Piano shopping can be a nightmare of pressure! But if you are new to pianos - don't be pressured into rushing in. The needs and concerns expressed by the average or first time piano buyer are often at conflict with the advice they receive while shopping. So, where can you turn for advice without feeling pressured into making a buying decision “right now” that might not fit into your present comfort zone? To answer that question, and learn some secret strategies that are emerging in the piano marketplace, let’s examine the mindset of some typical piano buyers, whom I shall call Jim and Mary Forte for purposes of this article.

Typical Piano Shopping Concerns

The hypothetical Forte family would like their children to learn how to play the piano, but like most parents, they have concerns about investing a lot of money for an expensive piano before they know how well their kids are going to do with their piano lessons. Yet they also realize that a toy piano or a cheap piano keyboard isn’t the answer either, if they want their kids to be truly successful.

Over the years I sold pianos in the Phoenix, AZ piano market, I met a lot of parents who were willing and able to purchase a fine musical instrument for their kids, but they wanted to see measureable progress before writing that big check to the piano store, and now, in hindsight, I have to agree this makes a lot of sense. However, no matter how much sense that might make to parents, in the real world of piano sales, that’s the last thing that most piano dealers want to hear.

When I sold pianos for a living, it was my job to convince people to buy “right now” even if they weren’t mentally prepared to make that kind of buying decision. And I often thought there had to be a better way of helping these people, but in those days, that’s just how things worked – either you sold or you starved! Sadly, because of this outdated marketing philosophy, there are thousands of orphan pianos languishing in homes, never used for more than a short time, which is exactly the fear expressed by so many prospective piano purchasers.

Piano Shopping Simplified at Last!

Good news! The days of subtle, high pressure piano sales are over if you know where to shop! There are a few piano stores springing up here and there that work the way I always thought a piano store should work. In one of these places, it is now possible for Jim and Mary Forte to give their kids piano lessons without mortgaging their soul to do it.

In fact, the Forte’s or any other sensible parent in this new piano market place can have a brand new, or quality pre-owned piano delivered to their home for under $150 total outlay, with no strings attached and absolutely no buying pressure of any kind whatsoever! They can try the piano in their home for up to one year for a low monthly investment, and if things don’t work out, they can return the piano with no questions asked - without ever purchasing it. This is a piano parent’s dream scenario – and the traditional piano salesperson’s worst nightmare!

Piano Shopping Without Risk

This is the way I always imagined the piano business should be, but it gets even better. One of the pioneers of this unique trial plan calls it a “play period” in which there is no commitment to buy anything. At the end of this “play period” the parents have several options, none of which pressures anyone to buy anything before they are absolutely ready to make that decision on their own.

People living in the Phoenix AZ area, for example, can visit this new type of piano store online or personally. They are shown pianos in the $35, $50 and $75 per month range, with “play periods” varying from 3 months to 12 months depending on the piano. Let’s say they choose a $50 per month piano with a 9 month “play period.” By the end of the ninth month, they will have invested less than $150 to get started, including the delivery of the piano to any Phoenix location, plus the $50 monthly investment. The monthly payment is billed directly to their credit card making it hassle free – and no annoying credit check either.

At the conclusion of the “play period,” they have several options. If things haven’t worked out with the children’s lessons, they can just return the piano they selected with no questions asked. Or if things have gone well, they can either continue making monthly payments for as long as they wish on a rental basis, or they can choose to buy the piano applying 100% of their “play period payments” to the piano in their home, or to any other piano offered by the company. The choice is completely theirs, without any pressure to buy at any time.

Piano Shopping That Truly Makes Sense!

Isn’t this the way buying a piano should work? Shouldn’t piano parents be able to give their kids piano lessons without mortgaging the farm before they know how well the kids will do with their lessons? Isn’t that better than being pressured into making a purchase before you are truly sure that you are doing the right thing?

As a retired Phoenix piano salesman, who is no longer under pressure to sell pianos for a living, I can objectively say that Josh Wallace of My First Piano in Mesa, Arizona is doing the right thing for piano buyers. The way he offers pianos to the buying public is the way I always dreamed a piano should be offered to people, with absolutely no sales pressure of any kind, and terms that any first time piano buyer can truly live with. If you live in the Phoenix area, My First Piano may very well be your first and last stop for all your piano needs.

For people living outside the Phoenix Arizona area, here is what I recommend. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into buying a piano too soon! Make absolutely certain it’s the right thing and the right time for your family before investing. Ask about alternative purchase programs such as a piano rental or a lease program. Make sure you are getting all the options listed above before entering into any agreement.

To learn more about how these innovative new ideas can be used when shopping for a piano for your family, please see My First Piano as a valuable starting point.

Richard Bristol is a retired piano professional. He offers free piano advice on a variety of piano related topics on his Phoenix Piano Advisor blog.