Yamaha "Gray Market"

[Nichols]

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At 09:17 PM 1/4/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>"Grey Market" actually applies to instruments (or other goods) that are 
>sold illegally, by non-authorized vendors."
>
>Illegally? I used to own a "grey market" Mercedes that was originally 
>bought in Germany, and after a year was legally brought over to the US.

Terry,
    Don't think it's really worth a lot of discussion, as it is just 
semantics, or nomenclature, or whatever. But, from your statement above, 
I'd have to say your car was not "Grey Market" at all. Just used.(*) My 
understanding of the term goes way back, and if applied to your car, would 
have meant that the car was purchased new from a person or dealer that was 
not authorized to sell the car, at least in your territory. As opposed to 
"Black Market", where the goods are likely stolen. Once the car is "used", 
the term doesn't apply. But, again, each to his own. Call it (your car), or 
them(the pianos) whatever you want. I think everyone has a good idea what 
is meant when we use it on pianos. Used. Imported. There are "authorized" 
dealers that stock and sell both new and used (imported). I doubt that they 
would consider their sales of used imports as "Grey Market".

Best regards,
Guy

*note: there is an exception, I believe, in the works. it has to do with 
used Kabota mini-tractors from Japan. Manufacturers and dealers have 
invested the effort and money to get a ban on used imports. let's hope this 
never happens again, with pianos or anything else!
>  The local Mercedes dealer snubbed his nose and me and my "grey market" 
> Mercedes. I don't think the legality of the situation dictate the use of 
> the term "grey market". In the case of the car it did not have the 5 mph 
> bumpers, air pollution devices and it had a high-beam aiming device that 
> is not permitted on US automobiles - that basically made it a grey market 
> automobile. But I do believe the import was legal. I had a registration.

>  Surely Jeb would not condone anything illegal...

You mean, except election theft?

>. It's not as if I were smuggling clothes into the US without paying 
>duty.......
>
>Terry Farrell
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:nicho@zianet.com>Nichols
>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech
>Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 4:23 PM
>Subject: Re: Yamaha "Gray Market"
>
>At 05:36 AM 1/4/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>>Folks,
>>         I could use a little information.  I am in the Washington, D.C.,
>>area and have a set of customers that have purchased from the Yamaha or
>>Kawai used "Gray Market" and have been enjoying their pianos for many
>>years.  I notice no problems when I service them, and yet the recent
>>posts make them sound inferior.  What specifically am I missing about
>>the "seasoning" that is done for the North American market?
>>                 Norman Brickman
>Norman,
>
>    The other responses on this thread pretty much tell the story about 
> used imports. They can be, just like any other used piano, quite worn 
> out. They will be, like any import, a bit more susceptible to problems 
> from extreme dryness.
>    There is one rather "major" issue, though. With rare exception, these 
> pianos are NOT "Grey Market". That term is mis-used when applied to used 
> pianos from anywhere. "Grey Market" actually applies to instruments (or 
> other goods) that are sold illegally, by non-authorized vendors.
>While I'm not on a crusade to fix nomenclature, this is an area where I 
>feel like we should act like we're educated. It does rub against the 
>grain, but nowhere near as much as "New-que-ler" !   %^)
>
>Guy Nichols, RPT
>Ft. Stinkin' Desert, NM
>
>oh... and Norman.... check back to last... uh... July's Journal.... the 
>article titled "Black and White... or Grey?"

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