<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Yes, it is an interesting piece but the author does make some broadly sweeping generalizations based on a relatively limited exposure to a few piano stores in a limited geographical area—Shanghai. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Although he does accurately characterize one part of the piano market found in today’s China—I have also encountered piano stores like these in China—it is unfair to assume that this describes all of the modern, constantly evolving Chinese piano market. It should also be noted that there are still a few piano dealerships in the U.S. that are not far removed from these. Not as many today as, say, thirty years ago but there are still a few around. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>I have also encountered excellently managed piano stores in China. Most recently--two weeks ago—I visited a store called “Philharmonic Sound” in Zhengzhou (in the Henan province in central China) where I found a wide selection of some fifty to sixty mostly Chinese-built pianos all nicely displayed and all well regulated, tuned and nicely voiced. Along with several nice practice rooms, Philharmonic Sound has a separate recital hall seating around 200 where regular performances featuring local and visiting musicians are presented. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>I agree that piano retail practices generally lags behind those of the U.S. and/or Europe in many Chinese cities but, just as it was in the U.S. market of thirty to forty years back, they are shaking themselves out rapidly. The worst of the manufacturers, along with the worst of the dealers, are rapidly falling by the wayside. Those that are surviving are the ones that are figuring out how to make themselves more competitive by improving both their presentation and their product offerings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>ddf<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>Delwin D Fandrich</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#632423'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>Piano Design & Fabrication</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#632423'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#632423'>6939 Foothill Court SW, </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#632423'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com"><span style='color:blue'>del@fandrichpiano.com </span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>— </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'><a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com"><span style='color:blue'>ddfandrich@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Rob & Helen Goodale<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 03, 2012 11:13 AM<br><b>To:</b> pianotech@ptg.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [pianotech] Piano stores in China - an interesting perspective<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>I came across an interesting article on one persons experience visiting numerous piano stores in China.  It is a very interesting observation and illustrates the huge difference in retail philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>See link:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="http://theinnocentlam.wordpress.com/tag/mason-hamlin/" title="http://theinnocentlam.wordpress.com/tag/mason-hamlin/">http://theinnocentlam.wordpress.com/tag/mason-hamlin/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Rob Goodale, PRT<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Las Vegas, NV<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></body></html>