Refinishing prices

[Mark Story]

Keith,

I read through the info sheet during our latest local meeting last Friday -
after I had posted this.  Still, there wasn't anything there that I hadn't
seen before.  I had received several private replys - some reiterating the
official policy and some that are sick of hearing about it.  Seems that the
latter think that this policy has the odor of lawyers (on both sides)
seeking to justify their retainers.

After I had read through the policy again, I tend to agree that the
potential penalties make it better to be safe than sorry.  If I had it to do
over again, I would not have posted the request on the list.  I assumed that
if I was requesting information from out of my market area, it couldn't be
construed as anti-competitive.  But this assumes common sense, which is a
false assumption when in the area of gov. regulations and the lawyers paid
to keep us safe from them.  I really only wanted to discuss how others were
structuring their costs - ie, per foot, square foot, difficulty, whatever.
Even if this is interpreted as contrary to the relelvent regulations, I
still feel that it is ethical and not anticompetitive.  I think that this is
the sort of colaboration that is (or at least should be) a part of a
professional association.  It's sad that we have to tip-toe around like
this, and deprive our members of the sort of sharing in business matters
that we have in technical areas.

Mark Story, RPT
Eastern Washington University
Mail Stop 100, Cheney WA 99004
mstory@ewu.edu
mstory@storypiano.com

----- Original Message -----
From: <kam544@earthlink.net>
To: <mstory@ewu.edu>
Cc: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: Refinishing prices
>
> Mark,
>
> Did you not receive the latest info sheet this year concerning the
> Antitrust Policy from the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) Home Office?  If
> not, I highly recommend you secure a copy and read all of it before going
> any further with this type request.
>
> Here is just one of Ten Don'ts of Anti-Trust by James R. McKown, Spencer
> Fane Britt & Browne LLP which were part of the PTG publication, that
> specifically addresses what you are asking.
>
> 1. Don't discuss or exchange with competitors or others price information,
> including costs, discounts, terms of sales or profit margins.
>
> RTT, RTP?
>
> Keith McGavern
> kam544@earthlink.net
> Registered Piano Technician
> Oklahoma Chapter 731
> Piano Technicians Guild
> USA
> http://www.ptg.org/1999/conv/
> PTG Convention, Kansas City, July
>
>