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aw Dara.. sorry if you had problems. It is VERY nice that you chose not be negative.. that's very noble.

Thank you apple*
It's just over 2 years now that I've been actively engaged in reading, researching, and more recently making contributions here on PW.
I am very grateful for the Piano World Forums and all who contribute here.

As Dr. Nohaua (whoever he/she is) said .... over and out.

Dara,

Thanks for supplying the details;

The second instance is a Criagslist classic. Use a non-existent Yamaha U vertical or C grand for bait (usually at a killer price), and then divert interest to your lesser-known alternative brand.

The first is weird. A Bechstein is strange bait, unless the bait was directed at a specific shopper or against a specific competitor who sold Bechstein in your market. I believe there was a Bechstein retailer in Vancouver until recently. Anyway, who knows? Obviously it's some sort of fishing expedition.

As sleazy as it is, it's probably time to get over it emotionally unless you're trying to out someone.

Chopin Gal - I am also in the Washington D.C. area and spent some time last year looking at used acoustic and digital grands on Craigslist. I also saw several very questionable ads with no names or wildly inaccurate ages of pianos. In the end I found the right piano for me on Craigslist but it took some time and some careful screening.

Best of luck to you in your search.

Dr. Nohau - can that even be a real name?

Oh, I'd say as real as Dr. Telburn, and Dr. Karen Telford and Mr. Al Haig. They MUST be real people, and I'd guess they all live at the same address too! Funny though, how they're all doctors except for poor Al and Jerry.

Al Haig was US Secretary of State in the early '80s, under Ronald Reagan. I seem to remember a "scandal" connected to his words, "I am in control here..."

I don't think he's buying and selling pianos.

And I imagine he shouldn't be living on the west coast of Canada either, unless that 'scandal' has caught up with him. Appropriate name then, in any case.

The bad chance on advertising newspapers and websites like craigslist is: you can eventually get into contact with the most lost and/or evil types of human beings. Because there are out a lot of people who have no work, have no money, eventually have no house nor flat, eventually are alcohol or drugs addicted, eventually live on the street but sometimes have some dimes to go to a phone shop where cheap online time is sold. Or simply act unethic (.. up to criminal by profession). Tell you on phone the nicest stories about the ever best villages (.."bohemian make" like we say in Germany..and no, I am no enemy to bohemian people.. )

I had a lot of gorgeous deals via advertising papers and online offers. For example - my concert grand was an online offer - ebay. I know a lot of people who think that I must be crazy to go out shopping after having seen something on the internet or ebay.. Yes they are right: I am foolish, own a concert grand. They don't. ... There is no need for heroism. But a need for due diligence. I would not go to look for a "cheap" Steinway grand on which I am told : you can see it only in downtown L.A. between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. (or Hamburg St Pauli red light district) If you carry the money needed with you immediately. If you come alone..

A fool - and his money - would too soon be separated...

PS BTW "Dr. Nohau" IMHO is phony: he knows how - maybe to deal with people - or to cheat them..

To echo what others here have said here, buying things on Craiglist is really a tossup.

We found our Kawai GS-40 via Craiglist and are extremely pleased with how the sale went. We are currently trying to sell our Baldwin Hamilton via Craiglist as well. As with anything on Craiglist, one has to be discerning and be willing to put up with the disappointment and frustration of casual inquiries and possible scammers.

We bought a vehicle and sold one this year on Craigslist. Yes there are scammers out there. But we were pleased at the end of the day.

Dan

Occasionally, you will see the piano dealers, who use CL a lot to advertise their pianos, flag each others ads and fuss with each other like in this ad…

Craigslist piano dealer feud

Sometimes it is almost as amusing and entertaining as the PW Forums.

Rick

Almost. Almost.

Two examples for cheap Steinway grands on Craigslist.. London/GB ..

1st 1917 made A-III maroon (I think it is mahogany, the asked-for long A version, out of production), two times on Craigslist, first for 1.999 british pounds, now for 2.300 …

http://london.craigslist.co.uk/msg/2001780055.html


2nd US-made B-211 built 1999 for 9.000 british pounds only..

http://london.craigslist.co.uk/msg/1982922037.html

What do you think? My son also needs a piano..

heh.. we have garage sale feuds in Kansas.. it's a neighborhood garage sale... it's not a neighborhood garage sale.. it's against the codes. ick

If I used the internet converter correctly that would be about 14000 USD for an 11 year old Steinway B. Makes no sense.

You're right. The price is much too good to be OK...

This is a fascinating topic. I had an interesting time checking out piano ads in the Toronto area recently. I posted an entry on my blog on the topic, and would love to hear more about experiences people have had in my little corner of Canada. Here's the link: http://thestar.blogs.com/soundmind/2010/10/crooked-instrument-merchants-mean-you-can-never-let-down-your-guard.html

This one is bizarre - a newish Baldwin SF10 for $13000? Phone number is for a nonlocal dealer - someone else trying to mess with them? Not listed on the dealer's website, of course...

http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/2011075857.html

similar ad, same pics here, in addition to a couple older ones -

http://ventura.craigslist.org/msg/2010000099.html

Same ad in Dallas, too:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/2011119023.html

I noticed it and was wondering where Tarzana is ... *

*just Googled and of course it's in California. Wonder why they're advertising in all these different places?