Story and Clark Cambridge model
yjas...@vt.edu
I purchased a Story and Clark console piano, model Cambridge, from R & H Piano
Co., Berlin, PA just a few days ago. I was told that it's a top of the line,
genuium hand-made(by the Amish), made in the USA piano. Without doing any
home work, I took the salesman words for it and bought it for 2,550.00.
Today I got a hold of a Story and Clark's company representative and found out
not only the Cambridge model (43 inches) is not a top-of-the-line, hand made
piano --- it is MADE IN CHINA!! Mass production!
Story and Clark's rep would not tell me if I was taken because they knew R & H
Piano had it (from seiral number).
I am so torn. I wanted an American-handmade piano! But, I paid in full
already. Can someone tell me the fair market price of the piano? By the way,
it's a nine month old piano I was told. Is there anything I can do short of
suing R & H Piano Co. for false presentation?
Please respond to yjas...@vt.edu. Thanks a lot!
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Rick Clark
yjas...@vt.edu wrote:
I am sorry to hear your experience was bad. I do tech work for a S&C
dealer. It is possiible the saleman was mistaken because S&C has a
product mix that contains both made in the U.S. and Asian elements.
Some salespeople are better educated on what they sell than others.
OTOH, maybe he was lying. I dunno. But lately, even the U.S. versions
of S&C are coming in with Baldwin actions made in Mexico, which,
because of lowered fabric quality, are worse than the actions S&C
put in last year. And last year's S&C Americans were OK pianos, not
great. (But that was the what you get at that price).
But I can tell you this. At $2550, you are pipedreaming if you think
you are going to get "quality American product". You are not even
going to get quality Korean product at that price. It will be
something Chinese, Indonesian, etc. Or Russian.
The least prices to be found on true quality American pianos are, IMO,
Charles Walter pianos, which are excellent, but far less expensive
than Steinway.
As to what to do with your dealer- I don't know. What do you want him
to do about it? He can't give you a better American piano at the same
price. You'll have to explain yourself to him and see if you can work
something out. If he refuses, it is your decision if you want to
pursue it legally. There may be a local Consumer Advocate available to
you, or BBB arbitration. But you will need to decide what you want out
of this at this point. But figure it is going to cost thousands more
for good, American quality. For $2550, China is about as good as it
gets.
Rick Clark
pTooner
I just called a friend who sells S&C pianos. They make two uprights, a 42" and a
46" in their PA plant. (Which is not in Amish Country. I have visited the plant,
and there are no Amish there) They buy their 111 series from China. It is a 44
1/2" piano. We (My friend and I) have never heard of a 43" from them. Their
American 42" is the 33xx model with the xx indicating the finish. My friend sells
the American 42" for $2995, sometimes a little less. He has never had one of the
Chineses models (and does not intend to) but based on cost he would sell it for
$1995 if he sold one.
As someone else has said, There ain't no free lunch. The 42" S&C is an
excellent piano FOR THE PRICE! There are no great pianos in this price range. I
am sorry that you were misled.
Gerry
yjas...@vt.edu wrote:
--
e-mail me at ge...@geddings.net only
****Piano Tuners are Grand and Upright People****
Rick Clark
It just occurred to me how outlandishly funny a sales claim of "made
by Amish" really is...
As though S&C is going to run a factory with kerosene lamps,
hand-powered drills, and Blacksmiths, while the women prepare meals
for the men in a 19th century kitchen with wood stoves.
And, of course, no fraternizing with "the English".
Rick
Daniel Wilson
Rick Clark <piano...@mindspring.com> said:
They'd be failed Amish, wouldn't they ? Started by keeping a motorbike
in a shed and gradually got seduced by music heard from car radios. "I
Fell From Grace, and Made Pianos". A real tear-jerker.
===
| \
| \ dw...@cox.compulink.co.uk
| [] D Dan Wilson (Friends of the Pianola Institute, London)
| / antispam: cox rhymes with "kicks"
| /
===
Jory Olson
. But lately, even the U.S. versions
> of S&C are coming in with Baldwin actions made in Mexico, which,
> because of lowered fabric quality, are worse than the actions S&C
> put in last year. And last year's S&C Americans were OK pianos, not
> great. (But that was the what you get at that price).
>
I know that Roseland piano here in Portland, Oregon makes key sets for at
least some of the Story and Clark pianos. I've been to the shop myself and
I've seen them being made. Are the keys part of the action? Seems like I
hear Mason and Hamlin talk about Kluge keys and Renner actions which I
guess means they're considered separate parts.
Jory Olson
Rick Clark
"Jory Olson" <jo...@teleport.com> wrote:
>I know that Roseland piano here in Portland, Oregon makes key sets for at
>least some of the Story and Clark pianos. I've been to the shop myself and
>I've seen them being made. Are the keys part of the action?
I don't include the keys in my comment. I meant rail cloths, backcheck
cloth, whippen cloth, etc. It's coarse and too squishy for fine
regulation. It's just very cheap cloth.
No complaints about the keys from me.
Rick Clark
DZappa
>>As though S&C is going to run a factory with kerosene lamps,
hand-powered drills, and Blacksmiths, while the women prepare meals for the men
in a 19th century kitchen with wood stoves.
And, of course, no fraternizing with "the English".<<
Being the sensitive PC-minded cat that I am (puke now if you wish) might I just
comment that no Amish person would ever avail themselves to this demon
"technology". Being kind hearted souls, we should not trash the Amish in a
forum in which they cannot defend themselves. (Puke now if you didn't prior)
XyZortC
If you start singing the Billy Jack song, I will puke fer shure.
Ceil
remove xy to reply
Rick Clark
dza...@aol.com (DZappa) wrote:
. Being kind hearted souls, we should not trash the Amish in a
>forum in which they cannot defend themselves. (Puke now if you didn't prior)
Not my meaning at all! Just saying how outlandish it is for a
salesperson to claim it's an Amish factory- since the Amish don't use
modern technology, and as far as I know, don't work for any factories.
If there were an Amish piano- how much would it cost nowadays to build
everything by hand? Only thing I'm trashing is ridiculous sales
claims.
I've been known to spend an evening or two by kerosene light myself...
Rick
pTooner
Actually, I think they have a factory of sorts where they build those beautiful
buggies.
Gerry
"Sign On a church door:
>>>THIS IS THE GATE OF HEAVEN. ENTER YE ALL BY THIS DOOR. (THIS DOOR IS KEPT
LOCKED BECAUSE OF THE DRAFT. PLEASE USE SIDE DOOR.)"
Rick Clark wrote:
--