<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2314.1000" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#b8b8b8> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net" title=joegarrett@earthlink.net>Joseph Garrett</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, March 07, 2001 = 8:14 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Grey Market = Pianos</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regarding the basic attitude. I think = the manufacturers are missing the point</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When I completely rebuild a fine old = instrument, my guarantee is: If it ceases to function, under normal use, I will = fix it again for FREE! I do not put time limits or any other limits on that guarantee! This means if my client moves to lower slobovia and his = piano ceases to function properly and there is a competant technician = available, I will pay that technician to fix it!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is my opinion, that if a = manufacturer makes a product, that manufacturer should not limit accessability to parts and = service. No Matter What! This whole Grey Market stuff is = BS!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Joe,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I must respectfully disagree with you on this one. = </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>First, I wish to acknowledge your fine ethical = position regarding standing behind your work. You set a very high standard in = that regard, one that I hope everyone aspires to. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Second, You are not fairly comparing situations: = In the example you give, most likely you are providing a service for a = customer dealing with an instrument manufactured in this country. By your very = words " a fine old instrument" you are implying that it was an appropriate = instrument for the market it was intended to serve in the first place. Your = re-build, re-furbishment whatever, only further enhances the original concept. = You are perfectly correct in guarantying your work...to a point. Would you = feel obligated to run right over to the customer's house that had only = partially sheltered the piano from the rain? What about paying the services of = an overseas tech who found out that the piano, now residing in the Sahara = with no air-conditioning, has a cracked soundboard and loose tuning pins. = Those are situations requiring a degree of judgment on your part, right? </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>As far as the case of the "gray market" piano = described by Yamaha, there is a legitimate concern over the suitability of those = pianos manufactured for what amounts to the Asian market. It's simply the = moisture content of the wood used for that market. When imported to the North = American area problems can occur. I've seen a bunch of them and condemned many. = Come on by one of the music stores here in Bellevue, WA on your way to the = Pacific Northwest Conference and I'll show you exactly what takes place. = Yamaha went to great expense to correct a situation regarding the importation of = pianos that were not particularly seasoned for our dryer climate. Based on = that expensive experience they created a piano line that was more = compatible to our dryer climate inside our homes in North America. That is the = product they wish to sell and support, not some product that is, percentage wise, = doomed to continuing failure. I do support their efforts in this matter. If I = need to put parts on one of those pianos, there are a number of alternatives = that are available as you well know. I always advise potential buyers and = current owners of these gray market pianos of the potential for early deterioration.Yamaha has said many times that they will gladly support = those pianos that were imported privately under different circumstances. = There may be problems with the pianos anyhow, but they will get some help from = one of the best manufacturers in the world. Flame suit on!</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Joseph = Alkana</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>