Black Market Pianos

[Jeannie Grassi]

Both Yamaha and Kawai have a separate market for US pianos.  When a piano
destined for another market crosses over to a different one for a second
sale, it undercuts the market in that existing country.  I believe the same
problems occur in Europe as well.  

The American branch of Yamaha has taken a particularly hard stand by not
being willing to supply parts and service to these instruments.  

jeannie


Jeannie Grassi, RPT
Registered Piano Technician
Island Piano Service
Bainbridge Island, WA
206-842-3721
mailto:jcgrassi at earthlink.net

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Farrell
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 10:08 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Black Market Pianos

Tons of this is the archives. It has nothing to do with who is selling a 
used piano. It has to do with where the piano was originally sold when it 
was new. If the piano was sold in Japan when new, and now, some years later,

is being resold here in North America, it is considered a grey market piano.

This is certainly the case with Yamaha pianos. However, is this the case 
with Kawai? I had not heard that Kawai makes two different lines of pianos 
based on destination market. Anyone know?

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
> This sounds to me like a "grey market" piano.  As I understand it, people
> who are who are not authorized dealers buy quantities of used pianos, then
> hold a big sale, often at a university.  This practice is perfectly legal,
> and the pianos are most likely the genuine article.  However, since the
> seller is not an authorized dealer, the manufacturer will not honor the
> original warranty, nor will they provide replacement parts when necessary.
> I'm told Yamaha is especially strict, which makes sense to me, as they 
> must
> protect the legitimate dealers.
>
> --Paul Mulik
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> Can you tell me something about black market pianos?  There is a Kawai
> piano for sale by a church who was told it was a black market piano and
> Kawai would not do warranty service on-obviously.  I was wondering who
> manufactures them, do they just put a Kawai name on the piano? What kind
> of piano are they? To my knowlege I've never had any dealings with these
> before and am curious about the instruments.
>
> Joy!
>
> Elwood


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