Pellet Fan

All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: Dave R. on May 17, 2018, 10:44:30 AM

Title: Selling a Piano
Post by: Dave R. on May 17, 2018, 10:44:30 AM
About 2 years ago my wife and I bought a used spinet piano for our granddaughter to learn on. She was doing very nicely then her interests turned and now she no longer uses it. Well we are going to be moving to another state and our daughter's house where the piano is, is going to move also this summer. I've posted ads to try and sell it cheap but no one seems interested. Can't even give it away to second hand stores, charities and we have even asked local piano teachers to offer it for free to their students parents. Just wondering if anyone here has gone through this drill before and have any suggestions on what I could do. I may end up having to start swinging a sledge hammer if I can't find it a new home. I thought about getting it tuned up and made into perfect working order but hate to throw good money after bad if nobody will take it.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: ylr on May 17, 2018, 11:15:53 AM
I see ads in Craigslist all the time of people trying to give their pianos away. In the age of electronic keyboards, there's not much demand for pianos anymore. I wish you luck,  but you might have to warm up your sledgehammer.  :( Oh, and if you do have to tear it down, not sure how tightly wound those strings are inside, so watch out, in case they pop, and fly out.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Dave R. on May 17, 2018, 12:35:07 PM
I see ads in Craigslist all the time of people trying to give their pianos away. In the age of electronic keyboards, there's not much demand for pianos anymore. I wish you luck,  but you might have to warm up your sledgehammer.  :( Oh, and if you do have to tear it down, not sure how tightly wound those strings are inside, so watch out, in case they pop, and fly out.

Good point. I'll hand the sledge hammer over to my son in law. He is younger and would heal quicker.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: dk117 on May 17, 2018, 12:59:59 PM
Dave, where are you located?   Here in the PNW there are moving companies who will come to your home, take the piano off your hands and pay you about a third of what it's worth.  We've done that twice now and still have an unused piano in the house.

DK

PS same here, daughters got bored with the piano, interests led elsewhere and that's ok. 
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Mudflap on May 17, 2018, 03:37:28 PM
You could put it up for adoption.

https://pianoadoption.com/

Mudflap
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Dave R. on May 17, 2018, 06:11:16 PM
Dave, where are you located?   Here in the PNW there are moving companies who will come to your home, take the piano off your hands and pay you about a third of what it's worth.  We've done that twice now and still have an unused piano in the house.

DK

PS same here, daughters got bored with the piano, interests led elsewhere and that's ok.

We are located between Saint Helens and Scappoose justNorth of Portland a ways off HWY 30. If you have a contact for doing that I would really appreciate the information. I assume you are talking about movers for residences ETC and not piano movers. Is that correct. An answer to our prayers could be in the making. Thanks
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: GatorDave on May 18, 2018, 06:22:29 AM
Have you tried some of the public schools?  I'm guessing there has to be a music program in one of them that would take it.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Dave R. on May 18, 2018, 07:52:14 AM
Have you tried some of the public schools?  I'm guessing there has to be a music program in one of them that would take it.

We had not thought of that but will check into it. Thanks for the suggestion.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: dk117 on May 18, 2018, 12:37:55 PM
I'm just north of you in the Couve.   I think we used Portland Piano Company both times.   You can google them for their consignment or selling opportunities.  I'll check with the wife as it might have been a different company.  We got a few hundred $$ out of old pianos.  I'm sure they made 3x that when they went to sell and they did all the moving. 

DK
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Dave R. on May 19, 2018, 08:17:19 AM
I'm just north of you in the Couve.   I think we used Portland Piano Company both times.   You can google them for their consignment or selling opportunities.  I'll check with the wife as it might have been a different company.  We got a few hundred $$ out of old pianos.  I'm sure they made 3x that when they went to sell and they did all the moving. 

DK

You da man. Thanks neighbor. I really appreciate the assist. We will contact the few piano retailers in the area and see what they have to say. At this point I'd be happy to just give it to them provided they do the moving and handling. Very timely as we are told we will be getting an offer on our home this weekend and will be moving soon assuming that offer meets our needs. Thanks again to you and everyone else who chimed in with suggestions.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: wilpark on May 19, 2018, 06:54:36 PM
We've been trying to give our upright away and its nearly impossible.  Cost of moving a piano is expensive and dropping one is far more expensive.  Just be patient and someone may come and pick it up.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Dave R. on May 20, 2018, 07:24:24 AM
We've been trying to give our upright away and its nearly impossible.  Cost of moving a piano is expensive and dropping one is far more expensive.  Just be patient and someone may come and pick it up.

I generally would be more patient but since we are moving (sold House Yesterday) and our daughter is moving, I feel pressured to get this gone. I tried calling a couple piano retailers yesterday but need to call back on Monday to speak to the right person. Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: jdmessner on May 21, 2018, 01:43:50 PM
My daughter has been playing the piano for a number of years. One of her early music teachers was really discouraged about the number of old and well crafted pianos that were being scrapped and dumped. There just is not a market for them. He came up with a creative idea. He gutted the inside of pianos and made the most beautiful desks out of them. They sold quite well! He also took the string board from the inside of a piano and mounted it on the wall of his studio, so kids could pluck, play and learn. It was a cool way of recycling!
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Canadian John on May 22, 2018, 09:34:13 AM
 That's a good idea.... There is a lot of high quality wood in those old pianos that could have many uses.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: pagesk on June 07, 2018, 01:11:05 AM
I tried for months to give ours away, I even offered to deliver it.  Finally someone took it.  With our climate here in the PNW, it seemed never to be in tune.  We bought a Yamaha electric piano.  Good thing is it only weighs 150 lbs.  The kids can play with headphones and the older one is getting into composing and the Yamaha can feed Garage Bank on her Mac.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Dave R. on June 07, 2018, 07:55:33 AM
Well Portland piano doesn't want it as they have an over supply of this type currently. A piano mover wants $300.00 to take it and recycle it, and the daughter sold her house where the piano is located so it has to go....maybe. The buyer of my daughters house is interested in keeping it. I told daughter to say it's a house warming gift.  :D :D :D
I hope they take the bait. if not I'll get a work out with my sledge hammer. I refuse to pay $300.00 for someone else to recycle it. Perfect as we are in the middle of moving also. One of life's curve balls I suppose.
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: dk117 on June 07, 2018, 10:47:39 AM
sorry to hear it didn't work out for you.   An add on Craigslist for free piano you move might be in order.

Good luck

DK
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Dave R. on June 08, 2018, 07:18:24 AM
sorry to hear it didn't work out for you.   An add on Craigslist for free piano you move might be in order.

Good luck

DK

I guess it would be worth a try. If for no other reason then to see how many scammers offer to buy it for $5000.00 and Guido will come by and get it after I deposit the check. I'm hoping the folks buying our daughter's home will be interested in a free house warming gift. They made an offer site unseen and will be viewing it this Sunday for the first time in person. If they reject the idea it looks like my shoulders and my sledge hammer will get a good work out and the wife's dust pan and broom tested to their limits  ;)
Title: Re: Selling a Piano
Post by: Bentley on June 08, 2018, 10:12:06 AM
I don't play and never will, but I would say yes to this if I bought a place in a NY minute! 


The buyer of my daughters house is interested in keeping it.