Yes, that's why the U.S. car industry is failing. Because dealers won't quote prices over the phone. And if you believe that I've got some global warming, oops, I mean 'climate change' to sell you....

No, it's because almost across the board they aren't giving consumers what they need or want or (able to be) doing as good of a job let alone a better job than well-run companies from other countries. The US car companies did great as long as they were the only game in town and their competitors were bombed to smithereens. Actually, the decimation of a good part of the American piano manufacturing industry might be seen as a harbinger for what is happening today to the American car industry.

Actually, I bought a car over the phone 2 years ago. I made my offer, he accepted and I picked up the car a couple of hours later.

Charles

We have a saying in Dutch "he hears the bell tolling but he doesn't know where the clapper hangs".


Journey, thanks for that!

Without getting caught up in this, I would like to point to Journey's use of the word 'dysfunction'. I believe it is the correct word. When you put all the elements of traditional piano retail together -- a dazzling and confusing array of models and model designations, territoriality, restrictions on price and even brand advertising, onerous flooring requirements, simplistic customer profiling, recycling of mid level marketing and distribution execs who failed elsewhere, -- and play that against the backdrop of the withdrawal of credit providers from floor financing, the declining general consumer interest in pianos, and the increased consumer awareness among the relatively few who are interested, the whole mess is dysfunctional. To me, it's not a question of malicious intent, just self-defeating incompetence and a failure to locate the clapper.

We consumers deserve at least as much of the blame for piano industry woes as sellers. Maybe more.

Basically we want something for nothing. Whenever possible. Not to mention, the impossible. We say we want to be quoted the same lowest price for a piano as everyone else. Regardless of whether they view a piano at a store or buy it direct from a Chinese manufacturer web site. But feel we're being cheated of negotiation if we do in fact get quoted the same price. And if we do go into a store, play their pianos, then try to buy from a cheaper web site or over the phone from someone else, we don't feel the least bit guilty. And expect to be guaranteed we'll get the same quality piano somehow. Tell me sweet lies. Might as well respond to one of those Nigerian e-mails and ask if they have any pianos.

I don't think I agree with the proposition that piano dealers need to become buyers agents. I seem to recall a seller here on PW trying just that with an Internet sales venture. Trying to represent buyers in the US in procuring pianos from Chinese manufacturers and/or distributors. I think he found that the best he could do was try and pass along the substantial risk. But the result was the same. Unhappy buyers and lost money.

Fact is that pianos are all unique. And if you buy sight unseen, you can't possibly know what you'll get. If you want to try the piano and be guaranteed you will get that piano, someone has to pay for the prep and the flooring. I think its a problem best solved by the manufacturers if they want to stay in the business. In partnership with the sellers doing the prep and flooring.

Howard