Carping about Stwy--was how many pianos...?

[Farrell]

Nice post Dale. I agree with you 100%. I just thought I would respond being that I have voiced one or two little criticisms of Brand S in the past. I stand by everything I have said, but just to add that I also LOVE Steinways! They are great piano stock to work with and present wonderful opportunities for the competent piano technician. I don't see any reason to belly-ache about Stwy changing the way it does things. They will do as they please - as it should be. It is just the way it is. I will still criticize where I think appropriate, but at the same time, I'll be glad they have been in the business all these years, and still are.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Erwinspiano@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 12:40 AM
Subject: Carping about Stwy--was how many pianos...?


> In a message dated 8/31/2002 8:44:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time, bigda@gte.net 
> writes:
>         Hi Dave
>         But Dave what is that we can do short of boycotting working for Stwy 
> dealers and new Stwy owner. When you say why do we put up with it, what is IT 
> that can be done. Plenty of techs have complained to no avail. What about a 
> petition? If  Thousands of techs signed it would this change the way they do 
> business? Honestly petitions don't work often even in government. I'm calmly 
> asking a fair question. what is it you suggest?
>    Many of us sell many a remanufactured Stwy based on that mine and others 
> often sound better, play better for usually less money than the new ones as 
> the client did compare ours with the unprepared ones at the dealer and chose 
> to buy remanufactured.  Politically speaking they're good for business even 
> though I think expensive pianos of any make should come more finished. But I 
> stress that's just MY opinion.
>     There is a lot of carping about "the way Stwy does it" but don't they 
> have the right to put out a piano any way they wish? Even if we disagree. I 
> for one and for selfish reasons am glad the company survives. By the way we 
> carp about many products made by corporate America. We don't have to buy, 
> sell or fix them.
>    Like it or not Steinway is the industry leader or one of them. They're the 
> piano that all others are compared to. I wish mine were but I'm not that 
> famous. Nevertheless. I see this as a personal integrity issue for those most 
> offended by the Steinway Corporation.
>     For example a true environmentalist does not throw a way things that can 
> be recycled, eat at Mickey Ds and toss away the styra -foam containers, or 
> feed bears at Yellowstone. Why? because of their convictions. No, not 
> felonies, personal ones.    
>     My point is that for all techs who can't abide the Factory policies on 
> advertising, the actions that need to be tweaked, (a pedantic factory 
> attitude, or however you perceive it) and hold such strong Anti- Steinway 
> feelings should simply refuse to support them in any way shape or form. This 
> includes refusing to take another dollar from the Steinway business at large 
> whether it be private clients or Stwy dealers. This includes not selling 
> rebuilds,Installing soundboards fixing actions etc. I think this mode of 
> action would be consistent with true conviction.
>    However this would put many out of business including me. It would 
> seriously damage the income levels of most who would follow through on this 
> strongly held convictions. Our nations musicians/pianists would be the poorer 
> for it. Performances would suffer etc.
>     My point is money talks and unless a company,corp. or individual is 
> subject to economic hardship, changes we perceive that need to be made, will 
> not be made.
>     My own position is that I wish to make a substantial difference on the 
> Stwys that come to me as raw material thereby providing a level of musical 
> experience hopefully that is becoming  more common by the efforts of myself 
> and many like you on this list. And yes profit by it, 
> artistically,professionally and financially.
>    I owe Steinway a HUGE debt even if I don't happen to agree with some of 
> their business philosophies. For the record I didn't say that I have or 
> haven't. Just my slant on things. No flame suit required.
>    yes The dialogue continues
>     Dale Erwin