STATISTICS OF PIANOS SOLD FROM 1988 TO 2001

This page is intended to be quite cynical about the piano business and the published prices and ratings on the internet. It's not intended to discourage you from buying a piano or make your piano buying experience any less pleasant. The intention is actually to do just the opposite. If the dealer knows that you know what is going on and that you aren't going to be smooth talked into buying because it is alleged to be 50%, to 70% off and more, it puts you in the drivers seat and gives you control over the process!

Prices are given only for the lowest-priced style of each model. Prices for styles with fancier furniture, more expensive woods, or special features may be considerably more expensive. In order to provide a level playing field for comparing prices, all prices in this guide are computed according to a uniform “piano industry standard” formula. We do not list "Bogus" Manufacturers List Prices, nor do we think we are qualified to be so bold as to offer our own version of maximum suggested prices, which are also very questionable.

   SUMMARY: To compute the approximate wholesale price for a product with a suggested retail price of $2,500.00 price code, use the following formula:

Retail Price x (100% - Gross Margin %) = Approximate Wholesale Price $2,500.00 x (100% - 54% or .46) = $1,150.00
"Gross margin percent" is defined as: GROSS MARGIN % = (RETAIL - WHOLESALE) -:- RETAIL x 100

   Please note that the computed product cost (Approximate Wholesale Price) does not reflect such factors as special terms, promotions, minimum purchase requirements, quantity discounts, changing currency values for imported products, freight charges, etc.

Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Reported Piano Sales 1988 - 2001

   GRAND PIANOS

UNITS SOLD WHOLESALE RETAIL
     
1988- 32,349  $182,032,000 $304,598,000
1989- 28,626  $165,787,000 $276,699,000
1990- 27,742 $166,219,000 $277,420,000
1991- 27,855 $172,454,000 $287,826,000
1992- 29,369 $187,159,000 $312,369,000
1993- 27,000 $192,076,000 $320,766,000
1994- 28,020  $198,612,000 $326,461,000
1995- 36,470 $205,221,000 $338,615,000
1996- 33,841  $190,428,000 $314,206,000
1997- 39,098  $208,275,000 $343,654,000
1998- 41,390  $220,443,000 $363,731,000
1999- 45,860  $244,251,000 $403,014,000
2000- 48,822  $246,423,000 $408,411,000
2001- 42,822 $227,633,000 $386,016,000
     

    SPINETS, CONSOLES & UPRIGHTS

UNITS SOLD WHOLESALE RETAIL
     
1988- 109,348  $158,289,000 $264,185,000
1989- 97,691 $154,116,000 $257,220,000
1990- 84,186  $134,477,000 $224,443,000
1991- 79,086 $126,328,000 $210,843,000
1992- 75,513 $121,831,000 $203,337,000
1993- 68,811 $124,304,000 $207,466,000
1994- 71,151 $129,475,000 $216,685,000
1995- 82,381 $152,404,000 $251,468,000
1996- 76,843 $142,160,000 $234,258,000
1997- 88,020 $162,837,000 $268,681,000
1998- 89,540 $165,649,000 $273,320,000
1999- 92,250 $170,663,000 $281,594,000
2000- 90,602 $167,987,000 $277,006,000
2001- 95,602 $179,875,000 $297,026,000
     

     2000 SALES - GRAND PIANOS BY SIZE

SIZE NO.

SOLD PERCENTAGE OF  MARKET
     
Under 5' 7,819 20.70%
5' - 5' 5" 15,047 42.60%
5" 6" - 5' 10" 8,135 19.25%
5' 11" - 6' 4" 5,141 13.15%
6' 5" - 7' 10" 1,992 5.10%
7' 11” & Over 399 1.02%
     

*The Federal Trade Commission is conducting a nonpublic investigation to determine whether the manufacturers of musical products and others may be engaging or may have engaged in any unfair methods of competition in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, as amended:

a. through an agreement, combination, or conspiracy, among themselves and others, to restrain price competition relating to musical products and/or:

b. through the adoption, implementation, and maintenance of minimum advertised price policies relating to musical products.

 

Copyright  © 2010 by The "Original" Bluebook of Pianos All Rights Reserved