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Christmas is a brilliant time to buy a piano or keyboard, but it’s also when we see the same mistakes over and over again. If you want to pick the right instrument first time – whether that’s a Yamaha digital piano, a beginner keyboard, or something your child can genuinely grow with – avoid these classic festive pitfalls.
This happens constantly. People walk in thinking “a keyboard is a keyboard”, or grab the cheapest option online, believing it’ll do the job. Then, two weeks later, it’s the same sentence every time:
“I bought this Argos keyboard for my daughter… she’s not enjoying it and the teacher says it’s not right. What do we do?”
If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard that, I could buy a mid-level Yamaha Clavinova myself.
Buying the right instrument isn’t about price – it’s about understanding what you actually need. Ask us anything, even the “silly” questions. It saves you money, frustration, and a whole lot of disappointment down the line.
December is chaos. Instruments sell out, couriers melt down, and delivery windows tighten. Yet every year someone arrives saying:
“Hi, we need a piano by Friday. We live in the Highlands. And it must be in the one colour you don’t have in stock. Also, it’s the week before Christmas.”
We ache to help and will always try our best, but even we can’t perform miracles in Christmas week.
If you want a Yamaha P-145, P-225, YDP-145, CLP-835 or anything larger delivered in time for the big day, order early.
Give us the time to make it happen properly.
A keyboard without a stand, bench or headphones is a disaster waiting to happen. We’ve seen it all – kids practising on the floor, leaning over the sofa, balancing on coffee tables.
But the bigger issue is this: thinking heavier keys are “bad”.
Every Christmas, a child plays a proper weighted Yamaha digital piano, tries a few notes of Für Elise, and instantly says, “I don’t like it, it’s too heavy.”
That weight is exactly what makes it feel like a real piano. It helps develop proper technique and gives the player room to grow.
Lighter keyboards with “DJ buttons” are fun, but they won’t build the skills a teacher wants. Weighted keys matter – especially if you want long-term progress.
A lot of traditionalists come in wanting only “a real piano”: wooden, upright, no extras, no screens. And that’s completely valid – many Yamaha digital pianos fit that brief.
But some of those same people try a Yamaha CSP digital piano and their entire world changes.
They realise it can teach them songs, guide their learning, record their progress and offer thousands of sounds without being confusing or overwhelming.
Being open-minded often leads people to the instrument that suits their learning style far better than the one they thought they “should” buy.
This is the most avoidable mistake. We’re here because we want you to love your instrument. Buying cheap now and upgrading later is almost always more expensive. Buying blind online leads to disappointment more often than not.
At ePianos we specialise in Yamaha digital pianos and keyboards, and we’ve helped thousands of players – beginners, returners, professionals, and complete newcomers – find the perfect instrument.
Just ask us. We genuinely want to get it right for you the first time.
Christmas is stressful enough. Choosing the right piano shouldn’t be. Whether you’re looking at a Yamaha P Series, the Arius range, or a full Clavinova, take your time, ask questions, and don’t rush the process.
Avoid these mistakes, and you’ll end up with an instrument that inspires well into the new year.
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These items are sold on behalf of Yamaha, and are sent to us on a per-order basis, typically within 5-7 working days, unless an ETA is otherwise stated.
We'll contact you the moment your purchase arrives with us to organise delivery, based on your selected option.
Example products: Yamaha DGX670, Yamaha P-525, Yamaha YDP-S55, Yamaha Clavinova.
These items must be sent with a heavy-goods courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via Dachser.
Tracking will be provided by the haulier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
*If you have included the optional £180 "Yamaha Premium Service" home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will contact you regarding arrangements after purchase.
**The Yamaha CSP Series, Yamaha CVP905 & CVP909, Yamaha CLP875, 885 & 895GP, and Yamaha NU1Xa are all sold on behalf of Yamaha and arrive with us on a per-order basis. As soon as your piano has arrived, we will contact you to organise the appropriate dispatch method. ETA for stock is shown on the product page for those items.
***If you have included the optional £99 home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will send your details direct to the installation team, who will contact you within 48 hours to make arrangements.
Depending on which option is most appropriate, we will either contact you to discuss a bespoke ePianos delivery surcharge for goods we can’t package for a 3rd party courier, or otherwise dispatch goods via FedEx or APC.
If a courier is used, tracking will be provided by them directly, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Example products: Yamaha PSR-SX920, Yamaha P-225, Yamaha NP-15.
These items will be sent via courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via UPS or Parcelforce.
Tracking will be provided by the courier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Smaller items, such as books, discs, etc, will be dispatched via Royal Mail second class.
After purchase, you can download the file either from the order confirmation page or the "Downloads" tab in "My Account".
If you have selected the option to receive a pre-loaded USB stick, then this will be dispatched via Royal Mail.
We will contact you regarding any pre-ordered items, and let you know when they arrive so as to arrange delivery with you at a convenient time.
Used items can also be purchased using either of the following options (minimum loan amount of £250 after deposit):
Total amount payable: £893.32
Available finance options are displayed at checkout. Alternatively, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss the options, or email a finance application to you. Find out more by clicking here
Our seasonal opening hours are as follows:
We are closed on all bank holidays, therefore the processing of sales and deliveries will be delayed.
For orders of any stock displaying a 7-10 day lead time, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
This is a special order "agency" item, and comes to us directly from Yamaha on a per-order basis.
It typically takes 7-10 days for this item to arrive with us, whereupon we'll contact you to discuss the arrangement of delivery.
For any pre-orders, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you, and update you with an ETA.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
*Cashback amount varies product to product, as indicated.
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