Larry and list; "Ah yes, that dreaded look about the place that I've become so good at spotting. It's as if I can see the heat from the people from with in the house, or I can hear if there's a heartbeat coming from inside the house..........." Larry it is weird how this happens. It's as if there really is something in the air saying 'this place is deserted'. I get this feeling and it very seldom fails me but when it does I am shocked when someone answers the door. Perhaps one of you "pnuematic types', with your insight into air power and the generally unknowable would do a semi-scientific study of this phnomenon. It probably should wait until the study on 'equatorial string winding direction bias' is published though. For no shows I will wait the requisite 15/20 minutes and then leave a bill. I do not get into a huff if the bill is not paid and I will never mention it to the customer whether the tuning is rescheduled or not. Leaving the bill lets the customer know that I was there and that I expect to be paid for holding up my end of the agreement. Since the biggest thing we have to sell is our time (now wait and think before you bring up skill, service, experience, etc.) and it is limited, the missed appointment does cost me in terms of income. I will do as Dr. Coleman suggested, i.e. tune at a nearby church if one is convenient. The good customers will call you, usually before you get back to the shop, and the not so good ones will blow you off in some manner. I lean over backwards to accomodate the former and never work for the latter again. I think that each of us handle this situation in a manner that we feel comfortable with and in a manner that reflects our personalities. It is good to see the many different views on this. BTW I keep an audio book in the car to listen to while I am waiting. Jim Bryant (FL)
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