All,
The associated press reported today that the Japanese Fair Trade
commission raided the sales agent of Steinway (Matsuo Musical
Instrument) because they suspect it blocked other people from
importing the pianos independantly.
They also reported that Steinway pianos easily sell in Japan for more
than 10 million yen ($117,000) but are up to 30 percent cheaper when
"Grey Marketed" separately. This makes sense given the current Yen /
Dollar ratio.
The Steinway sales agent is suspected of making it difficult for
owners of pianos not sold through them to get parts and maintenance
contracts.
Copywrite laws don't allow us to publish the report here, but I got it
from the AP business news section on Compuserve.
Don_Mannino@yca.ccmail.compuserve.com
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