Boxing Day Piano Deals: Are They Worth It?

Every December 26th, Canadian retailers advertise piano discounts — mostly on digital pianos, occasionally on acoustics. Some are real savings; some are regular prices with a red sign. Here's how to tell the difference, from a technician who tunes the pianos people buy that week.

Are Boxing Day digital piano sales genuine?

Often, yes. Digital pianos are consumer electronics: manufacturers release new models regularly, and retailers clear the outgoing ones at the year's end. Discounts of 15–30% on a model that's been replaced are common and real — and last year's hammer-action digital plays exactly as well as it did in November. Two checks:

• Compare against the price over the previous months, not the "regular price" on the tag. A quick search of the model number shows whether the sale price is unusual.
• Confirm the key action. "Weighted," "touch-sensitive," and "hammer action" are different things; only fully weighted hammer action is right for a student. (Digital vs acoustic, honestly.)

What about acoustic piano sales?

These vary much more. Acoustic pianos aren't replaced by new models every year, so genuine year-end discounts are smaller and usually come in three forms:

• Floor models — pianos that sat in the showroom. Often a real saving. Ask how long it was on the floor, whether the warranty is full, and whether delivery and the first tuning are included.
• Clearance or discontinued finishes — the same piano in a colour or cabinet that didn't sell. Usually a fair deal; the instrument inside is identical.
• "Open box" or returned pianos — ask why it was returned and get the answer in writing.

A floor model has been played, moved at least once, and lived under store lighting and HVAC; treat it like a lightly used piano. The pre-purchase inspection ($75) applies to dealer pianos too.

Is a sale-priced new piano better than a used one?

Not automatically. A new entry-level acoustic upright at $6,000–$8,000 after discounts competes with a used Yamaha U1 or Kawai K-series at $2,500–$4,500 that will often sound and play as well or better. The new piano brings a warranty, a known history, and decades of life; the used one brings value. Neither is wrong — but "it was on sale" isn't the reason to choose. (What pianos actually cost.)

What should be included in the deal?

Ask before you pay:

• Delivery — included, and to which floor? Stairs often cost extra.
• First tuning — many dealers include one in-home tuning; ask when, since it should happen two to four weeks after delivery.
• Bench — fixed or adjustable?
• Warranty — full manufacturer's warranty on a floor model, or a reduced one?
• Return policy — on digitals especially.

A "deal" that excludes delivery and tuning can cost more than a regular-priced piano that includes them.

What happens after a new acoustic arrives?

A new piano needs three or four tunings in its first year as the fresh strings stretch — budget for them, or check whether the dealer includes one. A January delivery means the first tuning lands in February, in the driest weeks of the year, so have a humidifier running in the piano's room. (The first-year schedule.)

Common questions

Are Boxing Day piano sales real?
For digital pianos, frequently — year-end clearance of outgoing models brings genuine 15–30% savings. For acoustic pianos, discounts are smaller and usually on floor models or discontinued finishes.

Is a floor model piano a good buy?
Often, if the warranty is full and delivery and a tuning are included. Treat it as a lightly used piano and have it checked before buying.

Should I buy a new piano on sale or a used one?
Compare the specific instruments, not the discounts. A well-kept used Japanese upright often matches a new entry-level piano for much less; a new piano offers warranty and certainty.