You're suggesting manufacturers should have staffing requirements for dealers? What about a small dealer that doesn't need a full time tech? And if a dealer didn't hire an approved tech, what should the consequences be? Mark Wisner Yes, I'm suggesting that manufacturers require dealers to hire only "qualified" technicians. The technician doesn't have to work full time for the dealer, but that tech should have taken, and/or passed, a manufacture's "exam". The requirement could be as low as taking two classes at a PTG sponsored seminar, or as high as attending a week long semianr at a factory, like the LRS. The consequence would be loosing the franchise. This has nothing to do, per se, with the PTG. Manufacturers could set up their own day or weekend seminars, or they could utilize PTG seminars to teach those classes. You probably get calls all the time from technicians in the field asking for help on basic regulation problems that a RPT level technician should know. The bottom line is that if manufactures are really concerned about who works on their instruments, perhaps they should be more pro-active in making sure those techs have the basic knowledge to work on them. Now, if Yamaha, for instance, wants to recognize that all RPT's are "qualified" to work on Yamaha pianos, that's a decision Yamaha needs to make. That is why I asked how the LRS exam is different than the RPT exam. Would an RPT need additional training to become a "factory trained" technician? Wim -----Original Message----- From: Mark Wisner <markwisner at earthlink.net> To: caut at ptg.org Sent: Sun, Nov 22, 2009 2:57 am Subject: Re: [CAUT] Jeanie's brain storm - was Boston changed to dealers... You're suggesting manufacturers should have staffing requirements for dealers? What about a small dealer that doesn't need a full time tech? And if a dealer didn't hire an approved tech, what should the consequences be? Mark Wisner But the continuing education concept won't do any good unless there is an incentive for the tech to take the classes. One of the best incentives would be for the manufactures to require dealers to hire only techs who have attended a certain number of instruction hours. Although these classes can be offered at PTG seminars and convention, piano techs do not necessarily have to be a member of the PTG to be able to take them, just as those who attend the LRS have to be members of the PTG. It won't have an impact on all techs, but it will certainly have an impact on the dealers. I recognize that there are some dealers who hire qualified techs, but if this can become an industry wide requirement, where all dealers will have to hire "qualified" techs, it might encourage more techs to take the seminars, especially if they want to be considered by dealers. Wim -----Original Message----- From: Mark Wisner <markwisner at earthlink.net> To: caut at ptg.org Sent: Sat, Nov 21, 2009 8:02 pm Subject: [CAUT] Jeanie's brain storm - was Boston changed to dealers... Jeanie, our "brainstorm" is a little like my wife's profession. In order for Stella to eep her license valid every year she has to pick up a specific number of ontinuing education credits, which she earns by attending classes at any one of number of professional conventions, classes, seminars, etc. 'm not seriously suggesting we can apply this to PGT at this time, but in a orld where pianos are more important than they are.....what a great way to ncrease skills, event attendance, and importance to the "RPT" title. Mark Wisner -----Original Message----- From: Diane Hofstetter <dianepianotuner at msn.com> Sent: Nov 21, 2009 9:39 PM To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org> Subject: [CAUT] Boston changed to dealers techs mfgrs and other such Jeannie, I like your "just brainstorming"! It seems with the changes in the economy it s becoming essential that the different parts of the piano industry find a way o work together and support each other. Someone said on one of these lists that ne of the manufacturers lost 300 dealerships this year. That adds up to LOTS f pianos not sold, and even more tunings that don't need to be done over the oming years. And, that's only one manufacturer. Diane Hofstetter Jeannie said: In fact, I had to turn down one of the Steinway sessions one year because I couldn't afford it. I think it would be a mistake to make it so pricey that even less people could attend. Manufacturer's classes at Conventions and Regional Conferences can be documented. Paying a small fee and pre-registering for such a class, or series of classes might be doable for many. In the past I've been willing to pay $50 or $60 for a special class and might even consider paying more if it would save me the hotel and airfare of going to another facility. Attendees could be given some sort of certificate to attest to the fact that they were there. Instructors could actually give feedback as to whether the student was on the right track or needed some additional training. This certificate could be requested by dealers if the manufacturers expected them to use such accredited technicians. Just brain storming... jeannie Diane Hofstetter Wim -----Original Message----- From: Mark Wisner <markwisner at earthlink.net> To: caut at ptg.org Sent: Sat, Nov 21, 2009 8:02 pm Subject: [CAUT] Jeanie's brain storm - was Boston changed to dealers... Jeanie, our "brainstorm" is a little like my wife's profession. In order for Stella to eep her license valid every year she has to pick up a specific number of ontinuing education credits, which she earns by attending classes at any one of number of professional conventions, classes, seminars, etc. 'm not seriously suggesting we can apply this to PGT at this time, but in a orld where pianos are more important than they are.....what a great way to ncrease skills, event attendance, and importance to the "RPT" title. Mark Wisner -----Original Message----- From: Diane Hofstetter <dianepianotuner at msn.com> Sent: Nov 21, 2009 9:39 PM To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org> Subject: [CAUT] Boston changed to dealers techs mfgrs and other such Jeannie, I like your "just brainstorming"! It seems with the changes in the economy it s becoming essential that the different parts of the piano industry find a way o work together and support each other. Someone said on one of these lists that ne of the manufacturers lost 300 dealerships this year. That adds up to LOTS f pianos not sold, and even more tunings that don't need to be done over the oming years. And, that's only one manufacturer. Diane Hofstetter Jeannie said: In fact, I had to turn down one of the Steinway sessions one year because I couldn't afford it. I think it would be a mistake to make it so pricey that even less people could attend. Manufacturer's classes at Conventions and Regional Conferences can be documented. Paying a small fee and pre-registering for such a class, or series of classes might be doable for many. In the past I've been willing to pay $50 or $60 for a special class and might even consider paying more if it would save me the hotel and airfare of going to another facility. Attendees could be given some sort of certificate to attest to the fact that they were there. Instructors could actually give feedback as to whether the student was on the right track or needed some additional training. This certificate could be requested by dealers if the manufacturers expected them to use such accredited technicians. Just brain storming... jeannie Diane Hofstetter -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20091122/a93c5250/attachment.htm>
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