Ethical quandary

[Jon Page]

5% is an outragious commission to shell out for a referral.
Had they taken an active part in the sale by accompanying
the customer to the store and supporting the dealer in the
sale, this would have been justified. I could see $100-200
for just giving out a name as a professional courtesy.

It's bad enough to have the government reaching into our pockets.

I have referred many people to dealers and other techs for
purchases and not expected or demanded a commission.
I was glad to be able to help both parties.
I look at aiding customers with referrals as customer service.
I don't expect a fee from them. But if they want me to appraise
a piano, that's diferent.
In the 25 years I've been working on pianos, I've never had the
opportunity arise to collect money from two parties on the same
piano sale.  So the conflict never appeared.  Maybe if I had
persued my referrals I would have enough to get a faster computer.

Jon Page
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net)
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>It turns out that this technician was partially responsible for the
>customer's initial call to our shop, although more than one technician
>had recommended us.  Well the technician felt we should split the 5% >fee
with the other technician.   Settling for 2 1/2% seemed appropriate >to this
person.  Wouldn't  the customer who did the hiring want to know
>about the technician's 5% commission request? She did and was >indignant
that a $1,250 request was made for the small service >provided.
>I realize that this story hits a nerve with some of you who make a fair
>amount of money in this manner.  I hear the reasoning about the time
>involved etc.  The point is that if you are hired by a person, you work
>for that person, at least that's what they  think, and to accept money
>without their knowledge and approval from the other party, is a betrayal
>of their trust.
>
>Telling a customer where there is a good honest piano dealer or
>recommending a certain brand piano does not seem to fall into that
>category to me. If it is a service we should bill the person to whom we
>provided the service.  It smacks of being sneaky to turn around, call the
>dealer and let them know we are sending over a customer and to put >our
name on a list for the fee.
>David Sanderson
>Littleton,Ma
>Pianobiz@juno.com
>
>

Jon Page
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net)
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