When shopping for a piano, plan to spend at least an hour on your first visit, longer if you are bringing younger children. You should plan to spend some time becoming educated about pianos, so it’s a good idea to make sure everyone is fed before your start the process.

Where to Look for a Piano

A piano store is only as good as its ability to obtain high-quality products and service them. Look for a dedicated piano store staffed by people who know and love pianos. Smaller dealers are typically family businesses with loyal employees committed to the long term success of the company. They will go “the extra mile” to insure that you are happy with their service and your piano long after the sale.

Working with the Owner

Most small- or medium-sized dealers have an owner in the store. They will likely be the most knowlegable and capable person there, so try to meet with them from the beginning.

Your Salesperson

Pianos are different than most other items we purchase today. They cost a lot of money and the good ones will outlive us. That’s not true of your DVD player, refrigerator or cell phone.

An experienced piano salesperson (or owner) will want to spend five to ten minutes asking questions about how and where you plan to use the instrument before they start making recommendations. The more honestly you answer their questions (even if your answer is ‘I don’t know’) the quicker you will find the piano you’re looking for. If there are fifty pianos in a store, probably only one or two of them are just right for you.

If your salesperson wants to take you right to the “deal of the day” or spends more time playing the piano than asking you questions, leave. If you do stick around and make a purchase, make sure that any promises made are put in writing on your sales receipt… and signed by the store owner.

Tuners Who Sell Pianos

Many tuners actively sell pianos. Many are reputable, but be suspicious of tuners who sell a lot of pianos. While they may be knowledgeable about the technical aspects of pianos, most are not reliable sources of information on the value and tend to overvalue used pianos. In general, you are much better off buying a piano from a dealer.

Never purchase a piano from a tuner under the guise of fixing it up over time. This puts you at the mercy of the tuner and if you are unhappy they will blame it on the piano. In the end, it will take longer and cost a lot more than buying a good, new piano with a manufacturer’s warranty from a reputable dealer.

Liquidators & Carpetbaggers

There is a dying breed of salespeople out there who roam from city to city working special events for independent dealers. These “liquidation sales” are often held at colleges, universities and performing arts centers under the banner that the institution is selling their pianos. The truth is that the majority of pianos sold at these events were trucked in earlier in the week and, if unsold, will be trucked to the next city on their list.

Carpetbaggers have really hurt the piano business. Dealers lured in by their promises of big profits often see their long term business suffer. Some have even gone out of business or closed their piano departments. These pianos are often uncrated outside of the customers house without any tuning or preparation work done in advance.

Rest assured you can always find a better piano from a local dealer for the same price or less, especially if you work directly with the store owner. Plus, you’ll be supporting a local busines that will be there to help you down the road if you need service work, warranty assistance or want to trade your piano in.

A Final, Happier Thought

Keep in mind that in all likelyhood, this may be the last piano you ever purchase. Take your time and be prepared to make your purchase when you find an instrument that really speaks to you.