Members danuniversal Posted March 9, 2011 Members Share Posted March 9, 2011 I am talking about the materials and the effort... What is the real cost of a piano? I bet it is less than the half of their retail price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ghostpaw Posted March 9, 2011 Members Share Posted March 9, 2011 You are wondering if manufacturers and retailers are marking up the price of an item to make as much profit as the market will support? I suspect you are correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members carbon111 Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 Damn capitalists! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stabby Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 MaterialsMan hoursTransportR&DInfrastructureAdministrationElectricity billsCustomer service The stores have to make a profit too. They make as much, if not more, on each piano sold than the companies that produce them. The same thing applies to the stores (employees, administration, building rent, electricity bills, etc.). And they have no choice but to make a bigger profit on each product since they sell a lower amount of products than an electronics store). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MartinHines Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 I am talking about the materials and the effort...What is the real cost of a piano?I bet it is less than the half of their retail price. Your question ignores the sales and distribution chain. After a piano is manufactured, there is a cost to ship to a distributor or store. Then the store costs are involved. Your question also ignores overhead costs at the manufacturer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lerber3 Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 Don't forget the ridiculously specialized equipment that is required to build a piano. Are you thinking of doing-it-yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tagutcow Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 In the apparel industry, the wholesale price is usually about 200% of production costs, and retail price is about 250%-300% of wholesale price. So basically, the final price is about five to six times the production costs. I don't know if this is a general rule across all retail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Plink Floyd Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 According to this book, it takes eleven months to make a Steinway concert grand piano from forest to finish. I'll bet my cheapo spinet didn't take that long. Interesting thought: a Jupiter 8 would sound exactly the same, whether lovingly assembled by hand one at a time on a master technician's bench, or mass produced in a Shanghai sweatshop. But acoustic instruments still benefit greatly from the efforts of craftsmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 Don't forget the ridiculously specialized equipment that is required to build a piano. Once upon a time, when pianos were standard equipment in most homes and canoes were the dominant form of inland watercraft, small companies could buy components (the action, the keys, cabinet parts) and assemble them in relatively small local factories. The quality of the piano would depend on the quality of the parts and the expertise with which they were assembled. I doubt that sort of thing is possible these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Meatball Fulton Posted March 11, 2011 Members Share Posted March 11, 2011 I bet it is less than the half of their retail price. Of course it's less than half...the rest of the price is for shipping, inventory, advertsiing and marketing, etc. plus the markup above wholesale for the dealer to make his profit. A lot of musical instruments wholesale for about 50% of MSRP. I don't know if pianos wholesale that low but it gives you a rough idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yoozer Posted March 11, 2011 Members Share Posted March 11, 2011 What is the real cost of a piano? I don't know. All I know is that playing a great piano is priceless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danuniversal Posted March 12, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 Put it in this way...if I want to start a factory of pianos, how much do I need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Plink Floyd Posted March 12, 2011 Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 Srs? I mean it's cool if you are, but that seems to me to be a big undertaking. I know I'd give up before I finished the business plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnmoorejohn Posted March 12, 2011 Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 Making a piano involves 1000s of secret methods passed down from generation to generation. Watch the documentary The making of Steinway L1037. If you attempt to reinvent how to make a decent piano, prepare to make 100's before you get anything half decent. Unless you train under a seasoned expert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted March 12, 2011 Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 I think just making the metal frame for a piano would cost more than you'd think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members keybdwizrd Posted March 12, 2011 Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 Prices are not determined by what something costs to make. Prices are determined by what people are willing to pay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ElectricPuppy Posted March 12, 2011 Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 Now I'm all curious: Danuniversal, what's your motivation behind these questions? Are you thinking about building pianos? Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cydonia Posted March 12, 2011 Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 You will need $4,627,956. And make sure there will be three pedals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members samatron Posted March 13, 2011 Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 Erm.... wouldn't it be crazy to deliberately build an instrument and then to sell it at less than it cost to make? If you're thinking of building an instrument, why not start with something a bit simpler? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -groovatious- Posted March 13, 2011 Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 And make sure there will be three pedals. But I only have 2 feet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danuniversal Posted March 13, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 Now I'm all curious: Danuniversal, what's your motivation behind these questions? Are you thinking about building pianos? Why? I was thinking what could I do in the future with my future wealth... Of course I do not have that money now, but I was wandering what could I do if I got enough money... Just curiosity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Plink Floyd Posted March 13, 2011 Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 It would be much more realistic to 1. Build a quality midi controller with a good keybed. 2. Benefit humanity. 3. $$$ PROFIT $$$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danuniversal Posted March 13, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 It would be much more realistic to1. Build a quality midi controller with a good keybed.2. Benefit humanity.3. $$$ PROFIT $$$ I would if I could be sure that nobody is going to use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sprinklerhead Posted March 13, 2011 Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 I would love a nice quality midi controller, but I can't make any promises about what I would use it for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kurtdaniel1 Posted March 17, 2011 Members Share Posted March 17, 2011 A grand piano, depending on the size, quality of the wood and finish, it can go for anywhere between 10 to 50 grand. A new one will automatically cost you as much as a new car, like in the 25,000 dollar range.check this: pianos lessons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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