moral dilemma/ estimate

[Tom Dickson]

Hi, David,

   One of the reasons that many of us love this business is because we are 
able to make the kind of decision you were faced with, going totally with 
our "gut" - our conscience.  There are no policies to cloud the issue, no 
"managers" to talk some sense in to us, and so on.  At the end of the day, 
there might be short-lived regret about lost income.  But, I think that it 
would soon be forgotten, whereas income realized through a morally offensive 
action would likely "gnaw" at one for some time.

   I like the way you do business!

Sincerely,
Tom Dickson,
Regina, SK






>From: David Renaud <drjazzca@yahoo.ca>
>Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: moral dilemma/ estimate
>Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 16:43:00 -0500 (EST)
>
>An estimate for a public school teacher.
>She's hired me, she works for the school.
>
>Yahama Apt. size piano, not bad,
>needs minor work. Hairline soundboard
>crack, not open, at pitch, not
>too much wear, about 15 years old.
>
>Apparently the school is now uses electric
>keyboards; is willing to sell said piano
>to her.
>
>She evicts 2 other teachers from
>the room, and explains;" she wants
>to be alone with me because she,
>"Wants me not to be honest"
>"wants a high estimate",
>and proceeds to explain how she
>thinks she can get the piano
>for about $1000(Canadian money....about $600US.)
>She then makes clear I am not to
>communicate with the school, but
>will be using my estimate to get what
>she wants.
>
>    Several issues come to mind.
>
>First, a client does not dictate what an
>estimate must look like.
>She thinks she can orchestrate the
>details because she is hiring me.
>I don't think so. I advocate for a
>client hiring me, buyer or seller,
>and act accordingly, but within reasonable
>limits based on defendable valuations.
>
>Secondly, she is a public servant,
>working for the very institution she
>is actively trying to rip off. I see
>no sense of obligation to look out
>for the interests of the corporation
>she works for. I told her this, and also
>told her if she worked for my company
>I would fire her. The same schools
>that are crying no money for books
>and activities have teachers attempting
>to suck the system for thousands
>of extra dollars. I happen to know this
>same school closed a wood-shop. What do
>you think of a teacher getting ahold
>of most of the tools for a song, for example
>$20 brings a giant lath home. Polish it
>up and offer it privately for a $800 value.
>
>I was booked to go to the lady's home
>after the estimate to tune and fix a few
>things. So between  this and the estimate
>I just walked away from half a days work.
>
>I have heard it said
>"never let pride get in the way of makn money"
>well.... today I beg to disagree.
>
>               grrrrrrrrrrrr
>               David Renaud
>               RPT
>               Canada
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