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https://www.pianomart.com/buy-a-piano/view?id=35137


I stumbled upon this ad for a 1991 Steinway D on PianoMart. The price tag would make many people skeptical, so I sent them an email just now. In the meantime, I'd like to ask: does this look legit? Assuming it is legit, would you consider this instrument?

That is really to good to be true. I would be very skeptical sending any money their way.

Impossible-- it's likely a scam. Also, really impossible if the rebuilding work was done by someone competent (the wholesale price of that work would exceed the asking price alone, not counting the value of the "core" piano).

It's likely a scam. The same photograph is being used for various adverts such as

https://postanote.co.nz/classified-ad/Steinway-Concert-Grand-Piano--Model-D-_23431

as well as on a number of expired eBay auctions.

"We can offer moving depending where u are anywhere in the US for $7000-$10000." I guess their shipping isn't "wholesale".

Several possibilities here:

Most likely a fake, a bait to get 10k out of you and no piano coming your way....

If it IS really a Steinway then it's probably not the piano in the pictures.

If it IS really the piano in the pictures it was probably dropped from a great height off a stage, and when it was 'fully rebuilt' it meant they put new legs on it.

Whatever, I think you can safely assume there isn't a good condition younger Steinway D out there for 10k in any currency. Mind you the joke might be on us when it turns up in your living room....

That reminds me of an ad I saw recently on Craigslist:

Bridge for sale. It's a few years old, but it is well maintained. Large captive traffic flow offers lucrative toll revenue opportunity. Location: Brooklyn, NY. Can be moved to your location for a small fee. If interested, call owner, NY Zoological Society, and ask for Mr. Lyon.

--

John

if I lived near the piano I wouldn’t be able to resist contacting the seller for an appointment to play the piano just to hear the remainder of the scam. If you were clever as a buyer, the initial contact could be to get the serial number and pictures. Contact two could be to get the restorer’s contact info.,., contact three: to get the warranty. etc. I love to mess with scammers

[/quote]


if I lived near the piano I wouldn’t be able to resist contacting the seller for an appointment to play the piano just to hear the remainder of the scam. If you were clever as a buyer, the initial contact could be to get the serial number and pictures. Contact two could be to get the restorer’s contact info.,., contact three: to get the warranty. etc. I love to mess with scammers [/quote]


Then have a look here


https://www.419eater.com/html/letters.htm


This is a real gem

https://www.419eater.com/html/SkeletonCoast/


pretty amazing as well.

https://www.419eater.com/html/abu_moses.htm

And the above ad ran in New Zealand - which makes the "ship anywhere in the US" claim even more questionable.

But unfortunately, some poor slob may fall for it.

The other questions that come to mind that suggest this is a scam or that the piano has serious faults:

Why was it necessary to do a complete rebuild on a 1991 "D"? What was wrong with it?

If it was "fully rebuilt" as indicated, how could they possibly offer it for sale at $10,000.00, since the "total rebuild," properly done and to Steinway specifications, including "fully" refinishing the case, would undoubtedly have cost (perhaps) three times that much?

Regards,

The person replied to me in a very generic message. I would like to share it with you. I will edit it out if moderators/admins find this inappropriate.


How should I reply?

@learex
Thanks so much for posting the ‘scam the scsmmer’ Information. Priceless!!! I wish I had the time and cleverness to go to this level 😄

Have you noticed the discrepancies? Now the piano is a 1967, not a 1991. This is a private seller? And how is there a warranty being offered? Who was the rebuilder, and what is the contact information?

Say what any buyer would say: I want to see the piano in person, and try it. Can we schedule a time and place to do that?

I agree with John. I've had contact with a piano for sale scammer a few times and they can seem legit until you ask to go see the piano in person. If it is a scam, this is where the evidence will be strongest that it is indeed a scammer.

For example, when you ask to schedule an in-person visit to see the piano, the excuses will begin; the piano is suddenly unavailable for some reason. It is located out of state at the moment, or the seller is out of the country at the moment. Then, perhaps they (seller/scammer) will come up with an alternative plan other than showing you the piano in person. Perhaps their pseudo representative will be available or you can send the money first, and then they will show you the piano.

Scammers can be quite creative with their scams. But most any intelligent person would soon recognize the prelude to a scam. On the other hand, some very intelligent individuals have been successfully scammed. It can happen.

Good luck, and be careful.

Rick

Why would you (or anyone) want to reply to a scammer? If you are doing it for amusement, fine. But surely it has to be clear that it's a scam, so what do you expect to learn?

Just asking, as they say. The more you reply, the more the scammer learns about you. . . .

Point well taken, RPA, and good advice as well; just leave well-enough alone and move on.

By the same token, iObsessed may learn more about the scammer in order to alert authorities of their criminal activity or intent thereof. Unfortunately, the age of the Internet and social media has opened up a whole new avenue for crooks, thieves and criminals who need to be locked up in jail and isolated from society. Yet, some of the scammers actually operate from their jail cells via smart phones.

I've called the local Sheriffs department, the State of Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs, and the US Federal Trade Commission regarding telemarketing scammers. The representative with the US Federal Trade Commission told me these people are hard to catch and when they do investigate and follow leads, when they find them (scammers) they are usually packed up and long gone to another location, quite often out of the country.

But I see no reason not to continue to try and pursue and perhaps arrest, charge, and prosecute the scammers.

Just my .02.

Rick

Advert has been removed

Ian

Still listed in New Zealand as per above advert