buying pianos off web??

[pianolover 88]

"pianoquest" is currently "auctioning" off pianos on Ebay.com. I am very 
suspicious of their business practices, and although they claim that their 
pianos have no "reserve", i have reason to believe that there is "shill" 
bidding going on, to drive the bid prices higher. I have no direct proof of 
this; it's a gut feeling, and I have made many purchases on ebay. As they 
say, buyer beware!

Terry Peterson
Associate Member PTG
Los Angeles, CA


>From: Robert Goodale <rrg@nevada.edu>
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: buying pianos off web??
>Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 15:42:36 -0700
>
>Hmmmm, this is interesting.  I came across a web page today that has me
>scratching my head.  There is a web sight that advertises buying pianos
>off the internet as easily as a mouse click.  All are advertised as used
>and they seem to emphasis Yamaha and Kawai because "the variability
>within pianos is extremely low".  If you look at one of the photographs
>very carefully you can see that there are two pedals, (i.e. gray
>market).  You can, however get what they call a "private label" piano
>for less, (what would seem to be any name other than Kawai or Yamaha).
>Grand pianos are said to start at $4,000.00.  There is no mention about
>condition other than cosmetics.  Oddly enough, it says that the bench is
>not included!!  This they say is because "Benches are like pants-one
>size does not fit all".
>
>The page is here:
>
>http://www.pianoquest.com/faq.html
>
>The company is located in Sacramento, CA.   The only warranty is that
>you have exactly three days to inspect it.  After that you have by
>default agreed to keep it unconditionally.  This of course is barely
>enough time to arrange for a technician to inspect it, (assuming that a
>credible tech is willing and able to schedule an appointment during that
>time).  So, is this what we are coming to?   Has anyone here had a
>client who has purchased a piano like this?
>
>Rob Goodale, RPT
>Las Vegas, NV
>

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