A piano is one of the largest purchases many households make, and it is usually delivered days or weeks after you pay. New York has several laws that bear on that kind of purchase, and federal rules add a few more. This guide summarizes them from the text of the laws and official guidance. It is general information, not legal advice; if a dispute is serious, talk to a lawyer or the New York Attorney General’s office.
Refund policies must be posted
Under New York General Business Law section 218-a, every retail store and online retailer must conspicuously post its refund policy, on the item, at the register, where it is visible from the register or at the store entrance. Online, the notice must appear near the item or before you enter billing information.
The policy must say whether the store gives refunds and, if so, under what conditions, including whether a refund is given:
- on merchandise advertised as “sale” or marked “as is”;
- without proof of purchase;
- at any time or only up to a stated point in time;
- in cash, or only as credit or store credit;
- subject to fees, such as a restocking fee, and how much.
It must also tell you that you are entitled to a written copy of the refund policy on request. If a store fails to follow the section, the law makes it liable for up to thirty days from the purchase to give a cash refund or credit, at the buyer’s option, as long as the merchandise has not been used or damaged and you can show the purchase date.
Tip: Ask for the written copy of the refund policy before you pay a deposit, and keep it with your receipt.
Delivery dates in writing
General Business Law section 396-u covers dealers in furniture and major household appliances. It requires the dealer to write an estimated delivery date, or range of dates, on the consumer’s copy of the contract when the order is taken. If the dealer cannot deliver by the latest date, it must tell you about the delay and the new date, and give you a choice: cancel for a full refund, cancel for a credit equal to your deposit, agree on a new date or pick different merchandise. A requested refund must be made within two weeks.
Pianos are not named in the section’s lists, and the definition of furniture excludes items that are in substantial part custom-made or custom finished, so whether it covers a particular piano purchase is a question for a lawyer. Nothing stops you from asking for the same things in your contract: a written delivery date and what happens if it is missed.
Grey market pianos
General Business Law section 218-aa deals with grey market goods: brand-name products imported outside the manufacturer’s authorized US distributor, which may not come with the manufacturer’s US warranty. A store that knowingly sells them must post a sign saying, as applicable, that the product is not covered by the manufacturer’s US warranty, does not come with English instructions or is not eligible for the manufacturer’s rebate. The disclosure must also appear in written advertisements. A store that breaks the rule can be liable for a refund or credit for up to twenty days after purchase if the product has not been used or damaged.
Federal warranty rules
The Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on warranties says that whenever there is a warranty, the law requires it to be available for you to read before you buy. Its key points for a piano purchase:
| Topic | What the FTC says |
|---|---|
| Written warranty | Check the length, what is covered, whether you deal with the maker or the seller and who pays for labor |
| Spoken promises | Get any spoken promise, such as free repairs, in writing |
| Implied warranties | State laws create them for almost everything you buy; a seller can remove them with a written notice or an “as is” label where state law allows |
| Service contracts | They cost extra, are not warranties and may duplicate the warranty’s coverage |
| Problems | Contact the seller, then write to the manufacturer; a defect reported during the warranty must be fixed even if the warranty ends first |
Sales tax
New York State’s tax department lists the combined state and local sales tax rate for New York City, covering all five boroughs, as 8 7/8 percent. Include it when comparing prices, and ask whether delivery charges are taxed on your invoice.
Moving is covered separately
If the seller arranges delivery through a moving company, or you hire one yourself, New York State rules for household goods movers apply. They cover estimates, what you pay at delivery and how damage claims work. See Moving a Piano in New York City: Licenses, Estimates and Damage Claims.
If something goes wrong
- Start with the seller, in writing, and keep copies of everything.
- For a warranty problem the seller does not fix, the FTC suggests writing to the manufacturer by certified mail with a return receipt.
- The FTC also suggests reporting unresolved problems at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.
The best protection is still the simplest one: get the price, warranty, refund policy, delivery date and mover in writing before you pay. The questions to ask are listed in Where to Buy a Piano in New York City.