enixpan ships DDP, duties and taxes included.

How long does it take to receive a handpan ordered online?

A few days for an instrument in stock at a nearby shop, several weeks for one made to order. An Enixpan handpan arrives in about 30 days: around 15 days to make it and 15 days in transit.

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