<HTML> <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 08:19:23 -0500 From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> Subject: Re: Symphony Piano Sale I guess most of where I was looking for a bit of input was what is the "association" between the 'local' orchestra and this famous company? Why do they choose to put out a letter with their name on it like this? Are they simply part of the marketing victims? Do they get a lot of money out of this deal? Did they sign some contract with the famous company when they bought their D and got a few bucks off it? Or do they just love those pianos and feel they are the best in the world? What IS the deal here? What IS this "association"? Terry Farrell </BLOCKQUOTE> Terry, I'm not absolutely certain how the particular "Symphony Sale" to which you refer was organized, but I'll bet that it is similar to the situation which many schools (including mine) have found advantageous.  The company (in our case a local store, in your case, Steenburgenhoffenschitzer) offers the institution the free use of several pianos (in our case a mixture of grands and uprights) for one year, in exchange for which the store (or above named manufacturer) is allowed to hold one of these high-powered sales events.  For us, that means that we do not have to include 8 pianos on our capital budget.  For the store it means that they get to use our building in which to hold their event. We are more than aware of the "gun-'em-down" nature of the sales tactics often used, and we will inform people who ask us about the nature of the relationship.  Yes, they bring in absolute junk in addition to a number of pretty good new instruments.  Yes, the junk sometimes sells, too--but I've seen some of the same junk for several years in a row, so all is not lost! Do I like this arrangement?  No.  I feel as you do, that it is misleading at best.  But are pianos in the sale used at the institution?  Yes, the pianos that we were given the use of for a year are sold......and actually at less than retail price.  This is at least a "tip of the hat" towards honest representation.  But the fact is, that for the institution providing the venue for the sale, the benefits are to be found in the use of instruments that would otherwise have to be purchased. Regards, Stan Ryberg Barrington IL mailto:jstan40@aol.com</HTML>