Gray-Market pianos

In every a few days, there is some one who asks about those gray-market pianos. This is for 钱串儿 and others who are interested in buying one of those Yamaha or Kawai pianos.

I have reservation on the so-call gray-market pianos. 钱串儿's Yamaha UX3 is one of them. There has been a controversy on if it suits the climate of North America or not. In the early year of Yamaha’s invasion to the America piano market, lots of Yamaha pianos were recalled due to seasoning problems. After that lesson, Yamaha has been seasoning the wood differently for different regions. There are three of them: North America, Europe and Asia. All the gray-market pianos (including Kawais) were seasoned for the Asian market. Yamaha tells that those pianos are definitely not suitable for this climate, while the dealers of the gray-market pianos tell you otherwise. Some dealers even say that it depends on which region you are in, e.g. in the humid summer Texas is a “yes”, while in the dry winter NY is a “no”. I have read Yamaha’s explanation, and believe it is true, though I can not tell how much it exaggerates the result of it. (see http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/Text_WithCatMenu_XC.html?CNTID=12175&CTID=410010.) After all, Yamaha does have heavy interests in there. So do all the dealers. Personal experience: I have seen one of the gray-market Yamaha grand turned into very bad shape. However, I can not draw conclusion on just one unit. To all of you interested in those pianos, I do not have a yes or no for you, but I think need to be aware of that it is a risk you are taking.

A few more points: 1) Although you think that you are getting a great deal, those are high profit margin item. Negotiate hard. 2) Although you see Yamaha or Kawai names on the pianos, it does not mean they necessarily have the parts of Yamaha or Kawai. I have seen off-brand hammers and other parts replaced in those pianos. 3) In some ads, you will see the word “manufactory” is used, most will be lead to believe it refers to the original makers of them. No, it refers the manufactory that refurbishes the piano before shipping to the US.

所有跟帖： 

• grey-market坚决不能要。 -毕小珠-- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 09:48:33

• Don't buy it from Grey market unless you are a piano technician. -QualityWithoutName- ♂ (136 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 09:56:21

• It's not about if you can fix it or not. It's about -Passerby- ♀ (214 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:12:12

• 我听说那样的琴很快调音块里的螺纹就松了，琴就废了。 -毕小珠-- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:34:35

• 可是北美地区的经纬跨度这么大，他们怎么设计出适合各种湿度的琴？ -钱串儿- ♀ (56 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:48:45

• 问得好！可以打电话问问授权店，看他们有什么说法：） -毕小珠-- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 11:00:29

• Sorry, I misunderstand the Gray-Market. -QualityWithoutName- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:57:34

• 不是专门为北美生产的是不是都是gray-market pianos？ -钱串儿- ♀ (44 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:01:22

• 二手YAMAHA多数都是正品，只要是授权DEALER那儿买的 -毕小珠-- ♀ (10 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:03:24

• Many authorized dealers are selling those behind Yamaha. -Passerby- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:06:05

• yes! -胡桃架子-- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:08:37

• 还好我是查过序号才买的：） -毕小珠-- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:09:10

• just curious: how gray-market is defined? -A-Momy- ♀ (39 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:07:35

• 就是说不是为北美市场生产的，气候不同。因为北美卖得贵 -毕小珠-- ♀ (148 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:11:13

• 谢谢。明白了。 那是不是买新琴也有这个问题？ -A-Momy- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:13:11

• Have not heard of that yet. If have doubst, call Yamaha. -Passerby- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:15:29

• 就是说新琴是gray market的可能性小。 -A-Momy- ♀ (95 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:18:26

• 0% on new units. The maker can track down the dealer and -Passerby- ♀ (41 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 11:29:39

• 是。弯曲有很多非授权店卖那种三四千的新U1，都是灰色市场的。 -毕小珠-- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:30:35

• I think if you call them, they will give you the answer. -Passerby- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:14:14

• 我怀疑他们是不是准备开个收费的服务：）其实方便查询是对他们自己品牌的保护 -毕小珠-- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 10:31:57

• 回复：我怀疑他们是不是准备开个收费的服务：）其实方便查询是对他们自己品牌的保护 -Passerby- ♀ (583 bytes) () 09/14/2009 postreply 11:45:48