Clyde: Every once in a while I get a customer who behaves this way. As long as the conversation is on the phone, and he asks you quesitons of a technical nature, I would suggest you answer them. If he starts asking personal questions, hang up on him. This guy is overly cautious, and wants to make sure he is not going to get ripped off. If he wants to "interview" you at his house before allowing you to work on his piano, tell him you charge a "consultation" fee, in addition to you other fees. Since you don't have shop for him to come to, tell him he can observe you tuning a piano at a church or school, but remind him about your "consultation fee". He will either accept that, or go to another tuner. In other words, make this as difficult for him, as he is trying to make it for you, and see who "wins". If you are uncomfortable doing this, tell him you are not interested in working for him. Good luck. Willem Blees RPT St. Louis In a message dated 98-06-15 08:48:50 EDT, you write: << Friends: Last Saturday a man called me. He just moved into the area from a large city and is looking for an RPT to service his Kawai console, which was purchased new 10-15 years ago and hasn't seen a tuner or technician since. He's going down the phonebook listings, I gather. He sounds like a most exacting person. From his descriptions I suggested the piano may need less than $200 of work, including pitchraise, tuning, thorough cleaning and a few minor things. I am used to the normal questions from first-time clients, but this gentleman suggested he may want to meet me first and perhaps come and see my shop (I don't have any; I work out of my car). I could understand that if I were attempting to sell him a major rebuilding job for megabucks. He already told me he won't call one other person back because the RPT made him feel uncomfortable. I expect him to call again. Would you take this job? Is this type of scrutiny common in some areas? In my 18 years of business I never saw anything like it. I have visions of him watching my every move and checking every cranny of the piano's interior with a white cloth to see if I was thorough enough. I will appreciate being enlightened. I know not every place in the world is as trusting as Lancaster County, and I am careful never to betray that trust. Thank you. Clyde Hollinger, RPT Lititz, PA, USA >>
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