New Piano Referral

[Avery Todd]

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Hi Barbara,

That sounds like a dealer here who pays $15.00 for a floor tuning. Or even one
outside of the store, as long as he's paying for it!

Avery

At 01:33 PM 1/6/05, you wrote:
>Terry,
>
>Last December I got an e-mail from some outfit in Manhattan, Kansas 
>requesting I provide the complimentary tuning for a piano they sold to 
>someone in Bloomington, Illinois.  I wrote back stating my standard fee to 
>tune in Bloomington (up to an hour from my home, depending on the location 
>in Bloomington), when I was available (generally) and asked how they 
>preferred to handle customer requested regulation or voicing.  I never 
>heard back from them--maybe because I didn't ask what they paid, just told 
>them what I expected.
>
>Barbara Richmond
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:terry@farrellpiano.com>Terry
>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org
>Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 1:08 PM
>Subject: New Piano Referral
>
>Looking for an opinion or two.
>
>Recently I got calls from two people looking to buy a good vertical piano 
>for their children that are taking piano lessons. One I did not know, and 
>the other I had tuned their old piano several times. I gave them both an 
>earful about used pianos. Both indicated some interest in considering a 
>new vertical piano, but definately wanted to stay below $5K. Anyway, the 
>bottom line was that one of the recommendations I gave them was to check 
>out a particular store in the area and look at a couple of particular new 
>pianos there. They did and both bought new studio pianos from that dealer. 
>I have no relationship whatsoever with the dealer (I did a few floor 
>tunings for him years ago) - just think he is an honest guy and I like the 
>products he sells. I did not recommend any of the other several dealers in 
>the area.
>
>I don't think it is unreasonable to conclude that I referred the customers 
>to the dealer.
>
>The dealer called me and told me that these two people requested that I 
>provide them their one free tuning that comes with the new piano. I asked 
>what he pays for that type of tuning. He gave me a price that is 50/85 of 
>my normal tuning fee. I suppose there is every possibility the pianos may 
>also need a pitch raise, which in that case, the fee quoted might be 
>50/125 of my normal pitch-raise-and-tuning fee.
>
>I've done these types of tunings before for stores and that type of low 
>pay. I have to admit that I'm pretty much over that phase of my tuning 
>career. But as a matter of principle, my gut tells me that the dealer 
>should gladly pay me my standard tuning fee. I'm not asking for any type 
>of commission related to the sale of the pianos. In fact, I don't want a 
>comission - I enjoy the very independant nature of my business. It's just 
>a matter of priciple to me - I should think he would pay my normal bill 
>with a smile on his face.
>
>It is possible that he is not aware that I referred the customers to him 
>(although, I would think so).
>
>Anyone have any experience/opinion on such a matter?
>
>Terry Farrell

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