[pianotech] FW: FUMC Estate Sale - Piano

[Ron Nossaman]

On 4/22/2012 10:33 AM, Leslie Bartlett wrote:
> A friend sent this to me, wondering if it might be worth buying for
> her son. She is a reverend, and cannot afford to light campfires with
> $100 bills at all. I’d appreciate comments on this from people who
> know about technical stuff, but who also know if a square in 21^st
> century really might be a viable instrument to a person who is not
> going to be a high level performer, specializing in Period Music.
> Thanks,

Les,
EVERYONE selling ANYTHING has a treasure, and EVERYONE buying ANYTHING 
is poor and wants someone else to find them a bargain. Too bad. This 
will NEVER CHANGE, and neither will our advice. You can't adopt everyone 
who isn't rich, and the ones who are are often worse. So don't tell us 
they don't want to spend money. We know. And don't tell us it's just for 
a starter piano and doesn't have to be concert quality. We know. Believe 
me, we've heard it thousands of times, and it doesn't change the reality 
of the situation which is that they, like all the rest of us, will have 
to spend the money necessary to get the item that meets the criteria for 
their use. That's it. The reality is the important part here, rather 
than the fantasies of either the buyer or the seller. try to stick with 
the reality you already know instead of bringing the fantasies to the 
list, for us to holler at you about 'em, and you'll save a virtual stamp.

Translation: You already know better. Yes, you do. You're quite 
qualified and capable to educate them on what sort of piano they need to 
be looking for to satisfy their needs. The price will be a function of 
that, not the other way around. There are hundreds of thousands of 
little Johnnies and Shaquilas out there that won't get pianos for lack 
of the disposable income to provide them, or much worse yet, hugely 
overpay for something that is totally inappropriate or unplayable, and 
waste what will likely be the only shot they have. They don't need 
empathy that will prove toxic in the long run, they need good advice up 
front even if it's not what they're wishing for.

I've used up my word allotment, and can't afford to be too extravagant, 
so I'll go now.
<G>
Ron N