One reason people buy pianos - especially expensive pianos - is because of the Status they believe owning the piano will convey. Steinway and Boesendorfer are the status instruments, Bechstein comes in third and Fazioli is rising. My Timex watch keeps pretty good time, but if the VP of the bank comes in wearing a Timex watch, he's sunk his career. I hope his "Rolex" keeps time! Status, and the belief that status or the trappings of status will bring happiness are very powerful drivers. Not without some truth within the world of status. One of my customers said "My daughter is beginning to understand that we are the kind of people who play Steinway pianos." By the way, the Overs piano was on its way to its new owner in the USA, so score one for technician's reality! Ed Sutton -----Original Message----- >From: Bob Hull <hullfam5 at yahoo.com> >Sent: Jul 2, 2006 5:46 PM >To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org> >Subject: RE: Rebuilder's Gallery Pianos > >Yes, we all know that Steinway is a name that sells. >However, it sells to people who can afford that kind >of price tag. That company has worked for 153 years >to position themselves at this place in the market. >They are often a wonderful instrument. But, that is >not to say that there are not other kinds with fine >potential. Do people just jump and buy at the name on >the fallboard or do they sit down and play and listen? > Have we led people to believe there is basically only >one choice? > >This is why it is not so obvious, at least to me. >Other brands can be rebuilt and even improved over the >originals as well. If it is a piano that a rebuilder >owns and is rebuilding it to sell then, they can >purchase that piano for less and sell it for less. >Then, the customer who cannot afford the higher price >tag can have a very fine piano. More people owning >good pianos - sounds like a good plan to me. > >Also, I would think that most of the time rebuilders >are building a customer's piano and not their own. >This piano is often not being rebuilt because it has a >market value significantly higher than the cost of the >rebuild, but rather because a) it is a family >heirloom (like the one I just finished doing) or, b) >the rebuild will yeild a better piano for the money >spent than purchasing a new piano would. > >I suppose this may frustrate the new piano sales folks >somewhat. Competition can be good between new and old >and between a variety of brands. > >Have a great week! >Bob Hull >--- pianolover 88 <pianolover88 at hotmail.com> wrote: > >> <<I would have thought the choice of rebuilding >> Steinways would be kinda >> obvious... they are easy to sell. >> >> >> >> "Easy to sell?" Try telling that to the sales staff >> at Field's pianos, for >> instance! Sales are pretty flat and not everybody >> has a >spare $50 grand >> lying around. High end products ALWAYS have a much >> smaller market niche; >> Yamaha, toyota, Mcdonalds....sell millions because >> of mass appeal and low >> price >> >> Terry Peterson >> >> >> >> ----Original Message Follows---- >> From: Ric Brekne <ricbrek at broadpark.no> >> Reply-To: ricbrek at broadpark.no, Pianotech List >> <pianotech at ptg.org> >> To: pianotech at ptg.org >> Subject: Rebuilder's Gallery Pianos >> Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2006 23:48:21 -0500 >> >> Hi Bob >> >> I would have thought the choice of rebuilding >> Steinways would be kinda >> obvious... they are easy to sell. >> >> >> Bob Hull >> >> >> > > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >http://mail.yahoo.com
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