Hey, i just got a price quote of 5995usd for the digital but i believe it might be a bit too much ? I looked at the prices in europe/uk it and considerably less 2800 pound which would equal out to 4200? Plus tax of 8 percent that would still be alot less than 6k with 7 percent tax. Any inputs? I live in florida by the way. I was look for 5k out the door price range and was suprised the 6k isn't negotiable.

Everything is negotiable.

In other posts, people are buying the previous generation CLP-280 for around $4000, give or take (add tax and delivery). And someone found a floor model ... $1800.

The newer CLP-380 shouldn't cost too much more than the 280. Remember, there's a BIG markup on these. So in this recession, you should squeeze hard.

You can save if you pick it up, rather than paying typical $100 delivery fee. But be prepared with a helper ... this beast weighs around 200 pounds.

BTW, I'm in Florida, too (Ft. Lauderdale area).

I don't know if your model is in there yet, but have you seen this thread? At least you can get an idea what people paid for the older version of it... and competing brands.

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/6/2405.html

The only dealer that had the 380pe in stock gave me 6k and when i tried to negotiate he refused to budge the price at all. Piano distrubutors don't have the item in the showroom only the 320 model which was a bummer. In theory there shouldn't be a big mark up, but i guess the tri-amp is every bit good as they claim for the price?

If they are selling them at $6000, then
there's no reason for them to come down
on the price. However, pianos are not
easy to sell, because the number of
players in the population is small,
and not many people would be looking
to buy something this expensive. So
you should try going back to the store
once a month for the next six months.
Each time you come back and it's still
there, the price becomes less firm.

That's a superb suggestion Gyro. Thank You

I agree. Pianos don't exactly "fly" off the shelf, like loaves of bread at the supermarket. And in recessionary times, dealers need to show more flexibility.

$6000 is absurd, even including tax and delivery. That's probably below the "list" price. But Yamaha and Roland create artificial list prices.

(My CLP-240PE listed at $3600, or so the dealer said. He "normally" asks $2900, so he said. He offerred me a "steal" at $2500. I got it for $2300. That was in Sep 08. You can see that there's substantial markup!)

I'd make a follow-up phone call to the same salesman or manager. Remind him of your prior visit, and make an offer over the phone. He won't agree ... he first needs to get you into the store again! So make a very low offer, say $4000 plus tax. He'll balk, but he'll still want to entice you back to the store.

Also, since you're in a large enough city (Orlando), you might find several dealers. Shop around. Gas is cheap again! And even if it weren't, you're looking to save $1000 or more, so it's worth the time and trouble.

it should be around $5000 or a little more at most. but since no other dealers selling it in the region, this dealer can ask whatever he wants for it. see if you can check out some dealers in surrounding areas or cities for the better price.

Do yourself a favor. Wait until the next Yamaha line up comes out when competitive pressures will have forced them to improve their price/performance ratio and reduce the price premium of the 380.

Consider buying a Roland HP 207 or a Kawai CA 71 instead.

That'll be a long wait. The 300 series just came out this summer, ending the 3-year run of the 200 series. So it might be 3 years until the 400's come out.
Good point. Or look at the CLP-280 instead of the 380. Any remaining inventory might be "priced to move". The 280 should now be in that "competitive pressure" zone.

Talked to Piano distributors and they claim there is very little differences between the 280 and 380? indeed what i could find was very minor except for the ivory keytops. Any experienced this over the 280 natural wood? should be able to get a great deal on a 280 but if the ivory keytops are that great i might go with the 370

Gyro says go back once a month. That is not going to change the cost to the dealer. You would be blown away at the number of $6000+ Clavinovas we sell each month. You have no idea.
The Journey says wait until the next line comes out (likely 18-36 months).

Tvan1212 would like to buy a CLP380 now.

Yes, there is little difference between the CLP280 and the new CLP380 however, that is somewhat of a moot point as few if any dealers have CLP280 left in stock. Most blew through them months ago.
The new CLP370 absolutely does not match up to the old CLP270. It is barely a step up from the CLP340 and will likely be a lame sales performer in the line up.

Yes, many dealers are just receiving their first CLP380's now and may be reluctant to dump pricing on this new model. There is bargaining and then there is bargaining. Sometimes it is a matter of style in how you approach the dealer. Ask to speak with the manager or owner. Tell him you have done your diligence and have settled on a new CLP380. You are serious and are willing to present a formal offer with a earnest money deposit. Make your offer and wait for a counter offer response. Flinging around pricing demands does not a serious offer make.

Re. UK internet pricing. These prices do not include U.S. voltage and plug combinations. (adaptors and transformers don't get it with computer type equipment). They don't include U.S. warranties. They don't include the expense and hassle to ship the product. They don't include any dealer help and support on this complicated product. They will likely not have the U.S. Underwriters Laboratories Approval ratings and stickers.

Yes. And the CLP380 is priced unrealistically and uncompetitively. Tvan1212 can buy a fine digital piano now with comparable performance to the CLP380 at substantially better pricing. The only right answer now is: Just don't choose Yamaha but buy a top of line Roland or Kawai. The more of use who do that, presumably the quicker Yamaha will fix their pricing and stop downgrading performance instead of increasing performance on their new lines.

Buy a HP-207 or CA71 or if you have to have Yamaha look into a mail order CP300.

I really want that Gh3/ivory keytop combo, but that price is just crazy. Wonder how much the Roland 207pe price goes. I hear good things about the tri-amp/yamaha speaker systems. Good external speakers/amps is good but i feel that they give a different experience that built in speakers can give you. Would you guys agree? Or can i place external speakers to a certain angle/position and get the same or better experience? Wish that money budget is not a factor for me (as do all of us) or else I'd pull the trigger for a 380 already.

The price on these home high-end digital pianos is absurd, I got my CLP-270 a while ago for £1750! and in the shop it was priced at £2400!!, the salesman dropped the price down by that much, I was shocked but it goes to show you can make them budge, its handy if they price match too, you can tell them you saw it cheaper online somewhere.

Digital pianos are a big rip-off anyway, that CLP-380 cant be worth as much money as they make out, the CLP-280 is also not that different I would guess to warrent the extra cost, no way!!!

For the price you spend on a CLP-380, you could get a very decent re-conditioned Yamaha U1/3, they are real pianos with real natural acoustic sound, your ears will never get bored of the infinite variations of sound produced, thats why I made the switch recently from digital to acoustic.

After years of playing digitals, your ears dont hear anything different in your playing/and the actual tones of the notes do not have enough variations/tone colours etc.. Because of the limitations of digitals, at the moment anyway, I decided to get an acoustic, thankfully it was the best move I ever made. At last I can feel and see music in its true light, in all its glory, this is only possible with an acoustic instrument, let me tell you!!!!

The price of the CLP380 is about the same as the cost of the CLP280 was. Digital products have a life cycle they go through. There is always a demand for the hottest, newest, hippest product much like computers. As the life cycle moves on a stasis falls on the product for many months. Then, as a replacement product approaches, the existing stock of the older model is discounted to the dealer who then discounts it to the consumer. Kind of like year end model deals on cars.

There is nothing "uncompetitive" about the Clavinova line. It is the most popular selling line of digital pianos in the world. They invented the catagory 25 years ago. Customers will pay top dollar for the newest and best. Of course there are lower cost alternatives. Roland and Kawai make great products. Some even argue they are better is some respects. More buyers do not. Roland is said to be extracting itself from the home use market and focusing only on stage type pianos.

Iholrwinkle,
IMO you over simplify the issues of buying digital pianos abroad. "Ten fingers, 88 keys." Is no help to an owner that wants to learn to multi-track, to key split, to dual voice, to set custom temprements, to understand the 500+ voices and how to get them, etc. The 380 is a complex product. I deal with this on a regular basis and have seen many disappointed customers and problematic instruments.

That's why they come with a manual.

There's also this forum. Plenty of help is available here.

They also come with a DVD quick start presentation on those sold in the U.S., but that isn't enough for many buyers. Most of the folks who bought the older 280's were higher level users that those who purchased the lower models.

There are always some folks who are determined to fly without a net. We just do everything we can to make sure our customers get the most use value from their purchases.

Value = Utility - Price

My guess is that the best way to increase consumer value on these instruments would be to decrease their price. I can't imagine that having a store clerk demonstrate a few button sequences or say " read page 57-59" would be worth $2000 to anyone (except perhaps for the same crowd that have their neighbor come over to help them when they want to change channels on their television.)

Marty, perhaps you could convince Yamaha to have the 380 go gradually out of tune every three months and only allow it to be tuned and warranties serviced by the local authorized dealer. Now that would create value!

originally posted by Marty Flinn
Source please?

The fact that Roland produces great stage pianos doesn't mean that they focus only on that!

Heheh maybe some day we'll organize some collective fight? I mean Yamaha lovers vs Roland lovers, only bare hands

kiedysktos,

I really don't want to be part of any face-off. I'm currently a Roland user, but over the years I've used both Yamaha and Roland. A Yamaha PF88 I bought way back when gave me 20 years of stellar service and it's still going strong for a friend of mine.

My antennae went up when I read Marty's statement. To be perfectly honest, I found his entire paragraph disappointing.

I'm accustomed to reading brand anthems and price belligerence such as this on the Piano Forum, but not here. This forum seems (at least to me) to be more about users helping users whatever the brand, and not so much a battle of the brands with enzyme injections from those who sell them.

Marty's comment about Roland is of particular interest to me. Even though he has stated: "You would be blown away at the number of $6000+ Clavinovas we sell each month. You have no idea."
[/b], I know that Roland home pianos are a viable competitor to Yamaha's on Marty's Yamaha sales turf. Those retailers who sell Roland home pianos in the LA area would probably not take kindly to his statement, especially if the "is said" refers simply to him saying it or to some casual industry banter.

turandot, it's just a joke, really nothing more...

I have friends in the business that sell Roland that told me Roland was backing away from the home use type instrument market personally. I was told that the KR series was discontinued months ago. Can anyone confirm that they showed any new models at NAMM 2008? I will attend NAMM in January, talk to Roland, and see for myself.

Yes, Roland is a competitor to Yamaha in the So. Cal. market. We are receiving less less pressure from this line as time goes on.

I don't see my comments as a "brand anthem" and not as "price belligerance." I will defend the CLP380 as the top digital solo piano on the market as I believe it to be.

If the group in the Digital Forum does not want any dealer presence, have them speak up. I have spent hundreds of hours in product training. I work with all of the models on a daily basis. I have worked with nearly every generation of the product since its inception 25 years ago. I review competitive product on a regular basis. Just because I am a dealer, are you telling me that I have nothing of value to offer to the members of this forum?

I just thought there needed to be a little counterpoint to Gyro's continued bashing of the use value of any product over $1000 and continued dealer bashing on price ridgity and enthusiasm for internet purchases.

I just thought that there needed to be some counterpart to the the charge that Yamaha digital pianos were "uncompetitive" in the market place when it is the most sucessful line of digital pianos. When it has won nearly every award in the industry over and over again.

Marty,

I'm not telling you that you have nothing of value to offer, just that it isn't showing up in some of your posts here. I think that your source for posting information that could be potentially damaging to Roland and its dealers is a bit weak. I think that your entry on today's thread arguing with the member who had just purchased a Roland was out of of character for you. I don't want to get into an argument about it though. As you say, members here will let you know (as I believe they have) if they take issue with any of your posts.

It's funny how Gyro's posts get so many people worked up. All he's basically saying is that you don't need a piano that plays well and sounds good to master big-time classical lit. Who could argue with that? I think his enthusiasm for the silent keyboard is based on a direct comparison of its silence and the sound of the Williams Encore. Probably few would take issue with that either.

I have responded in another thread about which to purchase a HP207 or a CLP380. After taking a test drive on the HP207 yesterday I thought I was gonna be purchasing the Roland. However, I told the salesman at the place with the Roland to give me his best deal because I was gonna be checking out the CLP380 on Saturday. He kinda smiled and said I would be back, and I kinda thought he was right. The HP207 felt right and sounded right too it really is just a wonderful DP especially at its current price point. However, when I sat behind the CLP380 I was just blown away by the looks, feel, and sound. (Okay maybe not feel but it's equal in my opinion to the Roland). It just felt right for my preferences. This is NOT to take anything away from the HP207 because I do think it's an awesome DP. I just liked the CLP more and the salesman at the place I purchased it from gave me a very fair price, which was a better price than what I had in my mind, before walking into the store. Both are damn good products and the way the CLP felt under my fingers and the way it sounded (both with headphones and external speakers) was worth the extra $1500.00. I can sleep well at night. Just my .02!! Different strokes for different folks!!

whitj,

When you first posted here you were looking for price guidance. Recently you posted that you think the price paid thread should be a sticky. Yet you are not saying how much you paid for your CLP380. Isn't that a bit inconsistent?

Not inconsisent, just takin some time to respond to other threads my brother. I am still on the "new piano purchase" high. : ) I will add my update to the "price paid" thread in a few minutes.

Okay, turandot

I just updated the "price paid" thread for you baby!! Sorry, it's the wine. It's gonna be a long week before they deliver my 380!!