David, I can understand the client's wishes, but they should understand your predicament as well. I haven't done warranty work recently, but I do try to educate my clients as needed. Something to the effect of, "I will be willing to work on this for you, but since I did not guarantee the piano, I shouldn't need to give my considerable time without pay. If the company will not reimburse me for my time (which could run up to $xx), are you willing to do that? If not, then you should work this out with the company (or the dealer) directly." But I will still do some work gratis. Recently I spent a lot of time guiding a client through her justified dissatisfaction with her new piano, for which I neither received nor requested payment. We can always do that if we choose to. On the positive side, while Kent Webb was at Baldwin I called him about repairing a separated back on a Wurlitzer console that was under warranty. I felt he was very fair to both the client and me in reimbursement for work performed, and I appreciated that. It's the uncovered costs involving warranties really gall me, especially when it's a problem with my stuff. I have a Lazyboy recliner that I really like and which has a lifetime warranty on the mechanism. It doesn't work right, but even though the company will repair/replace the mechanism without charge, it is up to me to get it to the store, and if they need to ship it out, the shipping expense will be mine. And I could tell more such stories; my guess is we all could. Regards, Clyde David Renaud wrote: > Yes I will write them directly, but since you know > they are aware of the problem, perhaps you are aware > of their preferred fix, and if they will cover it. > The client is on me about it, does not want to pay, > They want me to be responsible to call the dealer out > of town, and make arrangements if it is covered. > Too much admin. for the size of the problem. > The admin. time is worth more then the fix. > Could stop winning, and just fix it as the cost of > doing business. But, done enough of that.
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