Called to get the "best price" on an Amati contra bassoon, and was transferred to Troy Laabs, who informed me that the "best price" was $370 MORE than the price currently listed on the website. When I asked him how that could be, I got a helpful "I dunno" and he said he'd be changing the price as soon as he got off the phone. When I joked about getting my order in before he changed the price, he told me to piss off (his exact words) and then he hung up on me.

Worse than rude, and greedy, unimaginative cons on top of that. I'm actually glad I had this experience BEFORE I bought.

Stay away! Stay very far away!

I bought a piano from them (Jim) a couple of months ago. I originally called to check on a couple of used pianos that seemed good but they had NONE of them available because they were all sold, he said. Jim promptly tried to sell me a different piano (new) and the price seemed good so I ordered one. The piano was shipped because I was in a different state. The day after I received it several keys were getting stuck. I called Jim right away and he said it was because it was new and told me to wiggle the keys to see if it makes it better. I did but it didn't help. Since the first tuning was included, we thought that will fix the problem so waited 3 weeks for the tuner to come. The problem persisted after the tuning session but we just got by thinking it will get better as parts wear. After months the problem didn't go away so we hired our regular tuner to tune it. He found out that there was a problem with the hammer action that was preventing the hammers to get back into ready position after repeatedly hitting certain keys. I called Jim and he refused to believe that it was a faulty piano. I told him what my tuner told me and he asked for the tuner's phone number, told me that he would talk to him and call me back. So, I waited until his promised date but didn't get a call back so I called him and he said he will have the piano exchanged. I asked him if a trade-up to a different piano was possible and he said yes. I'd seen a couple of used Yamahas and Kawais on their site so I asked about them and NONE of them are available. He says he will be getting a new shipment from Japan in a couple of weeks and there's one 30 year old Yamaha that's priced a grand more than what I bought. He said it's either that or a direct replacement of the broken piano. I wasn't about to pay a grand more for a used piano so I said just go ahead and send the replacement. Here are my problems with them:

1. They NEVER seem to have the pianos (used) on their website in stock because every time I call, they were gone.
2. They also advertise a lot on Ebay. I saw a Kawai on it that fit my bill and when I called Jim to ask why he said he didn't have any used pianos that fit my requirements, he said it wasn't supposed to be there. Why advertise on Ebay when you don't have the product?
3. Jim never got back to me as he promised. I always had to call him back and he got angry at me for calling him too often. and we had an argument. Yes, I called him several times in 1-2 weeks period to find out what's going on but this piano is being used for teaching kids so I need this problem resolved asap.
4. Jim uses an awful alot of "god damn" in his language.

There is a term for what seems to be happening: bait and switch. I call in to inquire about used pianos that are clearly being advertised on their website and Ebay pages, and Jim tries to sell me a different one.
And, I AM SORRY for asking for some customer service regarding the warranty on a new piano that's a few months old but that's not a reason to mix in "god damn" in your language in every conversation when talking to a customer.

I am waiting for my replacement piano with no ETA (I asked and he said he didn't know when)
Don't let the low prices lure you into this place. You will regret it.

Oh, and after the argument I called back to say sorry for whatever I said to him that pissed him off, and he goes off on me saying he's ready to quit his business after 56 years because of things like this, said he accepts my apology and hung up on me. I was speechless...

On their piano web site, they list many, high end, quality used grand pianos- such as Steinway, Bosendorfer, Bechstein- etc. and they have the Steven's Point address on the same site to make it look as if the pianos are located in WI. I called the night before to get a quote on the Bechstein- the salesman was very unfriendly and sounded "put off" that I called and asked. He said he would call back and never did. The next day- I drove all the way to the store (a 1.5 hour each hour)- only to find out that all of the listed pianos are supposedly located in their Minnesota store. He then suggests that I look at their pianos in stock- which were not what I had in mind- and I said I was not interested. He then proceeds to say, "Oh, so Schimmels and Mason and Hamlins aren't good enough for you, are they?". I then said, "Well- I was really interested in looking at the pianos on the web". He then says, "whatever", and walks away. He was the most RUDE, UNFRIENDLY salesman I have ever encountered and Jim Laabs purposefully makes the web site look as if the pianos are in their WI store when they are really in Minnesota. I think it's their way of getting customers in the door to look at the inventory they do carry- which- doesn't come close to what is listed on the web.

For that reason- I will never give my business to Jim Laabs Piano. I heard bad things through the years- and now with my personal experience- I know why.