outrageous charges--estimates

[David Renaud]

Has anyone ever had any success in dealing with such a character
or is it a total waste of energy.

Case study----

Client has $1500 worth of work done, bass will not stay in tune.
Work is otherwise fine but the bass has some loose pins.
The "rebuilder" does not return so the client gets an estimate from
a second technician.Unfortunitly they call a technician with
a reputation among those that know better.

Here it is, on paper for her.
------------------------------
Change 16 loose pins.

Parts-----           $25 per pin * 16     = $400
        Shipping of pins on special order=  $40
        Labor 2 hr. * 120 per hour       = $240

            Sub total= $680 plus tax and tuning fee
             for a total of over $800.
--------------------------------
For my part:
Lots of room to drive in pins, nice a tight for now.
Cost her nothing over the tuning fee.
I explained to her the full range of options, real
cost of parts, and made recommendations to solve the
problem with Webb Philips method.

This same tech  is charging $3 per paper punching
and walking out peoples door with $400 in under
two hours, tuning time included........, no receipt.
He keeps some clients by badmouthing every other
technician in the region, and instilling fear and mistrust.
I have a client(who will never hire him again) who is
willing to testify that this gentleman told him I am"blacklisted"
and a terrible tuner and never to hire me. ( I do all the music
schools and the concert hall in my city for the last 8 years,
after he was fired from the same).

I'm amazed this person is still in business,
I am obviously frustrated for the clients sake, and the trades sake.

If I sold my $5000 used Honda to some old lady that didn't
know better at a 5000% mark up for $250,000
is that not fraud, and have some legal ramifications?
$440 for 16 tuning pins for parts only???
Is there no accountability in this business.

                 Sorry, but I like this business and
                 this case gets under my skin.
                                      Sincerely

                                      David Renaud