Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum What is the best way to sell my Boston piano?

So… I called a local piano store in Orange County, CA and asked them if they buy pianos and/or take them under consignment. They said both, and that their consignment fee was 45% of the sales price. Hey, I believe in the right to earn a fair commission but 45% sounds very high.

The Boston piano is from 2000-2001 that AI says should sell for $15,000 to $18,000. Wondering how most people end up selling their piano. If 45% is normal commission for pianos, I would think discounting it 30-40% or so would result in it selling much faster than it in a piano store and is a win for me and for the buyer. But I’ve never sold a piano before so I may be totally wrong.

Recommendations appreciated. Thanks!

I sold my piano (also a Boston) 20+ years ago through Pianomart. They charged a 3% referral fee when the piano was sold. You get a lot more money for selling your piano privately, but the downside is you need to let strangers (potential buyers and their hired piano tech) into your home to try out and inspect the piano. From a buyer's standpoint, buying a piano directly from a private seller carries some risks since there is no warranty (unless the manufacturer's warranty is still good and is transferable, but not for Boston pianos as their warranties are not transferable) and there won't be any after-sales service.

That does seem high. I sold my prior piano in 2022 for a consignment fee of 30%. That seems reasonable to me given a dealer can often sell at a higher price for the above-mentioned reasons.

WARNING - NO GOOD NEWS IN THIS POST!

When I was trying to sell my Steinway M (finally sold it back in late 2023) I had checked with several piano stores (and rebuilders or wholesalers who advertised that they wanted Steinways). The going commission rate seems to be 40% so 45% is just that much more egregious but unfortunately not far off from the "norm." As for the rebuilders/wholesalers, you don't even want to know what they offered. HINT: it makes the 40% look like a deal and that was for an actual Steinway.

The most difficult item I have EVER sold has been that piano. It took around a decade and the total showings (across 2 states since I had to move with it) was in single digits (so single digit? about 6 total?). So maybe that, in a teeny-tiny way, could start to justify the commissions they charge (which I'm sure makes gangsters jealous). I got close to what I wanted but only about 80% of what I should have been able to sell it for. A store, of course, would have it priced $15k higher than what I sold it for but even then it doesn't help your case.

The dealer earns and deserves their cut (generally speaking). First of all, they will sell it faster than you can, and for more than you can. As EricL mentioned, you'd have to be willing to entertain potential buyers in your home, but you also have to attract people who are willing to come to your home, and a lot of people are not willing to do so (fearful of scams, their personal safety, etc). A lot of people want the assurance of a bricks and mortar store with helpful staff. They want a warranty and someone to turn to--who's been there and will continue to be there--if something goes wrong. The dealer keeps the lights on and is ready to sell every day. When you're at work, out for the evening or out of town, their shop is open.

I suspect that one of the biggest advantages a dealer has over the private seller is the ability to offer financing. The sad reality is that most people don't have tens of thousands of dollars ready to plunk down on a piano (and if they do, they may be reluctant to hand it to a stranger that they met through FB marketplace).

So, why does it matter that the dealer can sell for more? Let's say you can get 12k for your Boston. The dealer might get 20k. They keep 8k and give you 12k. Have you really "lost" anything? Of course, those are big round numbers, and there are lots of variables. Maybe the dealer can only get 19k. Or you could've gotten 13k if you waited for a buyer at home. On the other hand, maybe you can only get 9k or 10k, and the dealer could get 21k or 22k. Without a crystal ball, there's no way to really know. But the dealer probably also knows the market better than you do.


Regarding the size of the commission, the dealer's floor space isn't free. There's an opportunity cost associated with your piano taking up space: they could have another one there with a better markup. Why dedicate floor space to yours if its sale generates only a small commission? Especially if selling it means they won't sell something in their own inventory (for which there would be a higher markup)? In other words, the dealer wants to be showing those pianos that generate the most revenue for the shop. If you want your piano to be in that mix, then you have to let the dealer make some money on it.


Anyway, still speaking in generalities, private sales are potentially the best value propositions for individual buyers and sellers, but both parties need to be relatively patient and tenacious. Buyers have to be ready to buy. And sellers have to wait for the right buyer to come along.

Which piano is it?

Is there a way to sell a grand piano here on pianoworld?

I have only found pianomart for the American market and so far I have not received a single request for this particular Bösendorfer Imperial. I imagine that the audience here could be the right fit for such a piano.

Craigslist and FB Marketplace are free, so start with those. I suggest in the ad to say "local delivery and cash only," or you will get a flood of bots and scammers telling you they will send a cashier's check so they can buy it for their niece or nephew, they'll give you an extra $50, and they don't need to see it first. They either live far away or are "traveling on business for three weeks."

Another good way to market a piano is through your technician. They often know who is buying and who is selling. I don't know if other technicians charge a brokerage fee or how much, but it's bound to be a lot less than a dealer.
I've found many a good home for pianos.

There used to be a forum here for selling pianos. I think it got taken down by the new owners. There may be other online sites that are legitimate.

Honestly, 45% does sound steep. Most folks I know who’ve sold pianos went with either Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or even local piano teacher networks to find serious buyers. You’ll probably get more than what’s left after consignment fees, even if it takes a bit longer. If you don’t want the hassle, you could still try negotiating that fee with the store or asking if they’ll just buy it outright