Like Plowboy (Gary), I like to keep what I paid for my pianos to myself for various reasons. I would not want something I posted here regarding pricing to hurt any piano dealer, new or used.

I did mention what I paid for my infamous “Tokai” G180 grand, and what I sold it for 4 years later… (and it was in better shape when I sold it than when I bought it ).

Like I’ve said before, I’d never make it in the piano business…

Rick

The first rule of piano price club is: you do not talk about piano price club!!

I wouldn't say he was lying, he offered what was for him an incredible deal. However, for whatever reason the other dealer was willing to offer it for even less. The reasons may range from: financial need TO he hadn't put as much prep into it TO he'd just taken advantage of a NAMM Show special and had replaced the K3 you bought for much less than usual.

The protectionist pricing may be what keeps one store's doors open. You don't know. It's not necessary to be judgmental. One dealer offered a better deal than the other, no need to be angry. I understand your means were limited so you took the lower price, be happy! You got a great deal. Here's a suggestion skip around your new piano with glee three times, then go back to looking for a job (or practicing).

OK Steve, perhaps "lying" was a bit harsh -- let's just say he streched the truth a bit or got caught up in semantics People can charge what they want, but when you label someone a fraud because they happen to have done their homework and got a good price on a piano, and somehow you believe that's going to affect your own business which is thousands of miles away, let's just say it smacks of "sour grapes."

Well, off to skip around my Kawai K3 with glee three times! LOL Then back to looking for a job! Hmmmmmmm....piano sales???

Bought the RX3 Blak yesterday, it will be delivered on Thursday! Thank you for all of your comments and feedback.

I do not feel obligated to release the name of the dealer, as I have nothing to prove. He was very upfront and fair with me, and I don't want him to receive a barrage of calls complaining that he is undermining the industry by selling for the price he did. At no time did he ask me to keep the price or his name a secret, but I am choosing to do that out of respect for the way he dealt with me.

I will say that I am not in California. The dealer sells most of the new Kawais in my area (probably within a several hundred mile radius), and has contracts with many local churches and I believe at least one major university to provide pianos for them. He sells a lot of pianos each year, and this likely contributes to him being able to offer such a good price. He specifically mentioned the shipping on my piano was essentially free because it came with many others that were going to churches, etc. Additionally, the store he works at also sell many other instruments, sheet music, music furniture, offers lessons, etc, so it has more than one source of income. Maybe this allows him to take less of a profit on a piano to make a customer for life (me).

I apologize for the stir I caused and for not really knowing PF protocol. It sounds like posting the price of a new piano is somewhat taboo, although I only did what I had seen many others do in previous posts. I was just trying to be as informed as I could before making such a large purchase. It is difficult to find the price of new pianos online, and now I know to some extent why. It can cause headaches for those of you who are dealers.

Again, thanks to all. Hopefully I will be able to figure out how to post pictures once it arrives. At that point, if you still want to believe I am a dealer posting staged pictures, I guess that's your prerogative.

Awesome!!! Congratulations on a great piano! And yes, please do post pictures when it arrives at your home, as we love to see them, regardless of being accused dealer or fake or not (i don't think you are a fake ).

Congratulations on your new Kawai grand piano!!

And, there is no need to apologize for anything... you did nothing wrong; and like you said, many other members have posted prices they paid for a new or used piano.

However, the topic of prices, particularily on new pianos, does stir controversy on the forum... I suppose there is nothing wrong with stirring the pot a little now and then.

By all mean, post pictures when you can.

Rick

Well said!

Congratulations on a great piano at a great price! I for one appreciate you posting the price and the additional details as it's the only way many of us can become better educated on these things. Thanks again and I hope you continue posting here.

Best, Erik

Just by way of what might prove to be a footnote here: I noticed that no one mentioned (or if they did I missed it) the effect that fluctuating currency exchange rates can have on individual piano prices. There have been some wild swings lately, and how much a dealer needs to get for a piano in order to make a living can vary correspondingly.

Just a thought.

Dealers and salespros both tend to run a bit paranoid, looking over their shoulders, and a good number are just plumb lazy who'd rather deal with a wild cougar than an informed customer. The thing is, I doubt that they're any worse than the average customer, who seems like will say anything to get a better deal, lies and poor talks just as easily, and instead of putting the time in to understand what they want out of a piano as far as tone and touch, seem willing to short cut by listening to a bunch of internet know-it-alls.

It hardly matters whether the customer tells the salespro they read somewhere a particular piano was fifty percent off or claims their brother Cletus bought one in Chula Vista for fifty percent off. Both are calculating from an arbitrary figure, whether MSRP or SMP, a price that is more mythical and apparent than factual. Nor is the salespro obliged to honor table talk and kitchen rumor.

The biggest problem with U.S. piano sales is not gossip about fantastic deals but market saturation. Sales has always been about closing the deal and that’s who generally remains in business during lean times, the closers.

Mike

I'm glad you updated us and weren't chased away from here. Congrats on your new piano! So, you went with the RX-3?! I have one in my living room right now, and I love it!!

MM

Hi mathmom!

Uh oh, better not post what you paid as you, me, AND BPM might get accused of being the same subversive piano dealer out to single-handedly cripple the entire industry! lol

(before I get flamed by someone, please note the little smiley! )

Hey, Mike. Always a pleasure.

To all the Kawai buyers:
Congratulations you bought a great quality instrument.
Enjoy!

Congrats! I'm glad people post prices. We need more transparency in piano pricing. It's great that you found a dealer willing to be fair. I've found that salesmen in general are sleazeballs, full of BS and just worried about the bottom line--money. If you've bought a car or piano (or other major purchase) I'm sure I don't need to tell you this. Of course they're not all like that Sounds like you found one of the good ones, so kudos on that, and enjoy the new RX!

Radio.Octave,

I'm relatively new to piano shopping, but spoke to many dealers in the process of selecting our piano and I know the economy is bad, but I was shocked at the outright contradictions I was hearing from dealers. I guess the one that stands out in my mind the most was from my local Steinway dealer, who when I told him I was considering a Kawai K3 told me "we don't use carbon fiber technology in the action, we tried it in the 60's, we invented it, and found out it was a big mistake, all wood is much better."

I later discovered that this was outright misinformation as he was referring to the ill-fated nylon bushings that they used in the 60's and had little or nothing to do with what Kawai is doing with carbon fiber in the action.

I did find some dealers/techs to be nice to talk to and some to be entertaining as well, but the bottom line was without this forum I could not seem to navigate through all the BS (intentional or not) that I was being handed. It was, to say the least, an eye-opening experience.

efriis, when I was shopping I went to a dealer who bashed Kawai's "plastic" action as cheap and unreliable. Which was interesting, because when he posted on the forum, he was complimentary about it.

It is hard to remain objective when it comes to a name such as Steinway. For instance the lack of quality control or uniform finish of the product by Steinway; it is portrayed as uniqueness and artistry. If the piano in question was made in China and has the same lack of quality control and rough finish; it will be criticized as poor quality or outdated.

OTH while ABS components insure consistency and durability; IMO the success in Kawai actions comes from the great refinement in the geometry and timing of the action.

Well, speaking of Kawai quality, I just bought an older (1969) Kawai 48” professional upright, (K48A?) and it sounds and plays fantastic to be as old as it is. I bought it at an estate sale and it belonged to a career church pianist and piano teacher who passed away last year.

The action is fast and smooth, and the tone is very pleasant… much mellower than I would have expected. Apparently, it has been well maintained and serviced over the years.

So, now I have a Yamaha grand, a Kawai and a Baldwin upright! Hey, I like them all; and they all have their strengths!! Nothing wrong with a little variety!

Rick