..the proper procedure..

[Carl Root]

A440A wrote:
>     Except for the new pianos, every tuning we do, we took away from another tuner.  

I have a different view.  Although some calls we get are from
disgruntled customers, quite a few are from inactive musicians. 
Granted, someone tuned it five or ten years ago, but the reason you are
being called is because the last tuner was unable to put the piano on
some sort of maintainance schedule, probably due to customer neglect,
not technical or business incompetence.

This is one of the keys to success in this business . . . . . 
converting sporadically tuned pianos into instruments that are serviced
regularly.  All you need is skill, charm, persistence, organization . .
. . . . . . . . . . .


Competing with other technicians is a tricky issue because so many of us
have established long term friendships through PTG, place of employment,
etc..  From a strictly selfish point of view, you should weigh the value
of these professional relationships against the value of being awarded a
service contract.  

Think of it also from the consumer's point of view.  S/he has a right to
know that you exist and are ready willing and able to provide service. 
S/he is then free to determine whether or not to maintain the status quo
or make a change.  

I don't see anything wrong with a nonaggressive letter of introduction.