Gratuities

[adkpiano- Alan]

Hello Rob .+ list

Chutney - Just stick it on your cheese on toast. Some home made chutneys can
be used to dope tired hammer felts!

The first piano I ever serviced { like yours  'A real heap of #*@&!!'} came
complete with the biggest, and most valued, tip I've ever had. The customers
were a young-ish couple, and the husband showed a real fascination for what
I was doing to his cherished heirloom. I presented the finished piano and
the bill was paid. Just as I was packing up my tools the husband said he
would like to give me something !!! "more money"- I thought......
He went away and came back with a rolled up green felt bag. They gave me 24
quality hard wood handled wood chisels - a matching set - every conceivable
head shape - each about 80 years old . I was astonished. He explained that
he would never use them and that he wanted them to go to a good home. They
had been his fathers.
A few years later I showed them to a carpenter friend hoping he would
sharpen them. He immediately offered to buy them - I wouldn't sell. He
valued them at £600 !!!!!
As you can guess, I'll never sell......

Alan
adkpiano@breathemail.net

Alan King Mpta
> UK Tech >Scotland
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Goodale <Robert.Goodale@NAU.EDU>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: 04 March 1999 18:41
Subject: Gratuities


>I had a most interesting gratuity last night.  The piano- a 1908 Haynes
>Bros. baby grand. A real heap of #*@&!!  At any rate the lady was real
>nice and I told her I would see what I could do with it since it was her
>personal little treasure.
>
>I quoted her $200.00 to take it apart, give it a good cleaning, do a
>little hammer reshaping, and some regulation.  Unfortunately as I got
>more and more into it I continually found something else wrong with it.
>The clock kept ticking and I kept working.  She was very nice and polite
>and I always try to stick to my quoted price if I can.  Nevertheless
>this lovely piece of work was really starting to get to me.  I ended up
>coming back the next day to finish up the regulation.
>
>The lady clearly new that I was giving it my all and that it was more
>work than I expected.  When it came time for the bill she included a
>$25.00 tip and... and a jar of "Chutney" that she made herself.
>Hmmmmm.  I have no idea what chutney IS let alone what to do with it.
>The point is she gave me something extra for my giving her something
>extra.
>
>Just wondering...  What are some of the other items, (other than $$)
>that some other techs on the list have received??
>
>Rob Goodale, RPT
>