Brian, While many of the responses you have received are wonderful things to look at (In fact, they should all be considered in a job like this), the single, primary, outstanding points are to properly interpret the customer's complaints and wishes, accurately diagnose the problem causing those symptoms and effectively treat the situation with the customer's best interests in mind. This problem could range from perception to voicing to regulation to action geometry and treating the symptom without taking the "big picture" into consideration could be worse than disastrous. In this case, I would recommend consulting with a more experienced tech who can solve this one and provide you with a learning experience. There are many out there willing to mentor (be willing to compensate them accordingly) and help lessen the learning curve. In addition, attend all chapter technicals, plan on applying for any regionals seminars in the area and start now preparing to attend next summer's Annual Institute in Kansas City. Many of the questions raised will be answered in addition to tons that we often don't' realize we should ask. Not the easiest advice but, trust me, this is the best route. Allan Allan L. Gilreath, RPT -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Brian Doepke Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 6:40 PM To: 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: STIFFER ACTION It's a grand. How is that done? By bending the spoons? BD -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Avery Todd Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 3:44 PM To: Pianotech Subject: RE: STIFFER ACTION Brian, Assuming everything else as mentioned in other posts is OK, one little "trick" I learned years ago and that is easily reversible, is to change the damper timing. Making the dampers lift earlier, on a vertical OR a grand, will give one a heavier feel. Just don't overdo it, though. You don't want ringing dampers. Avery At 07:41 AM 9/21/04, you wrote: >Hello, > >I have a customer who claims that her touchweight is too light and is >asking if there is a way to change the feel of the piano so the keys >"don't go down as easy". ( she did not use the word "touchweight", she >does not know what that is) > >I have read past articles in the Journal and all I have found is >information regarding repining places in the whippen. > >Is that ALL I need to look at ...or are there other ways to change the >feel? > >BD > >-----Original Message----- >From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On >Behalf Of Clyde Allen >Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 1:04 AM >To: Pianotech >Subject: Re: free tunings > >Carol, > >Very good insight and advice! > >Best Regards, >Clyde Allen > > >--- Carol Beigel <crbrpt@bellatlantic.net> wrote: > > > To David especially, I have a few suggestions to > > make > > concerning getting customers to call YOU when the > > free > > tunings are completed from the dealer. > > > > First of all, that free in-home tuning after someone > > has purchased a piano is not really just an > > appointment > > to tune a piano - it is a fantastic business > > opportunity for you to get a client! I doubt most > > people will notice or appreciate your technical > > skills, > > but what they WILL remember is whether or not you > > seemed interested in them and their piano. > > > > Did you dress nicely? Did you smile and comment how > > nice the piano looked in their home? Did you ask > > them > > how they liked the piano or if there were any > > problems? > > Did you ask their kid to play a song for you after > > you > > were finished? Did you leave any literature about > > how > > to take care of the piano? And most important, did > > you > > not agree to send a post card reminding them when > > their > > next tuning should be done, say in 6 months!!! > > Those > > should have been your parting words. > > > > If you consider that being a successful business man > > piano tuner is 90% customer care and 10% technical > > stuff, then you might have better odds of keeping > > the > > customer. I will say that the "show" is far more > > important than any unseen work you might have done. > > If > > any extra work is needed, bring them into the room > > and > > SHOW them what you are doing! It makes for great > > entertainment as most people have never even seen > > the > > inside of a piano, and are totally fascinated the > > thing > > even comes apart in the first place! > > > > I think people are totally wowed by electronic > > tuning > > devices. The combination of those little red lights, > > or > > rotating circles, combined with your wearing a tie, > > watching a kid play a song, and driving a clean car > > are > > no match for an unknown tuner unless their prices so > > undercut you, that they probably give poor service > > and > > will call you back anyway when they get disappointed > > with the sound and playability of their piano. > > > > When I was a kid, I was the one who stayed home to > > let > > the piano tuner in the house. If I didn't like the > > guy, I would tell my Dad and he would find someone > > else. Our tuner never joined the guild, but he wore > > a > > beret and drove a red Porche! He even let me rumage > > through his tool bag and gladly answered any > > question I > > ever had. Of course I was happy with his service! > > My > > Dad was happy because he thought the piano sounded > > good > > and played crisply. The guy before him however, > > came > > out and said something I perceived as > > uncomplementary > > about the brand of our piano, so we never called him > > back. > > > > Just remember, building your business is more "show" > > than competence; keeping your busness is paying > > attention to detail and being competent! > > > > Carol Beigel, RPT > > 26 years in the business > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pianotech list info: > > https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >http://mail.yahoo.com >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC