This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20 To: pianotech@ptg.org=20 Sent: December 15, 2001 7:00 AM Subject: Re: Bridging the cap In a message dated 12/15/01 1:49:51 PM !!!First Boot!!!, = mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:=20 I have done refurbishings on a couple family heirloom spinets for = $2,000+ - refinish, refurbish action, etc. - make 'em look like new and = play as good as they can - VERY happy customers.=20 From my point of view, and perhaps there are others who have 20 plus = years experience, when I find a piano such as an "heirloom" spinet, or = Phil's Howard grand, I can't, in good conscious, recommend the customer = spend the money I would need to charge to refurbish the piano. $2000 to = refinish, restore the action, tune, regulate, etc., is just not enough. = Maybe Terry can afford to do it for that price, but I can't. By the = same token, to do what Phil wants to do to that Howard will be in the = $12,000 - $15,000 range. Maybe he can do it for much less, but I'm = sorry, I personally can't justify charging that kind of money on that = kind of instrument.=20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- On the other hand, Wim, I was involved in the redesign and remanufacture = of a 4' 8" or so Howard grand a couple of years back. I did the redesign = work for the rebuilder in Portland, Oregon. I don't know what the final = tab on the job was, but I'm sure it was upwards of $18,000 to $20,000. = The piano performs very nicely, its size notwithstanding. I used it as = the prop piano for my Oregon Day presentation. The consensus was that = the piano was a satisfactory musical instrument, even through most of = the bass.=20 By your standard the piano wasn't worth that much but the customer is = delighted with the piano and in their view the money was well spent. So = who is 'right?' I certainly wasn't embarrassed in providing my services. = The rebuilder was open and honest with the owners of the piano about = cost and 'value.' But their concept of value differed from our. Does = that make them wrong? Did the rebuilder somehow swindle the customer?=20 It is not the rebuilder who has to justify charging X amount of money on = any particular job. It is the customer who has to justify spending it.=20 Del ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/af/82/22/a1/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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