---------------------- multipart/mixed attachment --=====================_5614171==.ALT Del et al., I wish this response were published in every magazine and newspaper across= =20 the country. That might give them something to think about. Greg Newell At 03:28 PM 6/6/2003, you wrote: > >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:mark.davidson@mindspring.com>Mark Davidson >To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech >Sent: June 04, 2003 3:54 AM >Subject: Re: heavy Steinway action > >Okay, let's give you guys some more information (no don't have 88 SWs yet,= =20 >just a little history). > >First, I am actually the customer, not a technician. If I knew then what= =20 >I know now would I buy this piano -- probably not. >So problem #1 is simply ignorance. Probably true for most customers. I,= =20 >probably like most people (piano techs excluded), >do not expect to have significant issues with such an instrument. > >Keep in mind that Steinway pianos are not bought from the factory, they=20 >are bought from dealers. Some dealers are better than others. >I had a choice of three L's locally, none of which were prepped (we're=20 >talking ZERO prep aside from tuning). One could not be played because it >still had the packing material in the keyboard (they took it out while I=20 >was in the store). Shocked? Welcome to reality. > > >Mark, et al., > >No. I'm not at all shocked. This is, sadly, the status quo for many piano= =20 >dealers. The phenomena is not at all restricted to the sellers of Steinway= =20 >pianos. > >And this is why I recommend that the prospective purchaser arrange to play= =20 >any piano he/she is planning to spend a goodly part of his/her life with=20 >for at least an hour or two in the dealers facility before handing over=20 >any money. The piano should be tuned and voiced. At least generally. It=20 >may need a bit more voicing after delivery but the voice should be smooth,= =20 >even and generally in the ballpark. The action should be in good working=20 >condition and fully and finally regulated. Again, it may need some=20 >touch-up regulation after being played for a few months but the action=20 >should be comfortable to the artist before the piano arrives in his/her= home. > >If the dealer and his technical staff cannot (or will not) make the piano= =20 >perform to an acceptable level in the showroom how are we to have any=20 >confidence that he can do this once the piano is in our home? > >There are some obvious exceptions. One would be the customer who is asking= =20 >for something outside of the norm. The dealer should not be expected to=20 >modify the piano prior to any sale. > >Nor should one expect the same level of in-store prepwork on the "Weekend= =20 >Special Grand Piano Sale! Prices Starting At Just $4,995! Get The Brand=20 >New Heirloom Quality Grand of Your Dreams Today! Free Tuning and=20 >Delivery!" But surely expecting a $30,000 to $100,000+ piano to be in=20 >proper tune and voice and with a properly regulated and balanced action=20 >should not be too much to ask. These are, after all, supposed to be=20 >musical instruments. > >And the wheeler-dealer who has wrangled every last dime of profit out of=20 >the deal should not expect the same level of service as the buyer who is=20 >willing to pay a reasonable price to the dealer in exchange for a=20 >reasonable level of service. > >Yes, I know. It would also help if the dealer didn't grossly inflate the=20 >marked prices to confuse everyone who walked in the door. But one problem= =20 >at a time. Many technicians, if consulted, can offer advice on what any=20 >given piano should cost and thus help the buyer wade through the B.S. > >All this is basic advice we all, as technicians, should be giving our=20 >customers. And it is the level of service every purchaser of a high-end=20 >piano should be insisting on before purchasing something as personal and=20 >expensive as a Steinway (or whatever) grand piano. > >Let's face it, both the manufacturer and the dealer stand to make a=20 >considerable profit from this exchange. They should be expected to perform= =20 >at least this minimal level of pre-sale service. If the dealer is unable=20 >or unwilling to provide this service to the prospective customer prior to= =20 >the sale, why on earth should we expect them to provide it after the check= =20 >has cleared the bank? > >Many dealers may well balk at this. But if enough piano buyers end up=20 >going elsewhere, who knows, perhaps even the most reluctant of them will=20 >get the picture. > >Del > >--- > >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). >Version: 6.0.486 / Virus Database: 284 - Release Date: 5/29/2003 Greg Newell Greg's piano Fort=E9 mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net=20 --=====================_5614171==.ALT An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/1d/3e/8b/b7/attachment.htm --=====================_5614171==.ALT-- ---------------------- multipart/mixed attachment --- Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.486 / Virus Database: 284 - Release Date: 5/29/2003 ---------------------- multipart/mixed attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC