Grey Market

[John Ross]

Hi Tony,
Yamaha learned to manufacture pianos for the North American
market, differently.
Because pianos which came over here, in the 70's, frequently had
to be repinned, with larger tuning pins, under warranty. So they
determined that if they made them with wood that had a different
moisture content, that the problem was solved.
It was not only Japanese pianos that had this problem. European
pianos that came here had the same problem. They just couldn't
stand the extremes of high humidity, in the summer, and the
dryness of the winter.
So it is not just a sales pitch
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
piano.tech@ns.sympatico.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony G Caught <caute@bigpond.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 8:07 AM
Subject: Re: Grey Market


> Keith, Brian and List
>
> There is nothing worse than believing what you read in SALES
PROMOTION
> MATERIAL and saying that it is true.
>
> Keith, read between the lines, then tell me that
> 1. You do not have a climatic condition somewere in the USA
that is not the
> same as the Japanese climate ?
> 2. That because Yamaha makes pianos specifically for the
American climate
> (USA does cover Florida, Alaska and Nevada I hope) I take it
that what they
> are saying is Yamaha makes THREE pianos for the American
climate.
> 3. Why is it that all the other piano manufacturers don't make
pianos for
> different climates. Is a piano made in Europe only good in
Europe. Would you
> classify a Schimmell or a Bosendorfer or a Bechstein or or or
as being grey
> market pianos because they are not built for the American
climate ?
> 4. When Yamaha makes a statement like "THE PIANOS WE MAKE FOR
THE JAPANESE
> MARKET ARE INFERIOR TO THE EXPORT PIANOS"     Then I will
believe that pigs
> can fly.
> 5. This grey market piano rumor was more than likely started by
Yamaha USA
> or Yamaha AUSTRALIA or Yamaha whereever because the sale of
these "imported"
> pianos is affecting there sales.
>
> Brian and List
>
> These pianos are in most cases pianos from pratice rooms
throughout Japan.
> These practice rooms are used 24 hours per day, students book
time to play
> them. They are serviced regularly and climatic conditions are
maintained.
> They have just had a lot of use, and they are still good
pianos. Policy
> states that these pianos are to replaced on a planned basis.
> There are also a lot of privately owned pianos included in
those imported.
> The Japanese attitude is "if it is ten years old, it's old"
These pianos
> have not been maintained properly nor have they been stored in
the ideal
> climatic conditions so I guess you are going to get a mixed
bunch.
>
> But we are piano technicians, we should know what we see, say
what we can
> prove and not pass on rumor, inuendo and other BS we should
know better.
>
> Flame suit time but think before you answer.
>
> Tony Caught
> Australia
> caute@optusnet.com.au
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <kam544@flash.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 2:58 PM
> Subject: Re: Grey Market
>
>
> > >...I have always assumed that it applies  to an item that
bears the name
> > >of a certain manufacture, but has  actually been made (even
under
> license)
> > >elsewhere and is often a lower quality  and cheaper item...
> > > Brian Holden
> >
> > Brian, List,
> >
> > This is not the case.  When originally manufactured, these
particular
> > Yamahas being discussed were just not designed to be marketed
to certain
> > parts of the world.
> >
> > Here is one of their web sites with relevant info:
> > http://www.yamaha.com/ycaservice/group004/fgrop004.htm
> > click on - What About Purchasing A Used Yamaha Piano?
> >
> > Keith McGavern
> > Registered Piano Technician
> > Oklahoma Chapter 731
> > Piano Technicians Guild
> > USA
> >
> >
>
>