Acrosonic w/ bass bridge (Ethics) question

[Pianoman]

Dave's advice is very good.
James
James Grebe   Piano Tuning & Repair   Member of M.P.T.
R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years.   "Member of the Year" in 1989
   Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing 
Instruments
(314) 845-8282   1526 Raspberry Lane   Arnold, MO 63010
Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
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pianoman at accessus.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Bunch" <pdtek at mchsi.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 8:25 PM
Subject: Re: Acrosonic w/ bass bridge (Ethics) question


After reading some of your responses, I thought I would play devil's 
advocate for the dealers.. Yes, there are shady, disreputable dealers out 
there. I have had the good fortune of working for good dealers that 
genuinely want their customers to be happy. There have been times when these 
dealers have sold bad used pianos that had problems that they really did not 
know about. They are salesmen, not technicians. In every case, they have 
made good on repairs after I have brought them to their attention. The key 
here is to bring the problems to the attention of the dealers, NOT the 
customer. I have had dealers send me 150 miles to service pianos sold at a 
remote sale because they live in fear of tuners that just love to point out 
defects on their new purchases and at the very least imply that the dealer 
was trying to cheat them on the deal. If you KNOW your dealer is treating 
customers unfairly, then all bets are off and it would be in your best 
interest to discontinue your association with them in order to protect your 
own reputation. However, if it is possible that the dealer was not aware of 
the severity of the piano's condition, then give them the benefit of the 
doubt and let THEM know of the problems first.

Dave Bunch
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: KeyKat88 at aol.com
  To: pianotech at ptg.org
  Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 1:08 PM
  Subject: Acrosonic w/ bass bridge (Ethics) question


  Greetings,

            A Piano store that I tune for, sold a guy a dirty, scratcjhed, 
Baldwin Acrosonic with 2 broken strings, its strings that are so rusty that 
even I broke one doing the "free" tuning. Its bass bridge is actually 
preforated by the bridge pins and its upper 'crust' ready to lay over 
splitting. A bridge pin fell out in fact.

            I informed the guy that there were 2 broken strings on the piano 
when he purchased it and showed him the cracking bridge. The brigde is 
preforated and cracking on its upper part (the part at the bridge pins) the 
lower part is on the apron okay and the apron is on the sound board ok. In 
other words no separating at the bottom of bridge or its apron.

            The question is I feel I am put in a rough spot. This guy was 
sold this pioano for "alittle less than 1000.00" as he put it. and the store 
that I tune for sold it to him!   I am so appauled!  I would have never let 
this piano go out of my shop in this condition let alone ask 1000 for it! I 
am ready to call the store and give them my 2 cents, but they get me tunings 
and this creates a sticky situation.

             The guy, on the other hand is not too, too upset over it. He 
said he felt that they should have told him about the two broken strings, bu 
he was willing to over look that and that he would expect that a 50 year old 
piano would have some cracking wood pieces, and that he was willing to put 
100 or so dollars into keeping it going, till he finds out if the piano will 
"stick" with the kids and lessons and all. He  thought 100 or so in repairs 
wasnt that bad in addition to what he paid. I see it differently. I guess my 
value systme is different.

              How bad is a cracked bridge problem?  Is this bass bridge 
something I can dump CA glue in and keep it going, say, 5-10 more years OR 
do bass bridges just snap and the bass goes out/kapooey dies? Or should I 
advise this guy to go back to the store and get another piano from this 
dealer? This is a sticky situation.

  Juli
  Reading, PA


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