First of all – the following statements do not replace legal advice and make no claim to correctness. In a specific case, please contact the respective manufacturer / dealer or a legal adviser of your choice. The following statements are only intended to raise awareness of the relevance of this topic in connection with pianos.
For our prospective and existing customers, the conditions that apply to us can be found in our terms and conditions and in our offer / order documents.
For pianos, the setup and climatic conditions are particularly relevant – for player instruments, the connection, usage or operating conditions are also relevant for value retention, function and safety (e.g. the electrical system).
Since value retention is such an important topic for pianos in general – and especially for older, valuable and sometimes unique instruments – you should find out about it in detail and comply with the respective conditions.
Check the conditions before you buy
Whether you buy a new or used piano, the guarantee or warranty conditions of the respective seller, or the conditions set out in the respective contract, always apply. You should find out about these before deciding to buy or place an order and, if necessary, obtain legally binding information.
Private seller versus dealer
When buying privately, guarantee, warranty or return rights are usually excluded. Dealers and craftsmen are subject to a statutory framework, whose implementation may be reflected in individual conditions and may also differ. Here, too, different conditions apply to the purchase of goods than to renovation or other services.
When buying new, you can find out about the guarantee or warranty conditions in advance on the websites of the respective manufacturers and dealers. Some aspects are similar in almost all documents. To claim any guarantee or warranty services, the customer is almost always obliged to provide proof, i.e. not only must the current case be reported with the respective contract information, but, at the seller’s request, proof must also be provided that the requirements were met and how the current possible damage occurred.
Humidity
In principle, proper use and setup are always required. Particularly critical: the room climate. The humidity at a room temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) must generally be constantly in the range of 45–65% (specifications vary by seller). For the predominantly used and therefore older instruments, the range of 50–65% applies. If the humidity is below this range, the instrument no longer works as precisely. If the humidity is below 45%, the instrument suffers structural damage (cracking, glue joints coming apart, tuning stability problems, etc.). If the humidity is above approx. 65%, the materials swell.
Climate differences
Manufacturers who deliver worldwide usually use materials particularly suited to the local climate – and under special climatic conditions in the factory. Examples of such regional differences: humid climate in Asia, dry climate in North America and changing climate in Europe. In Germany, the challenge lies mainly in the fact that we have marked seasonal differences and rather solidly built houses.
Monitor and control constantly
This means that we need a. seamless monitoring of the room climate and b. to secure the room climate differently depending on the season, i.e. humidify in winter if necessary and dehumidify in summer. In any case, the use of air conditioning, ventilation, patio and conservatory doors, etc. must be checked and adjusted, since, depending on your habits, one or another location may not be suitable for the valuable piano.
Documentation
So what matters is not only complying with the conditions, but also documenting them. As a rule, we supply a professional testo 174H measuring device with every instrument sold, which records the data continuously with high accuracy. Additional structural damage due to humidity cannot normally occur if the prescribed room climate is maintained. However, it is important to note that the location may not allow these conditions to be met – e.g. in a conservatory, in an attic, with underfloor heating, in front of a patio or exterior door that is often opened or a door to a conservatory, in direct sunlight, near a fireplace or stove, on an exterior wall that is too damp, etc. In such cases, humidifiers or similar measures usually do not help to achieve a constant climate either. A change of habit (keeping doors closed) or a change of location must then also be considered.
If the conditions for the necessary constant climate are a. not met and b. not documented consistently and verifiably, you not only endanger the instrument – you also lose any possible warranty claim. The same applies to any changes made to the instrument by you or others. If you yourself or others have worked on the instrument, any warranty claim usually lapses. Here, too, it is important to agree on the procedure carefully with the seller in advance.
Experts and appraisers
A word about experts. If, as the owner of an instrument, you need an independent expert opinion to assess the instrument or a particular matter, ask the court or the chambers of crafts which experts are approved by the court and have a good reputation among professionals. The expert should be a specialist for the respective type of instrument – for example for old instruments or for player instruments.
Insurance
Additional insurance can be taken out with most insurance providers to cover risks or gaps in coverage. For unique instruments, however, financial compensation cannot be a perfect solution either, as it is usually not possible to replace the unique piece. Whether the ratio of risk to premium makes sense for you is for you to judge.
With regard to our offering, please feel free to ask us via the contact options mentioned if you need further information. For legal information and legal advice, please consult a lawyer.