results of piano loan questions, CAUT

[A440A@aol.com]

Greetings list,

         It is great to have the resources that this forum provides,  I heard
a lot of different views on the loan programs that most of  the makers are
offering for schools.

       I thought I would offer a distillation of what the cyber bag filled up
with here at my computer.  It is, of course, not totally transparent, my own
bias is in there somewhere, but this is the way it looks to me;

        The school that is in possession of only worn out instruments can do
no better.  A loan program is the only way they can have good instruments,
and the down side, (see below).  is very much worth it.

        There are a lot of different plans, but one of the common aspects is
the holding of a  sale at the school, usually at graduation, and replacing
the pianos the next fall.  There were a lot of cautions about nailing down
the details, as the presence of a sales force in your music school can be
like unto elephants in your kitchen for a week or so.   I read numerous
examples of high pressure sales, switching pianos for designation purposes,
late replacement of sold units, deep discounts,  price offsets, etc.
         These are problems I would never have forseen, being more attuned to
   how much water I have in my glue,  than percentage points from some  magic
rotational interest rate super amortization floor plan.
           To go from worn out spinets and consoles, to big new uprights is a
tremendous improvement,  and well worth the additional tuning.  And there is
going to be  tuning, a lot of tuning.  This is one of the down-sides;  you
will only see instruments go through the break-in-pack-down, and not enjoy
stability.

          For a school that only has a few dogs, and would like to replace
them, there seems to be less initiative for the trappings of a sales
campaign.
         Several ventures seem to be whole hog affairs,  getting bids on
trade-in for 226 pianos in one school!!  Gee,  any old Steinway grands in
there?
       There were admonitions expressed about letting go of  rebuildable
instruments.  Keep them! I was told by many,  just put them on their sides
and keep them for the day the dealer stops the program,  you don't want to
suddenly  have a music school with no pianos!

Many thanks to all of you CAUTS that responded,  it gives me great artillery
to be able to walk into the deans office with the opinions of 10 or 15 techs
at other schools.  May we all keep this thing harmonious and productive,  it
is a valuable resource.

regards,
Ed Foote