In a message dated 5/25/99 4:54:43 AM !!!First Boot!!!, pianotoo@imap2.asu.edu writes: << Hi Wim: Yes Steinways do appreciate, but not on a straight line method. I bought my L for $3700 in 1952. I could not have sold it for $4000 the next year. It is now worth $12000 on the open market in its present condition. If I were to rebuild it completely, it would bring around $20000 in our area. If you do the math, you'll see that it's not 10% per year. However, it is still more than any other piano would appreciate. This is mostly inflation and is not worthy of investment purposes. Some salesmen will say anything it appears. Jim Coleman, Sr. >> Jim: Yes, salesmen do say anything to make a sale. But when the former president of the company makes that statement, it becomes more than just sales hype. You say your Steinway L will sell for $20,000 once it has been rebuilt. That's nice. But how much will cost you to get that job done? (presuming you don't do the work yourself). My speculation is around $15,000 to $18,000. So is it worth getting rebuilt? If it is worth $12,000 as is, why spend $15,000 to have it be worth $20,000? I think Steinway is promoting an untrue. I don't want to say they are lying, because that is too harsh. Steinways are great instruments, but to promote that they will increase in value, even to the tune of 1% per year, is misleading the consumers. Willem Blees RPT
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