Price for Clavinova and Technics
Xue Li
I am shopping for a digital piano and am interested in Calvinova and
Technics. Here are the price quotes I got from local dealers for
the models that I am interested in:
Clavinova CLP 511 $2995
Clavinova CLP 411 $2495
Technics PX222 $2888
1. Are these prices reasonable? If you bought any of such models (or a
similiar one) recently, I would really like to hear from you.
2. How do you compare Clavinova vs Technics? Touch? Sound quality?
3. For Clavinova, is it worth $500 more to get a 511 instead of a 411?
Looks like the major differences are just number of voices and amplifier
power.
I really appreciate your information and help.
Sue Li
li...@cc.gatech.edu
KBrodee
The Clavinova seems to be the choice of more teachers and Students, that I
have seen. The prices seem to be really good. Get the Clav and get the 511
You should be happier
Eugene A. Braun
Xue Li wrote:
> I am shopping for a digital piano and am interested in Calvinova and
> Technics. Here are the price quotes I got from local dealers for
> the models that I am interested in:
>
> Clavinova CLP 511 $2995
> Clavinova CLP 411 $2495
I got a CLP 411 w/bench & headphones & tax wrapped up about $2000 w/free delivery, assembly,
and a months worth of free lessons (4 1/2 hour sessions). I suggest you look around for
better prices... $2496 for the 411 is way too much!
Eugene <-- not speaking for his employer, naturally
Jeff Adams
On 16 Jun 1997 23:30:42 -0400, li...@cc.gatech.edu (Xue Li) wrote:
>
>I am shopping for a digital piano and am interested in Calvinova and
>Technics. Here are the price quotes I got from local dealers for
>the models that I am interested in:
>
>Clavinova CLP 511 $2995
>Clavinova CLP 411 $2495
>
>Technics PX222 $2888
>
>1. Are these prices reasonable? If you bought any of such models (or a
>similiar one) recently, I would really like to hear from you.
Well, unless the MSRP has gone up in the last month, the MSRP for the
CLP511 is 3295, and for the CLP411 it is 2695. That's about an 8% -
10% discount. I don't know what else comes with the deal (are they
going to bring it to your home and set it up? etc.?)... but... well, I
don't want to get a bunch of people mad at me...
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| 415-966-2122 | Mountain View, CA U.S.A. |
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DZappa
In article <33A6E7...@bcs.lucent.com>, "Eugene A. Braun"
<ebr...@bcs.lucent.com> writes:
>I suggest you look around for
>better prices... $2496 for the 411 is way too much!
Way too much, oh my GOD!!! Some awful dealer is trying to make a PROFIT!!!
Thank you Eugene, for helping keep the piano industry safe from
profiteers!
Now that the sarcasm is over - $2496 is a reasonable price for the 411 - I
agree that the 511 has a better sound and you'll probably be happier with
it in the long run. As far as a $2000 price goes, yes there are dealers
willing to part with them for that, but I will tell you this much - it's a
deal that's too "skinny" to keep the doors open for long. So buy from the
guy you like and trust.
Regards
Dave
KBrodee
WOOHOO Finally Dave
Congrats
Eugene A. Braun
Please, Dave...I have refrained from posting *anything* to the MSRP/profit argument because I
just don't want to be involved in it. It isn't worth my time. Suffice it to say that I look at
the MSRP as a starting point, that's all. Somebody asked if $2495 seemed reasonable. Since
I got mine for about $1900 (not including tax here), with goodies thrown in (that makes it
about a 30% difference), I didn't think so.
I didn't twist anybody's arm. It was very close to an everyday deal that Sam Ash runs on that
particular DP. I mentioned that price, and they immediatly offered the deal and I immediatly
took it, knowing it was a good one. I didn't threaten, wheedle, cajole...and I told them up
front I'd rather deal with a local business than a retail chain. Even at that, the store has
to be making some profit, since they didn't scream, yell or even negotiate. They smiled. So
did I.
BTW, this store has been in business for many, many years. They must be doing something right.
Regards,
Eugene <-- speaking only for himself
Jeff Adams
On 18 Jun 1997 03:00:56 GMT, dza...@aol.com (DZappa) wrote:
>In article <33A6E7...@bcs.lucent.com>, "Eugene A. Braun"
><ebr...@bcs.lucent.com> writes:
>
>>I suggest you look around for
>>better prices... $2496 for the 411 is way too much!
>
>Way too much, oh my GOD!!! Some awful dealer is trying to make a PROFIT!!!
>
>Thank you Eugene, for helping keep the piano industry safe from
>profiteers!
>
>Now that the sarcasm is over - $2496 is a reasonable price for the 411 - I
>agree that the 511 has a better sound and you'll probably be happier with
>it in the long run. As far as a $2000 price goes, yes there are dealers
>willing to part with them for that, but I will tell you this much - it's a
>deal that's too "skinny" to keep the doors open for long. So buy from the
>guy you like and trust.
Dave, this just really helps to characterize the difference between
you dealers and us consumers. A 10% discount on a Clavinova is hardly
anything to get excited about. Stores that just deal in electronic
music gear (i.e., pro sound and synthesizer type stores) would LOVE it
if they only discounted 10% on most stuff.
I understand that a piano store is different and has very high
overhead, but, surely you must agree that Clavinova's require close to
zero maintenance. And if you say that's not true, please share with us
what maintenance is required. I'd guess that a lot of buyers of
digital pianos have low maintenance as a reason for going digital
(somewhere on their list, maybe not at the top, maybe even fairly far
down the list, but nevertheless, a consideration). Perhaps the profit
from the Clavinova's helps to support the (sagging ?) profits from
regular pianos.
Regarding the $2,000 price, yes, that's pretty low (around 25% off of
list), but I would suggest that a lot of pro-sound and synth type
places do survive on that. No? Maybe 20% off? I'm trying to skirt the
issue of cost, so I'm not calculating gross profit margin. I know I
can go in any day of the week to a Guitar Center (I hate to bring them
into the discussion, but I bet a fair number of our readers are
familiar with them) and purchase a Roland, Korg, or Kurzweil
synthesizer or sound module for 25% off. I'm assuming the Clavinova
has a similar cost structure.
Note - this is NOT a flame! Guitar Center doesn't carry Yamaha, so
it's a mute point, other than to note that some businesses can survive
on the previously quoted discount level. I'm NOT suggesting that a
standard piano store could.
And on a slightly different note, I thought Yamaha didn't allow
mailorder (I was guessing that maybe the $2,000 price was mailorder,
but could be wrong), so, go support your local dealer and get the best
deal you can. If it does break, it's nice to be able to have someone
to take it to locally. And maybe Yamaha doesn't even honor the
warranty if it was purchased mail order. Does anyone know the answer
to these questions?
Eugene A. Braun
Jeff Adams wrote:
> And on a slightly different note, I thought Yamaha didn't allow
> mailorder (I was guessing that maybe the $2,000 price was mailorder,
> but could be wrong), so, go support your local dealer and get the best
> deal you can. If it does break, it's nice to be able to have someone
> to take it to locally. And maybe Yamaha doesn't even honor the
> warranty if it was purchased mail order. Does anyone know the answer
> to these questions?
Jeff, this was not a mail-order deal. I went to the store, talked to the salesman, reached
that particular deal (with no real haggling, something I am loath to do anyway). The place
was about 30 - 35 miles from where I live and they threw in free delivery, assembly, the
headphones, bench and lessons. No muss, no fuss. You are correct in that Yamaha does not
allow its dealers to do mail-order, according to one mail-order dealer I talked to. BTW, I
think the lesson cost is absorbed by the teaching studio on the premesis as a loss-leader.
So I do, in fact, have someone to take it back to if the thing blows up on me. Plus I like
the idea of supporting a local business. In fact, I would have paid a few bucks more for
those reasons. I even told them so up front. But I'm not going to pay an extra 30% above
what at least one chain-type store thinks is a fair price for those reasons.
I also believe you are correct in your statement about DP's needing little or no upkeep
from the dealer side. As far as I can tell, it's no different from buying a TV or stereo.
There's nothing the dealer needs to do but store the box someplace until somebody buys
it. There's certainly no need to tune it, etc.
Regards,
Eugene <-- speaking only for ME!
Ted S Wada
Jeff Adams (jeff.adams.@gscxyz.gte.com) wrote:
(above texts deleted)
: Regarding the $2,000 price, yes, that's pretty low (around 25% off of
: list), but I would suggest that a lot of pro-sound and synth type
: places do survive on that. No? Maybe 20% off? I'm trying to skirt the
: issue of cost, so I'm not calculating gross profit margin. I know I
: can go in any day of the week to a Guitar Center (I hate to bring them
: into the discussion, but I bet a fair number of our readers are
: familiar with them) and purchase a Roland, Korg, or Kurzweil
: synthesizer or sound module for 25% off. I'm assuming the Clavinova
: has a similar cost structure.
:
: Note - this is NOT a flame! Guitar Center doesn't carry Yamaha, so
: it's a mute point, other than to note that some businesses can survive
: on the previously quoted discount level. I'm NOT suggesting that a
: standard piano store could.
:
: ======CORRECT EMAIL: remove the xyz======================================
: | Jeff....@gscxyz.gte.com) | GTE Electronic Systems Division |
: | 415-966-2122 | Mountain View, CA U.S.A. |
: | All opinions are mine and not my employer or internet access provider. |
: ==========================================================================
I do agree that Guitar Center can give you really good deals and
service. The new Guitar Center in Atlanta (which took over the Rhythm
City), I believe, does have Yamaha merchandise. I don't know whether they
have Clavinova's or Technics, but I saw that they have P150. Maybe they
won't have Yamaha products anymore after the take over, but it might be
worth checking with Guitar Center, though.
Ted
DZappa
Ok,ok... I thought twice about sending the original sarcasm, but did it
anyway (I was in a "mood"). Sam Ash is an old retailer who goes through
salespeople like I go thru microbrew. They are cheap because they don't
pay their people unless it's management. They are also cheap because they
order a BUNCH of gear and get pretty good discounts from all the
manufacturers. I can't comment on the quality of their service, but you
are right in saying that digitals are pretty much a sell it and forget it
proposition.
So, Eugene, I apologize for being so sarcastic (it really doesn't belong
in this forum) but please understand that your particular deal was a good
one, and advising that 2500 for a 411 was WAY to high was not exactly
accurate.
Regards
Dave