<html> <body> Del et al., I wish this response were published in every magazine and newspaper across the country. That might give them something to think about. Greg Newell At 03:28 PM 6/6/2003, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>  <dl> <dd>----- Original Message ----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:mark.davidson@mindspring.com">Mark Davidson</a> <dd>To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</a> <dd>Sent: June 04, 2003 3:54 AM <dd>Subject: Re: heavy Steinway action <dd>Okay, let's give you guys some more information (no don't have 88 SWs yet, just a little history). <dd>  <dd>First, I am actually the customer, not a technician.  If I knew then what I know now would I buy this piano -- probably not.  <dd>So problem #1 is simply ignorance.  Probably true for most customers.  I, probably like most people (piano techs excluded), <dd>do not expect to have significant issues with such an instrument. <dd>  <dd>Keep in mind that Steinway pianos are not bought from the factory, they are bought from dealers.  Some dealers are better than others.  <dd>I had a choice of three L's locally, none of which were prepped (we're talking ZERO prep aside from tuning).  One could not be played because it <dd>still had the packing material in the keyboard (they took it out while I was in the store).  Shocked? Welcome to reality. </dl>  Mark, et al.,   No. I'm not at all shocked. This is, sadly, the status quo for many piano dealers. The phenomena is not at all restricted to the sellers of Steinway pianos.   And this is why I recommend that the prospective purchaser arrange to play any piano he/she is planning to spend a goodly part of his/her life with for at least an hour or two in the dealers facility before handing over any money. The piano should be tuned and voiced. At least generally. It may need a bit more voicing after delivery but the voice should be smooth, even and generally in the ballpark. The action should be in good working condition and fully and finally regulated. Again, it may need some touch-up regulation after being played for a few months but the action 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 perform to an acceptable level in the showroom how are we to have any 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 for something outside of the norm. The dealer should not be expected to modify the piano prior to any sale.   Nor should one expect the sam= e level of in-store prepwork on the "Weekend Special Grand Piano Sale! Prices Starting At Just $4,995! Get The Brand New Heirloom Quality Grand of Your Dreams Today! Free Tuning and Delivery!" But surely expecting a $30,000 to $100,000+ piano to be in proper tune and voice and with a properly regulated and balanced action should not be too much to ask. These are, after all, supposed to be musical instruments.   And the wheeler-dealer who ha= s wrangled every last dime of profit out of the deal should not expect the same level of service as the buyer who is willing to pay a reasonable price to the dealer in exchange for a reasonable level of service.   Yes, I know. It would also help if the dealer didn't grossly inflate the marked prices to confuse everyone who walked in the door. But one problem at a time. Many technicians, if consulted, can offer advice on what any 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 customers. And it is the level of service every purchaser of a high-end piano should be insisting on before purchasing something as personal and expensive as a Steinway (or whatever) grand piano.   Let's face it, both the manufacturer and the dealer stand to make a considerable profit from this exchange. They should be expected to perform at least this minimal level of pre-sale service. If the dealer is unable or unwilling to provide this service to the prospective customer prior to the sale, why on earth should we expect them to provide it after the check has cleared the bank?   Many dealers may well balk at this. But if enough piano buyers end up going elsewhere, who knows, perhaps even the most reluctant of them will get the picture.   Del --- Checked by AVG anti-virus system (<a href="http://www.grisoft.com/"= eudora="autourl">http://www.grisoft.com</a>). Version: 6.0.486 / Virus Database: 284 - Release Date: 5/29/2003</blockquote> <x-sigsep></x-sigsep> Greg Newell Greg's piano Forté <a href="mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net"= eudora="autourl">mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net</a></body> </html>