Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Pandemic a boon for piano stores?

Canadian TV had a short flash about a big piano company with 3 stores in the Toronto area having record sales at +30% month-by-month over last year, citing people wanting to keep their sanity during lockdown. Don't know more, I stay at home, although elsewhere ...

I’ve been visiting dealers in my area recently and they’re saying the same thing. They’ve never seen anything like this combination of supply disruption and increased demand.

It's hard to draw conclusion why a piano store in the Toronto area would see increase in sales. The downtown store that I go to regularly there was a lockdown and then a gradual reopening. At first you are only allowed in the store if you already ordered items online and go there for pick up. People just don't buy a piano / keyboard without trying to play on it first. Playing is always an issue since you need to put on hand sanitizer and wipe the keys beforehand.

People who already know how to play would spend more time playing at home. If you're new to piano and have no experience playing, getting a teacher may be an issue.

What I heard was that sales of digitals and hybrids had increased, but not that sales of acoustics had increased. This makes sense because, for example, every Avantgrand N1X sounds exactly the same.

It's also possible that acoustic sales have increased because I think a pretty high percentage of people buy acoustic pianos without trying them out first. The members of PW are not the typical piano purchasers.

Our state is very locked down. My piano tech said the Yamaha dealer with virtual showing of pianos and single appointments sold more pianos both digital and acoustic in the October sale than they have in many years. Another piece of interesting news in our Humane shelter, which always has 10 pages of dogs needing rehoming now has only 10 dogs shown on 1 page. If people are stuck at home, instruments and 4 legged companions are in demand. Guitar sales right now are through the roof.

I can only hope and pray that the interest remains high and there are less pets abandoned or turned over to Animal Control.

Our beloved Airedale crossed the Rainbow Bridge after a long good life. We just adopted a mixed breed girl dog and with training should be a happy healthy new member of the household. Since I am not allowed to go anywhere or entertain anyone I so thankful I have a great piano and a lovable, deserving Heinz 57 dog.

I spoke to a local piano dealer several months ago who told me his sales are way up.

I didn't think to ask if most of the sales are digital or acoustic pianos.

I am so glad to hear this is some kind of a trend.

I hope this trend continues!

Jeanne W

My info confirms electronics are up a lot, acoustics not so much.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

Christmas tree sales are also way up.

If you accompany your family members (all amateur singers) sing Christmas carols, do you:
* play piano solo including melody
* play only accompaniment
* sing along?

In my family, only 1 person bought a Casio keyboard in the last 6 months. A few people who took lessons before is turning their instruments into a piece of furniture.

I was told by Ulrich Sauter that they have been selling quite few more pianos in Europe itself since spring. Less Sauters were sold in Hong Kong because of the political problems and conflicts there.
I 🤔 know of a tall Schimmel upright that was sold here in Vancouver recently..

Pianos and RV's have both seen a huge uptick in sales.

I suspect that when this pandemic is over, we will see a large boom in used RV's and pianos coming up for sale.

Do most people get uprights for their RVs?
Or do some squeeze in baby grands?

Depends how big the RV is I suppose ? Perhaps a spinet is safest , mind you I do not know how heavy a spinet is ?
Will a casio do Retsacnal ? or a Roland keyboard from
the 80's.
Now how big are RV's again .......? 😃

Sorry now I remember what an RV is ! Well perhaps 😏 an upright attached to the inside of the RV ?

If people are buying pianos now , what safety measures does one take, ( regarding Covid and the delivery)
Perhaps during the delivery , one plays all the keys to see if they respond fine. One checks the piano.(before they leave)

Do you leave the windows open for a few hours and avoid the piano room ?., For a few hours or a day ?

I believe that piano sales are up, at least in my area based on my observations and conversations with others in the business. Now, I suggest any acoustic piano over a digital for RV use so as not to rely on the generator. The pianos need to be tied down securely inside however as even a spinet weighs somewhere around 300-400lb😬

Any RV acoustic piano sounds like a honky tonk after arriving at the camping grounds with the famous camp fires, what a wonderful benefit

Several portable DPs such as the Yamaha p45 and P125 operate both on AC and battery power, so a generator wouldn't be necessary for operation.

dorem it was a joke ! (I think 🤔)

His parents must be pround.