Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Reputable piano stores in chicago?

Gonna be there for a few days. Can anyone suggest a couple...preferably close to the downtown area. Thanks in advance.

Hendricks Music in Downers Grove is good. 630-969-5082 www.hendrickspianos.com. They are a Yamaha dealer but carry other makes as well.

Try Thomas Zoells at 312-291-0000 (yes 4 zeroes!)He's in the Fine arts Bldg on Michigan. "Only" has Fazioli's.

Kurt Saphir Has Bosies, MH, bechsteins, etc. in Wilmette, in the north burbs. 847-256-5231 I bought my bosie from Kurt's son Dennis.

I've never been to Karnes (Yamaha) on Jackson 312-663-4111, but I've dealt with karnes in vernon Hills & they are excellent.

Kawais(incl Shigeru) at grand Piano haus on dempster, again up north 847-679-9160. Fritz & son Jeff Tasch, good folks.

Cordogan's Piano Gallery (Rick Knebel) 847-267-1500. www.chicagopianos.com also north. Bluthner, Estonia

For a real treat, come up to Lake Forest & play my (almost new)9'2" Bosie, just tuned yesterday. Be happy to throw in an adult beverage or two. 847-295-1524.

Have fun.

Carl

You've got to love this Forum! Talk about a list of 'do's and don'ts' for piano salespeople. It's an ongoing education into the mind of the buyer. Thanks Jerry M. for the input.

Karnes (Vernon Hills):
Saleman asked once he he could help. I firmly said I am looking and will ask if I need any. Upon the 2nd time he asked I got angry, and pudly (so every could hear) said that when the customer says they don't want help... they don't want help! I then left. This idiot was still there the last time I waked by the store recently.

This is a bit extreme behavior on *your* part, don't you think? I have plenty to say when it comes to salesmen who lie and cheat, but I don't fault the man for doing his job. There has to be a *little* give and take here, you know - they didn't open their doors that morning to be a museum for your pleasure, they're there to sell pianos. If you want to only look, that's fine - but you don't have to be rude to the employees. Just politely say no again. Heck, be a human with a personality and engage him in a conversation about something - you're no better than he is, you know.

As for Cordogan's, you can't control every word that comes out of every salesman's mouth, and that salesman needs training some more - but I will tell you that the company itself, and the family that owns it, are very respectable, honest dealers. Go pay them a visit, and tell them I sent you.

Ditto

Larry, Rich ...

I know that probably seems extreme to you (my reactions to being asked for help even after I said no) but this is one of my HOT buttons. I don't want to engage the salesman in conversation - I'm there for a purpose. My internal take on this is that if I can't even rely on him enough to respect my request for such a small thing - what will my business relationship be like with him? We all have these hot buttons (yes, even you Larry) and, for me, this is a big one. I can't stand sales types that won't leave me alone after I've said I don't want help. Part of running a business is to respect the customer and know that sometimes they will operate on their time scale, maybe not the stores.

And, Larry, because I don't wan't help at one point does not mean I am only a looky-loo and am not serious about buying something. I will get help when/if I need it.

In fact it's the opposite. A lot of stores (not just piano) have lost possible business from me becasue they simply couldn't respect that I didn't want to be bothered/followed around after the first time I said no thanks.

For me, it means I'm not being respected or listened to.

Most likely, you guys (Larry, Rich, etc) may react strongly to other things that I may not?
This is part of our humanity.

I'll just end saying I always enjoy reading what you guys (Larry, Rich) have to say. I don't always agree,however.

Pickle Piano Co in Bloomingdale, IL, 630-894-2992, has August Forster, Bechstein and Petrof and more - relaxed atmosphere, no hard selling.

Kurt Saphir in Wilmette, 847-256-5226.
I have been in this store many times and found Dennis, Kurt, and Dianne Saphir to be very helpful and accommodating. Good Selection, Bosie, Mason, Schimmel, and more, no hard selling.

Piano Experts in Buffalo Grove, 847-215-2999.
Has Seiler as the top of the line, but mostly lower end pianos.

Jerry, after you learn to spell, the next thing you have to learn is, piano stores are not there for your amusment. They have a living to make.
Get a life and stop bothering piano stores.

Sorry obrother, I see now you said you wanted stores close to downtown and I suggested Pickle Piano Co., which is NOT close to downtown, but definitely has a good selection and may be worth the trip if you can make it.

perfect88,

No need to be rude, is there? BTW, it is spelled amusement.

Beautiful Sound, Burr Ridge Illinois. That is an official Steinway dealer, and that's where I bought my Steinway. They also sell Bostons and Essex's. It is a good place with a lot of pianos!

Thanks Rich, you're absolutely right!

Perfect88, why don't you read EXACTLY what I said (misspellings and all!) before you become rude to me.

I was not going to piano stores for my "amusement", I was going to piano stores, few years ago, to *BUY* a piano"... which I eventually did! (PG-150 @ American Music in Niles, IL).

Your type of logic says I shouldn't have looked around when I was serirouly buying, but bought at the first place I went to because this is his living? Huh?... What am I missing here? Rich, Larry.. can you figure this one out???

I agree that was a bit rude.

Also, add me to the list that will vouch for Pickle Piano. Good people, good dealer, good store.

Jerry M,

I brought up Piano Experts because I know they carry Seiler, a good brand and worthy of being looked at. I also know of two people in the group who bought Seilers from Piano Experts and had a very good experience and have published here. I don't know anything more than that.

You should be more specific if you had a bad experience there, otherwise you are just spreading unsubstantiated rumors.

RJ,

Larry posted recently that "the [Biasco] store was boarded up last week, phone number disconnected, website down. Many customers who have paid for their piano from Biasco are calling area dealers for help. It's a real mess here. The brothers' company ("Piano 'Experts'") has been quick to pick up the ridiculous advertising where his brother left off (full page ads showing big, beautiful new shiny black grands for $2895.)

If this is true about the advertising (and considering the source, I would imagine that it is true), wouldn't you consider this to be a bad experience?

Jerry and Irving:

I have no vested interest in Piano Experts, and don't envy myself the role of being their defender, but I do want to point out that it is not fair to lay guilt on a dealer by association. Irving, if you had a brother in the piano business who was not a good dealer does that make you a bad dealer too?

Recently on this forum there were a number of accusations made (which turned out not to be true) against a dealer in Texas as everyone jumped to conclusions and thought and SAID the worst.

I have not read any posts here of people having bad experiences at this dealer and yet I have read of some who report good experiences. This is the only evidence I have to go on. Because I have read only good things and because this dealer carries Seiler, a brand I admire, I mentioned it as a possiblilty. I am neutral on this dealer in terms of my own personal experience as I have not bought anything there, but I have been in the store, played a Seiler 186 and was treated well. The prices were posted on the pianos and seemed fair prices.

I grant you the recent advertising is not a good sign, so buyers do your homework.