Latta Baldwin - Larry Latta defective piano BULL
My husband and I bought a used Baldwin piano from Latta Baldwin in Dothan, AL. Before we bought the piano we visited Latta Baldwin several times asking lots of questions about the piano we were interested in. The piano had a couple of keys that were not working correctly and the owner assured us that his technician would fix them. When asked if these keys would be a constant problem in the future he assured us that they would not. He also assured us at least three times that this piano was a good investment and we would be able to get as much or more money than we paid for should we decide to sell it, even years down the road.
We bought the piano and within two weeks there were keys not working and overall the piano would not play if a light touch were used. We called the owner and he sent out his technician. The technician blamed the problem on humidity even though we keep the A/C going in our house all the time. We continued to have problems but figured we didn't have a choice but to deal with it.
After relocating to Panama City, FL we asked a piano tuner to come out and tune the piano. After being at our home for 10 minutes, he asked if the piano had been through a fire or flood. When we told him no he proceeded to show us place after place inside the piano where irreversible damage had been done. Some keys were warped so badly that someone had sanded them down extensively. The rust on the strings was so bad that the tuner said he would snap them should he try to tune it. The iron plate, which I am told should never rust unless there were water sitting in it for some time, had extensive rust damage. It was very apparent to this tuner that the piano was sold under false pretense.
We called the owner at Latta Baldwin and explained the problem. He denied knowing anything about it. After explaining to him in detail exactly what was wrong with the piano, he had the audacity to suggest that we bring the piano back and sell it on consignment!!! I was appalled. I asked him why I would want anyone else to have this piano with all of its problems. If I just wanted some fast cash I would pawn it off on someone closer to where I live!! He didn't have much of an answer to that and proceeded to tell me that I had "made him very mad", had "ruined his day", and "the more he thought about it the more he didn't believe a word I said." And then he hung up on me!
Disregarding everything else, the fact that he was willing to take this piano back and sell it to someone else shows more than anything why no one should do business with him. Latta Baldwin?? More like Latta BULLSH*T!! I hope to alert anyone considering doing business with him.