Hi Jonathan, Jonathan wrote: You have offended me greatly personally. First of all, thank you for your response. I've reread my original post to the list, and you could have been offended by it. I'm sorry. I was actually venting some frustration over my own situation, which I really should not have aired on this list. (Or at least offered my queries in a little more civilized manner...) I am grateful that other contributors to the list picked up on the thread and offered some real good quality discussion. (Thank you!) Jonathan wrote: I am a piano salesperson, but also a person who strives to be honest and forthright with his customers, and I am also a piano technician who spends a great deal of time doing research into the pianos I sell and piano technology in general. Sir, my hat is off to you. You are an asset to the piano business. I'm finding out that there are people of good repute in the piano business, owners, and salesmen, as well as tuners and technicians. To steal a line from a movie; We all go through life with blinders on, seeing only that little station in life to which we were assigned. It's a rare person who gets to escape those blinders if only for a moment... something like that. Well, I've been going through life with some 'blinders' in place and am now getting glimpses of the outside world, some through this list, and some from just questioning what it is I've been taught all these years that may not quite make sense!? At the dealership I presently work for, the sales staff is not very interested in much else other than the almighty commission. And if I lumped you in with that general attitude, I offer my sincere apologies. Jonathan wrote: Perhaps you should also remember that if you think you can do a better job perhaps you should get into this "piano sales" force that you are so hasty to criticize. I'll not go too far with this, but let me give you an example. (This actually happened, I'm not making this up.) Technician "A" goes to the owner, says "I have someone who wants to buy a piano. If I sell them a piano, will you give me a commission?" Owner replies, "Sure! That would be great!" Technician "A" sells potential customer (on his own time, I might add) a 7' Boston grand. Guess what??? NO COMMISSION!!! (By the way, I wasn't the person who sold the piano. ) (Also, the owner IS one of the sales persons!) Can you see where some of my ill feelings come from when I have a problem with what I see as Owners and Sales forces? I don't have a problem with you. I'm frustrated with where I am! It sounds to me like I'd like working with you very much! (I used to think that where I work now was just the Normal way of doing business. Now I'm seeing some glimpses of what life is like just past those 'blinders' I was talking about.) Jonathan wrote: In any case... if you should feel like criticizing the "sales force" again soon in the future do me a favor and narrow the field down a bit... Don't include us all please. Again, Jonathan, I'm sorry I offended you. I did make some pretty broad statements to which you were not a party. I will consider the things you've said to me in the future. But I hope you'll know my frustrations are not aimed at you when I blast a salesman for shooting that line of 'bull jive' at the unsuspecting customer. I'm human. I ranted above and beyond what I should have. Maybe from here on out we can have good conversations! I'd like that. Thanks again for sharing with me. Best wishes, always, Brian Trout Quarryville, Pa.
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