This page contains an overview of all of the steps involved in buying one of my pianos. If you have any questions or concerns about any part of the buying process just drop me an email at markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to help.
Researching pianos before visiting
I have been asked loads of questions over the years about Yamaha pianos and which ones are best and whether they are suitable for beginners or good enough for grade 8 and beyond. So I’ve tried to collect all of this information into a convenience list of articles for you to work through. Here goes
Full list of all of the articles I’ve written (this link contains my full list of articles)
Yamaha Piano buyer’s guide (10 pages of useful info. Highly recommended)
Yamaha U3 Buyer’s Guide (similar to the Yamaha guide but more focussed on the U3)
Differences between Yamaha U3 and Yamaha U1 (that’s a very common question)
Differences between 1970s and 1980s Yamaha U3 or U1 (another very common question)
I hope those articles help. If you get lost always make your way back to the full list of interesting articles
Choosing a Piano
You may visit my showroom to choose a piano in person or you may ask me to choose a piano for you. I mainly stock the very popular Yamaha U3 and Yamaha U1 pianos so you may also have to make a choice about which model to go for. You also have a decision to make about what age of piano to go for so I’ve written some articles below which should hopefully help you make the right choices
Relevent Links:
What is the difference between a Yamaha U3 and a Yamaha U1
What are the difference between 70s and 80s Yamaha U3 or Yamaha U1 piano
How to book a visit to my showroom
Ask me to choose a piano for you (coming soon)
Arranging Delivery
Normal timescale
Once you have chosen a piano I can normally arrange delivery within 7 days. The general rule is that if you buy a piano one week, it will be delivered to you the following week. Often a piano can be delivered the same week and sometimes the same day but usually it is the following week. I would need your full delivery address and contact numbers to pass on to my pianos movers who will then contact you directly to arrange suitable delivery date.
Typical delivery schedule
My movers are typically in and around London on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before travelling North on the Thursday. They deliver in Scotland every Friday and then cover the North East England on the Saturday. On Sunday they try and get some rest. They have a second van which covers the North of England throughout the week with no set schedule. In an emergency I have my own van and can carry out deliveries at very short notice as long as they are local to my Manchester showroom.
Stair Jobs
If the piano is to go upstairs then there is a charge of £120 for the first flight and then £60 for any subsequent flights. If you live in a flat on an upper floor but there is a lift big enough for the piano then there is no charge for that. I can also handle crane work if the piano has to be hoisted in through an upper window.
Outside the UK?
Yes I can deliver my pianos to much of Western Europe. Please email for more details about that.
Relevant Links:
Yamaha U3 dimensions
Yamaha U1 dimensions
Will it fit?
Payment Methods
No deposit needed
There is no need to pay a deposit once you have chosen a piano. I will be very happy to reserve the piano for you without any deposit until you can arrange for full payment.
Payment methods
I am very flexible about payment methods but the most popular method is an online bank transfer. My details for that are as follows: Account name: Mark Goodwin Pianos. Account number: 51086387. Sort code: 010750. Bank: Natwest. Reference: Please use your chosen piano’s serial number if known. You are also welcome to pay using a cheque, bankers draft or cash on delivery. Please email me at markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com if you have any questions about payment.
Relevant Links
Payment methods
Payment Timing
Full payment is required within 7 days of your visit. If you need to delay the delivery of your piano by a few weeks that is fine and I am happy to store the piano free of charge but I’m afraid your piano must be paid for within 7 days otherwise I may open it back up for sale to other customers. If you are paying with cash on delivery it is on the agreement that you accept the earliest possible delivery date offered.
Moneyback Guarantee
I am confident enough in the quality of my pianos to offer you a “no quibbles” 100% moneyback guarantee up to 14 days after the date of delivery if the pianos does need exceed your expectations when it arrives. Click the link below for full details
Related links:
14 day MoneyBack guarantee
Guarantee & Tuning
All of my Yamaha U3 and Yamaha U1 pianos come with a 5 year guarantee and a free 1st tuning. The first tuning is carried out by a technician from your area and if any work is required under guarantee the same person will likely be called out to do the work. To claim your first tuning please contact me 6 weeks after delivery and I will then give your details to the tuner and ask him to contact you directly. If you already have a regular piano tuner that you like then please email his details and I’ll be happy to consider using him instead. Your free tuning expires 3 months after delivery.
Relevant Links
Full details of the 5 year guarantee
Full details of the free 1st tuning
Do you accept old pianos in part-exchange?
Yes in principle I am very happy to make a part-exchange offer for your existing pianos. I ask that you email a selection of photos to me at markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com showing the inside and outside of the piano. Please also jot down the make & model (if known) and also the serial number if you can find one. You will always get a higher price from a private buyer so you might want to consider placing a private advertisement first. On some occasions I am unable to make an offer for an existing piano do to it being too old or in need of too many repairs. However, I am always willing to remove existing pianos free of charge at the same that your new piano arrives.
Relevant Links
Full details of my part-exchange policy