HOW TO SAFELY BUY A PIANO ONLINE
1. Try and Find Pianos Located Near You, If Possible
Although that particular piano you have been searching for may only be available outside your local area,
finding one closer to you has its advantages. With a local piano, you can assess it with your own eyes and
ears, do your own evaluation, and get a better feeling of the seller. In addition, keep in mind that you are
usually responsible for moving costs. A piano located near you will also give you the chance to view several
instruments and narrow your search down to those which appeal to you, before the next important step:
2. Have the Piano Inspected by a Qualified Piano Tuner/Technician
We can't stress this enough!! You wouldn't buy a used car based on a written description or a photograph
without having a mechanic look under the hood, would you?
If the piano is located in your area, the best way to find a reputable piano technician is by word of mouth,
through piano teachers, musicians or others that can give their recommendation. If not, or if the piano is
located far from where you live, you can easily search for a Registered Piano Technician through the
Piano Technicians Guild. A technician's fee varies, but is usually less than $100 and well worth the money:
FIND REGISTERED PIANO TECHNICIANS HERE
3. Hire a Professional Piano Mover
Choose a mover that specializes in PIANO moving, especially in situations where the piano is to be moved
long distances. Piano moving companies have the proper technique and transport equipment to get a piano
safely moved in almost any situation. For local moves, piano technicians or piano stores are a better source
for recommending piano movers than your local Yellow Pages.
FIND LONG DISTANCE PIANO MOVERS HERE
4. Close the Deal Using an Escrow Service
OK, you've used your common sense and good judgement this far. Now it's time to protect yourself in the
crucial last stage - payment and delivery of the piano.
With the exception of pianos sold through independent piano technicians, most private sales contain no
money-back guarantees or warranties. When you buy the piano, it is yours - for good.
Escrow is a service that protects both the buyer and the seller - reducing the potential risk of fraud - by acting
as a third party that collects, holds and disburses funds according to Buyer and Seller instructions.
An escrow agent helps co-ordinate the transaction and manages the payment process from start to finish.
This gives you the assurance that your money will not be released to the seller until you have inspected and
approved of the piano after it has been delivered to you.
For a small fee, escrow agents give true assurance for buying valuable items.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE ESCROW PROCESS & FIND AN AGENT NOW
HOW TO SAFELY SELL A PIANO ONLINE
1. Be Aware of Fraudulent Email Inquiries
Most transactions conducted through the PianoBuyandSell.com website are legitimate, safe and
trouble free.
It is important to note, however, that the internet is a vehicle for scam artists who try to prey on uninformed
people through internet-based classified ads and online auction sites like eBay.
The most common of these scams is one that originated in "Nigeria", "West Africa" and soon other locales.
However, the fraudulent inquiries are now beginning to sound much more realistic, like someone pretending
to be representing a client in the U.S.A. or actually someone simply posing as a U.S. resident (or wherever
you reside), and involves the use of forged cashier's checks.
People recognize cashier's checks as checks that have been pre-approved by the bank as having sufficient
funds, so one may be lulled into believing that with this check they cannot go wrong. What they don't know is
that the check is counterfeit.
The scammer will typically offer to send you a cashier's check for an amount higher than your asking
price. After you "deduct your payment for the piano", you will then be asked to wire-transfer the balance
back to them - "but only after the cashier's check clears, of course."
You are skeptical - but, sure enough, the bank cashier's check arrives by Fed Ex, it looks real (the forged
check is even purportedly drawn on a U.S. bank), your bank accepts the check, and assures you the funds are
in fact available. So you wait the time the bank recommends to verify that the check is clear and then you wire
the difference to your buyer and prepare to ship your piano. The scammer actually has no interest in your
piano, but will pretend to be making shipping arrangements.
A week later your bank calls: "We're very sorry, but the cashier's check was counterfeit" -- a superb copy, but
worthless. Your account is frozen - and the scammer has vanished with your money.
Keep in mind that a bank may make money "available" to you almost at once if you deposit a purported bank
cashier's check, but that's NOT a guarantee the check is authentic. It could be returned as counterfeit long
after you have wired your money to the scammer.
If anyone - no matter where they say they are from - offers to pay you more for your piano than your
asking price by cashier's check and then asks you to wire-transfer the difference to them, THIS IS A
SCAM - don't even bother replying to them.
However, if you wish, fraudulent inquiries can be reported to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center
Use extreme caution when dealing with buyers from outside your area. Ask yourself: Why would someone
so far away want to buy my piano?
Become concerned if the buyer is most interested in payment arrangements, but expresses little or no
interest in the condition of the piano.
Note the poor quality of the email inquiry, like: all lower case letters, including at the beginning of
sentences; poor spacing of sentences; bad spelling and grammar, etc...
NEVER give details of your bank account, Social Insurance or Social Security number
In general - Avoid scams & fraud by dealing locally!
2. Make Sure You Secure the Buyer's Money BEFORE You Release the Piano
OK, so you've found a buyer who wants to buy your piano. Now it's time to protect yourself in the crucial last
stage - payment and delivery of the piano:
With local sales, try and get a certified check from the buyer, or at least wait until their funds clear in your bank
account before you release the piano to them.
If you believe a long distance offer is legitimate, consider securing funds using a third party escrow service
such as Escrow.com (see below)
Escrow is a service that protects both the buyer and the seller - reducing the potential risk of fraud - by acting
as a third party that collects, holds and disburses funds according to Buyer and Seller instructions.
An escrow agent helps co-ordinate the transaction and manages the payment process from start to finish.
This gives you the assurance that the buyer's funds are good and secured before you release the piano.
In addition, the money will under no circumstances be released back to the buyer unless your piano is
rejected by them and returned in the same condition in which it was sent. Make sure that this is agreed upon
in your escrow terms of sale, and also state that the buyer is responsible for return shipping charges.
For a small fee, escrow agents give true assurance for selling valuable items.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE ESCROW PROCESS & FIND AN AGENT NOW
1. Try and Find Pianos Located Near You, If Possible
Although that particular piano you have been searching for may only be available outside your local area,
finding one closer to you has its advantages. With a local piano, you can assess it with your own eyes and
ears, do your own evaluation, and get a better feeling of the seller. In addition, keep in mind that you are
usually responsible for moving costs. A piano located near you will also give you the chance to view several
instruments and narrow your search down to those which appeal to you, before the next important step:
2. Have the Piano Inspected by a Qualified Piano Tuner/Technician
We can't stress this enough!! You wouldn't buy a used car based on a written description or a photograph
without having a mechanic look under the hood, would you?
If the piano is located in your area, the best way to find a reputable piano technician is by word of mouth,
through piano teachers, musicians or others that can give their recommendation. If not, or if the piano is
located far from where you live, you can easily search for a Registered Piano Technician through the
Piano Technicians Guild. A technician's fee varies, but is usually less than $100 and well worth the money:
FIND REGISTERED PIANO TECHNICIANS HERE
3. Hire a Professional Piano Mover
Choose a mover that specializes in PIANO moving, especially in situations where the piano is to be moved
long distances. Piano moving companies have the proper technique and transport equipment to get a piano
safely moved in almost any situation. For local moves, piano technicians or piano stores are a better source
for recommending piano movers than your local Yellow Pages.
FIND LONG DISTANCE PIANO MOVERS HERE
4. Close the Deal Using an Escrow Service
OK, you've used your common sense and good judgement this far. Now it's time to protect yourself in the
crucial last stage - payment and delivery of the piano.
With the exception of pianos sold through independent piano technicians, most private sales contain no
money-back guarantees or warranties. When you buy the piano, it is yours - for good.
Escrow is a service that protects both the buyer and the seller - reducing the potential risk of fraud - by acting
as a third party that collects, holds and disburses funds according to Buyer and Seller instructions.
An escrow agent helps co-ordinate the transaction and manages the payment process from start to finish.
This gives you the assurance that your money will not be released to the seller until you have inspected and
approved of the piano after it has been delivered to you.
For a small fee, escrow agents give true assurance for buying valuable items.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE ESCROW PROCESS & FIND AN AGENT NOW
HOW TO SAFELY SELL A PIANO ONLINE
1. Be Aware of Fraudulent Email Inquiries
Most transactions conducted through the PianoBuyandSell.com website are legitimate, safe and
trouble free.
It is important to note, however, that the internet is a vehicle for scam artists who try to prey on uninformed
people through internet-based classified ads and online auction sites like eBay.
The most common of these scams is one that originated in "Nigeria", "West Africa" and soon other locales.
However, the fraudulent inquiries are now beginning to sound much more realistic, like someone pretending
to be representing a client in the U.S.A. or actually someone simply posing as a U.S. resident (or wherever
you reside), and involves the use of forged cashier's checks.
People recognize cashier's checks as checks that have been pre-approved by the bank as having sufficient
funds, so one may be lulled into believing that with this check they cannot go wrong. What they don't know is
that the check is counterfeit.
The scammer will typically offer to send you a cashier's check for an amount higher than your asking
price. After you "deduct your payment for the piano", you will then be asked to wire-transfer the balance
back to them - "but only after the cashier's check clears, of course."
You are skeptical - but, sure enough, the bank cashier's check arrives by Fed Ex, it looks real (the forged
check is even purportedly drawn on a U.S. bank), your bank accepts the check, and assures you the funds are
in fact available. So you wait the time the bank recommends to verify that the check is clear and then you wire
the difference to your buyer and prepare to ship your piano. The scammer actually has no interest in your
piano, but will pretend to be making shipping arrangements.
A week later your bank calls: "We're very sorry, but the cashier's check was counterfeit" -- a superb copy, but
worthless. Your account is frozen - and the scammer has vanished with your money.
Keep in mind that a bank may make money "available" to you almost at once if you deposit a purported bank
cashier's check, but that's NOT a guarantee the check is authentic. It could be returned as counterfeit long
after you have wired your money to the scammer.
If anyone - no matter where they say they are from - offers to pay you more for your piano than your
asking price by cashier's check and then asks you to wire-transfer the difference to them, THIS IS A
SCAM - don't even bother replying to them.
However, if you wish, fraudulent inquiries can be reported to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center
Use extreme caution when dealing with buyers from outside your area. Ask yourself: Why would someone
so far away want to buy my piano?
Become concerned if the buyer is most interested in payment arrangements, but expresses little or no
interest in the condition of the piano.
Note the poor quality of the email inquiry, like: all lower case letters, including at the beginning of
sentences; poor spacing of sentences; bad spelling and grammar, etc...
NEVER give details of your bank account, Social Insurance or Social Security number
In general - Avoid scams & fraud by dealing locally!
2. Make Sure You Secure the Buyer's Money BEFORE You Release the Piano
OK, so you've found a buyer who wants to buy your piano. Now it's time to protect yourself in the crucial last
stage - payment and delivery of the piano:
With local sales, try and get a certified check from the buyer, or at least wait until their funds clear in your bank
account before you release the piano to them.
If you believe a long distance offer is legitimate, consider securing funds using a third party escrow service
such as Escrow.com (see below)
Escrow is a service that protects both the buyer and the seller - reducing the potential risk of fraud - by acting
as a third party that collects, holds and disburses funds according to Buyer and Seller instructions.
An escrow agent helps co-ordinate the transaction and manages the payment process from start to finish.
This gives you the assurance that the buyer's funds are good and secured before you release the piano.
In addition, the money will under no circumstances be released back to the buyer unless your piano is
rejected by them and returned in the same condition in which it was sent. Make sure that this is agreed upon
in your escrow terms of sale, and also state that the buyer is responsible for return shipping charges.
For a small fee, escrow agents give true assurance for selling valuable items.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE ESCROW PROCESS & FIND AN AGENT NOW
| Buying or selling a piano using the internet doesn't have to be an experience filled with doubt, fear and suspicion if you are well informed. The internet is the future of consumer sales - and it is already here. Through what other medium can you find such a wide variety of used pianos for sale - including photos, detailed descriptions and published asking prices - for comparison shopping? For sellers, there simply is not a better or more economical way to reach such a large audience and showcase your piano with all the details necessary to attract potential buyers. The used piano market is thriving more than ever, with millions of used instruments changing hands - mostly through private sales - each and every year. Having said that, it is important to understand how to smartly buy or sell online by eliminating the possibility of false advertising, fraudulent offers, bad transactions or utter scams. It's really not that hard. And all the tools to protect yourself are available to you right here. |
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