<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4522.1800" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>All else being equal - No way would I recommend to someone that = they buy a piano on ebay. Now getting on to reality, people will do just that. So.........</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I should think the condition & value of a remote piano could be = ascertained by asking your local technician for a referral of a reliable = technician in the area of the piano. The remote tech could then inspect = the piano  and report as to its condition and value. One must be able = to ensure that the remote tech is reputable though.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The above evaluation should satisfy many potential piano = movers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For the better pianist - they MUST play the piano themselves - so = if they do the ebay thing, I would recommend that it include a trip to visit the = piano. Otherwise about the only thing they can be reasonably sure of is that = all the various parameters that determine whether someone likes a particular = piano is within the "normal/acceptable" range (if indeed that is what the remote = tech reports) - but it may not be to their particular liking.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV> <DIV> <SPAN id=__#Ath#SignaturePos__></SPAN> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=MoodyPiano@AOL.COM href="mailto:MoodyPiano@AOL.COM">MoodyPiano@AOL.COM</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, September 24, = 2001 5:15 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Are online "ebay" type = pianos a good idea?</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>As time = goes on I am getting more and more calls for piano moving for pianos that people = are bidding on via ebay and similar auction style sites. <BR><BR>n two = instances that I can remember, we have had negative experiences. <BR>In one = instance, a customer purchased a baby grand piano for $800.00 in NJ.  The = piano was supposedly in "showroom condition, only needing tuning."  We were = hired to move it from NJ to MA.  After delivery we referred the = customer to a technician for service who deemed the piano's repairs to be more than = the value of the piano. <BR><BR>In instance #2, a customer had called us = to purchase their piano.  Upon evaluation we found the piano to be unserviceable and explained this to the customer.  2 weeks later, = I received a call from a customer in Washington state that was looking = to purchase a piano on ebay from MA and was looking for advice and moving = costs.  Coincidentally it was the same piano.  Thankfully she ended = up not purchasing the piano but I still wonder if someone ever did. = <BR><BR>Does anyone have any feedback positive/negative on these types of = transactions?  My initial feeling for the everyday consumer is that there are = too many risks involved with purchasing a piano like this and the opportunity = isn't there too get it evaluated by a technician.  So my overall = recommendation to customers is "stay away from piano purchasing on ebay, etc." =  Does anyone have any other thoughts or recommendations that they give to = their customers? <BR><BR>Thanks,  Lanie <BR><B>_________________________________________________ <BR>Moody = Piano & Organ <BR></B>Metro West Plaza (rear) <BR>796 Boston Post Road East <BR>Marlborough, MA 01752 <BR><BR>Phone 508-877-2222 or 508-229-3601 = • Fax 508-303-8996 <BR><A = href="mailto:MoodyPiano@aol.com">MoodyPiano@aol.com</A> • <A = href="http://www.bushellcompanies.com">www.bushellcompanies.com</A> </FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>