I've been watching this piano for a while, but really surprised by the lack of interest and final selling price

This Restored Steinway was listed in their website for long time for ?24,950, then reduced for ?19900

http://www.sherwoodphoenix.co.uk/piano-sal...n-a-ebony-case/


Then I saw the same on Ebay, listed as auction style and it went for a final price of just ?9100

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steinway-Model-B...#ht_3069wt_1085

does it give the indication that negotiation should start on less than 50% marked price?

I *must* stop looking at pianos as I've fell in love yet again .... luckily this one is cheaper than the last one I fell in love with -
http://www.sherwoodphoenix.co.uk/piano-sal...-superior-item/

I was in London recently and had a wander round the music shop in Wardour Street (is it Chappells?) and naturally found my way to the piano department! There certainly seemed to be quite a sale on with lots of prices reduced (although they didn't actually call it a sale) so I should think that prices would be much more negotiable these days. This is all very encouraging: I must save up hard so as to be able to afford a piano before the economy picks up and they all go back to being sold for the ticket price.

The amount and quality of restoration work can seriously affect the value of any piano. It's possible to be left with very little of anything truly 'Steinway' other than a shiny case with a label. Also, if you take a look at the Ebay listing it was 'private'. My suspicion is that this piano hasn't really sold and that it will re-appear for sale at some point

I didn't noticed that private listing. Thanks for enlightening me regarding restoration stuff!

Daughters' piano teacher said she has grown beyond digital age and need of an acoustic piano, which is the reason for looking around for something within the budget.

And it is very difficult, I suspect, for most of us to be able to judge the quality of what has been done.

I have just bought a small 1932 Bluthner that was reconditioned by the people my ancient piano tuner describes as "the best in the business". It was much cheaper and sounds much better than an admittedly slightly bigger one we tried in the local shop which was also described as "fully reconditioned". When I asked, they admitted it had been reconditioned 30 years ago.

My lot have very little to sell (they mainly recondition pianos for their owners), so I was lucky that they just happened to have what I wanted at the time I wanted it. My plan B had been to go to an auction, pick something up for about ?1000 (there seemed to be quite a few Bluthners about at that price) and then spend lots of money having it redone.

Cutting out the middle man can save a lot of money, I think.

Interestingly, my local piano shop has also reduced the price of another Bluthner (which we really liked but which was too big and much too expensive). They had it up for ?25,000, reduced it to ?23,500 and it is now on at ?19,995. I suspect there's still quite a lot of profit in that for them.

So when are you getting the manor or castle to keep it in?!

That's too posh style for me! I think my hunt is narrowing down to Yamaha GP C2 or C3, unless I can find a restored bargain Bluthner or Steinway

Yamaha 0% interest free finance package is interesting!

Beware the interest free finance, it rarely is free. If you pay up front you can often get a discount. We got discount and a free piano stool of our choice.

hehehe I do have a little bit of a problem in that I ADORE "Manor house" style furniture but live in a 1980's Semi

Parents live in a house built circa 1850 so old furniture would suit their place much better. However, their house is TINY!

Hmmm.... yes, it's nice. I have a 90s house and I do have a music room. But, if I put that in it, I'm not sure you'd get much else in the room BTW should it read "burr walnut" rather than "bull walnut"?

Yes, should definitely be Burr Walnut, it pays to be a Jaguar fanatic sometimes lol as you know your burr from your "bull" hahaha

I have a music room too, Could get it in there but not a good idea with us having a workshop in there too ....