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Need your advise for this deal:
I have Yamaha U3S, upright purchased two years ago as brand new.
Now I like to have Yamaha grand C-5, used 5 years old, is nearly new condition. The dealer is Ypma pianos(Steinway and Yamaha official dealer in Holland), offered 14,000Eur plus U3S trad in.
Is this a good deal?
Thank you for your advise.
Niya

What did you pay for the U3? What would the dealer sell you the piano for without the trade. With that info we can guide you a little better.

I paid 9000Eur for my upright U3S, on the contract says, I get free trad in only when I purchase NEW piano for more 18,500Eur.
Thank you!

This sounds like a very good deal....for YPMA.

Are you looking at a C2 or a C2 Silent?

You may also want to ask the same question to Clavis in Amsterdam which are the largest YAMAHA dealer in Holland. My experience with YPMA is that they take a Steinway attitude towards negotiating which is not in your benefit. Even if you prefer to buy from YPMA having a better offer from Clavis may help them to give you a better price.

Clavis sells the Yamaha C2 brand new for euro14.295. So you could just buy it outright and keep your U3S as a (silent) practice instrument.

If you decide later to sell the U3S you might get a better price posting it for private sale on the bulletin board at Broekmans & van Poppel.

Thank you!
I know Clavis, I have been to ask them. For the brand new C-3 they offered me 16,750Eur+my U3.
And C-2 is not interested enogght to me, too small.
The C-5 from Ypma is only 5 years old, nearly new condition.
Do you think I can easily sell my U-3 ?

Niya

Sorry, I misread your original post and thought you were looking for a C2, my apologies. I need to read more and type less!

If my house could handle a C5, I think I would look instead at the C7, but that is another matter.

For the C5, they probably told the last owner that instruments depreciate heavily in the first 5 years and that is why they can't offer a lot while to you they emphasize it is in mint condition. That is their business, but realize that they will have maneuvering room and also realize that your piano has market value based not just on condition but age. If you like the sound and feel of the instrument it doesn't sound like all that bad of a deal if the market would valuate it as a new instrument. Won't you miss the Silent function though?

With the Silent instruments I think it is better to keep them moving. As the electronics are renewed every couple of years, the silent portion tends to depreciate quickly. Better that someone else suffers it. However, this year a new version came out which will already be factored into prices. If you have any doubts of keeping it, better to sell sooner rather than later. If you are not in a hurry, you could list it for sale at Broekmans and marktplaats.nl and see what kind of bites you get.

Clavis has the C5 selling on their website for 25.566 new. Without trade in, you should be able to get at least another 10-15% off of that price, so say 21.731. Given that a grand piano depreciates in market value by about 25% in the first 5 years, the used C5 is worth objectively 25% less, or: 16.298. So, if you are paying 14.000, then you are essentially getting only 2.298 for your trade in.

So, if you are really getting a hypothetical 9000 for your U3S that would mean you would only pay euro 7.298 cash on top. Given that the latest version of the U3S can be negotiated new in the store for around 8.100 euro, which if we depreciate your used instrument at 20% comes to euro 6.480, you are leaving at least euro 4.182 on the table.

What you can get out of a private sale also depends on whether or not you come across someone who sees the list price in the store of euro 11.253 and doesn't realize they can bargain and is willing to pay you say 8000-9000 for a U3S "in mint condition, only 2 years old". However, as long as you sell between 2.298 or the market value of 6.480 it would seem that you would come out ahead.

BTW: If you decide to sell your U3S for 2.298 privately instead of to YPMA, let me know I'll take it!

Thank you.
My U-3 has no silent system. Next to the serial number is U3S. Was also purchased from Ypma as brand new.
Ypma only can pay back 4000Eur for my U3S.
And C5 gave me for 18000Euro.
I think if I can sell to anyone who is willing to pay 6000Euro then I am satisfy.

So what do you think I can privately sell my U3S in short term, or it takes ages for the first buyer?

Niya

You won't know until you try.
You could list it at Broekmans, at the Conservatorium, on marktplaats, in pianowereld, etc. Of course for some of these you incur costs.

It might be easier to advertise to sell 'met spoed' for 5000 which still puts you ahead of the 4000 offered from YPMA but makes it a deal for a potential buyer to move quickly.

Thanks, I moved one step forward now.
I put in Marktplaat.nl
I will try other options too.
Have a good weekend.