# Moving an electric piano from downtown Montreal to my home? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817 "2013-01-20T17:50:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/1 "2013-01-20T17:50:13Z")
I’m thinking of buying an electric piano. The only thing is, the store is downtown, and I live in the suburbs. How can I get the piano home? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/2 "2013-01-20T19:47:11Z")
What kind of electric piano? My Fender Rhodes Stage 73 would take two strong men to carry safely, I struggle with my 88key Midi controller, my plastic 5 octave Yamaha is an easy one hander. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/3 "2013-01-20T20:09:53Z")
I’d think a piano store would deliver. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/4 "2013-01-20T20:42:10Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’d think a piano store would deliver. I phoned and asked, and they don’t deliver. It’s this piano: [http://www.archambault.ca/qmi/navigation/catalog/product\_generic.jsp?lang=en&navAction=jump&id=ACH002642361&](http://www.archambault.ca/qmi/navigation/catalog/product_generic.jsp?lang=en&navAction=jump&id=ACH002642361&) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/5 "2013-01-20T21:02:01Z")
It [weighs 93.7 pounds](http://www.korg.com/lp350). So two healthy people should be able to move it. Are electric pianos fragile? ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/6 "2013-01-21T00:16:50Z")
Thanks for finding the weight, **TriPolar**. Hmm, if I go to the store after class tomorrow, I guess I could try to get a taxi van home, though I’d be only one person once I get home, so I don’t know if I could lift the piano. I could ask people in the store about these things, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/7 "2013-01-21T00:27:42Z")
Our Yamaha Clavinova was packaged in a (large) cardboard box. I suppose a Korg will be similar. Archambault also have a few smaller stores in the suburbs; even if they don’t deliver, maybe they can have it transferred closer to your home. For the final stretch, rent a minivan for a day, it’ll be simpler. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/8 "2013-01-21T01:45:29Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Our Yamaha Clavinova was packaged in a (large) cardboard box. I suppose a Korg will be similar. I’m envious. I’d love to have a Clavinova. 🙂 > [@Heracles](#): > > Archambault also have a few smaller stores in the suburbs; even if they don’t deliver, maybe they can have it transferred closer to your home. > > For the final stretch, rent a minivan for a day, it’ll be simpler. If I could drive, I’d consider it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/9 "2013-01-21T02:09:13Z")
The Korg feels and sounds better, but I’ve ranted about my hatred of Yamahas before. Were you planning to get it tuned when it’s settled in? You have to do that when you move a piano. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/10 "2013-01-21T04:17:37Z")
I managed to get a Yamaha SY77 home on the streetcar once–and that was the old Toronto streetcars, the ones with all the steps–but I don’t think it weighed quite that much. Edit: a little searching revealed that the SY77 weighed 37 pounds. Granted, it was in a carrier with a stand and all, so probably more like 60, but still I remember that being a bit of a strain. If you want to get your digital piano home on public transport, being at least one other person. I recommend using a taxi. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/11 "2013-01-21T04:38:38Z")
I know nothing about electric pianos but I’m somewhat familiar with urban moving. You can look for a moving company that does furniture delivery, or small moves (studios and 1 bedrooms), or just look on craigslist for “man with a van” under services/labor. If it’s not a weekend or last of the month then I’d bet you can find someone to come by in the next day or two who’ll take a small job, and I would expect a brick and mortar store that doesn’t deliver would be willing to take payment and hold the item for you. That said, I admit that taking the thing on a streetcar makes a much better story. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/12 "2013-01-21T04:44:49Z")
There is a thread going on about useful stuff you’ve bought, and someone mentioned they got a dolly and it’s been an extremely useful tool for them. You could buy a dolly - any size would work for this particular application - and take it in the taxi van and go buy your piano and have no problem moving it home. I’m sure you’d find many other uses for the dolly afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/13 "2013-01-21T04:48:40Z")
Taxicab not an option? No friend with a car? No car rental agencies nearby? No [Craigslist Services listings?](http://montreal.fr.craigslist.ca/lbs/) I guess you could ask them to mail it to you one octave at a time. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/14 "2013-01-21T05:23:27Z")
If you’re going to hire a cab you should bring someone with you to help and not rely on the cab driver to help you get it in and out of the van. You also may need help bringing it inside once you get home just in case it starts raining or snowing and time is of the essence. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_tardiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/15 "2013-01-21T21:38:21Z")
Electronic piano, I believe is the term. Hire a cab, and hire a friend – pay them in Molson or cash. You could buy a case for it, but sounds like you won’t need it in the future, and it will certainly be heavier than the cardboard box+packaging, expensive, and arguably not any easier for two people to manage (unless case+wheels). ETA it could certainly be shipped. I’ve had lots heavier stuff shipped frequently – maybe cheaper than buying a friend (:)) and a cab. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/16 "2013-01-22T01:04:31Z")
At my work, we’d use Dynamex for this type of thing. They serve the Montreal area. [https://www.dynamex.com/same-day-courier-montreal](https://www.dynamex.com/same-day-courier-montreal) If this was anything like local, I’d offer to drive it in exchange for 30 minutes of jam time. It looks like a nice keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-an-electric-piano-from-downtown-montreal-to-my-home/647817/17 "2013-01-22T02:04:38Z")
Thaks all. Update: today I went to the store and looked at the electric piano. It looks nice. While I was at the store, I saw another electric piano that was taped shut, with a sign on it saying that the piano had found a home, and please don’t touch it. So maybe if I go to the store again tomorrow, I can buy the piano I want, and have them reserve it for me until I can get it home somehow (maybe on the weekend.) I’m paranoid about someone else buying the piano in the meantime, though - it’s the only one in the store, I think.