Fw: new strings broken strings-the true cost

[Erwinpiano]

  Terry

 Right on and great perspective.  Besides there isn't enough money that
could be charged to accurately compensate for the time spent to solve this
colossal nuisance of a problem.  Let me add it up this way.
1.  the initial string replacement visit parts, labor, driving and setting
up the app.  The "yo're going to be seein alot o me for a while " speech.
$300.00

2.  Multitude of whining phone calls from client saying "It was just tuned
yesterday" even though you splained it to her really well.
                                                                Irritation
cost $600.00
3.  6 follow up 10 minute touchups over the next year,related phone calls to
schedule, and driving time.                                   $10,000.00

 So should I tell you how I REALLY feel about busted strings or just shut
up.
  Hey She's a teacher if the strings are old she needs to string it.
     So I think Terry is right.  Fix and keep quiet cause you can't charge
enough to get the taste out a your mouth anyway.  Just charge a reasonable
fee knowing she's good for your business and be less crabby than me!
        Best

   Dale Erwin
   P.S Good advice Jon Page

----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 6:58 PM
Subject: Re: new strings


> First of all, if the strings are not real old and corroded, splice before
> replace. Stability will come so much quicker. Beyond that, IMHO, if she
only
> lives 10 miles away, and sends "a TREMENDOUS number of referrals" and you
> "DO want to keep her happy" - case closed - if the piano sounds OK muting
> off the new string, then mute. If it sounds bad - or she is not happy -
stop
> by every two weeks and touch-up. I know many would say she should be
charged
> each time, etc., etc. But, I have a few folks that send me lots of
> referrals. I treat them VERY well. I think it pays off in so many ways. I
> enjoy the special relationship quite a bit, and I get lots from it. They
do
> to. I don't do lots of extras for everyone, but especially those that are
> willing to help me, I help them.
>
> Terry Farrell
> Piano Tuning & Service
> Tampa, Florida
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Harriet Lipman" <hallie58@yahoo.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 7:38 PM
> Subject: new strings
>
>
> > This is certainly not a new question - but I need some
> > new ideas - what do you do when you tune regularly (4
> > times/year) for a piano teacher who teaches ALOT of
> > students - and a string breaks, so you replace it -
> > you tell her that the new one will be out of tune
> > tomorrow - she understands that, but every two weeks
> > the out-of-tune  string is driving her nuts - she
> > would like to buy a tuning hammer and fix it herself,
> > but I know that if she touches anything inside the
> > piano, she will break it (she is extremely impulsive,
> > almost hyper).  Do I just mute it off until it
> > streches and tell her that she simply has to live with
> > two  muted notes (in this case it is a bass bi-chord),
> > or is there some other trick I don't know about?  I
> > kept pulling it (way up) when I was there, but that
> > lasts about two days, in my experience.
> >
> > P.S. She doesn't live around the corner - maybe 10
> > miles away - she also sends me a TREMENDOUS number of
> > referrals - I DO want to keep her happy.
> >
> > I appreciate anyone's input.
> >
> > Harriet
> >
> > Long Island
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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