---------------------- multipart/mixed attachment Hi Terry,=20 As a member of this list for some years now, I sometimes wonder what kind o= f dealers you have "over there"... Here in Norway (4,5 million citizens) we are about 7 major piano-dealers + = 50 minor dealers. All of the major pianoshops are owned and run by highly s= killed piano-craftsmen. Most of us have several years of training at factor= ies in Germany (most of us from Schimmel and B=F6sendorfer). I must say, that for a dealer like me, it is very important that other tune= rs advice us to their clients, and if so happens, we will be happy to pay t= hem full price for a tuning. This doesn`t happen very often, because we nor= mally do all the tunings, prepping, regulating, voicing and after-work ours= elf (or by one of our employed tuners). But a good relationship to other tuners are important for us, because we ne= ed them, and the pianoteachers, and the organists, and lot of other piano-p= eople, to sell our pianos! Selling pianos makes it possible for us to run a good workshop, and a good = supply of parts, that we also sell to other local tuners. Most major dealer= s in Norway also make their own bass-strings. So if you lived in Norway, yo= u could visit my shop, and while you had a nice cup of coffee, I would make= the bass-strings you needed that day... What I ment to say, was that the tuners and the dealers could both profit o= n a good relationship. The dealers need to sell their instruments, but if t= hey want the support from tuners and teachers, they must offer quality in d= ifferent segments. Why not take a chat with your local dealer, and see if you both could have = an advantage of a constructive relationship...? Kjell Sverre Fardal Vise-precident Norwegian Pianotuners Guild > From: Terry [terry@farrellpiano.com] > Sent: 2005-01-06 20:08:38 CET > To: pianotech@ptg.org > Subject: New Piano Referral >=20 > Looking for an opinion or two.=20 >=20 > 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 ea= rful about used pianos. Both indicated some interest in considering a new v= ertical 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 par= ticular store in the area and look at a couple of particular new pianos the= re. 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 sell= s. I did not recommend any of the other several dealers in the area. >=20 > I don't think it is unreasonable to conclude that I referred the customer= s to the dealer. >=20 > The dealer called me and told me that these two people requested that I p= rovide them their one free tuning that comes with the new piano. I asked wh= at 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. >=20 > I've done these types of tunings before for stores and that type of low p= ay. I have to admit that I'm pretty much over that phase of my tuning caree= r. But as a matter of principle, my gut tells me that the dealer should gla= dly pay me my standard tuning fee. I'm not asking for any type of commissio= n 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 pri= ciple to me - I should think he would pay my normal bill with a smile on hi= s face. >=20 > It is possible that he is not aware that I referred the customers to him = (although, I would think so). >=20 > Anyone have any experience/opinion on such a matter? >=20 > Terry Farrell ---------------------- multipart/mixed attachment--
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