<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> I got the impression she *did* know the model and serial numbers.  She said she didn't have them close at hand, and I think she knew I could figure out the age from the serial number and therefore did not want to give it to me.  She admitted to knowing the age but refused (kindly) to tell me. The ad said she had just had the piano tuned, so for all I know the tuner may have told her age doesn't make a difference, but if so I don't agree with him/her.  But certainly an important factor is the care it has been given over the years and definitely affects the value of the piano. Clyde MoodyPiano@AOL.COM wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>Dear Clyde, I would definitely think that age is a factor.  I would say its more likely for you to find a 4 year old, mint condition piano than a 20 year old, mint condition piano. But I am more confused as to how she can say that the piano is in mint condition without having the model, serial number, or age.  To make an accurate (not ignorant) assesment of condition, she would have needed to have it assessed by a technician.  If she did indeed have it assessed by a technician then she would have received the information on the model and serial number (and most likely age) in the process. As it sounds she is making an ignorant assesment of the condition of the piano. And while the piano may not have been outwardly abused and may look in mint condition, the possibility is there that the uninformed seller hasn't had her pristine piano tuned in 15 years because it hasn't "needed" it and sees no harm in having the piano rest against her baseboard heating, etc, etc. People are often calling us to sell their "mint" condition piano and very rarely do these "mint" pianos turn out to be the real thing. I definitely agree with you about not persuing a piano when someone wants to hide information. ~Lanie Moody Piano & Organ Marlborough, MA 01752 <a href="mailto:MoodyPiano@aol.com">MoodyPiano@aol.com</a> <a href="http://www.bushellcompanies.com">www.bushellcompanies.com</a></blockquote> </html>