Liability advice

[Clyde Hollinger]

Keith,

Fair warning is good business practice, as you say.  I nearly always
warn clients who own neglected pianos that a string might tear while
getting it back in shape.  But it never would have crossed my mind to
expect trouble from the ribs.  Live and learn, I guess.

Clyde Hollinger

kam544@flash.net wrote:
> 
> > ...Since I did not give her fair warning as to what  could happen,  she
> >feels that I am liable for the damage to her piano`s  ribs. Her thinking
> >is  that it worked fine before I tuned it and now it is  broke. So what do
> >you all think?...Thanks, Al Williams.
> 
> Dear Al,
> 
> Here's what I think.
> 
> Customarily, 'fair warning' is definitely in order for any piano that has
> been neglected that long, and especially one that you have no previous
> knowledge concerning it condition.  Som regardless of the condition of the
> piano before you arrived, the ball has the appearance of falling into your
> court due to the omission of that one verbal oversight.  And indicating
> that you have been an RPT for 19 years does little to strengthen what
> should be customary procedure by now.
> 
> Why not secure the ribs back to the soundboard to eliminate the buzzing,
> admit to the customer of your failure to mention firsthand that anything
> could happen, an error on your part at the most, and express sincere
> appreciation for them having the courage to contact you, thereby allowing
> you the opportunity to make things right.
> 
> Keith McGavern
> Registered Piano Technician
> Oklahoma Chapter 731
> Piano Technicians Guild
> USA