Choosing to Condemn

[Farrell]

> but when the
> estimated cost of repairs FAR exceeds the estimated end value of the
> instrument, that's where I draw the line. The only exception is when the
> owner of said lost cause says that money is no object.

IMHO, no need for us to draw any lines. It is simple to state what the cost of repairs will be, what the repaired piano will be worth, what the cost of a similar piano would be. It is then up to the piano owner to put a price on sentimental value.

I hope they need to figure in the cost of dragging a tech 2 hrs. away from home!

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Bondi" <tito@philbondi.com>
To: <cedel@supernet.com>; "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 6:56 AM
Subject: Re: Choosing to Condemn


> This past Saturday, I found myself 2 hrs. away from home looking at a
> Fischer Grand that had been through a fire in the home, and standing water
> in the piano from said fire for an estimated 2 days.
> 
> The action parts of the piano had gone to another technician who had them
> for a total of 2 years, and then returned the parts to the woman with no
> work done to them.
> 
> -hint#1
> 
> Consequently, upon arriving at her home, the first thing I noticed was the
> case parts were completely apart. The action was completely disassembled,
> and the rust on the wire was, let's just say, very rusty.
> 
> The piano was not involved with the 'contents' portion of the insurance
> claim because there wasn't enough insurance to begin with.
> 
> -hint#2.
> 
> This woman wanted in the worst way for me to tell her that her piano, that
> she has had since she was 15, was salvageable, while NOTHING else in the
> house was salvageable from this fire.
> 
> well, we all know that it is possible to re-construct piano actions, and pin
> blocks and wire are pretty common fare in our business, but when the
> estimated cost of repairs FAR exceeds the estimated end value of the
> instrument, that's where I draw the line. The only exception is when the
> owner of said lost cause says that money is no object.
> 
> That was not the case here.
> 
> -Phil Bondi (Fl.)
> tito@philbondi.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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