Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards can you negotiate when buying a digital piano?

It's actually pretty much the way of the world. In some countries they are insulted if you don't attempt to bargain for the merchandise.

Just remember, the worse case scenario is that they say no and if they don't want to make a deal that day, just walk away.

i just called about 5 piano stores in canada, so far everything is list price, damn i hate shopping in canada

I think most places will only tell you their MSRP over the phone, you should visit the store directly and deal with them.

Economics 101: prices are the product of supply and demand. High supply (many dealers in a country) -> lower prices. Low supply -> higher prices.

Plus the following argument: a dealer wants to earn a steady income. If he knows he will sell only infrequently (as in Canada), he will not let any of his few sales be unprofitable for himself and will less likely accept low offers. In a customer-rich environment, the dealer has a smooth income already, and may be more prone to make less on a few sales because of negotiation.

I compared the prices in Canada vs. the US and in the Great White North, we pay about double of what you pay in the US, even though the Canadian Loonie is at parity with the $US. If I show up in a Canadian store and make an offer at the average US price (doing my "homework"), the dealer will laugh at my face. Starting the negociation at 50% lower puts you into the category of Bozo the Clown, not that of a serious buyer.

Anyways - I'm not in the market for digitals anymore. Maybe in 10 years...

An interesting thought but I can't really see myself bargaining for a lower price in any of the local musical instrument shops -- partly because I most likely wouldn't dare engage in such a thing but also -- and more importantly, I think -- because it's not a common thing to do around here. The larger vendors do compete on price between each other but in a way that they will offer you a better price only if you show them that you can get what you want for less elsewhere. However, I don't think I could just walk in and start asking for a better price on a whim.

My experience is that stores will sometimes refuse to lower the listed price -- but they will (if asked!) be willing to include 'freebies' related to the purchase:

. . . a stand;

. . . a gig bag;

. . . sheet music;

. . . a pedal (to replace the "stock" Casio PX-150 pedal).

Also, I suspect that a $5,000 price is more "negotiable" than a $500 price. The higher-priced item is harder to sell, and carries (probably) a higher profit margin for the store. So there's more "wiggle room" for the salesman.

. Charles

Clayman: I wouldn't bother showing them that I can buy elsewhere for less. Doing so puts you right in the middle of the market competition. If there is little competition in the region, there's little chance of success with that strategy.

So instead, I would seek to create a different kind of competition: Let the dealer compete with ME. I'll only buy at the right price. I always have an alternative: not buying at all. That's what the dealer must compete with.

KataiYubi: Sure, if you start the negotiation at 50% below list you won't be taken seriously. I think 35% off of list (in the US) is rock-bottom. I would offer 30% off.

chickenlump: You're right: Dealers will only give list prices on the phone ... or might not offer any pricing information. But that's okay. You can't negotiate price on the phone anyway.

Negotiation should be face-to-face. Spend the time and visit the dealer ... and show that you're willing to buy.

If you're thinking that you'll save time by working a deal on the phone: don't. Trying to save time in a negotiation is a losing strategy. He who is short of time is likely to lose. He who has time to spare is likely to be successful.

As I bought my NU1, the dealer bought my 1 year old DP at its new price. This is also a way to negotiate.

Bottom line is, you are either a wise consumer and negotiate sales terms and price based on studied knowledge, or a pushover consumer that pays the asking price.

Nobody is suggesting acting like "Bozo the Clown", and offering 50%. That is an extreme, somewhat like "digital is garbage".

I understood it as offering 50% off list price in Canada, which would be about the average selling price in the US but I don't know.

If you don't ask, you don't get.

When I bought my DP, I first of all made sure that it really was what I wanted, then asked the dealer what he could offer if I bought it there and then. Once he realized that I meant business, he was only too keen to make me an offer I couldn't refuse . Without my prompting, he also threw in an excellent pair of headphones (though he'd already seen me using my own Bose ones, which he felt was more suited for travel listening than DP playing). Then I asked him how I was going to play from the music.....and he threw in a music stand too.

I couldn't think of anything else I could push him for, despite racking my brains .

You understood well - apparently some other people can't read.

Someone was reporting paying $2800 for a Kawai CA65 in Michigan, whereas in Canada the same instrument is sold for $5400, despite parity between the CAD and USD. There is simply no way for Joe Canuck to pay prices comparable to Americans, no matter how hard he bargains. And on top of this, we are hit by the Canada VAT (10%) and in my case the Quebec VAT (5%), so the difference is actually more.

The idea that you are in control of the situation because you have money and someone else wants it is naive. That position just as easily makes you a potential sucker. A fool and his money are soon parted.

Negotiation takes skill, intelligence and awareness. People can do their research homework and prepare but they are not professional salespeople and are probably a lot more average than above average in several departments, not the least of which is the ability to read people.

The salesperson you get could be a seasoned pro or just someone handling the transaction like it is clerical who only follows a list of steps composed/dictated by their company. Either has the advantage of performing in their position routinely.

I think you need to be conscious of who you are and where you fit then you can decide what you can realistically gain. Taking an honest look at your situation, you would probably see some facets that can be polished within a short time period in preparation and some others that are out of your reach.

The trouble with a limited number of stores available to you is that this does not leave enough room to practice and hone your skills. It is a lot like interviewing for a job. Many times you sabotage the best opportunities while getting used to the process. You have the worst experience with the most desirable openings. By the time you are comfortable only the crumbs are left. There are usually more stores. You just have to go farther away from your location.

You should have sales-relevant knowledge of the product. You need to know what is realistic and what you are willing to do with your money, including how far away you are willing to buy before going in. Otherwise some charming salesperson is going to have you in the palm of their hand and you are liable to make an emotional decision......even if it is simply a nice person telling you "no" and you saying "OK."

I don't see anyone comparing pre-tax to post-tax prices anywhere. That's just you. As far as Kawai is concerned, in Canada, 40% off MSRP might be possible. The MSRP in Canada is ridiculously high.

By the way, how are your other threads going?

MSRP usually is way higher then real value. It's just starting point in negotiation.

True but I'm talking relative to American MSRP. As an example, the MSRP for the MP6/MP10 in Canada is somewhere around $3000/$4000. That should give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Of note; all digital pianos imported into Canada are subject to a 6% tariff.