Yes, it is an interesting piece but the author does make some broadly sweeping generalizations based on a relatively limited exposure to a few piano stores in a limited geographical area-Shanghai. Although he does accurately characterize one part of the piano market found in today's China-I have also encountered piano stores like these in China-it is unfair to assume that this describes all of the modern, constantly evolving Chinese piano market. It should also be noted that there are still a few piano dealerships in the U.S. that are not far removed from these. Not as many today as, say, thirty years ago but there are still a few around. I have also encountered excellently managed piano stores in China. Most recently--two weeks ago-I visited a store called "Philharmonic Sound" in Zhengzhou (in the Henan province in central China) where I found a wide selection of some fifty to sixty mostly Chinese-built pianos all nicely displayed and all well regulated, tuned and nicely voiced. Along with several nice practice rooms, Philharmonic Sound has a separate recital hall seating around 200 where regular performances featuring local and visiting musicians are presented. I agree that piano retail practices generally lags behind those of the U.S. and/or Europe in many Chinese cities but, just as it was in the U.S. market of thirty to forty years back, they are shaking themselves out rapidly. The worst of the manufacturers, along with the worst of the dealers, are rapidly falling by the wayside. Those that are surviving are the ones that are figuring out how to make themselves more competitive by improving both their presentation and their product offerings. ddf Delwin D Fandrich Piano Design & Fabrication 6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA Phone 360.515.0119 - Cell 360.388.6525 <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com> del at fandrichpiano.com - <mailto:ddfandrich at gmail.com> ddfandrich at gmail.com From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Rob & Helen Goodale Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 11:13 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: [pianotech] Piano stores in China - an interesting perspective I came across an interesting article on one persons experience visiting numerous piano stores in China. It is a very interesting observation and illustrates the huge difference in retail philosophy. See link: http://theinnocentlam.wordpress.com/tag/mason-hamlin/ Rob Goodale, PRT Las Vegas, NV -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20120904/0ef596c0/attachment.htm>
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