Diaphragmatic included the following in one of his posts on a currently active thread about Essex pianos:

"The Essex is a fine piano designed by Steinway and manufactured overseas in China and Korea along with most of its similarly priced competitors."

This seems inconsistent with his insistence on this thread that he would not deign to "carry" any Chinese pianos in his store. Either they are "fine" pianos or they are not. If they are, I fail to understand hie reservations about "carrying" them in his store. Of course, the other thread involved selling Essex pianos specifically. . . .

Hi Jonathan,

Thank you for the invitation to visit your very nice store. I'll take you up on that next time I'm in Clearwater.

I do remember your present store when Al Havener owned the property before selling it to you guys. I also remember your previous store that was just down the street from where you are now located.

I've also met Charlie and Duane years ago, but they probably don't remember me. I don't think I ever met Jman37 that teaches in your store but I've read most of his threads and posts. I guess he completely stopped posting on the forum right after you started posting yourself.

Jonathan, I didn't accuse you of lying, I posted:
Looks like they show a whole heck of a lot of both Grand and Upright Essex pianos on their website:

www.musicgalleryclearwater.com

In my opinion, the "backlash" you get for not having any Chinese pianos in stock in your store comes from that very statement, [b]Your quote: "And wow.. didn't expect to get backlash for not having Chinese pianos in stock at our store," including one of your statements, on a different thread, along this paraphrased quote Of course we can get them, if you want one, but we do not stock them.

Jonathan, when looking at your website, it appears as if your store has many different models of Essex pianos in stock that could be auditioned in your store if a consumer just wanted to drop in unannounced {after seeing your website} and play and compare many models of Essex upright and grand pianos, {regardless of country of origin} with your Kohler & Campbell Samick built pianos, Boston, and Steinway instruments in order to decide which model they should buy. I don't think most consumers, unless they haunt the Piano Forum, know which models of Essex are built in whatever country. They may know of Steinway's "jargon," Essex, designed by Steinway. Maybe they know of Steinways guaranteed 10 year 100% of the purchase price of an Essex toward the purchase of a new Steinway.
Do you have concerns that the Chinese built Essex won't hold up mechanically as good as the Korean built Essex will?

Is your company concerned that Essex is really mostly a confusing stencil piano?

Are you implying that some entry level Essex pianos, designed by Steinway and built in China, are not worthy of being sold to folks interested in having an entry level Steinway backed piano in their home?

Or maybe, in reality, many of the Essex pianos can't compete with your Kohler & Campbell pianos and cut into your marketing plans.

Do the Kohler & Campbell pianos have Steinway's 10 year 100% trade up plan for a new Essex, Boston, or Steinway?

Your company's website is very nice and I don't think that you folks are trying to intentionally pull the wool over anybody's eyes. But, in my opinion, the site portion devoted to the Essex brand is somewhat misleading and could be modified to really fit your business plan and marketing agenda.

[/b] The Music Gallery Company, Clearwater, Fl. and it's employees have a wonderful reputation within the piano industry for being an aboveboard, honest, and trustworthy business. I'm positive that you have many many satisfied customers too.

Sincerely,

Barry

Bear,
Hey.. were all passionate about the products we work so hard for. Its an exercise in futility to contain our opinions all the time and I have certainly been guilty of over stepping what is appropriate and I am sorry for that as well..

I just hope that we (professionals) always put the industry's good before our own. It needs all the help it can get.

its without saying Bear, thank you.

This kiss and make up stuff is sickening. Worse than a Mexican soap opera! You guys know you're going to be at each other's throats within a few days.

Frankly I'm disappointed. I expected Bear to kneel and perform seppuku for breaking the bushido. After Jonathan did the kaishakunin thing, he could clean up all the cutlery. Oh, well....another day another disappointment!