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If you have not played or seen a piano in real life, on eBay would you buy it based on appearance or brand? Perhaps the piano is overseas and it is not possible to see it.

Nope

In general, I would not. During the pandemic, I might consider it if I could have someone trustworthy inspect it for me (but I'm not piano shopping, so it's not really an issue for me).

Absolutely not! Potentially outrageous shipping costs aside, I’ve played on enough pianos in my time to know that brand/age/type/visual appearance are absolutely irrelevant to the true condition and musicality of a piano. The only way to tell is to sit down and play it. A piano can look pristine, have the right name on the fallboard, be brand new or of the “good” vintage, and still play like a truck and assault the ears. And there’s no telling what issues a piano tech could find, if it’s a used piano. The right piano is the one that fits your budget and your space, suits your playing style, and maybe just speaks to you in some way. And chances are, there’s several of them at your local piano dealer or in the classifieds.


The only scenarios where it would make sense to buy a piano online without seeing it is if you’re a collector looking for a very rare instrument (like a square grand or a player piano), or just looking to own a piano as a piece of furniture. And even then, there has to be SOMETHING fitting those descriptions in your area that you can go check out.

Nope.

How would you know it’s unplayed? No way. That’s too much trust in a total stranger. I have a $50 rule when ordering on line meaning, I am not willing to risk over 50.00. When things are shaky, that’s about the most I could lose without extreme stress, anger and possible depression. I would rather not lose a penny, but I could mentally process losing under $50.00. The price of a piano? No way.

Not what the OP was talking about.

Nope — the odds of the piano being worthwhile and which I really, really liked would be slim to none

ok. I get it. Lol. The title said, “Used, unplayed” He meant unplayed by the purchaser, not the seller.

Would you get married to a yet unseen spouse???...Would you buy a house unseen??...Would you buy a car unseen??...Would you move to a new out-of-state (or out-of-country) location unseen???

All of these might be less stressful than buying a piano unseen or unheard...

But...

DON'T!!!

I apologize I was distracted at the time.I could have written this far better if I was fully focused.Well I am certainly not planning on buying a piano on ebay.The question was asked because of what seems to be a greater need for affordable yet quality pianos and the availability.of these instruments.

We read about desperate women at times marrying a person in prison they hardly know.Sometimes the person is a murderer, anything is possible.Perhaps the question should have been "have you ever bought a piano on ebay?"

I do know of at least one person who bought an unseen musical instrument on ebay

If you’re looking for those that have bought. or would recommend buying an unseen piano on eBay, you are not likely to find it here. ‘Pianists Out in the world’ is a different demographic.

Perhaps someone out in the world will write in and tell us yes they have and it was a disaster, a success or its "passable" But yes it is unlikely.It is nice to look at pianos on ebay and dream,
however keeping it a dream is all it will be for myself.Perhaps buying a piano from a reputable store overseas(without going there) would be safer.Still I would not advise it.

Who knows if one knows a good pianist and a good technician
who can inspect it .and you have "desperate fantasies"..

I was in exactly this position when I was still in China. So I got someone to audition some pianos for me. She chose one, I bought it, and it is as good a machine as I have ever played on.

Having said that she is an international concert pianist and took with her the technician who tunes for her and the concert halls in Sofia. So between them they were always going to make a better decision than I would.

Phillip a long time member like you did this and you were successful! Well I like that.(and no desperate fantasies involved) 👍

Buying a brand that's known for consistency and buying from a trustworthy seller could help mitigate the risk of disappointment too.

I did. Spent 3 years looking locally and on ebay
Then one came up on a 3 day auction 500 miles away. Did my due diligence though.

No I wouldn’t. I also wouldn’t marry a prison penpal. I think I’m much too risk adverse and besides I only live 4 or 5 miles from a Yamaha dealership and a Kawai dealership.

been buying from ebay since 2007 about 100+ items, mostly old (mechanical) film cameras & lenses, cheap mechanical watches, some audio parts - mostly things not available or hard to find where I live,
if it's from a reputable long term seller, who could provide good details (detailed pics, good sound recording), too good a bargain, then yes it's possible😊

ben