David, I think there's a fierce competition from France (and other west european countries) where one can find good builders. Also the quality of Italian builders is not always good. And the prices of the top of the range (castagnari) are quite high.

Most European diatonic accordion players I met (and that's quite a lot!) don't play Chinese instruments (yet). And the ones that find themseves worth a better one than a beginners' hohner like a handmade (or a castagnari for the same price) .

People still want to have quality, so after they decide to continue playing they sell their cheap one and buy a good one. Like the cajun accordion players do!


Gus