Aaaaaarrrrrrrrgh!

[John Ross]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
If they don't play much. I probably wouldn't have done a pitch raise, =
for 20cents.

Through the period of a year, the pianos up here, have sections of them =
that vary 30 + cents. If they haven't queried why the  piano sounded =
bad, at times through the year, then the pitch raise, and the extra cost =
to them is wasted money

I guess it all comes down to, know your customer. Some people need pitch =
raises, and some don't.

It is after all their piano, and their tolerances for an out of tune =
piano, may be much greater than yours.

This pitch raise for 2-4 cents kind of gets me, lets face it, if it is =
on a stage, for example, the stage lights, on and off can change it more =
than that.
I know a lot of you are going to disagree with me, but it has worked =
well for me. Since I started in '75, I have never called a customer and =
said, "it is time to do your piano"

With the humidity changes, when is the right time to tune their piano?
It could be the right time for one customer, and the wrong time for =
another.
For example, if they turn their furnace off a couple of weeks after you =
tune, or turn it on a couple of weeks after you tune. Then you shouldn't =
have suggested they have their piano tuned, or should you?

I suggest DC installations for the customers that notice their piano go =
out throughout the year.

You always, give them the option of a pitch raise, after discussing it =
with them. And always make sure it is the pianist, that you discuss it =
with. If a minor, the pianist, and their parent.

John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Greg Newell=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 10:53 PM
  Subject: Re: Aaaaaarrrrrrrrgh!



  Alan,
          Personally, I would send the letter but edit out all of the =
middle where you discuss other businesses and other tuners. Other than =
that you are extending the hand of peace.=20



  At 05:47 PM 4/21/2005, you wrote:

    Had to happen sooner or later. Visit people who don't play much, =
tune annual. He's nice. She was okay in past. She not home. Sit at =
piano. 20+ cents flat after period of high humidity around here. Tell =
him it needs pitch correction. Work on piano for 2 1/2 hours. She's now =
home, comes in as I'm trying to take a little Story & Clarke wine out of =
the unisons. Scowl. "We have places to go today! How much longer is this =
going to take?" Oh, says I, I'm just finishing up. "How much."  Well it =
needed pitch correction, you see, blah blah blah, so it's $140 today.=20
    =20
    [Insert sound of Banshee With Bellyache here]
    =20
    "Why, we haven't even moved that piano." (Me: chuff, hrgmff, choke =
...)
    =20
     {Caution Serious Rant Zone Ahead}=20
    =20
    WHAT THE HELL IS IT WITH THIS 'MOVING THE PIANO CRAP'? EVERYONE =
KNOWS(!) THATS WHAT MAKES PIANOS NEED TUNING (puff puff pant) DID THE =
GOVERNMENT USED TO PRINT THAT FACTOID(???!!!) ON CEREAL BOXES OR WHAT? =
SEEMS MOST FOLKS DON'T KNOW A $#*%&* THING ELSE ABOUT THEIR PIANO BUT IF =
YOU ROLL IT 3 INCHES, THAT'S WHEN YOU GOTTA CALL THE TUNER (OR IF A KEY =
IS 'STICKING.') OTHER THAN THAT, IT CAN EASILY GO ANOTHER 15 YEARS AND =
SOUNDS JUST BLOODY GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
    =20
    "Last time you were here you only charged me $50." No, Ma'am. It was =
$65 a couple of years ago. Now it's $80 plus you needed the pitch raise. =

    =20
    Tried to explain. She wrote a check. I said, just pay me what you =
think it's worth. She paid the full amount.
    =20
    She won't be using me next time. That's okay. She will undoubtedly =
tell everyone in her church--and it's a small community here--and anyone =
else who'll listen that I am a rotten crook and I charge $140 to tune a =
piano--that hasn't even been moved! That's not okay. Damn.
    =20
    I never raised my voice.
    =20
    I've attached the letter I've prepared to send her. Before I seal it =
and send it, if any of you kind folks want to look it over and tell me =
I'm right on, crazy, or both, I'd appreciate it. All comments welcome. =
Maybe some ideas for people with similar customer relations disasters =
are here, too ...
     =20
    Alan R. Barnard
    Trying to Thicken My Skin Without Thickening My Skull in Salem, MO
    (Man, that's just plain thick! Thorry.)
    =20

    --
    No virus found in this outgoing message.
    Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
    Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.1 - Release Date: =
04/20/2005


    _______________________________________________
    pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
  Greg Newell
  Greg's piano Fort=E9
  mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net=20

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/74/d5/10/cb/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--