Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum steinway= NO discount?

Today we visited a Steinway dealer. The guy who showed me around said Steinway didn't have any discount for brand new piano, unless they were played by someone for one time or twice. Is that true just because they are top-quality instruments? I would believe in his words so that we don't have to argue with them for price cutdown. Both my wife and me were extremely satisfied with upright K52, the list price of which is 24,600. Do you guys think it's good deal? If so, I would go for it. I'm looking for a quality piano for my son and me, though we are still beginners. Thanks for your comments.

Yes, that's pretty much the program. Since the Steinways are hand built, in USA and production is limited, they hold the line when it comes to pricing. That's why pre-owned Steinways are in such high demand. There are many brands that are very good where discounting is the order of the day. Occasioanlly Steinway will have an event when some price negotiation is allowed. There are "university sales" every year where this can happen as well. There are numerous reasons as to why Steinway's pianos are on the high end of the price scale. Since this isn't an advertizing forum, I won't go into it here. Good luck with your search for the right instrument.

Hi Mingqing and fellow Kentuckian! Steinway is notorious for discounting very little or nothing at all. But small discounts are possible in some markets; the only way to know for sure is to try, e.g., say to the dealer, "I'd like to buy the piano but can't pay more than $20K; here's my phone number if you can let it go for that."

As to whether it's a good deal, well, if I were paying $24,600 for a piano, there are others I would buy before a K52, primarily some very nice grands. Are you looking in particular for an upright?

The current Ancott and Larry Fine supplement lists the K52 at $26,400 in ebony finish, up to $30,600 in wood finishes. Sounds like you are getting a better price than that, perhaps due to the fact that the dealer has had that unit longer. In any case, there is not much negotiating room from there.

Hold out for their "once a year annual factory event" where prices are actually reduced. If you are set on an upright, why limit yourself to Steinway? There are many on the market in that price range that in my opinion are considerably better choices. Try any of the European makes: Bechstein, Seiler, Sauter, Grotrian, Bluthner, etc etc..

If you are looking for a quality piano there are lots of them in that price range ...including that Steinway.

An 6'3" Estonia 190 grand sells for close to that. Schulze Pollman, Kawai RX series, Yamaha C-series -- all grands -- sell in that range. If a vertical is required, Schimmel, Grotrian, Schulze Pollman, and Sauter are within reach.

Steinway is a fine piano, but if that is all that you have examined you are missing a lot of the market.

Piano*Dad,

Good advice. I will add that The Piano Book by Larry Fine is a great orientation for a shopper.

Keep us posted and good luck!

I hope that you use the SEARCH feature within this forum about upright pianos. I have played many and have written about my quest on quality uprights in several posts here.

I would think that there are many very nice uprights that you should compare before purchasing the 'name' Steinway. Personally, I think that their name is based on their grands, and their concert grands in particular (as well, the B). I hardly ever hear that their uprights are in demand.

But - There is a piano for everyone.

Since you are here searching, it seems you need confirmation that what you played is qualified as the best. It may be. Yet, for the same monies, there are so many other wonderful brands that you should check out. Some that you may have never heard the names of. For example:
Sauter, Grotrian, Forster, Seiler, C. Bechstein (watch for the C.), Bluthner, etc, that might be in your price range. Steingraeber is even a little higher, if that is possible.

PM me if you need more info but please try to search the forums first.

LL

The most important one being that every dealer is virtually doubling his money on his own own original cost or investment the moment the piano leaves his showroom.

Just making this kind of profit when selling a piano first time around, hardly adds *real value* to the instrument - certainly not in the short term.

Just try to sell a Steinway back to the dealer after only few years - don't forget he can get the very same instrument for about 1/2 the price of what you paid - *BRAND NEW*!

Steinway bashing?

Not at all - they can be beautiful instruments when set up right.

But these are the *facts*.

Norbert

Norbert, if the Steinway dealership became available to you, would you take it? I am not "Norbert bashing" I just want to know where you are coming from.

Sour Grapes?

None whatsoever.

Are you denying what I said as true?

This subject has been eloquently discussed here before. Please read here:

web page

Feel free to give us any more input of things that were perhaps missed before by others....

Norbert

First off, I don't set pricing or policy. Please don't forget that these are handmade American pianos with very limited production. Snotty as it may sound, if there were 100,000 units being cranked out of a Chinese factory, the Steinway name would mean nothing. As many bash the sacred cow, it's still one of only three American manufacturers still alive today in the good old USA. If they're not worth it, why do they dominate the concert stages around the world? BTW, what's the margin on your pianos? Furthermore, not everyone that comes into my store buys a Steinway. As a matter of fact I often use our Steinways to sell other brands that we carry. I almost always start at the top and work towards an instrument that meets the client's musical and finacial requirements and never badmouth my competition.

Thank you guys for all comments. I'm beginner of piano just one month ago. After Hanging around sometimes in this forum, I finally began to check our local dealers. The one I visited this morning is pretty big, but 80% of the pianos they own are Steinway. The other smaller one I visited two weeks ago owns several, like Beckstein, Pramberger,Sohmer, etc. Other brands you guys mentioned are, IMO, very difficult to find in this city. I think Steinway is just like BMW, though top quality, but over-priced, and still have lemon products. I feel so frustrated looking for a long-life piano for my son.
Canonball/pianopeddler/piano-cellular: Thanks for the explanation of Steinway pricing system. When do the ‘university sales’’ ‘once a year annual factory event’ usually happen? Are there other evens I should stick to?
Monica: my current budget is no more than 25k, but all Steinways grands the guy showed me are more than that, except some Boston and Essex made in Japan. I personally don’t like Japan or Korea-made products. So that kills many brands like Yamaha, Pramberger, etc. Here is my best choice: European ,esp. German or US made, grand, <25K, top quality. Any suggestion?
Piano*Dad/Rich Galassini: Good idea. I will buy the book. However, I don’t have much time doing research on piano brands and quality investigation. Just like when I bought my car, Passat 04, I trusted this brand, safe, and comfortable, the price is not high. Then I went for it. It would be great if you guys list the trustable brands from top to the bottom. Then I will do research only on the top 5.
Lillylady: thanks great for your opinions about upright. I will SEARCH this forum. Hopefully avoid buying ‘brand’ instead of buying quality.
Nobert: your ‘facts’ are just so scarry, making me hesitate buying pianos….

Suggestions:

The *best* European pianos in your price range IMHO would be:

Estonia - Vogel [by Schimmel] - Bohemia - Petrof.

There are other choices, but they may not be available in your area.

Too bad you are not ready to look at some of the new Chinese made pianos coming now in amazing quality with true European tones - so I won't mention them at all.

Always do take your time - the right piano will come up sometime-somewhere.

Happy shopping.

Norbert

Canonball asked:

15-30% tops.

I can happily live with that.

How'bout you?

You see that's where you and me are different:

I immediately listen to my customers real needs and resources and don't bother to make them feel somehow inferior by showing off my most expensive pianos first....

The WOW-effect is being earned by getting them something hopefully great in their actual price range.

Nor do we.

But the original point in this thread by Mingquing had to do with *price* and *cost* - not quality of the instruments.

P.S. Do you still disagree with anything being said about *the figures*?

Norbert

To Nobert:
I care much more about the quality than the price, that's the reason why I set up my budget high even for a upright,20-25K. The brands you suggests,,,I don't think I can find a local dealer selling them. Any of you have ideas dealers around kentuckiana area? Piano is new toys for me...

In real estate it's...location, location location! In pianos it's name, name, name. Here is a poster that can afford the best part of town. Sounds like a no brainer since he can afford it. His childrens children will thank him for buying the best.

If there is a Petrof dealer near you check out their big upright. It's definitely the best sounding upright I've ever played. (NOTE: I have not played any other European uprights. I have played Steinway, though.)

By the way, Baldwin 6000 might surprise you as well if you can find one nearby. It's also a pretty darn nice upright. Play as many different brands as you can and make your choice based upon what feels and sounds best to you. Try to ignore the name until you've played the instrument. Having a famous name doesn't necessarily make it a great piano (of course, it doesn't hurt, either.)