Thanks, Dell. But if I open my mouth (fingers) here I'll SURELY get into trouble. But thanks again for saying what you did!!!!!!!!!!!! Avery At 12:28 PM 06/06/03 -0700, 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, just a little history). >> >>First, I am actually the customer, not a technician. If I knew then what >>I know now would I buy this piano -- probably not. >>So problem #1 is simply ignorance. Probably true for most customers. I, >>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 >>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 >>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 >>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 >>dealers. The phenomena is not at all restricted to the sellers of >>Steinway pianos. >> >>And this is why I recommend that the prospective purchaser arrange to >>play any piano he/she is planning to spend a goodly part of his/her life >>with for at least an hour or two in the dealers facility before handing >>over any money. The piano should be tuned and voiced. At least generally. >>It may need a bit more voicing after delivery but the voice should be >>smooth, even and generally in the ballpark. The action should be in good >>working condition and fully and finally regulated. Again, it may need >>some touch-up regulation after being played for a few months but the >>action 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 >>perform to an acceptable level in the showroom how are we to have any >>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 for something outside of the norm. The dealer should not be >>expected to modify the piano prior to any sale. >> >>Nor should one expect the same level of in-store prepwork on the "Weekend >>Special Grand Piano Sale! Prices Starting At Just $4,995! Get The Brand >>New Heirloom Quality Grand of Your Dreams Today! Free Tuning and >>Delivery!" But surely expecting a $30,000 to $100,000+ piano to be in >>proper tune and voice and with a properly regulated and balanced action >>should not be too much to ask. These are, after all, supposed to be >>musical instruments. >> >>And the wheeler-dealer who has wrangled every last dime of profit out of >>the deal should not expect the same level of service as the buyer who is >>willing to pay a reasonable price to the dealer in exchange for a >>reasonable level of service. >> >>Yes, I know. It would also help if the dealer didn't grossly inflate the >>marked prices to confuse everyone who walked in the door. But one problem >>at a time. Many technicians, if consulted, can offer advice on what any >>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 >>customers. And it is the level of service every purchaser of a high-end >>piano should be insisting on before purchasing something as personal and >>expensive as a Steinway (or whatever) grand piano. >> >>Let's face it, both the manufacturer and the dealer stand to make a >>considerable profit from this exchange. They should be expected to >>perform at least this minimal level of pre-sale service. If the dealer is >>unable or unwilling to provide this service to the prospective customer >>prior to the sale, why on earth should we expect them to provide it after >>the check has cleared the bank? >> >>Many dealers may well balk at this. But if enough piano buyers end up >>going elsewhere, who knows, perhaps even the most reluctant of them will >>get the picture. >> >>Del
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