outrageous charges--estimates

[Todd L. Mapes]

David,

Is there a Better Business Bureau in your area?  If so, I would
recommend that the customers file complaints with them.  Usually, they
will follow up with the perpetrator and hound them until they get some
kind of satisfaction.  Of course, this only works if they actually paid
the fellow, but they might be able to start a file on him for those few
careful folks who actually check those types of references in advance.
What about the local Chamber of Commerce?  Seems to me that this
fellow's reputation is not getting exposed fast enough to protect future
customers.  I had a bad experience with a remodeling contractor once,
and after I started having trouble with him, seems like every one I
talked to knew how bad he was.  This was AFTER I had the work done.  No
one warned me in advance, which I would have appreciated more than the
post-game analysis.

Sounds like a frustrating situation for you and the piano owners
involved.  Keep us updated.  As someone else said, eventually this fire
will burn itself out.  But in the meantime, take heart, you're the guy
who's in the right, and he's the one in the wrong.  Keep your integrity
and your good attitude and eventually you'll win out.

Todd L. Mapes
Fort Smith, AR

David Renaud wrote:

> 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