Angry Hubby

[A440A@aol.com]

Ed writes:

<< I wrote her a note detailing what her husband had said and that I was 
uncomfortable working in a hostile environment.  I haven't heard anything back 
from her since.  I hate to lose a client, but I don't need the aggravation. >>

       You oughta love losing this one.  Rejoice!  none of us need a 160 mile 
car trip to tune one piano!  Gradually, any technician will change their 
clientele.  It happens for a lot of reasons, but we can take an active part is how 
it gradually shapes up, and well before the end of our careers, we should be 
in control of who we work for, not the other way around.  (When I think about 
starting, I recall late night tuning on practise room, spinets at an 
underfunded school...) 
    The willingness to refer less than stellar customers to another tech has 
greatly increased my job satisfaction.  It helps in shaping my clientele to 
suit me.  "Selective pruning" as it were.  Letting the bad ones go just makes 
more room for good ones.  
     I have this vision of a customer base that tunes regularly, calls me for 
appts., and always tips.  They would have their pianos cleaned, regulated and 
polished every 5 years  or every 20 tunings, which ever came first.   After 
many faithful years of them are giving me a bonus AND a fruitcake every 
Christmas, they will agree have the piano completely restored before the 
grandchildren inherit it.  Kids take it and I am the "old tuner" that came with the piano. 
 
      I want a book full of customers like that and there ain't no chapter 
for angry spouses in there. 
Regards, 

Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html