<HTML>In a message dated 3/4/02 6:49:46 PM Central Standard Time, piano@charlesneuman.net (Charles Neuman) writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Terry Farrell wrote: > OK, I'll shut up.... I hope you don't shut up on this subject. It bothers me to think that the piano industry has to be crooked in order to survive. I've heard horrible stories about some of these sales, where the customer is taken advantage of and lied to. I've been lied to in normal piano stores, and I accept that as just what goes on. That's sad. Saturn has shown that you can buy a car in a civilized manner these days. Why not hope for the same for the piano industry? </BLOCKQUOTE> I'm not sure what to think about these sales either.  I've had both good and bad experiences.  Baldwin started them in our area but now Steinway does them.  It's a complete reversal of what their policy used to be.  For sure, the pianos they bring in are ones that didn't sell for whatever reason elsewhere.   I think the biggest misconception is that these pianos will have been "professionally serviced" when they get into the home.  The dealer will not want to pay for anything but a cheap, quick tuning because the piano is "new" and "wouldn't need anything".  The school thinks it has already been done and the customer believes that the piano "came from the university (or college)", implying also a belief in high level service that has never been done at all. If you really want to see some negativity on this subject that makes Terry's pale in comparison, see this link: http://www.douglasspianos.com/scams.html This is a PTG Associate member in my area.  I won't comment on it at all, I'd rather think about other things. Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin <A HREF="http://www.billbremmer.com/">Click here: -=w w w . b i l l b r e m m e r . c o m =-</A> </HTML>