"...as the businessmen slowly get stoned."

[Anonymous]
I found your information online. Are you still running the piano program for schools?

[Arnie]
No. Sorry.

[Anonymous]
I have been asked to help coordinate the purchase of six grand pianos for our college. Do you have any suggestions? We have just over $50,000 raised so far.

[Arnie]
Yes, I can help you.

I still have a wholesale account that would allow you to buy 6 Yamaha rebuilt and refinished (like new) 6 foot grands for that price. They would all come with a warranty. They would all be in an ebony polish finish and come with new matching benches. Let me know if you are interested. They would be model C2 and C3 and model G2 and G3. Possibly a model G5 or C5 or maybe even a C7 or G7 if you would like some smaller ones as well, like the C1 or G1. Are you familiar with these models? Do you want more info?

Perhaps I CAN help.

[Anonymous]
Is it possible to set up a time to look at what you have? There will be four of us. Do you know of any leasing possibilities?

[Arnie]
I didn't make myself clear. I have access to wholesale rebuilt pianos. 3 pages of Yamahas and Kawais. They have all been rebuilt and refinished. They all have warrantys. They are in warehouse storage in California and Kentucky. These are pianos from Japan, sold by most piano stores with about an 85% to 100% markup. I don't have a store anymore, so I don't need a mark up. My prices will have a 5% commission built in and you will get 6 nice, like new grands for under $50,000 with a one year warranty from the importer. If you're still interested, I'll send you a list and prices. These are all under 30 years old with new strings and hammers and refinished like new. Where do you live?

[Anonymous]
Leasing is a lot easier to accomplish than a purchase. We have to obtain quotes from other vendors for similar products. It becomes rather troublesome. Have you done lease options before?

I am in Ballard.

[Arnie]
Yes, I have done lease purchase before. We just need to take and application and fax it in for approval. I'm going to be in Ballard tomorrow for an appointment, would you like to meet me and have me drop one off?

[Anonymous]
How would this work?

[Arnie]
You decide on which models and prices from a list that I provide, give me a 10% deposit and a credit app and I reserve these pianos by serial number. Once credit is approved, we make arrangements to have the pianos shipped to your school or schools and set up. You look them over and approve or reject them. If they are rejected, they are returned and another piano is selected. The cash is not released to the importer until you are satisfied with the pianos received. The warranty is then provided by the vendor. The price would include shipping, delivery to the schools and one tuning. What sizes, makes and models do you have in mind? Or would you just like me to make you up a list of possibilities? I will be happy to do this if you're sure this arrangement will work for you. What school or schools are you buying for and how will these pianos be used?

Thanks again for your interest.

[Anonymous]
Leasing would be the cleanest option for us, because we are a public agency, but it would be good to retain the pianos after the term of the lease. Is this possible? Have you worked with public agencies before? An assortment of options with which you have familiarity would be helpful.

Thank you.

[Arnie]
Yes, this is a lease purchase. After the lease is over, you own the piano. It's basically just a form of financing. I have worked with a number of schools and non-profits. What is the nature of your public agency and how are purchases financed currently? Cash, credit cards, leasing, bank and secondary financing, lay-away and private funding or donations from an "angel" supporter of your cause are some of the options I've used. Could you be more specific about what you have to work with, just what exactly are your needs, and which of these options might work the best for you? If you'd like to chat or meet with me in person, I'm open to that. My cell is 206-7X9-6XX5. I have a meeting today at 4:30, but before then or after 7 would probably work, or before my church at 9:30 AM tomorrow. Or this is working fine, too.

Thanks, Arnie

[Anonymous]
This sounds like exactly what we need. We can "lease" and then just keep the pianos at the end of the transaction. We won't have to go through a competitive bid process. What a relief.

[Arnie]
Glad I can help. How can I get a lease application to you?

Disclaimer: There are currently no plans for the blog to buy any pianos. This is intended to illustrate how easy it is for public agencies to avoid state required competitive processes. The same process the Edmonds School District avoided when they bought their pianos through a friend of the administrator.