Are online retailers or information sources credible?
The Internet can be a great source of information for piano buying, particularly for technical knowledge of the instrument, or to access past buyers and services. There are several well-respected forums, such as pianoworld.com, pianoshop.co.uk, pianoshoppersguide, that provide objectively moderated discussions on everything from price to suggested retailers, brand and models, maintenance and modification. The issue with online retailers is that if the retailer is in a different country than that of the buyer, several distortions of truth typically arise; firstly, many aspects of certain manufacturers’ warranties will be voided when shipped across borders by a retailer. Secondly, there may be little one can do to hold an online retailer liable for damages of any kind. Thirdly, an online retailer may not carry their own inventory. They may have vouchers on someone else’s, meaning that the retailer never inspects the inventory they are selling. Also, their prices may be far lower then the
