Hello, can anyone personally recommend a company to move a piano around the Southampton area? I'm waiting for quotes from companies on this site but if anyone knows of any others...
Many thanks
Melodie
Piano move
Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano, Melodytune
These people look pretty good: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6541457.stm
No such thing as bad publicity?
No such thing as bad publicity?
I think I remember the name from an advert G and R removals placed in the piano auctions catalogue I received. Lauding their skills and experience in moving pianos.
If you click on the picture icon of the BBC site there are 4 pics showing how they managed it.
It looks as if they did not have enough people (how heavy is one of these: 350KG) and the lorry was on a slope and perhaps they should have swung the piano round whilst it was on the lift to get it out of the back of the lorry completely before lowering the lift, but they should have thought of that beforehand.
If you click on the picture icon of the BBC site there are 4 pics showing how they managed it.
It looks as if they did not have enough people (how heavy is one of these: 350KG) and the lorry was on a slope and perhaps they should have swung the piano round whilst it was on the lift to get it out of the back of the lorry completely before lowering the lift, but they should have thought of that beforehand.
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WinstonChurchill
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Ah, that'll be lot No. 78 from the infamous auction last week, I take it!
This is the same company that delivered my piano -- the dealer's choice, incidentally. The guys who actually did the work were excellent (I'm told; I wasn't home), but the company was useless. My fault for not realising the dealer had gone cheap on a 'part load', I guess -- and they kept messing me about with dates.
"We'll come sometime on Tuesday."
"I can't get out of work Tuesday. Any other day this week would be fine."
"We won't be in your area any other day this week."
"Can't you arrange to be in my area some other day?"
"No, we have to deliver for Bluthner."
"Oh, right. Presumably they pay for a service and they expect good service."
"That's right."
"Well I'm paying for a service too."
"Yes, but Bluthner has a contract with us, and we're delivering pianos for concerts."
"But you told me last time we spoke that you would come Wednesday. Now it's going to be Tuesday. I've rearranged my whole week for this, so I expect you should rearrage your schedule too."
"We can't. It's Bluthner. They're more important."
*sigh* "Fine, it will have to be next week."
"Which days will you be available?"
"Tuesday or Thursday"
"Call us this Friday and we'll confirm the time."
[On Friday:]
"Which day will you come?"
"I see you told us to come Tuesday or Thursday."
"That's right."
"We'll come Monday."
*sigh* "I can only be home after 1PM. I do have a job, you know."
"We'll come after 1PM."
...and of course, on the day, they arrived at 10AM. Good thing Mrs Churchill had taken the day off, or this could have gone on until the end of time.
This is the same company that delivered my piano -- the dealer's choice, incidentally. The guys who actually did the work were excellent (I'm told; I wasn't home), but the company was useless. My fault for not realising the dealer had gone cheap on a 'part load', I guess -- and they kept messing me about with dates.
"We'll come sometime on Tuesday."
"I can't get out of work Tuesday. Any other day this week would be fine."
"We won't be in your area any other day this week."
"Can't you arrange to be in my area some other day?"
"No, we have to deliver for Bluthner."
"Oh, right. Presumably they pay for a service and they expect good service."
"That's right."
"Well I'm paying for a service too."
"Yes, but Bluthner has a contract with us, and we're delivering pianos for concerts."
"But you told me last time we spoke that you would come Wednesday. Now it's going to be Tuesday. I've rearranged my whole week for this, so I expect you should rearrage your schedule too."
"We can't. It's Bluthner. They're more important."
*sigh* "Fine, it will have to be next week."
"Which days will you be available?"
"Tuesday or Thursday"
"Call us this Friday and we'll confirm the time."
[On Friday:]
"Which day will you come?"
"I see you told us to come Tuesday or Thursday."
"That's right."
"We'll come Monday."
*sigh* "I can only be home after 1PM. I do have a job, you know."
"We'll come after 1PM."
...and of course, on the day, they arrived at 10AM. Good thing Mrs Churchill had taken the day off, or this could have gone on until the end of time.
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Gill the Piano
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It's because that's all it was worth.Openwood wrote:I still don't understand how they got the Burzendawfer for 26k at auction in the first place, even if most of the trade was in Germany.
Big Bosies depreciate faster than a falling....
er.. Bosie.....
Actually, I thought it was an Imperial, but it was just a concert grand. This makes G&R look even more silly. An Imperial is very unwieldy to move, but a 9 footer's cooking stuff........ Or should be.
So I wake up at 5am this morning and you know what's going around in my head? Who sends a 9' 6'' relatively new Bosendorfer concert grand to an auction in the first place?
I mean it's not the kind of thing you buy by mistake, is it? You know how it is; you're in town for a white sliced and a packet of B&H and you see this Bosendorfer 9" 6" concert grand piano at ninety thousand pounds and you think "yeah, it'll look nice next to the fish tank". You come downstairs the next morning and you realise - damn, it just doesn't go with the curtains. So off it goes to auction and you decide to blow the less-than-a-third-of-what-you-originally-paid on a nice Kemble upright instead. Let's face it, we've all been there.
Or maybe you're sat there playing your 9" 6" of German sonic perfection and you think, "Hmm, doesn't sound as good as it did in the showroom, think I'll trade up to a.........." Well, what for God's sake????
Most irregular.
I mean it's not the kind of thing you buy by mistake, is it? You know how it is; you're in town for a white sliced and a packet of B&H and you see this Bosendorfer 9" 6" concert grand piano at ninety thousand pounds and you think "yeah, it'll look nice next to the fish tank". You come downstairs the next morning and you realise - damn, it just doesn't go with the curtains. So off it goes to auction and you decide to blow the less-than-a-third-of-what-you-originally-paid on a nice Kemble upright instead. Let's face it, we've all been there.
Or maybe you're sat there playing your 9" 6" of German sonic perfection and you think, "Hmm, doesn't sound as good as it did in the showroom, think I'll trade up to a.........." Well, what for God's sake????
Most irregular.
Maybe the owner died, who knows? 
What we do know is that the hammer price was £22,000, so with premium and vat, that's £26,523.75.
However the paper says that the "replacement" value is £45,000. I don't suppose that is the new price, so where did they get that figure from?
Bet they wish they got the Grotian at £12k + costs instead
What we do know is that the hammer price was £22,000, so with premium and vat, that's £26,523.75.
However the paper says that the "replacement" value is £45,000. I don't suppose that is the new price, so where did they get that figure from?
Bet they wish they got the Grotian at £12k + costs instead
While at Uni, I was playing some Qantz flute stuff with this lass, who's a member of the Cadbury family, and she invited me to their 'pad' in Worcestershire where they had a music room.
It contained a Steinway B, and a Bechstein Model III (7'9" ish) as well as a two manual pipe organ. It was the sort of music room that you would die for. I said in passing that Qantz had written his stuff with a harpischord in mind and thought no more about it.
About six months later, this lass approached me again and said that they now had a Flemish Double and I should pop in when next passing ... (that was about 35 years ago) .. and I still haven't.
The point is that there are indeed a fair number of people who buy pianos, serpents, sackbutts and ophecleides as fashion items. Why else would Harrods ever sell a piano?
It contained a Steinway B, and a Bechstein Model III (7'9" ish) as well as a two manual pipe organ. It was the sort of music room that you would die for. I said in passing that Qantz had written his stuff with a harpischord in mind and thought no more about it.
About six months later, this lass approached me again and said that they now had a Flemish Double and I should pop in when next passing ... (that was about 35 years ago) .. and I still haven't.
The point is that there are indeed a fair number of people who buy pianos, serpents, sackbutts and ophecleides as fashion items. Why else would Harrods ever sell a piano?
Otto
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PianoFifty
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How sad to see the pictures of this episode. I had a job reconciling the amount paid with the alleged value, given the advice that was given on here recently about the perils of buying pianos at auctions - seems they somehow got a real bargain....? But it would have been for a good cause (music club - funds raised from donations) so good luck to them. I wonder if its repairable?
Whilst I am still trying to coordinate a company to move my recently purchased piano, I came upon the write up of G&R, the company who moved the Bosendorfer....
It made me smileA family run business established in 1968 , we are the only piano specialists members of the British Association of Removers, Fedemac (European Movers ) and the RHA . We are proud to have been awarded BS EN12522 Quality Standard for the last few years , among the requirements are a comprehensive liability insurance policy and a detailed training programme for all staff . From a local piano move to most Worldwide destinations by road sea or air , please call us for a detailed quotation .
but I would chose a proper piano moving outfit over the "man with a van" or generalist movers anyday.I had contact all yesterday with a company who said they would be able to do the delivery for me. Today they say they don't think they would be able to get to the destination before the shipping company close so would keep the piano on the premises until Monday when they will take it.
I am not too happy about this and they don't really see why I shouldn't be. Am I being a little too finicky? Its just I really don't feel comfortable with the idea of a piano kept either on the van or in a storage place over the weekend.
I am not too happy about this and they don't really see why I shouldn't be. Am I being a little too finicky? Its just I really don't feel comfortable with the idea of a piano kept either on the van or in a storage place over the weekend.
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Gill the Piano
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Storage, yes; on a van, no. If the temperature is high, the piano will be deeply unhappy in the van, which is essentially a tin box. Storage is generally minimally heated, and pianos seem to come out of protracted stays relatively unscathed (in my experience - maybe my customers have been lucky!) so I would insist on storage if they really can't do it. Where's it going from/to?
Hi Gill, Southampton to Bournemouth then shipped to me to Mallorca Tuesday. Its a headache. He has now come back to me stating he wouldn't that way again until the 26th, seems like, in other words like it or lump it.....
He still doesn't understand my concerns and quoted
He still doesn't understand my concerns and quoted
New Yamaha pianos from Japan sit on a ship floating around the world in a cardboard box in a metal container on the deck of the ship that is exposed to the sea and the weather. They don't get harmed from this journey
Aaargh...
I used to teach the daughter of a couple who ran a furniture import/export business. The girl was a beginner and the parents asked me on the first week of term if it was worth buying an acoustic piano rather than a digital one. I suggested that they get a middle of the range upright blah blah.
I went round the following week to find a new S6 in their living room which they'd sent their men to go and fetch from (I believe) Harrods.
Their comment to me was "Will that one do? If it's no good tell us and we'll get a bigger one."
That, my friends, is how the Other Half live.
I went round the following week to find a new S6 in their living room which they'd sent their men to go and fetch from (I believe) Harrods.
Their comment to me was "Will that one do? If it's no good tell us and we'll get a bigger one."
That, my friends, is how the Other Half live.
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Barrie Heaton
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They've gone to the wall though haven't they?Barrie Heaton wrote:Bosendorfer must be rubbing there hand with glee all that free publicity the other big manufactures will be gritting there teeth at comments like "the Rolls Royce of pianos"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosendorfer
Anyway, have you seen a Rolls Royce these days?
Fat, ugly, bloated and only appeal to the wealthy with no taste... Oh yes.. That's Bösendorfer too I guess.....
Melodie wrote:Whilst I am still trying to coordinate a company to move my recently purchased piano, I came upon the write up of G&R, the company who moved the Bosendorfer....
A family run business established in 1968 , we are the only piano specialists members of the British Association of Removers, Fedemac (European Movers ) and the RHA . We are proud to have been awarded BS EN12522 Quality Standard for the last few years , among the requirements are a comprehensive liability insurance policy and a detailed training programme for all staff . From a local piano move to most Worldwide destinations by road sea or air , please call us for a detailed quotation .
[/quote
It made me smile
In general, there's really nothing wrong with G&R. They're professional and competent.
It's only that this was so high profile, mainly because there was someone on hand with a camera. I'm sure that the photos have earned the Music Society concerned far more than they've lost on their piano.
The Times ran a follow-up interview with him yesterday, which came across as a decent attempt by the paper to offer him a chance to redeem his reputation.
I thought he came across well, although he said the main thing was that nobody was hurt; nah, the main thing was we all had a bloody good laugh at his expense and thanked our personal deities it didn't happen to us.
I thought he came across well, although he said the main thing was that nobody was hurt; nah, the main thing was we all had a bloody good laugh at his expense and thanked our personal deities it didn't happen to us.
Hi pianoguy, I am not doubting at all that they are a good company as David B has already confirmed as I'm sure many others will. Its just that after what I read about the incident then finding the write up it goes to show no matter what one is awarded, what insurance or training they have, nobody is infallible.
I feel sorry for G & R with all the hype this has had, I'm sure if the Duchess of Wessex wasn't involved it wouldn't have had so much publicity.
I feel sorry for G & R with all the hype this has had, I'm sure if the Duchess of Wessex wasn't involved it wouldn't have had so much publicity.
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Gill the Piano
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Melodie; presumably your Seiler isn't a new one though, and therefore can't be compared with a new squeaky clean Yammie made of plastic, nylon, polyester, PVA and other new substances in addition to the traditional woody bits...have you shopped around? Ask removal firms about part loads, especially the expat specialists.
Re the publicity Bozos have had from the removals cockup (I bet Barrie removes THAT one), you'd think they would have offered the music festival a new one by now, since they'd have had to pay a huuuuuuuuuuge amount for the equivalent advertising. No honour amongst...piano manufacturers!
Re the publicity Bozos have had from the removals cockup (I bet Barrie removes THAT one), you'd think they would have offered the music festival a new one by now, since they'd have had to pay a huuuuuuuuuuge amount for the equivalent advertising. No honour amongst...piano manufacturers!
[I feel sorry for G & R with all the hype this has had, I'm sure if the Duchess of Wessex wasn't involved it wouldn't have had so much publicity.]
The Duchess of Wessex was involved? No wonder they dropped it - she's just a slip of a thing, you'd have to have at least one extra bloke on whichever end she was carrying. Crazy.
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The Duchess of Wessex was involved? No wonder they dropped it - she's just a slip of a thing, you'd have to have at least one extra bloke on whichever end she was carrying. Crazy.
[/quote]
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WinstonChurchill
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Well it seems the infamous piano only has 100 pounds worth of damage, so I was informed by my BIL.
Hi again Gill, thanks once again for your thoughts. No my piano isn't new, more the reason why I didn't want it moved about more than it already will be until it gets to me. I didn't get confirmation from the piano movers in question so cancelled the collection time with the seller changing it to Tuesday with another piano mover. Then I received a message from the seller at 1600 hrs yesterday saying the piano movers were at the house asking for their money....totally unexpected as I thought they had got the ache and weren't going to do it. They delivered it to the shippers before they closed after all so I am well pleased. Not so pleased with the lack of communication from the movers but there you go....
Hi again Gill, thanks once again for your thoughts. No my piano isn't new, more the reason why I didn't want it moved about more than it already will be until it gets to me. I didn't get confirmation from the piano movers in question so cancelled the collection time with the seller changing it to Tuesday with another piano mover. Then I received a message from the seller at 1600 hrs yesterday saying the piano movers were at the house asking for their money....totally unexpected as I thought they had got the ache and weren't going to do it. They delivered it to the shippers before they closed after all so I am well pleased. Not so pleased with the lack of communication from the movers but there you go....
I have to admit I am only going on what my BIL said but apparently going by what was aired last night on tv, it wasn't such an expensive mistake was it in the end, well maybe not for the piano but I think its an expensive mistake for G&R, I'm sure it puts people off. If they have such good testimonials then the best of luck to G & R.
It was because it was such an isolated incident (plus the D of W involvement) that it made the headlines.
I am pretty sure the no comment policy made it worse, if they had said yes it was an awful accident etc etc then maybe it would have helped them. Seems worse the fact they did not make any comment at all.
That is just my honest opinion mind....
It was because it was such an isolated incident (plus the D of W involvement) that it made the headlines.
I am pretty sure the no comment policy made it worse, if they had said yes it was an awful accident etc etc then maybe it would have helped them. Seems worse the fact they did not make any comment at all.
That is just my honest opinion mind....
Dunno about that.
All publicity is good publicity I reckon. Those of us who regularly use G&R won't stop doing so, and the whole darn world now knows of their existence.
Amazing publicity for a small music festival and I'm sure their piano will be OK if they decide to hang on to it (although I'm surprised that it didn't bust its frame as is Bozo's wont) or if they don't, the worldwide sale of photos (all copyright Penny Adie, you notice! - Canny woman!) will pay for something more suitable like the S&S B that they went to the auction to bid for, but was so stupidly bid above their limit.
As Gill said, Bozo's (or whoever has bought them from the hands of the Receiver!) also get great publicity from those "Rolls Royce" and "Stradivarius" references. It's probably quadrupled the number of people who've heard of them. Steinway and Faz must be mightily pi***d off.
As for the ill-fated Bosie itself, I'd not be surprised if the insurance company who'll inevitably have to pay out stuff it back into the Piano auctions and manage to flog it for what they'll pay on it.
It's what I'd call a win, win, win situation.
All publicity is good publicity I reckon. Those of us who regularly use G&R won't stop doing so, and the whole darn world now knows of their existence.
Amazing publicity for a small music festival and I'm sure their piano will be OK if they decide to hang on to it (although I'm surprised that it didn't bust its frame as is Bozo's wont) or if they don't, the worldwide sale of photos (all copyright Penny Adie, you notice! - Canny woman!) will pay for something more suitable like the S&S B that they went to the auction to bid for, but was so stupidly bid above their limit.
As Gill said, Bozo's (or whoever has bought them from the hands of the Receiver!) also get great publicity from those "Rolls Royce" and "Stradivarius" references. It's probably quadrupled the number of people who've heard of them. Steinway and Faz must be mightily pi***d off.
As for the ill-fated Bosie itself, I'd not be surprised if the insurance company who'll inevitably have to pay out stuff it back into the Piano auctions and manage to flog it for what they'll pay on it.
It's what I'd call a win, win, win situation.