After explanations and pre-agreement with the client, I generally always tune the piano to pitch and charge for any pitch correction. I use this opportunity, also, to try and get them on a regular tuning schedule (most at 6 mos, some annual). If the piano is a little sharp in summer or flat in winter, but otherwise fairly in tune with itself, I will often tune it where it sits. But I will also educate, explain, and get agreement from the owner. But if it were 11 cents flat in January and you didn't see the piano until the following January, you might have to deal with a piano that is 16+ flat. Then what? Sooner or later the piper must be paid and I think we all agree that a piano almost always sounds its best at pitch. As for me, anyway, I like to get 'em in tune and on pitch, keep 'em tuned and on pitch, service the whole piano, educate, involve customers in decisions on tuning & repairs (giving real options when possible), make friends, and build repeat business. About building the business and making money: When I bring a piano to pitch and charge them for it, I also tell them that if I tune that piano every six months, at least, I will keep it at pitch (slight seasonal swings notwithstanding) and not charge them if it needs extra work to do it. Incentive! As to people with limited resources ... yes, there are cases. I'm remembering a charming little girl who's piano teacher told her she must get her piano tuned or the teacher could not keep teaching her. The beast was about 150 cents flat, on average, and all over the board--some unisons made fairly decent triads! I don't know how much money they had but it was obvious that the parents didn't like spending it on piano tuning. So I PR'd and tuned it twice for the price of one tuning ... for the kid's sake, period. Three years now and they haven't had me back despite reminders. BUT I've been around a few years in this business and many years in others. It is astonishing how many people will cry poor over a few bucks while blowing scads of money on booze, tobacco, snazzy cars, pick-ups with 36" wheels, eight shotguns, a new bass boat, and ... well, you get the idea. I think it's a BIG mistake to work cheap. Charity is one thing; being walked all over is quite another. Been there, done that, got the souvenir T-shirt. Alan R. Barnard Salem, MO -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Clyde Hollinger Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 3:58 PM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: lessons learned Scott, This is a good reminder. When examining a "flat" piano for the first time, one of the questions I ask is whether or not it will be played with anything else. Of course I recommend the piano be raised to pitch before tuning unless it looks like an old beater where caution is in order, but I still give the client the option of just tuning it at a lower pitch to save a few bucks. No doubt some of us will see that as too compromising, but it's their piano and their money, and for some of them the money is in short supply. (Hope I didn't open a can of worms here.) Incidentally, today I tuned for a first-time customer who said the piano was tuned a year or two ago, and it really looked like she was right! Not the ordinary occurrence. Regards, Clyde Scott Jackson wrote: > Watch out for people using playalong disks. This is more common now, as publishers such as 'Alfreds' have CDs to go with their beginners courses. Even 'little Debbie' will know the pitch of the piano is wrong as she tries to play with the CD. _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.495 / Virus Database: 294 - Release Date: 6/30/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.495 / Virus Database: 294 - Release Date: 6/30/2003
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC