Dumb - Dumb - Dumb

[Mike Masters]

RptBob1 wrote:
> 
> Dear Ed;
> 
> The thing to really learn from this is next time insist on replacing all
> plastic parts instead of piecemeal.. If customer can't go along with this,
> time to tell the customer to find another tuner.
> 
> Bob Bergantino,RPT
> South Euclid, OHio

	I have to agree with Bob on this. If I come across even 1 broken flange 
or jack, I will ask the customer to come into the room. Explain to him 
that the plastic parts need to be replaced and demonstrate how fragile 
andbrittle the plastic parts are. Start by showing the broken part 
first. Then demonstrate how briyylre they are by breaking one yourself. 
Then allow the customer to break on so he can feel brittle these parts 
really are.
	Then as I explain why it would be better to replace all of the plastic 
parts in the piano, I replace one flange or jack with a new wood 
replacement(which I always carry 2 or 3 of in my bag both standard and 
compact parts.)
	When I am finished I ask the customer to again break another flange, 
and make sure they notice how much pressure they need to use for it to 
crumble (usually not much, they just about shatter just from looking at 
them the wrong way). Now I ask the customer to do the same with the wood 
part but use more pressure.
	Not once have I had a customer break a wooden flange or have I had a 
customer decline into having the parts replaced with new wood 
replacements.

Mike Masters
Masters Piano Service
Lakewood, OH 44107

P.S. Check out the first part of the title of the October 1995 issue of 
the PTJournal. P40.
Del Fandrich- "If it ain't broke - Break it!......"