Buying a piano

[Greg Newell]

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Del et al.,

I wish this response were published in every magazine and newspaper across=
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the country. That might give them something to think about.

Greg Newell





At 03:28 PM 6/6/2003, you wrote:

>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:mark.davidson@mindspring.com>Mark Davidson
>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech
>Sent: June 04, 2003 3:54 AM
>Subject: Re: heavy Steinway action
>
>Okay, let's give you guys some more information (no don't have 88 SWs yet,=
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>just a little history).
>
>First, I am actually the customer, not a technician.  If I knew then what=
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>I know now would I buy this piano -- probably not.
>So problem #1 is simply ignorance.  Probably true for most customers.  I,=
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>probably like most people (piano techs excluded),
>do not expect to have significant issues with such an instrument.
>
>Keep in mind that Steinway pianos are not bought from the factory, they=20
>are bought from dealers.  Some dealers are better than others.
>I had a choice of three L's locally, none of which were prepped (we're=20
>talking ZERO prep aside from tuning).  One could not be played because it
>still had the packing material in the keyboard (they took it out while I=20
>was in the store).  Shocked? Welcome to reality.
>
>
>Mark, et al.,
>
>No. I'm not at all shocked. This is, sadly, the status quo for many piano=
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>dealers. The phenomena is not at all restricted to the sellers of Steinway=
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>pianos.
>
>And this is why I recommend that the prospective purchaser arrange to play=
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>any piano he/she is planning to spend a goodly part of his/her life with=20
>for at least an hour or two in the dealers facility before handing over=20
>any money. The piano should be tuned and voiced. At least generally. It=20
>may need a bit more voicing after delivery but the voice should be smooth,=
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>even and generally in the ballpark. The action should be in good working=20
>condition and fully and finally regulated. Again, it may need some=20
>touch-up regulation after being played for a few months but the action=20
>should be comfortable to the artist before the piano arrives in his/her=
 home.
>
>If the dealer and his technical staff cannot (or will not) make the piano=
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>perform to an acceptable level in the showroom how are we to have any=20
>confidence that he can do this once the piano is in our home?
>
>There are some obvious exceptions. One would be the customer who is asking=
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>for something outside of the norm. The dealer should not be expected to=20
>modify the piano prior to any sale.
>
>Nor should one expect the same level of in-store prepwork on the "Weekend=
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>Special Grand Piano Sale! Prices Starting At Just $4,995! Get The Brand=20
>New Heirloom Quality Grand of Your Dreams Today! Free Tuning and=20
>Delivery!" But surely expecting a $30,000 to $100,000+ piano to be in=20
>proper tune and voice and with a properly regulated and balanced action=20
>should not be too much to ask. These are, after all, supposed to be=20
>musical instruments.
>
>And the wheeler-dealer who has wrangled every last dime of profit out of=20
>the deal should not expect the same level of service as the buyer who is=20
>willing to pay a reasonable price to the dealer in exchange for a=20
>reasonable level of service.
>
>Yes, I know. It would also help if the dealer didn't grossly inflate the=20
>marked prices to confuse everyone who walked in the door. But one problem=
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>at a time. Many technicians, if consulted, can offer advice on what any=20
>given piano should cost and thus help the buyer wade through the B.S.
>
>All this is basic advice we all, as technicians, should be giving our=20
>customers. And it is the level of service every purchaser of a high-end=20
>piano should be insisting on before purchasing something as personal and=20
>expensive as a Steinway (or whatever) grand piano.
>
>Let's face it, both the manufacturer and the dealer stand to make a=20
>considerable profit from this exchange. They should be expected to perform=
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>at least this minimal level of pre-sale service. If the dealer is unable=20
>or unwilling to provide this service to the prospective customer prior to=
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>the sale, why on earth should we expect them to provide it after the check=
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>has cleared the bank?
>
>Many dealers may well balk at this. But if enough piano buyers end up=20
>going elsewhere, who knows, perhaps even the most reluctant of them will=20
>get the picture.
>
>Del
>
>---
>
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>Version: 6.0.486 / Virus Database: 284 - Release Date: 5/29/2003

Greg Newell
Greg's piano Fort=E9
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net=20

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