Having grown up playing a Kawai, I knew I wanted to revisit the brand as an adult. I called on a Saturday and was able to swing by the showroom that day. The floor had all of the upright and grand models we were interested in; Chris gave us plenty of time to explore them. He also plays beautifully, and was able to bring out the differences in various models. We had some issues with delivery of the piano, to include the states of its initial arrival. Those were beyond the direct control of San Mateo Piano, but they were very responsive and reasonable in finding timely resolutions. Ultimately we are quite happy with our purchase, and would readily buy from San Mateo Piano again. read more

This is my second time buying from San Mateo Piano. I first purchased a digital Kawai that lasted me without any issue for ten years and felt it was time to upgrade to an acoustic piano. Both experiences were seamless and delightful. Most professional people I have ever met, truly care about their customers satisfaction , reasonable and just genuinely nice people. Thank you for an amazing service with each purchase read more

Exceptional! I had someone break one of the pedals on my piano. Granted it was a older model so I was doubtful anyone would help. I turned to google/yelp to call around to see if anyone would assist. I called over 10 people but this location stood out! I called and the phone was answered by Andrew. Gave him the specifics of the piano and he was very knowledgable. He also confirmed that the pedal is no longer being manufactured by the company because of its age. He asked for my name and number and maybe he called a warehouse, supervisor or friend I don't know and called me back within 30 mins to re affirm my dillema. The reason for this 5 star review is the customer service. I didn't even spend a dollar in this establishment but they employed a empathetic patient employee that was able to go above and beyond to help. It's so rare in today's climate, personally I feel like everyone is rushing you off the phone and not truly listening to people's concerns. When I get a new piano I will definitely use this piano service! read more

The owner is super nice and also gave us a very decent discount -- even cheaper than some used ones we found on FB marketplace. Definitely recommend to check it out! read more

Amazing service for anyone who wants to own amazing Kawai piano. I went with acoustic initially then upgraded to hybrid, but after a year digital part was not working however Bozkurt, Chris and Andrew took care of it, piano was replaced with new . Great team , wouldn't go anywhere else!!! read more

Professional service and delivery. The very kind people here made our purchase simple and quick. They are very knowledgeable and was able to provide many options for our family. Delivery was very smooth and if needed will assemble the pieces together and place it where you want in the house (white glove) at no cost. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for a piano. read more

It's been a childhood dream of mine to have a baby grand piano. I visited a dozen showrooms and privately owned pianos around the Bay Area over the course of 3-4 weeks this fall, and none came close to the professionalism, expertise, and graciousness of San Mateo Piano. I didn't start with a specific piano maker in mind. While I grew up playing an upright Yamaha, I looked at Yamaha, Steinway, Kawai, Petrof, and a few others. Called San Mateo Piano on a whim, and scheduled a viewing later that day. They were super knowledgeable and easy to communicate with over the phone. Ultimately, what won me over was the knowledge that I'd be buying from the experts in this business, and the knowing that I'd be in good hands: from delivery, to tuning, to Kawai's 10-year warranty. Special thanks to Chris E, Bozkurt, and Monte for making this a seamless experience. From my first viewing to baby grand at home, it took about 3 weeks. Thank you so much, San Mateo Piano! read more

San Mateo Piano - Kawai GL-10 at home - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Mateo, California

I got a referral to San Mateo Piano through my piano teacher, as a place that I could trust. That was absolutely my experience. I worked with Chris in the San Mateo store. He was incredibly helpful in helping me with my piano decision. Offering to have me play my pieces on several pianos, and then playing a few pieces for me himself to demonstrate some of the nuances between the different models. When I think my overall experience, from trying different units out all the way through the sales process, Chris and his team were completely supportive and knowledgeable. Highly recommended. read more

We bought a Kawai grand piano gx2 from San Mateo Piano. Chris was very helpful and patient throughout the process. He is very knowledgeable about pianos and explained all the details of different models we considered, and accommodated our specific needs. They offered a loaner piano while we were waiting for the piano, which was also great. The delivery was also very smooth and quick. The pricing was also very competitive. We have owned and played the new piano for about a year now and we really like it. Highly recommend Chris and Boz at San Mateo Piano! read more

Order a CA59 digital piano, pretty good service and delivery on time. Way better experience than those online shop that over promise but never deliver the product in time! read more

My husband purchased his piano June 2022 and it's not December 2022. We had such a great experience here I kept telling myself I have to leave a review. Going into piano stores can be a little intimidating imo because, unlike my husband, I'm not musically talented. When we arrived Bozkurt was the only staff on duty and was helping another customer but he made sure to greet us and made us feel comfortable browsing their pianos. When he did get a chance to talk to us he was very personable and sweet. So knowledgeable and open to teaching us about the differences in the pianos. We ended up purchasing a piano. The process from start to delivery was super smooth. Our piano came with a bench without a storage compartment but Bozkurt was very flexible and was willing to help us switch out our bench. I highly recommend coming here when searching for a piano. Service was excellent read more

Came in on a Saturday looking for an upright or digital piano. However I did not make an appointment. Thanks God staff (his name is Andrew) let us in and actually let us spend a whole hour playing and learning about all their pianos. Andrew was friendly, polite and knowledgeable in explaining in layman terms and technical terms. We were not pressured for an immediate purchase, but we left feeling very educated and provided with many good trustworthy options. I highly recommend this business. I hope the store owner sees that I am complimenting Andrew :) read more

I had contemplated the idea of acquiring a piano for numerous years, and at long last, my income has bestowed upon me the opportunity to procure a quality piano. My journey as a seasoned piano player commenced during my years of study as a music major, a path that I have diverged from, albeit maintaining my devotion to the piano through the passage of time. The initiation of my quest was spurred by the realization that my beloved baby grand piano had begun to show the signs of age, leaving me dissatisfied with its performance. The research commenced with several extensive visits to piano establishments in the Bay Area. After meticulously assessing the touch, tone, and overall performance of numerous pianos, I came to the resolute decision of acquiring a Steinway Model B. In my pursuit of thoroughness, I decided to pay another visit to San Mateo Piano and engage in a conversation with the Bozkurt Erkmen. Unlike the overbearing saleswoman at the Steinway store, Mr. Erkmen demonstrated an exceptional level of care and precision in explaining the distinctions between various pianos. However, what truly captured my attention was his enlightening discourse on the evolutionary journey of pianos and the benefits of modern designs. With great delight, I can affirm that I ultimately chose to acquire a Shigeru Kawai SK6 from San Mateo Piano. I wholeheartedly recommend that anyone seeking a piano should make it a point to visit this establishment. read more

I was looking to sell my Yamaha U3. Website said they do appraisal. So I called. Bozkurt explained that appraisal is really for insurance or tax purposes. He can simply give me verbal estimate of my piano, for sale by owner. He is not making money here. But he took the time to provide information and offer advise. It just shows he cares about the industry. read more

Five stars for Bozkurt and San Mateo Piano. The entire experience was A+. I reached out to Bozkurt inquiring about a piano my wife and I saw in his showroom a year ago and within 5 days a beautiful Kawai piano for my wife and 4 year old daughter is sitting in my living room. I can't recommend this place enough, he is really detailed and fair on policies and pricing. The delivery was very smooth and the gentlemen delivering were awesome as well! Thanks again to Bozkurt and the entire San Mateo Piano team! read more

Great experience throughout. Definitely check this one out if you are looking for a piano. Bozkurt was super knowledgeable and gave us a good price on our K500. He took his time explaining things in details without pressuring the sale. We ended up ordering from Bozkurt at first visit because we've visited quite a few other places, this one is definitely the best. Delivery was smooth and those guys were very professional. I'd totally recommend anyone who needs a piano to pay this store a visit. read more

San Mateo Piano - Kawai k-500 - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Mateo, California

I rent a piano from San Mateo piano for a month last year. It's been a very fast and smooth experience without any fuzziness. I sent them an email saying that I'm interested in piano rental and they replied next day with their policies and some options. When I said I couldn't make it in store to test out the pianos, they gladly sent over recordings for me to see and hear. I made my selection through the email thread, signed the contract and scheduled a time for the piano to arrive. Their movers arrived around the time and handled every part of the moving. The piano arrived clean and tuned, and was ready to play upon arrival. I'm not a piano expert but my instructor said it's a great one (and still relatively new). After a month I decided to return the piano and the whole process was also easy and smooth. I just sent another email saying I wanted to return it and scheduled a pickup date with them. Their movers came again and handled it without any assistance. I didn't compare their price with other stores but as far as the process goes, I'm very happy how easy it is read more

San Mateo piano was able to move my grandmothers upright converted player piano on somewhat short notice and did a great job. They are competitively priced and I'd highly recommend them. read more

San Mateo Piano - Piano - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great experience with excellent services provided by San Mateo Piano Store. I got first class customer services from Bozkurt, and a top line beautiful Kawai CA 99 digital piano with good promotion price from them. I am very excited and can not wait to start my piano journey! read more

I needed a baby grand moved across the Bay on just a few days notice. They were very careful, methodical and knowledgeable. 100% would recommend. read more

Honest review from a local Silicon Valley family with two children who play piano. We purchased a new Kawaii upright piano from San Mateo Piano. We got a great piano for a fantastic price and both our kids are thrilled with the piano! We could not be happier in how Bozkurt and Louse and entire team took care of us from explaining the piano options, then handling our purchase, and setting up delivery of the piano to our home. WOW, what a team! If you are seeking a new piano, either upright or grand, we recommend buying from them. On price, you just cannot beat San Mateo Piano because they are a direct factory outlet so nobody beats their pricing. Initially, some customers may be hesitant about ordering a Kawaii when you don't get to play your specific piano until its unboxed at your home upon delivery. However, our experience is that process worked great because you do get to play and choose your model piano in the showroom, and San Mateo Piano team ensures you are delivered a great piano, and includes a free first turning. Another tip we have is for the families who have pre-conceived notion that Yamaha is the best. We initially had same mistaken idea, but our two pianist children tried both Yamaha vs. Kawaii uprights and they strongly preferred the Kawaii sound, and so did my wife and I. read more

San Mateo Piano - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Mateo, California

A top quality dealer. Bozkurt is knowledgeable, patient, and very fair. The dealership offers a wide range of keyboards, from the very high end to the more modest. The important thing is that Bozkurt listens and treats his customers well. You can trust him. Piano retail is a dicey business. Bozkurt is different. Worth a visit, a conversation. read more

We had a great experience here with Andrew and the rest of the staff. We were looking for a digital piano, and Andrew was very patient and knowledgeable. As we were about to move out of town, they suggested and were able to arrange for our piano to be delivered straight into the movers' truck, so that it wouldn't have to go through multiple moves and risk damage. Overall, we're very happy with our experience here and with our new piano! read more

I was shopping for a piano for my daughter and was interested in the Kawai brand. Basically I was choosing between Kawai and Boston upright. Happy to find this Kawai dealer in my neighborhood. I made an appointment with them to try out the pianos. Chris helped me out and he was so good. He is very knowledgeable in different aspects of the different models that I was interested in, and he explained all the details to me and demonstrated how the same tune sounded on different pianos. He was extremely patient, and very professional. I didn't make the purchase during the first visit, but I let the info sank in a little bit. They also offered a very good deal. I came back the next weekend and brought my husband along. Again Chris was very patient, never pushed us. We decided on the K500 and today I got it delivered! So happy with the purchase and very happy to go with Kawai. Thank you Chris and thank you San Mateo Piano!! read more

Excellent service. Bozkurt is so patient, kind, and genuine. You can tell that he actually cares about what makes the customer happy. He listens to what you have to say, and is not pushy at all. He is truly a professional; I've been to other piano dealers in the Bay Area, and there are a couple who badmouth other piano manufacturers, which is a huge turnoff. Bozkurt does not do this at all. He's a good guy. If I have to buy a piano again in the future, I'll come back here. Also, the piano movers are amazing at what they do! read more

This is my second time buying a piano from Bozkurt, the owner of San Mateo Piano. About 3 years ago, I bought a digital piano as I just wanted something lightweight with decent quality. Bozkurt explained all their different versions to me and even showed my kids how to play a simple song. Fast forward to last month, when I traded-in my digital piano for a baby grand piano. Bozkurt gave me back the full purchase price of the digital piano as credit against the new piano. He also spent time explaining to me the difference between how the upright piano works vs. the grand. After purchasing the piano, Bozkurt had it delivered and set up in my home and also covered for the first piano tuning. I couldn't be happier with the service. Bozkurt really cares about his customers and wants them to find the right piano - no pressure to buy, very knowledgeable, and you are welcome to test out all the pianos for as long as you need. read more

Very quick to respond and came out the very next day. He was respectful and safe (wearing booties and a mask) and repaired my piano quickly. I will definitely reach out to them again in the future! read more

I wanted a digital with true acoustic action and sound, but due to the Covid-19 lockdown I couldn't try out options in-store like I wanted to. SM Piano made it super easy! Bozkurt gave me a thorough walk-through of several models via FaceTime and quoted me truly amazing prices with free assembly and delivery. I did a ton of online research and had some excellent options, but SM Piano's delivery and in-home service warranty made it a no-brainer. I just love this piano and I know I can count on SM Piano for any future issues with my precious musical centerpiece. Oh - and Kawai technology? Key action and sound are as good as their marketing materials promise, plus great digital features. Seriously awesome all-around :-) read more

Great experience from the first call to the scheduled socially distanced in-store trial right through to a flawless delivery and assembly. Couldn't be happier and would highly recommend. Not sure if this particular digital piano would have been available on Amazon or some other online destination, but the quality of the experience, the advice and everyone I interacted with was exceptional. Complete no-brainer to support a fantastic local business. read more

Boz the owner helped us find a piano at an amazing price, and provide top-notch service at the same time. Among the local piano stores, he was most friendly and knowledgeable and invested his time in us to teach us about pianos and what to look for among the different selections. His delivery folks were also very professional and demonstrated high attention to detail. We are very impressed with this business and will definitely recommend it to friends. read more

I bought a digital piano from here after comparing the different pianos available. They were very helpful in showing me the options and explaining the differences, which I really appreciate as someone who doesn't know much about pianos. They gave me a great price and free delivery. During the delivery, their movers did scratch my walls a bit, but they came back to patch it up. Overall a fantastic experience and a business I would trust for my next piano purchase read more

There's a reason why San Mateo Piano's ratings are all 5 stars! Bozkurt, by far, is THE best person you can buy a piano from--you can buy with confidence. It is very clear that Bozkurt is in it for the love of his pianos and the long term relationship with his customers. I have known Bozkurt for over 15 years--having met him when he worked at McBain Carnes Piano Company. At that time, I was a recent college grad, starting my first job, and had very little to no savings. A grand piano was always my childhood dream. I had some time to kill, so I walked into McBain Carnes and Bozkurt greeted me. I know he could easily have turned me away or ignored me, knowing I was not going to buy a piano that day, but he was super kind and informative. He let me play on a couple of the pianos (including a Steinway) and explained so much about the evolution of piano making. I learned a lot that day and spent probably 2-3 hours in his shop. I fell in love with the Kawai Shigeru SK3, not knowing if it would ever be within my price range, but I walked out of that shop knowing that if I ever were to buy a piano, it would be from Bozkurt. Side note, after this visit, I learned that one of my coworkers actually bought a piano from Bozkurt--and he had nothing but great things to say about Bozkurt. "You have to buy from this guy!" he insisted to me. Fast forward a decade or so, and I, having kept in touch with Bozkurt, learned that he opened his own piano shop since my visit to McBain Carnes. I pay a visit to his shop and sadly, walked away, realizing I still had not saved up enough for that SK3 (the price increasing quite a bit since my first piano shop visit). Now forward to present day, I finally have enough! I set up an appointment for my visit (given we are taking COVID precautions and it is by appointment only) and Bozkurt warmly welcomes me (with hand sanitizer and a mask on) and allows me to play on a few grands just to ensure I know what all my options were. And while all the grands were wonderful, I was still set on the SK3. We got all the paperwork done electronically (and super quick), and then the next challenge was figuring out how to get the piano up my stairs. A few days before move-in, Bozkurt comes to my home and scopes out my stairs and stairwell (taking pictures and measurements). "It's going to be tight, but it will get done," he tells me. Day of move-in was, thankfully, smooth and uneventful. The movers were professional, arrived on time (with masks on), and tried to protect my carpets, walls and piano, as much as they can. Today, Bozkurt came to check on me and the piano. After the move, I realized I wanted to move the piano back a few feet and Bozkurt moved the piano for me! Talk about white glove service! All in all, I can't recommend Bozkurt enough! He's definitely on my A-list of invites if I ever host recitals. For some additional context, I have shopped around for 15 years--going to see a few other dealers and, I can say, for the most part, my experience at other dealers have been unpleasant. As a few reviewers have said themselves, it felt like going to a used car dealership, where they would chase you and play the "let me speak to my manager and see what else we can throw in for you" type of games. I did my homework, knew how much I wanted to pay, and Bozkurt gave me a great deal off the bat, no games, no pressure. So if you love Kawai pianos (and this is everyone's own personal choice), save yourself the time and pain of shopping around. Bozkurt is your man to go to! And as my old coworker said, "You have to buy from this guy!" read more

My family bought a Kawai K-500 (successor of K-5) 51" upright piano yesterday. Our interactions with Bozkurt, the owner, in the past 1 month couldn't be more pleasant. Buying a piano in the US is one of the areas that hassles are unavoidable because of a huge margin, occasional rebates, no-transparency in MSRP etc. 1. This store is a rather small dealership, run directly by the owner. This means you can remove the extra commission for salesperson that in turn adds up to the price you pay. You can also bypass time-consuming iterations between salesperson & manager/owner during negotiation. 2. Many sales people try to sell the one with the highest margin - usually the most expensive one. Contrarily, Bozhurt kindly warned us that the more expensive piano you try the better sound you would experience. So he rather advised us to avoid over-investment, keeping in mind the level of my son's talent, enthusiasm, etc. He was clearly in our shoes, thinking in customer point of view instead of salesman point of view. 3. We liked the sound/feel and initial price tag of the new Kawai K-500 ebony. But we wanted a mahogany one since my family hates black. It needed a special order and we were concerned "what if the new one sounds/feels different?" Bozhurt offered us a contingency term - if we don't like the sound/feel then he will nullify the sale and give a full refund of the down payment. 4. The final sale price was the level that would be nearly unbeatable by any other piano dealership. (I have a friend who does piano sales and I also did quite a bit of market research.) The time I spent for negotiation was less than 10 min. 5. Three weeks later, the new piano arrived from Japan. Unfortunately, the sound tone was "slightly" different from the ebony we tried. (I should say that the different is so subtle that most people including many piano technicians wouldn't notice/bother. It's just a matter of personal preference in tone.) Bozhurt had a very skillful piano technician recondition the sound, matching the sound of the ebony!! It was really an excellent work, costing him a substantial amount of expense but he did it for us! 6. Frequency status update calls for special order & delivery to home were small yet nice follow-up. read more

I happened to drop by this showroom and was greeted by Bozkurt, owner!. I told him I wanted to get back to playing and was interested in a piano but I lived in a small apartment. He asked me how large was my apartment and what floor I lived on. Whether I had hard wood floors or carpeting. At first I thought he was sizing me up for delivery and I haven't even bought a piano yet!! But in reality, he asked that because he was wanted to recommend a piano with a softer tone. Since I lived in a small apartment, the music from the piano would be overpowering as well disturb my neighbors. He proceeded to demonstrate differing pianos. We settled on a piano to my liking. The buying process was relaxed, informative and very professional. I highly recommend San Mateo Pianos to anyone who is interested in a piano and good service! Thanks, Mr, Erkmen!! read more

I haven't had a chance to purchase from San Mateo Piano, but I have talked with Bozkurt, the owner of San Mateo Piano, back when he worked at a competitor. From my other review: "He is extremely knowledgeable, not pushy at all, and best of all, he has a TRUE passion for music(piano AND guitar). There are many other stores where the staff can be rude, don't know much about the pianos, or don't even care for music, but [here] is the exact opposite." I think Bozkurt is on to a good business model where he runs the business lean and the sales staff is super knowledgeable. With his passion for music and authentic care for the customer, I'm not surprised he opened his own business. As a classically trained pianist of 16 years, myself, THIS is the type of place from which you want to purchase. read more

The owner Bozkurt is a rare breed: an honest salesman. You will not see him dancing around, or hear any made-up stories. He always has been truthful in what he says, and he does his best to give the best possible prices on what he offers. San Mateo Piano is now the only dealer of the Shigeru Kawai line of pianos in the Bay Area, which are arguably some of the best pianos made in Japan. The business is backed by some of the best technicians in the area to bring the best out of the instruments on the showroom floor, unlike many of the "unfinished" pianos that occupy the floor of most piano stores, requiring much pre-delivery set up. The pianos here are at their best. As a single-brand dealer, they may be tempted to trash other brands, often for good reasons. But they don't. They represent one of the best-respected brands in the world, and they stand behind it, while knowing that there are other manufacture with good products. The piano market is already such a niche world, that toxic words flung about doesn't really serve anyone well. Such civility is refreshing in today's world. As a teacher, I have had students buy or rent new and used piano. I do not hesitate to recommend them again. read more

I needed to buy a piano for my 4 year old son and decided to check out San Mateo Piano based on the Yelp reviews. Small showroom but plenty of choices between grand, upright and digital. Originally, I was set on an upright piano due to the weight of the keys. Tim showed me the differences between upright and today's digital pianos which have improved much since I first tried one. Tim then showed me the range of digital pianos, and suggested a couple of models based on features and needs. The process was painless, and Tim was not at all pushy. From the time I walked in to sitting down buying a piano was about 15 minutes. An easy and outstanding experience. read more

I first heard about this store after a used piano listing on Craigslist, and decided to drop by after reading reviews on Yelp. I'm so glad I did! When you drive up, the showroom doesn't look particularly classy, which made me skeptical. But once you come in, you will be greeted warmly by Bozkurt, who is the real treasure of this place. Bozkurt, the owner, is friendly, patient, and trustworthy. I ended up buying a shiny new baby grand that was delivered this week. As a previous reviewer described, the buying process was relaxed, informative, and very professional. Tellingly, Bozkurt was also equally friendly and easy to reach on every single communication we had between the purchase and delivery, even though I contacted him multiple times through phone and email. I absolutely recommend this store, and Bozkurt, as resources for your piano needs. read more

I went to the store to see the digital pianos 2 days ago to have an idea how the rental piano procedures work in Bay Area. Actually I was thinking that it would take couple of weeks to decide and rent one. Bozkurt explained all different types of digital pianos and how the system works very well. He answered all the questions such a nice way that when I stepped out of the door that unless I find super great I would rent from here. Yesterday I decided not to look for more and rent directly from here the digital piano that I liked.I put my order around 5:30 pm online and just called San Mateo Piano to inform that I filled the form. Bozkurt offered to start the procedure right away on the phone and I was done by the rental in 10 minutes. What was more surprising than having all the process smooth and easy was that the piano was delivered on the same day around 9:30 pm to my home. It was incredibly fast and only complain that I could have can be the fact that I spend rest of the night playing the piano and could not sleep well from the excitement :)) I enthusiastically suggest this store if you want to rent a piano! read more

I love this piano store. I went in one day looking for a very specific bench, very comfortable, while highly adjustable. The two seem mutually exclusive. I had been to a number of stores and even online I found it difficult to find. Bozkurt the owner showed me an amazing bench. But it wouldn't work for the range of my piano students from little kids to tall adults. He went out of his way to pick one up from his warehouse while a student and I enjoyed the current offerings among his latest inventory of new pianos. Great action, expression and control on the uprights I played before he came back with the perfect bench and saved the day. Bozkurt is courteous, knowledgeable and doesn't pressure sell - he knows he's got the quality pianos. Most piano retailers would have rolled their eyes at my request. Since then I've enjoyed keeping aware of his latest inventory. He's where I've been sending all my students looking for a real piano to start taking deeper strides in their piano journeys. Highly recommended. Leon Rosen read more