I'm shopping for a clarinet. I looked on e-bay, but I have no clue what I'm looking for!!! Help. Any advice from you woodwind experts would be appreciated. It is for a middle schooler. Our old one broke, and we don't want to make that mistake again.

I've been playing clarinet for four years. I ordered mine directly from Duncan music company. If you do buy one from e-bay, make sure it is from a big music company, like Duncan. Also, if it is used, it might have small damage that you wouldn't even notice if you didn't look at it very carefully. It is better to buy a new one than to buy one that someone has had in their junk room for ten years.

We got our clarinet on a rent to own basis from the music store. It is more expensive, but small repairs are taken care of for free, plus a yearly check up and cleaning. We chose a used intrument. When the first clarinet was found to be faulty, they switched to another with no penalty, and when my son decided that he was serious enough about band to continue on past the mandatory one year, we were able to upgrade to a better model and apply money already paid towards the new instrument.
We are happy enough with this arrangement that we are buying our daughter's flute in the same way.

We did exactly the same thing, Agony, and it certainly saves a lot of problems if the student decides it isn't for her. My daughter even left her rented one on the bus, and the company gave us another. I think rent to buy is much the best way with most instruments.

Having played clarinet in my youth I also once rented one to see if I wanted to take it up again. After three months I decided not to and was able to hand it back again.

When buying, I'd say that the mouthpiece is all important. It might be best to upgrade the one it comes with, or perhaps buy it separately. Some are definitely easier to get a good note out of than others.

Also try various thicknesses of reed. If it's too thin it will tend to squawk. If it's too thick more puff is needed to get a note out, especially in the upper register. Good cheek and mouth muscles will need to be developed to stop the air from coming out around the side of the mouthpiece (your face tends to look a bit like this to start with).

I expect you might already know some of this since you've had a clarinet before. It's just memories from my clarinet and saxophone playing era.