Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Wonderful Dealer - They should all be like this.

I'm not going to name names, brands or prices here. Don't PM me to find out. I won't tell. However, I have to tell the story of one dealer who is amazing.

I have been shopping for a grand piano for the better part of a year and a half. There was always something wrong: an illness in the family, multiple kids in college, drop in income, etc, etc. etc. Last week all the stars came together. The money, the wife, my needs...everything.

I, once again, embarked on a piano safari. I played one piano that I absolutely fell in love with. Right sound, right price, right location. However, one dealer with whom I've visited several times had to get another visit for me to be sure that I wasn't missing anything.

He had some nice, very nice pianos on the floor. They were attractively priced, and he was more than gracious to let me sit and make horrible music on his pianos. Unfortunately, none of them moved me, though one came close. I let my feeling be known, and today I received an e-mail from the dealer whose piano I did not choose.

The contents of the e-mail were amazing. He was gracious, friendly, and above all understood that his pianos didn't move me that day. None said "Buy me," and he understood that as well. He was gracious to extend to me a visit to his shop, even though I am not a customer. "I'll put on the coffee and you can visit any time." He also asked if he could visit my home to see the piano that moved me. My door is open. Always.

This is how one does business.

You know who you are.

Thank you for being a gentleman.

George,

Why won't you say who the dealer was?

I think any low-pressure dealer should be recognized/commended particularly when they are very gracious even after losing a sale.

JM$.02,
Derick

george, you've been pm'd with my guess. Larry

Derick, you're absolutely right. A dealership like this deserves public kudos.

Kurt Saphir Pianos, in Wilmette, Il.
Mason & Hamlin, Schimmel, Vogel, Charles Walter, Bösendorfer, Knabe pianos.

I was going to post that I knew who it was.. but ya beat me to the draw!

I will second the recommendation. Dennis Saphir was exceptionally welcoming to me, allowing me the run of the store even though he knew I was from out of town and likely would never buy a thing there. Most gracious.

It's interesting, what with all the dealer bashing that occurs frequently, that Derick nailed it. We are too quick to criticize the bad, and too reluctant to praise the good. I have spent hours at the place I mentioned (and at others in the Chicago area). All dealers with whom I've had a relationship have been as gracious and professional as Saphir's. I have nothing, nothing, bad to say about any of the ones with whom I've developed a relationship. The Chicago area is blessed with high-quality dealerships. Interestingly, none of them have ever bashed a competitor. They may have their opinions about the others' pianos, but never questioned the ethics, support, or business of another dealer.

However, that's not been the case with dealers I've dealt with elsewhere. Check out this story of someone who's not so ethical.

And this time, for SURE, I'm not naming names!

It's good you named them George. Presumably someone will read this and add Kurt Saphir Pianos to their list of dealers to check out.

Derick

So George, what did you get after all?

Sophia

I'm putting a deposit down on a Bohemia 185 - tomorrow.

Now that kind of/sort of explains why Bosendorfer didn't say "buy me". Well, at least it makes it somewhat explainable! Just kidding. Congratulations. Bohemia is a beautiful piano.

Derick

Congratulations, George! And thanks for sharing the story. It's nice to hear about the good guys.

Derick, if I had the cash for a Bosie, or, if I didn't have two kids in college, the Bosie would have been #1 or #2 on my list. There's a great selection up there in Wilmette!

Lovely choice and congratulations!

Sophia