Tis the Season
Yes, I know it's not getting that close to Christmas just yet, though Halloween candy IS showing up on grocery store shelves already. Christmas actually is not the subject of this entry, though it does play a roll. If you've ever sold a piano on the private market, you may have the impression that it's a simple task, or you may think that finding a buyer is nearly impossible. Of course it always depends on what you have and what others are looking for, but one of the biggest factors in selling a piano is the time of year.
As you may have guessed, the winter holidays are by far the most popular dates for piano buyers. This goes for stores and private sellers alike. For example, during the months of November and December, Stilwell Pianos will average around 35-40 pianos sold each month. In contrast, our sales drop down to 15-20 per month in our slowest season, which tapers off at the tail end of tax season and lasts essentially through the rest of the summer, picking back up a few weeks into public schools getting back in session.
Knowing the piano seasons can be a great help if you want to sell your piano for top dollar or at least avoid selling your piano wholesale, but the season isn't the only factor. Keeping your piano in tune and in good repair is important too. If someone comes to look at your piano, and it doesn't play properly, it can scare them away. It can also be difficult to determine what a fair market price for your piano is. Look at local store prices and check your local Craigslist as every market is different.
We are fortunate here at Stilwell Pianos to have a full service back shop and plenty of storage space. This allows us to take in high end pianos that need a lot of work and to not slow down with buying pianos when sales are sparse. Our showroom floor is filled to capacity and we have over 25 pianos in back stock as I type.
With all of this back stock and our showroom floor literally packed, it's a great time to be in the market for a piano. We have the widest selection of used baby grands in the state of Arizona and have marked down the prices of several pianos based on what we have waiting for a space on the floor. We have several used Yamaha and Kawai pianos and a very nice selection of high end pianos. We also have the best prices on entry and intermediate level instruments and with so many to choose from, we're confident we have one that will fit your needs. And the best part is, you can try all of these pianos out, side by side, all under one roof! Tis the Season!