> I'd be very grateful for your advice, ideas and comments, dear list, and I will tell you the lesson I have learned from this: Make a well-lighted, very close inspection of coils, as well as pin torque, part of the initial inspection of any older piano before beginning (or quoting) any work to the piano. "You may have already won" has a higher potential average return rate. As a rodent hospice, or a Boy Scout "Fire From Friction" demo, it might be worth showing up for. Playing it straight, it gets tougher. I'd quote them three prices, with brutally accurate descriptions of the options. (1) Condemnation service call. Basically a minimum service call. Maybe $50, and you don't have to deal with it. (2) Realistic resurrection price, no buffer, no padding, no frills. Maybe $8,000, and you are realistically compensated for dealing with it. (3) As overpriced as I could make it illusionary smoke and mirrors procedure calculated to make them feel all warm and fuzzy about patching up the old loose parts box without realistically addressing the problems. Maybe $785 for a couple of hours worth of going through the motions and dealing with it from the bottom of the deck. The intention being, if they are thinking, you both win. If not, you win bigger. Otherwise you spend more time than you are compensated for, doing minimal work on pits equipment, passing out your competitor's business cards for future referrals. Be straight with them, and if they understand and really want you to flog their dead horse, do so at your discretion, and at a compensatory price. Ron N
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