Bansall and Sons v Bremar upright

[lou-lou33]

Hi Mark,

Sorry, I referred to them as couriers but they are actually a firm of piano movers, based in south Yorkshire (I would give the name but I'm not sure whether that would be classed as advertising?). I have spoken to the chap today, and he was going to get in touch with you to arrange a collection time. They were able to give a very reasonable quote because they travel the route quite frequently. I will pass on your contact details straight away.

I hope this is okay? Do let me know if you encounter any problems and I will sort them. Thanks Mark.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

I've just checked my voicemail and it seems they wanted to collect yesterday. I was rushing around a lot yesterday so didn't spot that voicemail come in until just now. Sorry about that!!

I'll text them now and see when they can collect again.
I'll keep you posted.

Thanks
Mark
p.s. I don't think it's advertising to say who youve booked. It sounded like P K P Pianos on the voicemail but it was a bit crackly so I couldn't be sure.
P.p.s. Found them! http://apkpianomovers.vpweb.co.uk/Home.html Never heard of them before but they look good

[lou-lou33]

Hi Mark,

Yes - they're the ones. I spoke to James (from APK) last night, and he said they happened to be passing Oldham so they thought they'd try and collect - but it's no problem because they travel the M6 quite frequently so he is aiming to collect sometime next week - he said he was going to text you on Monday to hopefully arrange a convenient collection time for towards the end of next week. Does that sound okay? I really don't want this collection to turn into a headache for you, so please let me know if you feel that is happeneing!

Also, I was hoping to pick your brains about positioning of the piano. It is going against an internal wall (no radiator) on laminate flooring. Now, would I be best to lay a piece of carpet down for the piano to sit on? I don't mind about the laminate being dented, I am more concerend with which flooring type will give the best acoustics.

Thanks Mark.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

That's fine. Next week should be fine yes and don't worry it's no inconvenience at all. As for positioning I wouldn't put anything under the piano. The Piano isn't overly bright sounding so I don't think you will need to dampen the sound with a mat or anything.

Keep in touch

[Colin Nicholson]

Liverpool - Oldham.....Only just over 40 miles away! nowt is that!

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

I'm happy to repeat this process dozens of times for private individuals seeking a free working piano.

[NewAge]

I'm happy to repeat this process dozens of times for private individuals seeking a free working piano.

Mark,
I personally think what you are doing is admirable - assisting those with limited resources to get a piano otherwise destined for the skip.
However I would humbly suggest that in order to avoid more daggers being drawn in the future by the 'Anti Mark Brigade', that you proceed by use of this forums Private Messages (PM) only. Other forums insist that private discussions between individuals must only be by PM, thus avoiding diversions of the original subject matter. Somewhat surprising that it's not enforced by this forum's moderators, as there are over 20 posts here unrelated to the original Bansell & Sons v Bremar request for info!
Just a thought, so you can dispense of ammunition and hang up your flak jacket.
Bon weekend.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Thanks NewAge,
For future situations like this I could just ask the "buyer" to create a new topic specifically for getting a free piano. That way it wouldn't be classed as off topic. As for daggers, I'm used to them and am not bothered by them.

I wouldn't want to do it by PM as that would hide away the fact that you can easily get a free piano that is near enough as good as what you might pay serious money for in many piano shops. The market has changed, these old pianos have has their value massively eroded. See my "GAME" topic the other day, it shows an excellent quality Eavestaff piano going for £27 on ebay. Those go for over £1000 in established shops. I don't think I'd want to give one of those away for free as they are a step up in quality from the kind of piano that I'm offering for free.

This needs doing out in the open to show people that they don't have to settle for straight-strung overdampers in order to get an affordable piano. The full process needs to be kept in public so people can see how practical issues such as delivery can be arranged and so that people know it does work through to completion and delivery.

Sorry for waffling.

[kswaby10]

Love the pics shared here. Thanks for posting.

[Barrie Heaton]

Thanks NewAge,
For future situations like this I could just ask the "buyer" to create a new topic specifically for getting a free piano. That way it wouldn't be classed as off topic. As for daggers, I'm used to them and am not bothered by them.

Please don't do that. The forum is not for selling pianos or giving them away if you have pianos to give away put them on the piano for sale trade section and mark them as Free and Sold as Seen to cover yourself You may then point to them from a post in a PM


Barrie,

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

That's no fun lol. I want to do it for friendly forum members, not your average bargain hunter who expects the world for nothing and then shows no gratitude. I'll maybe just do the same approach as in this topic by waiting until someone comes along saying "should I accept this free piano" and then tell us that it is an 1880 straight-strung overdamper from the local farmer's barn. I could parp up at that point and offer them something better for free

[Barrie Heaton]

That's no fun lol. I want to do it for friendly forum members, not your average bargain hunter who expects the world for nothing and then shows no gratitude. I'll maybe just do the same approach as in this topic by waiting until someone comes along saying "should I accept this free piano" and then tell us that it is an 1880 straight-strung overdamper from the local farmer's barn. I could parp up at that point and offer them something better for free

Then do it as a PM like the other retailers do Offering a piano for fee is just the same as saying I can sell that make £100.00 cheaper than that shop. That is one way of getting you banned.



Barrie,

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Cheers Barrie.
I don't have time to do this sort of thing by PM. Doing it within the forum helped me do it quick, easy and fun. But it's fine, I understand you have forum policies and am happy to abide by them.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Update:
The piano was collected just now by APK piano movers. It only just fit in the van but is now safely loaded and ready for delivery.

[lou-lou33]

Hi Mark,

That's great! Thanks so much for letting me know - hope it all went okay.

I will be in touch as soon as it arrives. Thanks again Mark.

[athomik]

Update:
The piano was collected just now by APK piano movers. It only just fit in the van but is now safely loaded and ready for delivery.

Is that a washing machine taking up most of the back? Mind you, in this economic climate, it helps to diversify.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

I'm not exactly sure what that big unit is in the van. I didn't like to ask and I didn't want to snoop around.
But yes it does look like the underside of a washing machine.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Hi PianoLove,
I am very happy to provide you with a free piano in good working order that is overstrung and underdamped. However, I won't have time to handle it via PM or email. I set aside some time each day to do a quick check of this forum because I very much enjoy the community feel of this place. So I make time for that and I enjoy it. However, I don't have any time available for walking through the process of choosing, photographing and helping arrange delivery of a free piano via PM or email. When it comes to one-to-one digital communication I have to devote my efforts to replying to any emails that might come in from paying customers.

I don't know if that explanation makes sense but I enjoy the community feel of posting in a public forum. Doing it all behind closed doors is not fun in the same way.

I will always have something knocking about though. Perhaps if I chose I what I felt to be the best option and then listed in the UK Piano "pianos for sale" section and posted a link here that might be acceptable to Barrie. But even then I would only be willing to take questions via the forum, not email or PM.

Fingers crossed we can sort something out for you.
I hope the forum admin(s) realise that this is not a profitable venture. It's just putting the forum to good use to help people with zero budget get a piano that I don't mind letting go for free which is still a half-decent piano. If I were a proper capitalist I'd sell these for £150 - £500 but I'm not a pure capitalist so I'm happy to give things away from time to time.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

That all sounds fine with me. Yes you could pop and have a nosey when I have a few in to choose from.
I'm not sure how much delivery would be sorry. I don't know how much APK charged Lou.

Let me know when you are ready to move on this and we'll see what we can sort out.
Thanks
Mark

[piano heads]

I'm happy to repeat this process dozens of times for private individuals seeking a free working piano.

Are you any good at consoling piano-sceptic spouses also, Mark???

Rename the website THE U.K.PIANO GREAT GIVE-AWAY PAGE.

[NewAge]

That's no fun lol. I want to do it for friendly forum members, not your average bargain hunter who expects the world for nothing and then shows no gratitude. I'll maybe just do the same approach as in this topic by waiting until someone comes along saying "should I accept this free piano" and then tell us that it is an 1880 straight-strung overdamper from the local farmer's barn. I could parp up at that point and offer them something better for free

Then do it as a PM like the other retailers do Offering a piano for fee is just the same as saying I can sell that make £100.00 cheaper than that shop. That is one way of getting you banned. Barrie,

Barrie's right on the Mark here. (Pun intended).
This original Bansall and Sons v Bremar thread has been thoroughly highjacked!

[NewAge]

At least Mark's pianos are going to good homes by people who will appreciate them and be very grateful.

PianoLove,
As are free pianos HERE:http://www.piano-tuners.org/used-pianos ... /index.php on the same website, albeit submitted in the accepted way.
I for one am delighted to see that some pianos are donated - when done correctly.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Point taken. No more free pianos.
I'll give them to my Dad who will sell them to raise money for his charity www.familyaiddirect.com

Fun whilst it lasted.
I'll tow the party line now

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Oops charity website expired. Will have to sell that free piano and put money in the meter.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Sorry about that.
As we saw the other day you can get something good from ebay for £50.
Keep your eye on ebay and post links to cheap Kemble, Eavestaff and Bentley auctions in your area.
Hopefully we can help you make a good choice.

[mdw]

You can also get a load of c**p on ebay. When a customer come to me wanting to get rid of a grotty piano I advise them we charge £150 to collect and destroy. Most tell me they will put them on ebay. These are pianos with major problems I have advised be broken up. Most of these are 50-120 years old.!!!

A piano is either good and has a value or isnt good and should be broken up. The reason most people get a free piano is cost. I am happy to destroy pianos we have taken away on delivery of a new instrument. The cost to us us is half a days labour plus £250+vat for a skip for 5 pianos. Quite frankly I would rather the £300 in my pocket and not have the agro but I dont want to see the same grotty pianos passed around the area putting players off. THERES NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

In general, that's true of ebay junk pianos BUT with the right people helping to make a safe choice and with an inspection carried out prior to purchase, it can be a good way of getting a decent piano for very cheap.

[lou-lou33]

Hi Mark,

The piano was delivered this morning, and I have attached a photo to show you how it looks in situ (I couldn't resist the candelabrum!)

Thanks so much for doing this, it is very kind and generous of you, and you have made me (and three little ones) very happy. It's been a pleasure, and I look forward to hopefully meeting face to face one day!

All the very best.

Lou.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Oh how can this possibly be against forum policy
What a beautiful happy ending. The piano looks brilliant and will serve you all very well.

How can this be banned?

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Next time you see a poster who is worthy of your offer Mark just PM them and then ask them to contact you via your website.

I'm not prepared to do it via PM or email. I want to keep it in a forum setting because that way it is loads of fun, other folk can chip in and it helps build community spirit within the piano playing/trading/moving/tuning community.

I have just registered a new domain, www.freepianos.co.uk. See new forum topic

[piano heads]

I'm not prepared to do it via PM or email. I want to keep it in a forum setting because that way it is loads of fun, other folk can chip in and it helps build community spirit within the piano playing/trading/moving/tuning community.

Are you removed from reality the piano business is a business to make profits,tuners/retailers/players/movers etc do not live on bread alone,they ply their skills for money not brownie points from the Lord above,or the scroungers who try this forum for free pianos/free advice not due to not been able to afford a decent instrument,down to not wanting to spend a penny.

[piano heads]

I'm not prepared to do it via PM or email. I want to keep it in a forum setting because that way it is loads of fun, other folk can chip in and it helps build community spirit within the piano playing/trading/moving/tuning community.

Are you removed from reality the piano business is a business to make profits,tuners/retailers/players/movers etc do not live on bread alone,they ply their skills for money not brownie points from the Lord above,or the scroungers who try this forum for free pianos/free advice not due to not been able to afford a decent instrument,down to not wanting to spend a penny.

[piano heads]

I hope you are not alluding to me being a "scrounger" piano heads- for your information my job is part time- 25 hours at minimum wage-I am a graduate and have taken a job far below my capabilities and qualifications so as to NOT be a "scrounger" (as you so elegantly put it) on benefits. You also know nothing of Lou's circumstances either.

In addition, I will be saving to get my Edwardian Piano restored as soon as I'm able to- I am applying for lots of full time better paid jobs.
Some people do not have a large income, so it is not won't pay for pianos- they just do not have the income to be able to afford to buy a piano.

My Edwardian Piano was given to me from freecyle last year. Mark was offering me a more up to date piano which I was considering because my older piano needs some work done and it would be nice to have another piano whilst the older one goes in for restoration- the offer was there, I could have homed the piano in the near future, cannot see any problem.Mark also sells pianos- he makes his living, he is also generous - sometimes giving pianos away that he does not wish to sell.He also stated himself he doesn't give them to people who are ungrateful and are scroungers.

One shouldn't make assumptions about others- I am putting a lot of effort into finding a better paid job- many applications, doing voluntary work etc. You are indeed fortunate to have been born with a silver spoon in that you have never had to struggle to earn a decent income so that you may see others who are poor as scroungers.

Again the comments are not personal and are aimed at people who will try anything so as not to be out of pocket when piano buying even though they can well afford to do so.Regards my own situation for 32 years worked 24/7 and took a small local piano business to being one of the U.K leading piano retailers till retiring last year.Free pianos Free lunch dont think so just hard graft got me where i am no silver spoons here.

[piano heads]

You can also get a load of c**p on ebay. When a customer come to me wanting to get rid of a grotty piano I advise them we charge £150 to collect and destroy. Most tell me they will put them on ebay. These are pianos with major problems I have advised be broken up. Most of these are 50-120 years old.!!!

A piano is either good and has a value or isnt good and should be broken up. The reason most people get a free piano is cost. I am happy to destroy pianos we have taken away on delivery of a new instrument. The cost to us us is half a days labour plus £250+vat for a skip for 5 pianos. Quite frankly I would rather the £300 in my pocket and not have the agro but I dont want to see the same grotty pianos passed around the area putting players off. THERES NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

Could not agree more.