What is up with roland dealerships.

[toner22]

I swear it's like the dude who comes to your house to sell vacuums and has one speech memorized.

I walk in to try out the phiIII key action on the 307 to get an idea of what the fp7f would feel like. But hey im always open to competitive bargaining on a cabinet.

I play and the sound and touch are really nice though a bit light to the touch, and as I play I ask the women if they have a decent pair of headphones I could try on (usually theirs always one pair) she says yes their is one and asks the manager.

Course then here comes pops, the grizzled salesman.  And wouldn't you know he taught me things I was unaware of.

Did you guys know that roland is the ONLY piano with escapement? heh must of been high in that kawai store down the street.

Did you know that roland absolutely does not permit markdowns off of retail price? But he was gonna help me and take a lil off the top....

Oh and roland is the ONLY piano company to use the action that I could have sworn so many others had as a piano key model on top of the piano.

Apparently they made the first piano and therefore are forever the best brand as well.

And after listening to him ramble about how no other piano can come close to the godliness of a Steinway (didn't have the heart to tell em you couldn't hear anything in that jumbled mess of keys he just pounded the hell out of.) He cut me a deal, only $3200 for a hp302 plus tax of course.


Level with me, cause maybe it's just the water where I live. Do your guys's roland dealers hand you this much bs on a plate?

Oh ya almost forgot. Apparently keyboards are just a 3rd rate poor mans board and cannot stand up to the power and feel of the hp. Because the hp is meant for a home, not a keyboard.

[Bob]

Probably not limited to Roland, but all sales people. 

Just let them do their schpiel and evaluate the pianos/keyboards based on what you want any way.  Don't be in a rush to buy.  Just collect information.  Then make a decision after awhile, buy/don't buy and which one(s).  Then go back and get them to compete with each other to get the price down.  And always have another similar model in mind to tell them to keep their price down.  That will keep their price fair.  (Or you could physically shop and then buy it online.)

If you're keyboard shopping, take your own headphones so you're using the same headphones on each keyboard.  It's one less variable.

They'll also try to stick it to you on the other things -- warranty of course, but keyboard stand, accessories, bench, etc.   I really hate how when you are following through buying something they start telling you how bad it is and that you need to get that warranty. 

[quantum]

If you're keyboard shopping, take your own headphones so you're using the same headphones on each keyboard.  It's one less variable.

Not to mention it is more hygienic to use your own.  You don't now how many ears those headphones at the store have seen. 

[Bob]

On people's heads? 

People who might have lice... or ticks... beagle ticks and pelt lice.

[john90]

On people's heads? 

People who might have lice... or ticks... beagle ticks and pelt lice.

Take your own bench (piano stool) too! Only joking on this thread. Although I actually would consider it if I was looking for a acoustic piano!

I'm personally never bothered about the sound of digital keyboards, as I prefer to have Midi into a computer, and would probably take my laptop if spending 1000s. I have a old Roland. It was $300 off an auction site. Built like a tank, no complaints. I have never played a digital that feels anything like a decent grand piano. My view is that digital is a different tool entirely. Upright and grand pianos vary so much anyway. A digital is just another type that you need to be able to play on.

[richard black]

I bought my Roland keyboard from a shop that also sells Kawai and Korg and they gave me no pressure at all in any direction, just simple, honest answers to my (few) questions and a price that was what the ticket said (and a tiny fraction less than buying online). This may be why the shop in question is one of London's most successful....

[toner22]

well regardless of the dealer, I decided I liked the kawai action better. Not because of the feel but because roland phiIII was just way to light to the touch.  Seemed like you could tap it and that thing would boom out.  Maybe it's how a grand really feels, but ive only played on a hamilton and it's keys were stiff and weighted.

I'll give em this though the phiIII is very responsive. You can tab that thing 20 times a second and it will hit the same note without fail or falter.