Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards CLP-745: new or a floor model?

So, after a throughout research I've finally decided on the piano I wanted to buy - it is Yamaha CLP-745!

I initially considered mostly slab pianos (P-515, es920, FP-90x). But then the CLP-735 got my attention - it was in a sweet spot in terms of my budget and it had all the features I wanted. But today, after I played CLP-735 in store and compared it with CLP-745, I realized that CLP-745 worth the extra: the sound is so much better and the key action is a little nicer (for me).

Anyway... The bad news for me is that there is a shortage of supply and I may have to wait for my new piano up to 6-7 months! (I put a deposit anyway)
However, the seller said that they have 2 floor models of the color I want (Rosewood), and if I don't want to wait I can take one of those.

So, the seller was hesitant to give me any discounts for a floor model, and finally said that they can offer $100 off (which doesn't sound too attractive considering that this is about the piano for $3500 (CAD) ). AND these floor models are on the floor since August.

$100 discount is nothing and I would love to have a new piano. But maybe I am overthinking and there is nothing wrong taking a floor unit?

What do you think?

The main difference between those options is the 6 to 7 months wait.

In both cases you get the same piano in "practically new" condition with full warranty. (I assume.)

You'll also pay pretty much the same amount of money.

Once you get the piano you'll forget that it was a floor model.

But you knew all this already. There's nothing new to say. It's just a decision that needs to be made.

(And I'm not helping much...😉)

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't recommend taking a floor model. However, seeing that there's a worldwide shortage of pianos, and being quite sure that the floor model(s) in question might not have been played that much due to lockdowns (in Canada too, right?), I'd make an exception. Maybe ask the seller to clean your piano in the best way possible beforehand, you know, as a kind of (free) extra service?

To sum it up in just three words, Mulberg: go for it!

That's a tough decision! I'd prefer new/in-box, but a floor model is okay. I own one such.

But I don't care for the rosewood finish (or any such simulation) of the offered floor model. I much prefer the polished look.

But I wouldn't like to wait six months for a piano.

Yes, this is a tough decision. And, like cloth-meister above, I'm not helping much, eh?

I wouldn't be patient enough to wait 6-7 months!

Depending on how long the warranty is and providing it starts from the day you purchase it and not August last year, I'd go for the shop floor model.

John

I would only accept a factory sealed box in normal circumstances but 6-7 months of wait is killing yourself.
Go for it but check twice before and after delivery.

Floor models have the advantage of knowing that it works before getting it home. Nothing more frustrating that unboxing a new one that has issues like sticky key(s,) bad speaker, who knows what.

My current hybrid was a floor model too. And I agree with 36251 that you will be receiving a product that is more unlikely to have any defects than a fresh new one.

If it looks and feels as good as new, what’s the problem?

If that piano has been sitting there since August with the fallboard open, plenty of dust has found its way into the sensors already (I doubt that the dealer goes around every night making sure that all the digital pianos’ respective fallboards are closed).

I mention this because it’s one of the biggest problems with these types of instruments (dust), and I learned the hard way to always keep my piano’s keys covered when not in use.

Personally, a $100 discount is an insult for a floor model; I would wait for the new unit. The dealer is probably exaggerating the wait-time to compel you to take the floor model (dealers are full of it).

I agree, go and check it over in the store. Perhaps show some disappointment and see if you can get a further reduction or something else thrown in (sheet music, bench, headphone, sub).

The good thing, compared to a new from box model, is if you check it carefully there wont be any nasty surprises, clicky keys, buzzing speakers, and other tales of woe we get one here.

Anyway, if you do like it enough to accept the $100 reduction, then it's fine.

Upon re-reading the original post, I see a problem ...I don't like the notion of a dealer "offering a discount". IMO it's incumbent on the buyer to "take a discount".

Offer the dealer the price that YOU want to pay, and give no consideration to the price HE wants you to pay.
To put it another way ... let the dealer try to get you to raise your offer ... instead of attempting to get the dealer to lower his.
Or yet another way ... start low and come up a little, rather than starting high and trying to bring it down a little.

Secondly, I don't know the piano market in Canada ... but converting 3500 CAD gives $2747 USD. That's a good price for the unit if it were polished ebony brand new. Not so good for a floor model. And terrible for a rosewood finish. I would offer several hundred dollars less for the rosewood floor model. Try him with 3000 CAD.

Just my hardcore two cents ...

Mac, according to your conversion-rate 3,000 CAD comes to about 2,247 USD for a rosewood 745.

Is it really possible to get a 745 rosewood for 2,247 USD or does something get lost in conversion?

I saw the 645 in polished ebony at Sam Ash a while back for $2800 USD.
The fakewoods generally come in for several hundred dollars less.

The 745 next-gen piano might be slightly higher ... or not. But you won't know until you make the offer.

The greedy bugger not only has 2 floor models of the 745, but they also have 2 Dark Rosewood models? In a pandemic with worldwide piano shortage. Evil dealer!

Tell them $200 discount and you'll help them out and take one off their hands. Offer to pay by cash if that helps seal the deal.

Double check which one has less scratches - one of them will be in better condition.

Welcome to the club,
Burkey (745 Dark Rosewood owner - they do look nice don't they )

3400 is price without a discount that is listed in Canada, try to find out if anyone else is selling it, or may be can ship them for free from other city in Canada.

Also, try other pianos to see if you like them, or even check clp775 if you can afford it - you make like it even better.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

CLP 775 is way above my budget. Even CLP 745 is already a big stretch (not polished model).

As for the listed price, yes, it is 3400 CAD. But I'd say it is virtually impossible to get a discount when the demand is so high (I tried). And there is no other Clavinova dealers in our region (British Columbia).

Despite the fact that we right across the border with US, our market is less diverse, and with the pandemic going on, there is a huge shortage of supply (the same [censored], btw, is for the camping equipment )

I'd be less hesitant to take a floor model if it was in the floor for 1 or 2 months, but 6... I agree with Pete about the dust problem. Also, when I asked the dealer if they can guarantee that the model will have no cosmetic defects, the dealer was a little hesitant to assure me

Anyway, there is 19 more people in line in front of me. And all these people will be offered the floor models first. And only it they refuse, then it is going to be my turn to decide.

This convinces me that it's NOT the right time to be buying a piano ... at least not in your location.I don't compete to buy a product.
If there's competition from other buyers then it's a seller's market. And ... to a buyer that's a sucker's market.
That's a giant NO for me. I would wait until supply catches up with demand.
I don't allow myself to be suckered.

One option is you can ask you the dealer to give you a loaner piano (like P-515 or something similar) while you wait. That is what my dealer did for Kawai Novus NV10. If the dealer does not agree with that, it really depends on what you think of the floor models. Do they have any cosmetic blemishes? Do all keys work and sound as expected? If you are happy with the floor model in all ways and it comes with factory warranty (as it should), then it may be worth getting it rather than wait for 5-6 months. Given the pandemic, it is not likely that a lot of foot traffic has been there in the store.

Osho

+1

They have 2 floor models that have been in the showroom for 6 months and now they have a line up of 20 buyers for these floor models?

Does not compute.

If the dealer doesn't want to deal, then I'd say pass on this one. It isn't the right time for a CLP-745 but hopefully there are many other options.

Well, there is NO other options as I see it. I pretty much set on the CLP-745 model.

And the competition in Canada on this market seems to be pretty much non-existent (especially right now). It is not like in States, where they have multiple big chains.

It is maybe not the perfect time buying a piano, but who knows when it is going to be better.

To be honest, I am OK waiting for 6 months. I mean, I wanted to get a new piano for 2 years now, and I always thought that "maybe later". I have an OK piano for now (while I'm waiting a new one) and I'm not a professional player. And also, I may be lucky and Yamaha supply the requested pianos earlier.


Maybe it doesn't. Maybe the dealer didn't want to part with the floor models back then. After all, if there is no models in the showroom, then people may not want to buy this model blindly. For example, I was going to buy CLP735, but after playing 745 in the store I decided to buy it instead.